Chapter14

  A deep autumn night.

  The wide road outside the Lingbo Gate of Shengyu Campus is a wide road. The streetlights on both sides of the road have been lit up, and there are many shops on the south side of the road, with neon signs flashing in the night sky.

  To the north of the road is East Lake.

  The moonlight shines quietly on the rippling lake surface, countless streetlights spill into the lake, just like countless bright stars.

  The night wind blows gently over the lake surface.

  Qī Guǒguǒ was like being petrified by a powerful magic spell.

  She stood still by the East Lake for over ten minutes, unable to blink. It wasn't until Cheng Yuan walked over and patted her shoulder that she suddenly came back to herself with a start.

  Qī Guǒguǒ had thought of many versions about how Yǐn Tángyào would celebrate Xiaomi's birthday, but she had never thought of a scene like this.

  Candlelight.

  Softly swaying candlelight.

  Innumerable candlelights.

  In the summer, for the convenience of Shengyu's classmates to swim and cool off, there were originally stone slabs on Donghu Lake. A large square stone slab with an area of over ten square meters, from which small bridges made of stone slabs extended out in a winding manner, surrounding the lake surface. At this moment, all these stone slabs had candles lit on them, and the soft candlelight shone brightly in the night, shining on the lake surface.

  The night wind is soft and gentle.

  The candlelight flickers brightly.

  The twinkling lights on the lake's surface and the starry night sky blend together, with the added glow of streetlights, countless soft, clear, hazy, and flickering rays of light sparkle from the water to the ground to the night sky.

  There is a stone table on the stone platform.

  There is a fresh fruit cake on the stone table.

  There are several stone benches on the stone platform.

  Under the dazzling light of countless candles, Cheng Yuanyuan accompanied Qi Guoguo, who was still a bit dazed, as they walked over.

  Yoon Tae-oh has arrived.

  In the night, he wore a white shirt, his hair had somehow turned black again, because Xiao Mi hadn't arrived yet, he looked somewhat lonely and silent, but his facial features were surprisingly handsome.

  Qī Guǒguǒ always felt that apart from his hair, Yǐn Tángyào had some other differences compared to usual, but couldn't quite put her finger on it, so she could only look at him with suspicion.

  Cheng Auntie has also arrived.

  She was wearing very thick clothes and sat in a wheelchair, with a gentle and quiet demeanor. Pei You accompanied her by the side of the wheelchair, taking care of her, speaking softly to her, asking about her physical condition. Cheng Yuan just listened quietly beside them.

  The night deepens.

  Xiaomi still hasn't come.

  On the stone pedestal with flickering candlelight.

  Qī Guǒguǒ felt a bit uneasy, what was Xiao Mi doing? She worriedly looked at Yǐn Tángyào, afraid that he would be angry with Xiao Mi.

  However, in sight.

  Yin Tangyao stood quietly by the stone pier on the lake, in the night, his white shirt seemed like a fragile light. He was not angry, nor furious, he quietly waited for Xiaomi.

  Music drifted out of a shop across the street.

  That song seemed to be the owner's favorite, repeating it over and over again in the quiet of the night, the singing voice was clear as if it were right next to my ear.

  “……

  It's been ages

  Haven't heard from you again

  Tell me your favorite story

  I have been thinking for a long time

  I started panicking

  Did I do something wrong again?

  ……

  You cried and told me

  Fairy tales are all deceiving

  I'm not your prince

  ……”

  Yin Tang Yao stood quietly, his back to the crowd. He stood quietly. The moonlight shone on his straight and lonely back, as if he had been waiting for a long time, because he had already waited for a very long time, so he didn't mind waiting anymore.

  At some point in time.

  Yin Tangyao's back seemed to have been touched by something, the moonlight was faintly sprinkled, the candlelight twinkled brightly, he turned his body towards the direction of Lingbo Gate, looking over there, a bright smile like a streak of starlight hooked up at the corner of his lips.

  Pei You also looked back.

  Lingbo Gate, a girl wearing a white long dress, her skirt fluttering gently in the night breeze.

  There are vehicles speeding by on the road.

  The girl stood by the road, her short hair lit up with a soft glow under the streetlight, her thin skin and lips. She gazed towards Donghu Lake, where the bright candlelight reflected in her eyes like stars. The fluttering white hem of her skirt made her look like a white elf in the night.

  Music floats from roadside shops.

  “……

  You cried and told me

  Fairy tales are all deceiving

  I'm not your prince

  ……

  Maybe you won't understand

  Since you said you love me

  The stars in my sky have all lit up

  ……”

  "Ah, millet!"

  Qī Guǒguǒ excitedly jumped up and waved at her under the starry sky of Donghu, amidst a sea of twinkling lights.

  Beautiful night scenery.

  A gentle breeze sweeps across the lake surface, a bright moon in the night sky, and countless candles lit on the winding stone slabs.

  The candlelight flickered gently.

  "Wishing you a happy birthday～～Wishing you a happy birthday～～Wishing you a ha～ppy～ bir～th～day～～Wishing you a happy birthday～～"

  Qī Guǒguǒ, Chéng Yuàn and Bèi Yōu clapped their hands and sang.

