chapter 4
I stayed inside for half a month.
At first, clinging to those beautiful memories, the days weren’t so hard.
But gradually, I started having frequent fevers and dizziness, my hair falling out in handfuls, not to mention the stabbing pain all over my body that tormented me to the point of wishing I were dead.
Painkillers became my only salvation.
I went from three pills a day, to six, then twelve…
Half a month later, He Chenyi found me.
At the time, I was sitting in a shabby little diner, ordering a few homestyle dishes.
Honestly, I didn’t have much of an appetite.
It was just that this little place held a different kind of meaning for me.
Outside the glass, a black business car pulled up.
Someone sat down across from me. “I knew you’d be here.”
I looked up and met He Chenyi’s eyes.
“How did you get so thin?”
My hand trembled as I picked up some food, but I said nothing.
“How long are you planning to keep hiding from me?”
Seeing me remain silent, he couldn’t help but raise his voice, drawing the attention of everyone around.
“Let’s just forget about the past. Come home with me today, and I won’t hold anything against you.”
I put down my chopsticks abruptly, my appetite gone.
Leaving some money on the table, I stood up and walked out of the diner. But I hadn’t gone far before He Chenyi grabbed my wrist.
He was furious. “Shen Xingyao, there has to be a limit to your drama.”
He yanked me so hard I stumbled.
Suddenly, my vision went black, and people and objects blurred together like a mosaic.
But even so, I forced myself to shake off his hand.
“He Chenyi, how many times do I have to say it? There’s nothing between us anymore.”
I pointed to the woman in the back seat of the black business car, her window rolled down. “You already have Jiang Yuhe. Please don’t come to bother me again, okay?”
Maybe there was a hint of pleading in my voice, because He Chenyi’s expression softened for a moment.
He looked at me quietly, as if trying to tell if I was telling the truth or lying.
How ridiculous.
Ever since Death told me I had three months left, I’d made up my mind.
In the end, I just want to spend my last moments quietly, alone.
No one should come and stir up my emotions.
He Chenyi-he doesn’t deserve it.
“Ah Yi.”
Jiang Yuhe never got out of the car, only half of her pale face visible.
Through the window, she called out to him from afar.
He Chenyi left.
Watching the car drive away, I felt a little bitter.
So He Chenyi does know how to listen-just depends on who’s talking.
–
That night, I took a cab to the city hospital, hoping to get more painkillers.
“Xingyao.”
I turned around. It was Dr. Zhong.
He Chenyi’s attending physician.
Back when He Chenyi’s condition was unstable, I’d go to him every few days, rattling off complicated drug names without hesitation.
He used to tease me, “Relax, you’re more nervous than Chenyi himself.”
Now, bundled up like a zongzi, my hat pulled low, he still recognized me at a glance.
“Long time no see. Do you have time to talk?”
I didn’t have the heart to refuse.
He got straight to the point as soon as he sat down: “What’s going on between you and He Chenyi lately?”
“Nothing. We’re adults-if it’s not right, we end it.”
Maybe my tone was off, because he looked me over, hesitating for a long time before speaking: “I’m not trying to play mediator, but He Chenyi’s been acting out a lot lately. His mother is really worried.”
As he spoke, he handed me his phone.
It was He Chenyi’s Moments feed.
The latest post was a photo of him and Jiang Yuhe at Disney.
Behind them was the towering drop tower, and in the distance, you could see the roller coaster.
Linabell was placed between He Chenyi and Jiang Yuhe, its furry face wearing a happy, adorable smile.
Caption: Doing something exciting.
I couldn’t help but clench my fists.
He really doesn’t care about his life.
“You know him best. Can’t you talk to him…?”
“Dr. Zhong,” I interrupted, typing Jiang Yuhe’s number into his phone, “From now on, if it’s about He Chenyi, talk to her.”
“She’s the one he’ll listen to now.”