The first time I received treatment, I vomited badly, only feeling that the sun and moon were indistinguishable, and heaven and earth would come together.
I sat weakly on the bed with a pale enough complexion to star in ghost movies.
Meng SiQi, who sat next to me, patted me on the back and comforted me, âVomiting and nausea are normal signs. They will soon pass.â
âThis kind of treatment is really suitable for females. On one hand, it can remove a whole body of hair. On the other hand, it has a perfect slimming effect. Its effects are absolutely comparable to that of various mysterious drugs, and there are countless predecessors who are successful examples.â Even my speaking was feeble.
Meng SiQi laughed. âYou still have the strength to spout nonsense!â
Before he finished his words, I was already rushing to the washroom. My world was once again turned upside down, wishing that I could just empty all my organs in one shot and be fully cleansed.
I told Meng SiQi, âItâs only now that I understand all mothers are great. Besides talking about carrying the baby for ten months, vomiting alone is already a disaster. From now on, we should be kind to women, and thank them for paying such a high price for the continuation of mankind.â
Meng SiQi took my hand and said, âBefore being kind to others, you must first learn to be kind to yourself.â
âYou remind me of my mother. You sound just like her, making me miss her very much. When I was young, she would hold my hand like this and talk to me gently.â
Meng SiQi said solemnly, âYour comparison can stop here. I donât want you to treat me as your mother!â
I laughed and fell onto the bed.
Meng SiQi then gently covered me with the blanket and laid down by my side.
As the two pairs of eyes met each other, I felt that Meng SiQi, who had taken off his glasses, had a pair of very good-looking eyes.
He said, âYou can sleep for a while. If thereâs anything you want to eat, Iâll buy it for you.â
As a dish came to my mind immediately, I replied, âMushroom beef porridge.â
âOk.â
I thought about it again and shook my head. âIâd better not have mushroom beef porridge.â
âWhy did you change your mind?â
I replied, âIt was something that I used to like to eat, and it took me too long to realize that it was unsuitable. Now, I want to have a change of taste. You can help me make up my mind.â
Meng SiQi smiled gently. âThen I will make a pot of red-skin peanut and lotus root porridge for you to supplement your blood platelets.â
I nodded. âThat sounds good.â
Sleepiness was gradually engulfing me, drowning my will to stay awake.
I called for Meng SiQi softly, âMeng SiQi.â
âYes, Iâm here.â
âIf I survive, Iâll date you.â
Meng SiQi stared at me, lost in thought for a long time.
Gradually unable to stop myself, my eyelids also drooped.
He scooted closer to me, took me into his arms, and put my head on his chest.
He said, âI wonât let you die, so donât forget what you said.â His voice sounded as if it came from my distant dreams.
âOk.â I drowsily promised him, âI will live on and not die.â
Chen ErXin called me. I had thought that he would ignore me.
When I picked up the phone though, I heard a calm female voice that I had heard from somewhere before.
âIs this Mr. Pei JiYu? Iâm Zheng YiJia, Chen ErXinâs cousin.â
Ah, so itâs her.
I asked uncertainly, âIs Chen ErXin looking for me? Where is he?â
She replied, âIâm the one looking for you. I want to talk to you about my cousin.â
I was hesitant as I didnât know her very well and only met her once. I didnât even know what Chen ErXin was thinking at that time.
After thinking for a moment, I said hesitantly, âMy father is seriously ill in the hospital, and I canât leave.â
Zheng YiJia immediately answered, âThen Iâll go find you there.â
Now I really had nothing to say.
So, after greeting my fatherâs nurse, I put on my coat and went downstairs.
As soon as I left the hospital building, I saw Zheng YiJia looking up at the sky, lost in thought. Today, she wore a sage green wool coat with her hair tied up behind her head. Her appearance was very clean and concise, unlike the decadent and sorrowful look she had on the day we met. Looking like an ordinary young woman, I could hardly recognize her at the moment.
According to Chen ErXin, she was one year younger than him, which meant that she was no more than twenty-five. It was a pity that she had a pair of eyes that aged way too early to betray her.
Her complexion was also still haggard and tired. She was as thin as a withered tree, standing under the sky. When she saw me coming, she gave me a kind smile.
I asked, âDid you wait for a long time? Why donât we speak inside?â
Zheng YiJia shook her head. âThe smell of the hospital reminds me of bad memories, so here is fine.â
She took out her cigarette case, pulled out one, and lit it.
I tried to persuade her, âYou havenât fully recovered, so you shouldnât smoke.â
âCompared to my body, my heart needs more comfort.â She continued, âOr are you doing this for yourself? Do you dislike women smoking? Such male chauvinism.â She laughed.