  Yin Tang Yao held a cake with candles in front of Xiao Mi, he didn't sing, but deeply gazed at her, the candlelight shining in his eyes.

  Cheng Auntie sat in her wheelchair with a smile.

  Xiaomi blew out the candle.

  Everyone cheered, and Qi Guo Guo couldn't wait to urge her to hurry up and cut the cake. Xiao Mi cut the cake into pieces and distributed them to each person's hand. After tasting it, Qi Guo Guo exclaimed that it was delicious, then ate two more pieces before sitting down with a satisfied sigh.

  "Xiaomi, why are you so late?" Qi Guoguo asked curiously, "We've been waiting for you for almost half an hour!"

  As she continued cutting the cake, Xiao Mi's back suddenly stiffened at her words.

  Pei You looked at Xiao Mi. In the candlelight, it wasn't very clear, but vaguely visible were the remnants of tears that hadn't been completely wiped away from her eyes. His heart ached, and suddenly he thought, this should be her first birthday after Xiao Yi left, which she spent alone.

  "I told her it was this time," Yin Tao-yue walked over, putting his arm around Xiao-mi's shoulder, and said to the crowd, "So actually she is very punctual."

  Xiaomi was taken aback.

  Yin Tang Yao hugged her shoulders tightly and then let go of her, taking the knife from her hand to cut the cake for her.

  "Why?" Qi Guo Guo's eyes widened, "Why did you make Xiao Mi wait for so long?"

  “……”

  The knife for cutting the cake is suspended in mid-air.

  "Because that way, Yeo can have more time to prepare," Baeu teased with a smile. "You don't know, Yeo is extremely nervous about this birthday party. Although he's been preparing for a long time, he still worries that he won't be able to personally light the candles one by one, so he had Xiao Mi come later to avoid embarrassment."

  Cheng Wan looked at Pei You.

  Pei You rubbed his nose and smiled very naturally.

  "Oh no!" Qi Guo Guo exclaimed, "Yin Tao Yao is really good to Xiao Mi!"

  "Did you just find out?" Pei You smiled.

  "Of course, I knew that long ago!" Qi Guoguo said discontentedly, "But... Ah, right! Good heavens! The birthday gift that Yin Taoyao prepared for Xiaomi must be extremely wonderful too, right?!"

  Under the urging of Qiguo, the birthday party quickly entered the gift-giving phase. The first to give a birthday gift was naturally Qiguo, who gave Xiaomi a beautiful white silk scarf.

  Cheng Yuan gave Xiaomi a pen.

  And became Auntie...

  Cheng Aunt surprisingly took out a clay jar, inside which was freshly brewed rice wine, with a faint sweet fragrance and a strong alcohol aroma.

  Xiaomi stared blankly at the rice wine.

  Cheng Auntie is still in the hospital, her body so weak, and yet she appeared here tonight, which already made her feel very uneasy, but Cheng Auntie actually even personally brewed rice wine for her?!

  "Do you like it?" Aunt Cheng smiled and stroked Xiao Mi's short hair as she sat in front of her wheelchair.

  "I like it." Xiaomi nodded.

  Aunt Cheng's hands were a bit weak and trembling, but her smile was as loving as a mother's: "When you're hungry, crack an egg into a bowl, beat it up, add some rice wine, then pour in hot water, and that's the egg drop rice wine you like to eat."

  Xiaomi bit her lip, and her eyes were a little hot.

  "After you finish eating, remember to tell Auntie, and Auntie will make a new jar for you, okay?" Auntie's voice was low, her eyes gazing at Xiao Mi, on the dark lake surface, she gently stroked Xiao Mi's soft short hair in front of the wheelchair.

  "Good."

  Xiaomi took a deep breath and burst into a happy smile. Yeah, she wanted everyone to have a great time tonight.

  The candlelight flickers on the surface of Donghu Lake.

  The night wind blows in.

  Pei You rubbed his nose, a slightly awkward smile on his face. He apologized to Xiao Mi, "Sorry, I forgot to buy you a gift..."

  "What?!" Qi Guo's eyes widened in shock as she stared at him.

  Xiaomi was taken aback, then burst out laughing. She couldn't believe that someone as meticulous as him would also forget things. Seeing his embarrassed expression, she quickly shook her head with a smile and said:

  "It's okay."

  "Hey! This isn't like you at all!" Qi Guoguo exclaimed in confusion, "In the past, no matter how small a trivial matter it was, even whether to eat chili peppers or Sichuan peppercorns with millet porridge, you would never get it wrong, how could...".

  Pei You apologized again, his eyes fixed on the white dress of Xiao Mi in the candlelight. She was smiling, her eyes curved like a crescent moon. He smiled faintly and lowered his head, no one could see the emotions at the bottom of his eyes.

  Cheng Yuan didn't see it either.

  So she felt even more curious and stared at him for a long time.

  Stars twinkling in the night sky.

  The lake's surface was blown by the gentle night breeze, and the candlelight flickered on the ripples, with dots of candlelight and starlight, and the glow of street lamps also reflected in the water, shining brightly like countless sparkling jewels.

  "Yin Tang Yao!"

  "Yin Tang Yao!!"

