Farewell Summer - Chapter 9

After the second round of chemotherapy, my weight dropped to its lowest point ever.

As misfortunes never come singly, the landlord suddenly called, saying his son was getting married and the house was no longer available for rent.

He compensated me with double the penalty fee, asking me to find a new place within two days.

While I was negotiating with the landlord, Xie Shuyan sat beside me.

He frowned, “Do you want me to talk to him?”

I hung up the phone, “No need, the penalty fee is quite high, it’s enough for me to find a new place.”

Over the years, I’ve been running around for medical treatment, living without a fixed abode, already accustomed to such matters.

“Move to my place.”

“Huh?”

Xie Shuyan quietly averted his gaze, “It’s close to the hospital, convenient for treatment.”

Usually cheerful, I found myself tongue-tied, “Oh… would it be a bother to you–”

“No bother.”

And so, I naturally moved into Xie Shuyan’s apartment.

A decent neighborhood near the hospital.

The apartment isn’t large, but the layout is good, spacious.

Compared to the place I rented, it’s infinitely better.

Xie Shuyan had to go to work, he gave me the password.

“Let the moving company put the luggage in the living room, I’ll sort it out tonight.”

Standing in the apartment, I scratched my head.

Unexpectedly, I ended up “cohabiting” with Xie Shuyan.

For the first time in his private domain, I was somewhat cautious.

Dared not look around, sat properly on the sofa.

I asked Xie Shuyan, “Where should I stay?”

“Anywhere.”

“Huh?”

He was busy with work, offering no reply to my query.

Bracing myself, I walked into a room on the right.

Dark blue bed sheets.

Gray blackout curtains.

A watch wireless charger on the table.

Transparent wardrobe filled with Xie Shuyan’s shirts.

Ah… it’s the master bedroom.

I closed the door, opened another room, and put my suitcase inside.

The sky gradually darkened.

I prepared dinner, set the table, and waited at the dining table.

Unknowingly, I fell asleep waiting.

When Xie Shuyan pushed the door open, I was dreaming, sprawled on the table.

The wig crooked on my head, about to fall off.

As he approached, I suddenly woke up.

“You’re back!”

“Mm.”

Perhaps it was an illusion, but Xie Shuyan’s gaze seemed more intense than in the hospital.

Panicking, I adjusted the wig and stood up, “I’ve eaten, so… I’ll go to sleep first.”

Xie Shuyan withdrew his gaze, speaking softly, “Alright. I’m busy with work, don’t wait for me next time.”

“Okay.”

I quickly slipped back into the guest room.

Checked my wig in the mirror, feeling regretful.

This was my favorite one, seemed like it was falling off earlier.

Did Xie Shuyan see my scalp?

I bit my lip, took off the wig.

Sighed with a dejected face.

Since childhood, I’ve loved beauty, especially hair care, my long hair reaching my waist during school, black and shiny.

A few years ago, when there was no relapse, my hair was also thick and black.

But now, the me in the mirror, with sparse hair, couldn’t even smile.

So ugly.

This was only the second chemotherapy.

After a few more, I’d have to shave it all off.

Knock, knock, knock…

It was Xie Shuyan at the door.

“Toiletries are in the bathroom, do you want to come out and wash up?”

I immediately turned off the light, burrowed into the quilt, “No, I’m going to sleep.”

Outside, there was no more movement from Xie Shuyan.

He stood at the door for a while, then left.

I waited until the middle of the night, when the last bit of light outside disappeared, then jumped out of bed.

Tiptoed to open the door, intending to go to the bathroom to wash up.

But a faint light came from the direction of the living room.

Xie Shuyan was sitting on the sofa.

Surrounded by piles of documents.

The small lamp beside him illuminated his face.

Xie Shuyan easily spotted the sneaky, wig-less me.

I froze, unsure whether to close the door and continue pretending to sleep, or go out and wash up as usual.

Xie Shuyan put down the documents in his hand, got up and walked over.

“I… I just woke up, going to wash up–”

“Don’t move.”

Xie Shuyan held my hand covering my head, pinned me against the wall, then his moist breath scattered on my face.

He lowered his head and kissed me.

My body trembled, heart uncontrollably racing.

Even my breathing became rapid.

His figure blocked the only bit of light.

The dim environment made hearing incredibly sensitive.

Our breaths intertwined.

Lips and teeth connected.

I heard the sound of Xie Shuyan’s shirt brushing against my hair.

Heard the rolling of his Adam’s apple, and the increasingly intense heartbeat.

We kissed for a long time.

So long that I began to struggle to breathe.

“Avoiding me?”

I instinctively lowered my head, but thinking my scalp would be exposed to Xie Shuyan’s view, quickly raised it again, “Who’s avoiding you? Narcissist.”

Xie Shuyan touched my hair, his pupils reflecting my image, “Mm, much more pleasing this way.”

“What way?”

“The look without the wig.”

He rubbed the tip of my nose, whispered, “I’ve wanted to kiss you for a long time, seeing you nervous about the wig, I didn’t dare to act.”

I turned my head, resignedly said, “Don’t look, it’s ugly.”

“Not ugly, very beautiful.”

“Liar.”

Xie Shuyan hooked my hand, led me to the bathroom.

“I had something to tell you earlier.”

He turned on the light, the items on the washstand were clearly visible.

In a conspicuous place, there was an electric hair clipper.

He looked at me in the mirror, asked, “Do you know how to shave hair?”

I bit my lip, “I don’t want to shave so early… at least now there’s still some hair.”

Xie Shuyan handed me the hair clipper, “I meant, you help me shave.”

“Are you crazy?”

I looked at his thick, black hair, frowned tightly, my mind uncontrollably imagining Xie Shuyan with a shaved head.

Though not ugly, it seemed a bit odd…

Xie Shuyan moved a small stool over, “I’m too young, I hope you can help me shave into a look patients trust.”

The hair clipper was plugged in.

Buzzing loudly.

My eyes stung, holding back the urge to cry.

“I don’t want to.”

He clearly wanted to accompany me.

Xie Shuyan smiled, held my wrist.

“Don’t be afraid, come.”

His hands were steady.

With the buzzing vibration, Xie Shuyan’s hair fell to the ground.

He truly didn’t care at all.

Didn’t leave a single strand.

I looked at him in the mirror, pursed my lips, “Really contrary to expectations, you look even younger, like an intern just entering the hospital.”

The hair clipper was tossed aside.

Xie Shuyan stood up, looked at my reddened eyes, lowered his head and pecked my lips lightly.

“Shaving my head just to stick with you every day, I think it’s great.”

“When I shave your hair, you won’t resent me, because you’ve already shaved me.”

I couldn’t help but laugh through tears.

“Then I’ll resent you too!”

The mirror reflected two faces.

One tearful, laughing ridiculously.

One cheerful smile, eyes full of affection.

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, said:

“Alright, then stick with me, scold me however you want.”