“It’s not the issue of money. There is no suitable match right now. You know that Xiao Cheng has the very rare blood type of RH-B and it is extremely difficult to find such a blood type, let alone matching the right kidney.”
Xia Mo is numbed. It’s true; even five years ago when Xiao Cheng had been in that car accident, it had been next to impossible to find enough blood for him.
“But we’ve already searched the blood type records for the entire country for RH-B and we hope to find a suitable donor for Xiao Cheng. We’re going to receive some test results back this week, so please be patient; we may be able to find some donors…”
*******
When a frantic Zhen En later arrives at the hospital, she finds an ashen Xia Mo standing in the hallway, lost in a daze. Zhen En has never seen such an expression on Xia Mo’s face before. Seeing the worried look on Zhen En’s face though, Xia Mo makes up an excuse about probably coming down with some bug because of the humid weather and the two then enter Xiao Cheng’s room.
Xiao Cheng is lying on the bed when they come in, his face so pale that his eyes appear even bigger and blacker than usual. Xia Mo leans over to place a hand against his forehead and although Xiao Cheng instinctively moves away, she acts as if nothing has happened – his temperature is still the same as last night.
While handing a glass of hot water over for Xiao Cheng to drink, he accidentally spills the liquid onto his own hand and the girls rush to clean up the mess, getting an ice pack to hold over his reddened hand. Zhen En becomes preoccupied with fussing over Xiao Cheng, and Xia Mo notices the bag of fruit that Zhen En has brought with her. Seeing her purse tipping over precariously, Xia Mo moves to righten the bag and then notices the newspaper lying askew on the very top.
Thinking to reorganize the newspaper back into the purse, Xia Mo reaches for it – and freezes at the front picture.
Luo Xi and Shen Qiang are locked in a kiss at a bar, and although the lighting is dimmed, there is no mistaking the two faces so intimately close to each other.
“Don’t look!” Zhen En scrambles to pull the offensive newspaper from Xia Mo’s hands; what with Xiao Cheng’s illness and now Luo Xi’s gossip – Xia Mo cannot handle any more shock! “Don’t pay any attention to such gossip! They’re probably just drunk! Or the picture’s just… the picture’s just Photoshopped!”
“What else does the newspaper say?”
“Give it to me.”
Xia Mo’s face remains blank while scanning the headlines while Zhen En stands worriedly to the side. Xiao Cheng tries to interject on Luo Xi’s behalf but Xia Mo tells him that his health is the most important thing right now; nothing else matters.
For the next few hours, Xia Mo does not say anything at all and remains standing by the window, staring impassively outside. When Zhen En finally leaves, Xia Mo walks with her.
“Zhen En, please cancel my contract with Golden Dance.”
“I know.”
*******
The newspaper of Luo Xi and Shen Qiang’s intimate picture lies open on a black business desk.
“What… was her reaction?” Ou Chen hesitatingly asks Xi Meng after staring blankly at the picture for a few seconds.
“Reporters have been unable to get ahold of Miss Yin, the company hasn’t been able to contact her either. She hasn’t appeared in any public venue the past two days, only Zhen En has appeared on her behalf, who’s stated that this has nothing to do with Miss Yin.”
“Additionally, Zhen En has conveyed to the company that Miss Yin wishes to negate her contract for Golden Dance.”
“It seems that Miss Yin’s younger brother is in the hospital and needs care. She hasn’t left his side once since he’s entered the hospital and has cancelled all her scheduled appearances that Ou Hua Corporations booked for her. RBS Studios and others have already expressed extreme displeasure, and Cai Ni and Zhen En are currently trying to take care of the situation. We could sue Miss Yin for backing out of her contract on Golden Dance though…”
“Has a donor been found?”
“No.”
“We were drunk and just messing around.”
“Yes.”
“… no.”
Originally he had thought that the instant she saw the picture, she would immediately call him, demanding an explanation. And so he had made sure to keep his phone by his side for when she called and yet has received nothing but incessant questioning from reporters. In anger, he had thrusted his phone at Jie Ni and told her that even if she calls him, he doesn’t want to talk to her!
But a day passes – and another one – and he finally breaks down and asks Jie Ni if she’s received a call from her yet. When Jie Ni only embarrassedly shakes her head, he feels his heart sinking into a black hole.
Is she that confident that he won’t like someone else? Is this her supposed trust? No matter what the newspapers write, she’ll still remain unmoving?
Or is it… that she no longer cares about him…
And so he has allowed the reporters to write whatever headlines they want about him and Shen Qiang. Knowing that she is unaffected and coolly calm but even if there is a real possibility that he has someone else, that he would possibly leave her…
Can she still remain unaffected and calm?
But perhaps it is like what Zhen En said on her behalf – that it is none of her business.
None of her business…
No matter if it is five years ago or five years later. No matter how hard he works to make her like him, no matter how close he is to happiness, she can still so casually and easily leave him. He was wrong from the start. He shouldn’t have fallen in love with her, shouldn’t have allowed her to take the most important place in his life. If he hadn’t had fallen in love with her, then perhaps he could just turn away and leave, date Shen Qiang or whomever else he wished.
However, he can’t stand to see the words “break up,” afraid that this will be their curse.
The phone rings again.
“… no. Xi Mo and I have not broken up.”
*******
“Sister, are you and Brother Luo Xi… still okay?”
“Don’t be scared; you’ll get better.”
“You didn’t want me to worry, so didn’t tell me. Then if I don’t want you to worry, shouldn’t I not tell you anything either?”
“Don’t you realize… how cruel that is? I’ve always thought that you were getting better, and then suddenly I realized that it wasn’t true… what should I do… what do you… want me to do…”
“Xiao Cheng, don’t you know? I get scared too. I’m scared, that it’s just going to be me in this world. Mom’s gone now; it’s just you and me. I only have you as my relative. Compared to my life, compared to everything I have – you are the most important. If I could exchange anything for your health, no matter what I have to give up, even if I have to go to Hell for it, I would be willing to do so…”
“You are my life, don’t you know? If you were to live me one day and I wasn’t even able to take care of you… what do you think will happen to me? That I would think you are the world’s best little brother because I didn’t have to worry about you…? Or, do you wish for me to go with you…?”
Ever since childhood, Xiao Cheng has never seen Xia Mo so forlorn. She is like a sturdy tree; no matter how strong the winds are, she will never bow down.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! It’s all my fault… I was scared that you would worry… scared that you would be sad… Everything you’ve ever done has been for me… But yet I burden you… Sister… I want you to live happily just like other girls, laughing and crying as you please… Sometimes, I really envy Sister Zhen En… why can she laugh so happily when my own sister cannot…”
“I want Sister to be the world’s happiest woman, not just someone who has a little brother but also a love and an enjoyable career… That way… If I leave one day… Sister will still continue to live happily afterward…”
After a shared bonding session between Xia Mo and Xiao Cheng in which the two each try to take the blame, Xia Mo tells him to remain optimistic; they will find a suitable donor for him.
“Sister, what’s going on with you and Brother Luo Xi?”
“No.”
“No.”
“Sister, call Brother Luo Xi…”
“I’ll go find him, I’ll beg him!” Xia Mo can’t breathe – no matter what, she cannot let go of this opportunity! ”What is his contact information?”
“His name is Ou Chen.”