  On the stone platform filled with candlelight, Qi Guo Guo excitedly clapped her hands and shouted, finally arriving at the moment when the male lead made his grand entrance, wow, what surprises would there be?!

  Faint moonlight.

  In the moonlight, Yin Tang's white shirt seemed to have a lonely glow. Hearing Qi Guo Guo's shout, he turned his head to look at Xiao Mi beside him.

  Xiaomi also happened to turn his head and look at him at this time.

  Then---

  His and her eyes met in the autumn lake's surface on a windy night.

  Yin Tao's white shirt, Xiao Mi's white dress, he gazed at her, she gazed at him, the flickering candlelight on Donghu Lake, such a beautiful scene, as if all the starlight in the night sky was shining around them.

  And Yin Tao Yao's palm also has a star.

  Little stars, small, bright, shining in his palm.

  He gazed deeply at Xiaomi.

  Put that little star in front of her eyes.

  There are countless stars in the night sky.

  The stars twinkle.

  The stars in his palm shone with a moving light, flashing one by one, brightly reflected in her eyes. She raised her head dazedly, the diamond on his nose wing was gone, leaving only a fine mark. The small diamond was in his palm, set in a small ring.

  Pei Yan obtained that diamond.

  He really likes it and thinks it's beautiful, so he made it into a nose stud. In his words, as long as you lower your eyes, you can see it.

  Yao had told him about the diamond story.

  That was several years ago, he accidentally found a small diamond ring. His mother told him that it was the first gift his father gave her when they were in love, and later replaced with a larger diamond at their wedding. His mother gave him the diamond ring, which was too small to wear, so he removed the diamond from it and made it into a nose stud.

  Many people ridiculed him for wearing a diamond on his nose as being too flashy and unbridled.

  Nobody knows that Yaw actually really likes that diamond.

  The diamond sparkled on the small ring, reflecting the candlelight and the stars, that small light shone brightly and Xiao Mi's heart tightened into a ball.

  Yin Tang Yao gazed at her intently.

  His voice was low, but with the gentle night breeze, it drifted into the ears of everyone on the candlelit stone platform.

  "Marry me, okay?"

  He said to her.

  Quiet night, the world is so bright, countless stars in the night sky, countless candles lit on the lake surface, vehicles speeding by on the road, neon lights changing colors.

  Qī Guǒguǒ was so shocked that she covered her mouth.

  Pei You smiled faintly and turned his head to gaze at the rippling waves on the lake.

  Cheng's gaze swept past Yintang Yao, past the dazed and standing Xiao Mi, and past Pei You, who had a faint smile on his lips. She lowered her eyes.

  Cheng Auntie sat in her wheelchair, with the starlight at the edge of the sky casting a glow that made her body seem almost transparent.

  The Donghu Lake is rippling with starlight and candlelight.

  Quiet ripples.

  Layer by layer, it ripples out.

  Xiaomi gazed blankly at Yintang Yao standing in front of her, her thin lips pursed, her white skirt fluttering lightly, like white flower petals beaten down by a gentle rain.

  The diamond ring sparkled between her and him.

  "Marry me, okay?"

  Yin Tang Yao gazed at her and asked again.

  She was stunned and unable to make a sound in her throat.

  The night is quiet.

  The water of Donghu Lake ripples gently.

  Yin Tangyao's eyes had a fierce flame, he stared at her tightly. And she didn't answer for a long, long time, causing his fingers to slowly turn cold.

  A sharp pain shot through his chest and mouth.

  The blood color faded from his lips.

  Just wanting to keep her by his side, even if she didn't have him in her heart, as long as she was with him, that was enough.

  A quiet night.

  "...Why?"

  Yin Tang faintly smiled, her lips a bit pale: "Because... that way I will feel very happy." She had once said, as long as he was happy, as long as he felt blissful, she would do anything. Now, did she still remember these words?

  Xiaomi gazed at him.

  Her gaze seemed to penetrate his body, as if looking at someone who didn't exist. There was a dazed look in her eyes, and this gaze made Yin Tangyao's heart violently ache.

  A while.

  "Will you... be happy?"

  She asked softly.

  Yin Tangyao's lips were pale purple, and his back was straight: "I will, I'll be very happy."

  The song across the road has been repeating and singing all along...

  “……

  You cried and told me

  Fairy tales are all deceiving

  I am not your prince

  Maybe you won't understand

  Since you said you love me

  The stars in my sky have all lit up

  ……

  I wish I could become a fairy tale

  The angel you love

  Spread open both hands transformed into wings protecting you

  You have to believe

  I believe we will be like in fairy tales

  Happiness and joy are the ending

  ……”

  Xiaomi gazed at him, a quiet smile spreading across her lips, and the soft glow of starlight shining from the bottom of her eyes. She said softly...

  "Good."

  Next to him, Qi Guo Guo let out a shocked gasp!

  Cheng Yuan was also stunned.

  The candlelight on the stone platform by the lake is swaying in the night wind.

  Yin Tangyao held her tightly, his scorching breath by her ear, he held her so tight that his arms seemed to pass through her bones and into her blood.

  He held her tightly in his arms.

