Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Song Wantang sat at the entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau, the edges of the numbered ticket in her hand softened by sweat.

The screen called out one round of numbers after another. When it finally reached her and Yuan Shiyu’s turn, the staff member leaned out to look around and asked her, “Where is the other person?”

She looked up at the gloomy sky.

“On his way.”

This was the third time she had said those words.

Thirty days ago, they had come together to file for divorce. Yuan Shiyu had been dressed in a dress shirt and trousers, his expression as calm as if he were attending a routine medical consultation. He pushed the form toward her and said, “Wantang, sign it.”

She didn’t cry then. She only asked him one thing: “Have you thought this through?”

He said, “I have.”

Song Wantang never expected that on the actual day they were to collect their divorce certificate, he would be the one to show up late.

When her phone rang, she answered almost instantly.

However, it wasn’t Yuan Shiyu on the other end.

“Hello, is this Ms. Song Wantang? This is the Cardiac Surgery Critical Care unit at City First Hospital. Mr. Yuan Shiyu has developed acute complications during surgery. As his emergency contact, you need to come to the hospital as soon as possible.”

She bolted upright, the legs of her chair screeching harshly against the floor.

“Who did you say?”

“Yuan Shiyu.”

In that instant, her mind went blank, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head.

Half an hour ago, she was still cursing him in her heart-cursing him for being late even for a divorce, cursing him for dragging out these thirty days like he was dragging out a marriage that had long since died. But now, the nurse on the phone was saying things like “during surgery,” “complications,” and “emergency contact.”

She hailed a taxi and rushed straight to City First Hospital.

When she arrived, many people were standing outside the intensive surgical area. Gu Yanxi was there too, not even having had time to change out of her white lab coat, her face deathly pale. Beside her was a seven- or eight-year-old girl, curled up and asleep on a bench, clutching a worn-out toy rabbit.

Song Wantang’s footsteps faltered.

Gu Yanxi looked up and, seeing her, seemed to have finally found the person she was waiting for. She hurried forward. “You’re here.”

Song Wantang stared at her, her voice tight. “Where is he?”

“Still inside.”

Gu Yanxi handed over a document and a kraft paper envelope.

“This is the notice of critical illness and the supplemental consent form for the surgery. And this… Director Yuan left instructions before the operation. He told me to hand it to you personally if anything went wrong during the surgery.”

On the envelope, Yuan Shiyu’s handwriting was as sharp and restrained as ever.

To be opened by Song Wantang personally.

Her fingertips gradually went cold.

A nurse nearby reminded her in a low voice, “The family member needs to sign first. They’re waiting inside.”

Song Wantang looked at the words “family member” and suddenly felt a sense of irony.

Half an hour ago, she had come to end this marriage.

Now, she was the one who had to sign for his life or death.

She picked up the pen and signed her name.

As the final stroke fell, the light above the operating room remained blindingly bright.