I thought about it and nodded, âBesides for my own sake, I also hope that you donât smoke. I have cancer and am now undergoing treatment.â
Zheng YiJia was stunned and apologized immediately, âSorry, I didnât know. My cousin also didnât tell me about it.â She also put out her cigarette.
âBecause I didnât tell him about it.â
Not understanding, she asked, âWhy?â
I replied, âPerhaps this kind of thing can be freely confided to outsiders, but hard to say to familiar relatives and friends.â
âYou should tell him. If my cousin discovers that youâre hiding this from him, heâll kill you.â Zheng YiJia smiled bitterly, âHe already grew so big and yet, is still a troublesome child with a bad temper.â
I couldnât help laughing, as I could imagine Chen ErXinâs flustered and exasperated appearance while searching for me to settle his dues.
I then asked, âWhy are you looking for me today?â
âQiao Lang took away my cousin.â
âWhat!â I was shocked by her words.
âI went back to the Qiaoâs house, and he said that he wanted to discuss it with you.â Zheng YiJia looked dispirited, so I guessed she must have met Qiao Yi there.
âI had implicated Chen ErXin. I didnât expect Qiao Lang to react so drastically.â
It was because of me again. I thought that Qiao Lang had fully understood that the past was the past, and he couldnât push everything away to start over again. How could there be so many such wonderful things in the world?
Despite that, she comforted me, âYou donât have to blame yourself. My cousin will be fine in the Qiaoâs house. Qiao Lang is also not a bad man, he just wants to see you.â
âQiao Yi said that Qiao Lang was a devil who destroyed the Qiao family.â On the contrary, Zheng YiJia instead said that he was not a bad guy.
Zheng YiJia understood what was going on and said, âIt is Qiao Yi who is unwilling to face reality. Since a long time ago, the Qiao family has been full of problems, and Qiao Lang was only a catalyst that revealed everyoneâs true state ahead of time.â
âBut Qiao Yi said that his father had a car accident, his mother had committed suicide, and his sister became mentally unsoundâââ
âFor a long time, my mother-in-law had an affair with another. My father-in-law then agreed to divorce her, but she refused and threatened suicide. Who knew that it would end up with her death. My father-in-law was also hit because the opposite driver was drunk driving. In the end, my sister-in-law became unsound because she had lost both of her parents overnight. She had always lived under the shadow of her parents since she was a child and was timid. All of this has nothing to do with Qiao Lang.â She continued, âAs a bystander, I was the one who saw it the most clearly. Qiao Lang definitely doesnât have the best intentions, and I donât believe that the Qiaoâs family affairs have nothing to do with him, but it would be unfair to blame him. Thereâs always a cause and a result, so people should always be responsible for their actions. However, Qiao Yi doesnât think so, and he has always blamed Qiao Lang with all his heart.â
When I saw her that day, I thought she was an abandoned woman who only knew how to cry and complain. However, it appeared that she was someone who was aware of what was going on around her.
I couldnât help telling her, âActually, Qiao Yi has his own difficulties for abandoning you.â
Zheng YiJia took on a surprised look at me and said softly, âNaturally, he has his problems, but what does it have to do with me? All I know is that I crossed the sea, abandoned everything to marry him, and in the end, he abandoned me. Whatâs the use of knowing his troubles? Do I have to forgive him for everything just because of his troubles?â
She suddenly cried and scolded, âFuck his troubles, I will never forgive that idiot. He had abandoned me today, and heâll regret this for all his life in the future. I curse that he will have no woman that would love him for the rest of his life! He can guard at the Qiaoâs house and fight with his brother until he is old or dead, forever depressed and lonely!â
I was really frightened by this woman.
When a woman gets angry, she really was ruthless.
She then suddenly felt sad again and whispered, âThose who have difficulties are the most hateful, as they may think that itâs like a shield, and hurt others recklessly. Oneâs own pain is not the reason to hurt others, so I will not forgive him. Iâve been married to him for five years, and I have seen everything in the Qiaoâs family. In fact, I can guess his purpose. But what does he think I am when he thinks he is so self-righteous, doing everything for my own good? Iâd rather pretend I didnât know anything and probably only forgive him when I stop loving him.â
Sometimes itâs not enough just to have love and understanding. The gap in the heart has to be refilled with time. Once the wound is healed, love will no longer exist.
I suddenly became worried for Qiao Yi. Even if one day he suddenly regretted what he did, Zheng YiJia would not be waiting for him.
There would be no other person in the world who would ever love him that deeply anymore.