  His mind went blank, his excitement left him breathless, and he ignored the sharp pains in his chest as he held her tightly and leaned into her ear, his voice scorching hot:

  "Do you know what you've promised?"

  She closed her eyes in his arms:

  "Yes."

  "Do you know who I am?" Yoon Tae-oh's arms wrapped tightly around her, his lips pale purple, the intense pain making his body tremble slightly, yet his face was breathtakingly handsome.

  "Yes."

  "Call my name..."

  Yoon Tae-oh...

  "Call again..."

  Yoon Tae-oh...

  Tears flowed slowly down the cheeks of Xiaomi. Yes, it was Yin Tangyao, she was willing to make him happy, willing to make him joyful, and willing to do everything that could bring him happiness.

  Heart-wrenching pain like being torn apart!

  Yin Tangyao took a light breath in.

  He released her, gazing at her. Under the starry sky, he gently lifted her hand and gently put a ring on her finger, with a small diamond shining brightly between her slender fingers.

  The night wind gently sweeps across the lake surface.

  On the stone pedestal with flickering candlelight.

  Qī Guǒguǒ was stunned, her heart moved by the two people in front of her, feeling a mix of sadness and sweetness. Cheng āyí smiled kindly from her wheelchair. Cheng Yuān gazed quietly at Péi Yōu, who was smiling faintly with a hint of loneliness beside her.

  Xiaomi suddenly froze again.

  She stared blankly at the center of Yin Tangyao's palm, where another small and delicate thing magically appeared. She held her breath as a surge of moisture welled up in her eyes.

  "Help me put it on."

  Yin Tang's lips were deep purple as he stared at her and said.

  Xiaomi's eyelashes trembled, and he gently picked it up from his palm, lightly raised his hand, and put it on the bridge of his nose. As a result, the place that was originally adorned with a diamond was replaced by it.

  The moonlight falls quietly.

  Little angel on his nose wing.

  The angel's wings shone with a soft silver light, flying on Yin Tao's nose wing, reflecting the bright light in his eyes. Wearing a white shirt, he seemed to have slowly flown out a pair of wings behind him.

  Her fingers lingered on his face.

  The diamond's luster between her fingers, the angelic glow of his nose, shone together. The endless starlight in the night sky, the swaying candlelight on the lake surface. That night, the light illuminated the world.

  That night.

  Pei You raised his head to gaze at the stars in the night sky, and the starlight also shone on his white shirt. He didn't look at Yao and Xiao Mi again, and the smile on his lips seemed to become more and more desolate.

  But ——

  Because there is no going back to see again

  He didn't notice that Yao's lips were gradually turning a frightening shade of purple, nor did he notice that Yao's face was gradually becoming as pale and transparent as an angel's wings. Moreover, he didn't even notice that Yao's hands, which were embracing Xiao Mi, had fingernails that were also a purplish-white color, as if they could drip with blood at any moment.

  When Guo Guo's sharp scream of terror rang out.

  Pei You turned back

  Yin Tang Yao's pale face fainted and fell on the stone platform, the surrounding candlelight was extinguished by the wind, and Xiao Mi rushed over to hold his body.

  When Pei You rushed to his side.

  Yin Tang Yao lay in Xiao Mi's arms, his heartbeat had stopped, quietly, not a single beat was left, only the angel still shone with soft light on his nose wing.

  The shops by the roadside were still singing that song over and over again, completely unaware of what had happened.

  “……

  It's been ages

  Haven't heard from you again

  Tell me your favorite story

  I have been thinking for a long time

  I started panicking

  Did I do something wrong again?

  You cried and told me

  Fairy tales are all deceiving

  I'm not your prince

  ……

  Maybe you won't understand

  Since you said you love me

  The stars in my sky have all lit up

  ……

  I wish I could become a fairy tale

  The angel you love

  Spread open both hands transformed into wings protecting you

  You have to believe

  I believe we will be like in fairy tales

  Happiness and joy are the ending

  ……”

  ……

  Renai Hospital at midnight.

  The ambulance screeched in, its sirens flashing rapidly and piercingly, doctors and nurses rushed out from the entrance, the rear door of the ambulance opened, and a stretcher was sent out!

  A chaotic night scene.

  "Get out of the way!"

  The wheels of the stretcher cart rolled swiftly across the floor, doctors rushed to push the bed while checking the patient's pale and purple face, nurses held up high the infusion bottle, chaotic footsteps, chaotic figures, dazzling white lights in the hospital corridor, disordered breathing, terrified heartbeat.

  Yin Tang Yao lay quietly.

  Eyes tightly closed, face pale, lips purple, a pale and purple right hand fell from the bed frame...

  The doctors ran anxiously while shouting.

  "Get out of the way!!"

  "Get out of the way!"

  People in the corridor dodged one after another.

  The emergency room door was already wide open.

  Doctors, nurses and stretchers rushed in!

  Bang!

  The door closed heavily again!

  Qī Guǒguǒ stood frozen outside the emergency room, thoroughly stunned. She had never thought that life could be so fragile. It was as if just a moment ago, Yǐn Tángyào and Xiǎomǐ's scene was still romantically sweet in her heart, but in an instant, Yǐn Tángyào suddenly stopped breathing and was sent to the hospital.

