Chapter 8

Ever since I returned from outside, I’ve been sitting on the hospital bed in a daze.

My bestie waved a hand in front of my eyes, “What’s wrong? Why are you so absent-minded?”

“Xie Shuyan studied medicine.”

“I know, I’m not stupid.”

Facing my reddened eyes, my bestie suddenly seemed to realize something and her mouth gaped open.

“Are you saying he studied medicine because…”

That night, after my bestie went home, I called the monitor.

“Hello? Tingyue, is something up?”

“Yes, it’s about Xie Shuyan.”

The monitor suddenly fell silent.

The only sound left on the phone was the babbling of a child.

“Tingyue, I’m sorry, I told Xie Shuyan about your situation.”

Just as I thought.

I buried my head in my knees, feeling defeated.

Sighed.

The monitor sounded a bit anxious, “I know it wasn’t right, but you left so suddenly, threw a wad of money at people and disappeared. Xie Shuyan blocked me downstairs at my house for a whole week, even the admissions office teachers followed. My parents thought I did well academically and almost threw a celebration.”

“The most important thing is, in seven days, he lost five kilograms. If you saw him like that, you wouldn’t have the heart to keep it from him.”

“Later, when I found out he changed his major, well… I felt bad too. I was afraid you’d blame me, so I haven’t dared to say anything all these years.”

“Tingyue? Tingyue? Are you listening?”

I wiped my tears and choked out, “Yes, I heard. I don’t blame you, sorry for the trouble.”

“Oh, it’s no trouble, no trouble. You two should communicate properly.”

“Okay.”

I hung up the phone, and the room fell into dead silence.

Clutching the phone, my chest felt stifled and painful.

In the pitch-black hospital room, my suppressed sobs echoed.

I felt like a fool.

Thinking I had arranged everything perfectly, believing I had kept everyone in the dark.

But the most important person knew from the start.

In the darkness, a sliver of light suddenly leaked in.

The hospital room door opened.

Xie Shuyan stood at the doorway.

Our tear-streaked faces met.

His expression tightened, and he quickly walked over, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

My emotions, on the verge of collapse, could no longer be contained, and I suddenly burst into tears.

“Why did you change your major?”

“Idiot!”

“I don’t need you at all, don’t you understand?”

Xie Shuyan was taken aback, his expression suddenly relaxed.

He pursed his lips and silently endured several punches from me, his temper excessively good.

“You spoke to the monitor?”

My eyes stung, “Yes.”

“Then that’s good.”

“What’s good?”

Xie Shuyan crouched down, looking up at me, his gaze frighteningly bright, “Let’s reconcile, not break up, okay?”

My body instinctively recoiled, suddenly held tightly by Xie Shuyan’s grip on my shoulders.

“Meng Tingyue!”

Xie Shuyan raised his voice, forcing me to look at him.

“I know what you’re afraid of.”

He raised his hand in an oath, “I swear, I won’t give up my life for you. Even if one day…”

His lips trembled, his voice quivered.

He paused for a moment, seemingly extremely reluctant to say that word, but still said it, “Even if one day, we’re separated by life and death, I, Xie Shuyan, swear, I will never give up my life for Meng Tingyue.”

He cupped my face and softly said, “Now, will you say you love me?”

The wind blew through the half-open window, brushing my tear-soaked cheeks, bringing a hint of coolness.

The moon was as cool as water.

Birds fluttered by the lakeside, weary birds returned to the forest.

I was like a weary bird, flying alone for ten years.

Only by constantly flapping could I seem like a living person, “optimistic,” “positive,” “brave” in fighting against illness.

But I also felt fear, despair, resentment towards the unfairness of heaven, hatred for my own misfortune.

I couldn’t find the forest to support myself, and once I relaxed, I’d fall into the abyss of negative emotions.

I was so tired.

Tired enough to want to lean on Xie Shuyan.

Even if just for one day, to have a place to rest my weary self, then wait for tomorrow’s sun to rise, spread my wings, and continue flying towards death.

I embraced Xie Shuyan, burying my head.

Crying aloud.