Waterbound Love - Chapter 66

After ensuring Shen Yan was asleep, Du Bai stepped out and asked a servant about Shen Yeyuan’s whereabouts. Learning she was still in the study, Du Bai knocked and entered.

Shen Yeyuan was slumped on the sofa, pinching the bridge of her nose, her figure emanating exhaustion.

“Auntie,” Du Bai sat down on the sofa across from Shen Yeyuan, “I would like to propose a deal.”

Shen Yeyuan slowly looked up at Du Bai with a puzzled expression.

“I’ll get straight to the point. The wedding between Shen Yan and myself is inevitable, and your opposition is futile. I can help you solve your problems, I agree to minimize the wedding to the smallest scale possible, and I promise that no matter what happens, Shen Corporation will remain untouched by me, Du Ruo. But I have one condition,” Du Bai paused, meeting Shen Yeyuan’s questioning gaze, “in Shen Yan’s final days, whether it’s pretense or sincerity, give her what she desires.”

Du Bai stood up, straightening her back and walking out.

“Why are you doing this?” For a moment, Shen Yeyuan was touched, questioning whether she was truly mistaken, but there were still things she did not understand.

“I never care whether the person I love is male or female, alive or dead, nor do I mind whether this love brings warmth. If I find the right person who cares as little as I do, then what reason do I have to not forsake everything? After all, I’ve been searching for this for so long.”

The wedding preparations continued as scheduled, yet Shen Yan always felt it was all a gaudy dream, so unreal.

“What are you thinking about?” Du Bai embraced Shen Yan from behind as she sat in her wheelchair, both facing the morning sun streaming through the floor-to-ceiling window, squinting their eyes in a lazy, contented manner.

Shen Yan slowly rested her head on Du Bai’s, squinting slightly, “Thinking about what happiness is.”

“Ah, did you come up with anything?” Du Bai nudged closer, settling into a comfortable position.

Shen Yan looked at her indulgently and said quietly, “Happiness is like a bubble floating in the air, drifting with the wind, elusive. Once grasped forcefully, it leaves nothing but fragments in your hand.”

Du Bai felt a chill in her heart, understanding Shen Yan’s thoughts; some things were better left unsaid, needing personal reflection. “That’s because the happiness that shatters at the touch is too fragile, not rich enough. I’ll make our happiness so much stronger, strong enough to linger in our hands.”

Sunlight warmly bathed the two, casting a soft red halo over them, a scene so tranquil and breathtakingly beautiful.

“Ms. Du, the Du Family has called asking for you to come over.” The maid stood respectfully nearby, hesitant to disrupt the beautiful scene.

Du Bai opened her eyes, a fleeting tiredness flickering in them, noticed by Shen Yan. She must have been very tired lately, with everything happening at the Shen Corporation, the wedding, and social interactions. Despite trying hard to escape this world initially, now, for her sake, she’s getting swallowed by the vortex she tried so hard to avoid.

“Okay, I understand.” Du Bai straightened up, walked to face Shen Yan, adjusted the blanket on her legs, “Wait for me; we’ll go for a follow-up together.”

“Alright.” Shen Yan gazed at Du Bai intently, each moment with her being invaluable.

“Have you considered chemotherapy?” Du Bai asked, maintaining a neutral expression, hoping Shen Yan wouldn’t do anything just because of her.

“No. This is enough.” Shen Yan’s eyes showed sorrow, with a bitter smile.

“Alright, I respect your choice.” Du Bai lowered her eyes, left a kiss on Shen Yan’s face, and walked out.

Watching from the window as Du Bai’s vehicle slowly disappeared from view, Shen Yan said, “Lin, prepare the car. Accompany me to the hospital.”

“But Miss, Ms. Du said-”

“It’s okay, I’ll explain to her,” Shen Yan instructed calmly. Some things were better left unknown.

Lin did not argue further and followed Shen Yan’s instructions.

Professor Qin had some personal ties with Shen Yan’s mother and had been looking after Shen Yan all these years. He genuinely cared for this child, and now, knowing about her illness, he was heartbroken, realizing he could do nothing against this disease despite it being his field of study.

“Child, have you really decided against trying chemotherapy?”

Shen Yan quietly regarded Professor Qin. “Uncle Qin, thank you for taking care of me all these years. I know you’re doing it for my good, but now I am already content, and I don’t dare ask for more.”

“You-”

“Uncle Qin, over the years, you’ve become accustomed to life and death, valuing it greatly. But for me, some things are more meaningful to protect than life itself,” Shen Yan said quietly, her face full of happiness, even if it was happiness like a bubble, unclear and hazy, but leaving a mark in her heart. That feeling was occasionally troubling yet intoxicatingly sweet.

“Ah, so be it. At least you’ll suffer less,” Professor Qin sighed heavily, full of sorrow.

“I’ll continue with the medication.”

“I have a new drug for you. It’s a new treatment for bone cancer developed in collaboration between the University of Bern, Germany, and the Nuclear Medicine Group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA. Preliminary trials show it effectively extends the survival time for patients with metastatic bone cancer.”

“How much longer?” Shen Yan asked calmly, cherishing the time she was granted.

“The new medication extends the average time for tumor spread from 2-3 months to 7 months, and the average survival time from 7 months to 12 months, with minimal side effects and significantly reduced bone pain.”

“That’s enough,” Shen Yan accepted calmly, as if discussing someone else’s life and death. “Uncle Qin, I ask that you not let anyone know about today’s events, okay?”

The living always endure more pain than those who have left. These matters, I will never let you know.