  On the way to the hospital in the ambulance, Bae-oo and the emergency doctor made efforts to perform CPR on Yoon Tae-oh, giving him artificial respiration and injecting him with a shot. Meanwhile, Yoon Tae-oh lay quietly as if he were already dead.

  No heartbeat anymore.

  Isn't it...

  Is he dead?

  Qī Guǒguǒ was trembling with fear, and she looked at Xiaomǐ with a quivering gaze.

  The red light above the emergency room entrance is on.

  A faint red glow shone on Xiaomi's pale face. She was also trembling, as if she wanted to rush into the emergency room, but seemed afraid, only hugging her shoulders with both arms, shaking violently. Under the red light of the emergency room, her face looked even paler than paper, seemingly paler than Yin Daoyong on the hospital bed, her lips pale and trembling. Slowly, her legs trembled as if she couldn't stand anymore, leaning against the door of the emergency room, she slowly slid down, hugging her shoulders and shrinking down, shaking uncontrollably, shrinking into a small ball.

  "Xiaomi..."

  Qī Guǒguǒ hesitated and called out to her, unsure of how to comfort her.

  The corridor is quiet.

  A deathly silence.

  Suffocating silence of death.

  Through the glass window of the emergency room, you can see the electrocardiogram monitor beeping "beep-beep-beep", with a straight line drawn on the screen that doesn't change.

  Pei You's face turned pale as he bent down to look.

  On the sickbed, Yin Tangyao's eyes were tightly closed, his lips were a deep purple that was frightening to behold. His hands hung down limply, without any sign of life, only the gentle glow emanating from the bridge of his nose.

  The doctor picked up the defibrillator paddles.

  Bang!

  Yin Tangyao's body suddenly sprang up high.

  "Turn up the current!" the doctor shouted urgently.

  "Bang!!!"

  Yin Tangyao's body bounced up high again and fell down weakly.

  "Turn up the current!"

  "Bang!!!!!!!!!!"

  Like a soft rag doll, Yin Tao's body was lifted high and then heavily fell back. The ECG machine let out a sharp "beep", a straight line, no heartbeat, just a straight line...

  Outside the emergency room.

  Qiu Guo Guo covered her mouth with force, and the terror made her unable to speak. She had no way to comfort Xiao Mi, and she couldn't say a word.

  Xiaomi shrank, she tightly hugged herself, as if suddenly falling into a hollow world, nothing was left, everything disappeared, a pale and dizzy world, a dead world that would never wake up again. She kept trembling, her face numb, her lips pale white, just like the moment when Yintang Yao's heart stopped beating, she also died together with him.

  The hospital corridor suddenly echoed with chaotic footsteps at the end.

  Those footsteps came running, under the dazzling lights, a woman stumbled and ran over, her hair was messy, her eyes were wide open in panic, with red tear marks at the corners of her eyes. However, although fear controlled her, she still looked beautiful as if surrounded by a thin layer of light smoke.

  Staring at the red light of the emergency room.

  Tears streamed down the woman's eyes, she restrained herself from losing control, clenching her fists, her body trembling slightly.

  Behind the woman stood a tall man with silky hair at his temples. He placed his hand on her trembling shoulder, grasping it firmly and saying in a low voice:

  "Don't worry, Yao is fine."

  The emergency room door opened.

  Pei You walked out with a pale face.

  Qī Guǒguǒ, the woman and man stared at him, the atmosphere was eerily silent, the three people looked at him in terror, no one dared to speak. There was a kind of fear, as if with just a slight touch, the world would completely collapse.

  The heartbeat has recovered.

  Bai You spoke in a low voice, and even though he tried his best to calm down, he was still trapped in the fear from just now and couldn't completely calm down.

  The woman's body swayed slightly.

  Bae-u hastily supported her: "Yoon aunt..."

  Yin Zhaoman took a deep breath, her body relaxed, but her trembling became more intense. Fine beads of sweat suddenly appeared on her forehead. Pei Zhenhua gently held her shoulders and helped her sit down on the long bench in the corridor.

  Then.

  Pei You turned around.

  He looked at Xiao Mi who was curled up in the corner.

  She was like a lost child, immersed in an empty world, pale-faced, hugging her own shoulders, trembling unconsciously, unable to feel anything around her. The air around her seemed to be pale and trembling too. When Pei You approached her, she suddenly raised her head, staring at him with a desperate despair in her eyes, like a dying animal would pounce on his throat.

  Pei You squatted down.

  He gently hugged her.

  She struggled in terror, as if his embrace conveyed a dangerous aura. Pei You gently hugged her, letting her not be afraid, everything was fine, Yao hadn't died, he was still alive.

  The intensive care unit was lit by a single small lamp.

  Yin Tang lay pale and still on the bed, his fingers moving unconsciously. The dark night air seeped in through the curtains, and the ECG monitor drew a zigzag line, beeping rhythmically: "Beep, beep, beep".

  Xiaomi stared blankly at him.

  She wanted to walk closer to see him, but it was as if she had just woken up from a nightmare, all her strength had been exhausted, and even her little fingers couldn't lift up.

