Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The next day, I rode my bike to drop He Chen off at kindergarten.

Snowflakes drifted down from the sky.

He Chen loved winter; he loved playing in the snow.

But most of the time, he played alone.

Because he was born prematurely, he was thinner and weaker than other children his age, and the kids often bullied him.

Whenever I tried to reason with their parents, he would take my hand.

He said he liked playing at home because that way, he could keep me company.

So, without crying or making a fuss, he would play by himself in our small yard.

Quietly, by my side, he would pack one snowball after another.

My chest felt tight; I always felt like I owed him so much.

As he got off the bike, I promised him we would build a snowman after school.

He Chen was overjoyed, running toward the kindergarten with his backpack bouncing on his shoulders.

I stood in the crowd, watching his retreating figure, unable to look away for a long time.

It was winter again.

He had grown a bit.

But compared to other children his age, his body was still frail.

I often wondered if he would grow up healthier and free from bullies if he returned to the Liang family.

He would be carefree. He wouldn’t have to save up for a long time just to buy a single flower.

He wouldn’t need to be so sensible, collecting bottles to buy me a birthday present.

I looked down at my apricot-colored gloves, suddenly resenting my own selfishness.

I had kept my child trapped by my side, year after year.

He had suffered far too much following me.

I stood in the snow until the area outside the gates was empty.

The cold air I inhaled stung my nasal passages, and my head felt like it was about to explode with pain.

As the cold wind blew, a dense, prickling ache seeped from the marrow of my bones.

A warm, damp sensation trickled from my nose. I wiped it away casually.

Another nosebleed.

It had been happening on and off for a week now.

The doctor said there was inflammation in my body.

Medicine, IV drips, chemotherapy… I had been doing it all for a week, but nothing worked.

Finally, the doctor recommended an injection of a newly developed drug from abroad.

Thirty thousand yuan per shot.

I didn’t have the money.

I could only take some painkillers.

But sometimes, when I faced He Chen’s tear-streaked little face while covering my nose to hide the blood in my palm, I didn’t know what to say.

The pain in my brain intensified.

My vision began to blur.

I crouched on the ground, trying to catch my breath.

But the dizziness only grew heavier.

I forced myself up, wanting to walk further away-at least far enough so my son wouldn’t see me like this.

As I turned around, I saw Liang Jingnian’s car.

He was parked by the roadside, making a call.

His tone was indifferent. “Mom, I’m busy. I won’t be back tonight.”

“As for the arranged marriage, since you agreed to it, you can marry her yourself.”

My ears were ringing; I couldn’t hear what else he said.

My vision grew blurrier and blurrier.

I intended to walk past him, but in the end, I couldn’t support my swaying body.

Blood seeped through my fingers, dripping onto the snow.

The next second, he caught me in his arms, frantically steadying my shoulders.

Over and over, he called my name.