He is still alive...

At least, he is still alive.

This is the best of all the misfortunes, a great fortune.

Just this is enough to forgive all the suffering she endured before.

"E, Eric..."

"Hmm?"

"I, I want, to see his attending doctor..."

"...Alright."

"I need to know the details of his condition. He’s really alive... just behind this wall, breathing hard..."

Su Xiaomeng grabbed the handkerchief from Eric’s hand and wiped her face vigorously.

She leaned against the wall to stand up, the same position, the same icy glass, looking at the person lying inside...

Xiao Meng felt the same heartache, but her heart was no longer plunged into despair, but rather... a hope breaking through the clouds.

That figure, so thin and bony, was no longer frighteningly weak but impressively strong.

Shixiu, back then when you found me in the ruins of the church after the great fire, was that your feeling just like mine at this moment when I see your silhouette again after tasting the pain of separation?

Look at you...

How bad can you be?

In this world, where else can there be another man like you, so good to me yet so harsh?

From the beginning, our encounter has been a hard-to-calculate account.

I always thought so, but looking back now, it seems only I thought so.

You, a man who has been meticulous all your life, even in matters of love, must have kept this balance crystal clear in your mind, right?

Your kindness to me seeks its due in return from me, unwilling to let me be stingy with you even in the slightest.

Even the sourness and bitterness of this world, you refuse to let me off after you’ve tasted them... insistent on having me accompany you in this journey.

Is this what makes us truly equal, truly understanding, truly integrated?

————

Eric led Xiao Meng to Yin Shixiu’s attending doctor, who explained Yin Shixiu’s condition to Su Xiaomeng in detail, even more meticulously than he had with Eric.

Su Xiaomeng couldn’t fully grasp the complex medical knowledge, but she understood the doctor’s plan for Yin Shixiu’s subsequent treatment.

The risks involved in the treatment made Xiaomeng’s heart race, yet she was no longer afraid.

"He himself chose the second treatment option. Actually, more than half of the doctors still recommend the first option. The issue of life shortening due to the medication is truly an unknown, but with the first treatment plan, he likely couldn’t survive."

The attending doctor earnestly advised Su Xiaomeng,

"Initially, I also recommended the second approach, but during the surgery the day before yesterday, he went into shock once."

"Shock..." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Su Xiaomeng’s fists clenched tightly, her nerves tense, a chill creeping down her spine.

"If we change the plan now, it’s still possible. If we drag it on, I’m afraid even wanting to change our minds won’t be an option."

"We’re not changing our minds."

Su Xiaomeng interrupted the attending doctor’s persuasion, straightforwardly saying, "He can pull through this, don’t worry."

"..."

The attending doctor glanced at Su Xiaomeng, then looked at Eric beside her.

Eric shrugged helplessly, with an expression as if to say...

When the couple is united in their decision, what room do outsiders have to intervene or change it?

The attending doctor pondered for a moment, then nodded,

"Okay, you are his wife, and if you decide so, we will proceed with the treatment, but I must emphasize again, the treatment process is truly grueling."

Su Xiaomeng’s lips curved into a slight smile,

"He can endure it, I will be with him. So please rest assured, doctor, no matter what the outcome is, we can accept it."

"Mrs. Yin, with such awareness, we are truly reassured. Leave the professional matters to us, but as for..."

Su Xiaomeng grinned,

"Do you believe it? When he opens his eyes and sees me by his side, he might jump up with joy!"

The attending doctor looked at the young woman before him, her eyes glistening with star-like tears as she joked with them, and he was deeply moved for a moment.

"Yes, indeed, who knows what might happen!"

Eric also laughed and teased along.

The exhaustion from the long journey, coupled with cheeks soaked in tears for so long, made her complexion not great, but at this moment, her smile was truly enchanting.

It was this kind of smile...

That Yin Shixiu saw when he opened his eyes.

Xiao Meng was sitting in the chair beside him, her elbow resting on the edge of the bed, her hand supporting her chin.

She watched his thick eyelashes flutter, watched those sunken eyes due to emaciation slowly open, his eyelids seeming as heavy as a thousand pounds, making Su Xiaomeng’s heart ache.

His deep eyes were very dim, aged by time and pain...

Su Xiaomeng... she just felt her restless heart, at the moment he opened his eyes, suddenly calmed down.

How could such a magical moment exist in this world?

A person, just by opening his eyes, can make the world seem peaceful and warm, making her feel as though she is in the safest harbor.

Yin Shixiu, how magical are you?

He looked at her...

Su Xiaomeng slightly tilted her head and gave him a cheeky grin,

"Awake? Did you sleep well?"

Her words sounded so distant, heard as if in a trance, making Yin Shixiu feel dizzy...

"What did you dream about? Slept for so long, hmm?"

She continued to ask, then mumbled a little shyly, "Did you dream about me?"

"..."

She shifted her gaze away, looking down at the left hand she was holding with both of hers, that skeletal hand...

She lowered her head and planted a firm kiss, then raised her eyes, with eyes brimming with a striking brilliance...

She smiled at him,

"Blink once, and I’ll take it as if I guessed right!"

The playfulness in the words was just like the girl he first met...

Cute, making people unable to look away, a few words could be savored for days, holding hands, could last for a long, long time...

"If you don’t blink, I’ll take it as if you dreamt of someone else!"

Su Xiaomeng said angrily, as if she was about to throw away his hand, she loosened her grip a little.

Who knew...

Yin Shixiu suddenly tightened that "skeletal hand."

He blinked hard at her.

Su Xiaomeng’s expression barely lasted two seconds before she smiled again.

Yet those eyes sparkling with brilliant smiles couldn’t help but gather a bit of tears.

Watching Yin Shixiu blink twice heavily...

He couldn’t say a word, only saw the mask over his face fogged by his breath, he wanted to speak, wanted to open his mouth...

But just by blinking twice, tears rolled down from the corner of his eyes.

"Meng Meng..."

He moved his lips, barely making a sound, but Su Xiaomeng’s heart heard it, she heard him call out very loudly...

She nodded heavily, holding his hand tight, bowing her head,

"I’m here. Uncle..."