  "Director, adjust the IV drip rate a bit. Whispering: 'He's been given an injection and won't wake up until tomorrow noon. Besides, we have special care to take care of him, you all go back and rest.'"

  Yin Zhaoman sat beside the sickbed.

  She gazed at her son who was in a coma for a long time, then gently tucked his quilt in, and without turning around said: "You all go, I'll stay."

  "I'm with you."

  Pei Zhenhua said with concern.

  "No," Yoon Jaeman's voice was calm. "He is my son, all of you leave me alone with him."

  Pai Zhenhua's eyes flashed with a gloomy expression, he looked at the back of Yin Zhao Man, after a while, he walked away silently. Then, Dean Ren and Qi Guoguo also left. Pai You patted Xiao Mi's shoulder, Xiao Mi stared blankly again at Yin Tangyao on the hospital bed, finally turned around and followed him out of the ward.

  A quiet corridor.

  The white light of the white fluorescent lamp shines on the snow-white wall.

  Bench in the corridor.

  Xiaomi sat silently, her back straight as a board, motionless like a stiff wooden puppet. Pei You sat down beside her and placed a warm cup of soy milk in the palm of her hand. Her fingers trembled slightly, and her hands unconsciously clutched the soy milk tightly, but she didn't drink it, just held it. The faint aroma of the soy milk wafted through the air from the straw, and the small diamond on her finger sparkled.

  She didn't say anything.

  He didn't say anything either.

  Two people sat quietly on the long bench in the hospital corridor.

  After a long time.

  The soy milk has cooled down.

  Pei You bought another cup of warm soy milk and handed it over to her.

  The two still didn't speak.

  Dazzling fluorescent lights quietly stretched his and her shadows on the marble floor.

  The night is very deep.

  A faint light seeped out from under the door of the intensive care unit.

  On the long bench in the corridor, Pei You and Xiao Mi sat silently until footsteps stopped in front of them.

  "What? Haven't you gone back yet?"

  The Dean looked at these two people in surprise and said.

  Pei You raised his head, stood up and explained with a faint smile: "It's already so late, going back would make it hard to sleep anyway, might as well stay here where my heart feels more at ease."

  Dean Ren knew about Pei You and Yin Tao Yao's deep friendship since childhood, so he sighed and nodded, no longer persuading him to leave.

  "Dean..."

  "Huh?"

  "I have a question..." Pei You furrowed his brow and said hesitantly.

  "You said."

  Pei You looked at Xiao Mi sitting silently on the long chair, like a soulless doll. He couldn't help but hesitate again, but this terrible thought had been bothering him for some time, like a dark cloud that he couldn't shake off.

  He finally asked it out.

  "Yao's heart transplant surgery..."

  It seemed as if something had been touched off, and Xiao Mi's eyelashes quivered slightly. She raised her eyes, gazing at Pei You with a bewildered expression.

  The dean's face flashed a strange expression.

  Pei You noticed it and was shocked in his heart. He was about to continue asking when the door of the intensive care unit opened.

  Yin Zhao Man walked out.

  Her beautiful face was expressionless, her black dress making her look calm and composed, the faint tear stains at the corners of her eyes seeming like an illusion. She stared at the millet on the long bench, her pupils seemingly only containing the millet, as if other people were completely nonexistent.

  Directly.

  She walked over to Xiaomi.

  Xiaomi stood up.

  Yin Zhaoman stood in front of Xiaomi, staring at her, with a hint of hatred in his eyes, cold and icy.

  "You can go."

  Her voice was calm and unruffled.

  "Don't appear in front of Yaw again from now on."

  Xiaomi was stunned and stared at her blankly.

  "Otherwise, you must let Yao die in front of you, are you at peace?" Yin Zhao Man took a deep breath, but her voice had already seeped into instability.

  "I..." Xiaomi's lips trembled.

  "Is it because of you that he has fallen ill these few times?" Yin Zhao Man clenched her fists tightly, trying to control the unstable tone in her voice, but she didn't realize that her own lips were also trembling uncontrollably like grains of millet.

  Xiaomi's whole body was stiff.

  A dark abyss gushed out blood of intense pain, screaming and tearing, wanting to swallow her into the endless depths.

  "... is ..."

  She replied softly like this.

  "Xiaomi..."

  Pei You painfully whispered.

  The dean shook his head and sighed deeply.

  Yin Zhaoman's pupils constricted, and the hatred in her beautiful face grew stronger: "Since that's the case..."

  "Will he no longer get sick if I leave?"

  Her pale face had no blood color, Xiaomi looked at her with dark eyes, eyelashes lightly trembling, she said softly.

  "If I leave, he will never fall ill again and live a good life... Then... I'll leave and never appear in front of him again. I'll leave Shengyu, leave this city, and go far, far away... even if it means I have to die..."

  The desperate and fanatical expression on her face suddenly stunned Yin Zhaoman.

  Pei You slightly turned his head and couldn't look at her.

  "Is it possible?"

  Xiaomi stared blankly at Dean Ren.

  "As long as I leave, will he be okay?"

  She was like a child in despair trying to grasp the last straw, her face pale, but her eyes were incredibly bright and fixed on Dean Ren.

  "Is that so?"

  The fluorescent lights shone palely in the hospital corridor.

  A long corridor.

  Empty and deserted with no one else around.

  The dean's eyebrows were tightly locked, he slowly shook his head, a sense of powerlessness and frustration made him look suddenly much older.

  Xiaomi looked at him in horror, her breath taken away by fear: "Why not? Why did you shake your head? If I leave, he won't be sad or happy anymore, isn't that okay too?"

  Pei You also stared at Dean Ren in shock.

  Yin Zhaoman's face turned pale, and her hands became icy cold.

  The Dean shook his head again, and his helpless voice was filled with deep regret and disappointment: "I'm very sorry..."

  "Didn't he have a heart transplant?" Xiao Mi asked in shock, her body trembling with each word, "Xiao's heart is healthy, there's not a single problem with his heart, it's healthy!"

  Dean Ren looked at Yin Zhaoman but didn't respond.

  "You've never had a heart transplant, have you?"

  Pei You looked at Dean Ren intently and said.

  A silent thunderclap seemed to echo through the quiet corridor.

  "Or rather - has he ever had a heart transplant at all?"

  Deep night.

  The dean suddenly sighed and looked at Yin Zhaoman. Yin Zhaoman's face turned pale, as if something had heavily struck her down, a kind of sadness and pain seeping out from her body.

  Bai You's surprise and fear:

  "Is it really true?... Yao never had a heart transplant, so there was only the simplest description of the operation. The medical records, data and specific records of the surgical process could not be found, and all the doctors who 'participated' in the surgery were tight-lipped... Because he had never had a heart transplant, Yao had never had any rejection reaction..."

  He should have been suspicious long ago.

  Where would someone undergo a heart transplant, such a major surgery, yet have no rejection reaction at all, adapting so well that it's as if the heart was originally his own. Since that day, he had been suspicious of whether the donor was Xiao Yun or not, and this suspicion grew deeper and deeper. He couldn't find any records or information about that surgery!

  But a year after the heart transplant, Yao's condition did improve and he rarely fell ill again. At that time, as an undergraduate about to graduate, he never thought there would be any problems with the surgery. He was always optimistic, thinking that since there was no rejection reaction and the new heart was healthy, Yao could live a normal life like anyone else.

  Yin Zhaoman closed her eyes, her face as white as snow, the unbearable pain making her tremble slightly. But she struggled to hold it in, a faint smile gradually appearing on her beautiful lips, calm as if nothing had happened.

  "Dean... can't hide it anymore... right?"

  Bai You supported Yin Zhaoman's shoulder, and a chill ran through her body, making him shiver slightly as well.

  The corridor of Renai Hospital.

  The floor seam of the ICU emits a faint light, the long chair is quiet, and the spotlight is dazzling.

  Bright as daylight...

  Xiaomi stood there stupidly, under the pale light of the lamp, she stood there in a trance-like state, her eardrums humming softly, her spine felt like it was being pricked by countless needles, numb and painful.

  She suddenly couldn't understand what they were saying.

  All I could see were the expressions of horror, pain or sadness on their faces, all I could see was their lips moving. The air was filled with a faint white mist, everything seemed fake, like a puppet show, it was all fake, everything was fake.

  Bright as the stillness of white daylight...

  There was no sound, just like that day, the golden sunlight, the golden leaves, the golden shards of glass, and the golden blood flowing all over the ground. He lay in her arms like an angel, sleeping peacefully...

  Late at night.

  The dean's office had a large desk piled high with medical records, black and white films clipped to the bright light board, all of which were X-rays of the same heart from different angles. Yin Zhaoman sat on the sofa, her beautiful face without a weak expression, only her lips slightly pale.

  Pei You stood there, staring blankly at the ECG printout on the light box, his fingers involuntarily clenching tighter and tighter.

  "Is this yours?"

  The dean sat tiredly in the leather chair behind his desk, rubbing his brow and saying in a low voice:

  "Yes."

  "Why is it like this?" Pei You asked in a low voice.

  Dean sighed: "Xiaoyue has a congenital heart disease, and we once tried to install a pacemaker for him. However, the complexity of his condition was beyond our imagination, and even the best pacemakers from abroad could not be installed in his body at that time. Almost all cardiac surgery experts in the country have diagnosed his condition, but none of them can find a solution."

  "Why did you lie to Yaw and tell him you had a heart transplant?"

  "In fact, his physical condition was extremely poor at the time and he was not suitable for a heart transplant, with almost zero chance of success. Even if we had done it, we wouldn't have been able to find a suitable heart for him." Director Ren stood up and walked to the lamp on the wall, pointing to the heart with his pen, "But look, this is already severely diseased, from a medical perspective, he didn't have much time left to live."

  Pei You was shocked and stunned.

  Xiaomi stood stupidly by the door, like a lonely wandering soul. She didn't breathe, didn't have a heartbeat, her eardrums kept buzzing endlessly, and the blood in her body flowed extremely slowly, as if it didn't know where to go.

  Yin Zhaoman stared expressionlessly at the X-ray of the heart on the lamp panel.

  "But at that time, the most serious problem was not Xiaoyao's illness, but he had completely given up hope." Dean Ren glanced at Yin Zhaoman and couldn't help but frown again. "He knew he was going to die soon, so he didn't care about anything, extremely self-destructive. He kept causing trouble in school, fighting, and being unruly, his condition rapidly deteriorating..."

  Yin Zhaoman's lips were pale and bloodless.

  "In the end, we could only come up with this solution." Dean Ren sighed and shook his head. "We performed surgery on him, but there was no way to perform a fundamental operation. However, there were some methods that could make his condition slightly better. Fortunately, the surgery was very successful. So, we told Xiao Yao that it was a heart transplant, and the new heart was very healthy and adapted well, with no signs of rejection. Therefore, his illness would not be a big problem, and he could live a normal life like a healthy person."

  "No, this is the lie I insisted you tell." The calm voice, Yin Zhaoman straightened her back, "I said it before, this is my persistence, has nothing to do with you."

  "But," said Pae Yu in a pained tone, "this will mislead..."

  "How much longer can he live?" Yin Zhaoman smiled faintly, "Since he was a child, he has been living under the shadow of congenital heart disease. He couldn't play or do anything, while other children could go to amusement parks and ride roller coasters, he could only bask in the sun on the hospital lawn. Even if I deceive him into thinking he's recovered, I want him to believe that he can live a normal life, fall in love with girls his age, have a future to look forward to...

  "If Little Yue regains his will to live and stops giving up on himself, with the rapid development of medicine today, perhaps he can hold on until that hopeful day arrives," said Director Ren. This was also the reason why he agreed to let Yin Zhaoman perform this play.

  Outside the window is the dark night.

  A black-and-white X-ray of a heart on the light box emitted a cold glow.

  Pei You couldn't say another word.

  His tall figure stood weakly, his elegant lips gradually turned pale, and his eyes also gradually dimmed. It turned out that the complete recovery of Yao he had been talking about was just a lie, a lie that left him stunned but unable to refute in words.

  A pang in my heart.

  He suddenly looked at Xiao Mi by the door.

  She stood there, like a doll that couldn't understand or hear anything that was happening, her posture and expression as empty as they were in the corridor earlier. In a white long dress, with short fluffy hair, she looked like a soulless doll, with an empty and dull gaze, standing there stupidly, yet no one would notice her existence.

  Following Pei You's line of sight, Yin Zhaoman also saw Xiao Mi. The moment she saw her, a hint of hatred flashed in the depths of her eyes:

  "Haven't you left yet?!"

  Xiaomi was dazed and immersed in her own world, as if she hadn't heard anything.

  Dean said: "Zhao Man, calm down. The effectiveness of Xiao Yao's surgery may be related to her appearance, even if she wasn't here, Xiao Yao's heart would still..."

  "No." Yun Zhao Man interrupted him, taking a deep breath and saying, "If it weren't for her, Yao wouldn't be so miserable. These few times he fell ill were also because of her!"

  Quietly.

  Xiaomi's eyeballs moved slightly.

  Then, it stopped again.

  Yin Zhaoman stood up and walked in front of her, gazing at her coldly, her beautiful neck proudly raised like a queen's.

  "Please leave." Don't appear in Yaw's life again.

  Even if Yo dies, she wants his last days to be peaceful and serene. For Yo, she tried to accept this girl. But since then, she found that Yo was more painful, a kind of pain that seemed fragile enough to die. She wants to protect Yo, even if she has to use her nails and teeth, even if she has to become a shrew, she will protect him from pain.

  Xiaomi stared blankly at her.

  Her distracted appearance made Pei You's heart knot into a ball. He walked over, gently grasping Xiao Mi's shoulder, and said in a low voice: "Let's go out first..."

  Xiaomi didn't move.

  She stared blankly, her gaze leaving Yoon Joman, and fell vacantly on Dean Im's face. Her throat moved as if she had said something, but her voice was strangely hoarse and faint, only heard by Bae Woo, who was closest to her.

  "Where is it?"

  The dean did not hear it and asked in confusion: "What?"

  Xiaomi's face turned pale, her lips trembling slightly: "......where is it?......"

  "What's going on here?" Dean Ren frowned.

  "...the heart...where is it?" she asked dazedly, with a terrifying glint in her eyes, staring straight at Dean Ren, her voice soft as if whispering, "...then...where did you put Yi's heart..."

  The dean was stunned.

  Yin Zhaoman was also stunned, she stared at Xiaomi with an incredulous expression in her eyes.

  Xiaomi looked straight at Dean Ren, her voice low and trembling as she said: "......So......where did you put Xiao's heart......is it because it was no longer needed......so......you threw it away......"

  "Rice!"

  Pei You grasped her shoulders tightly, wanting to shake her awake.

  “……where did you throw Xiao Ye's heart……tell me……please tell me……” Tears flowed down Xiaomi's face as she grabbed Director Ren's clothes and asked in a daze, “……did you throw away Xiao Ye's heart……if it's not needed……why not put it back……there's an empty hole in the body……it will be very cold……do you know……”

  The Dean was stunned by her question.

  "Is it just that heart you care about?!"

  Yin Zhao Man suddenly became furious and raised her right hand to slap Xiao Mi's face!

  "Auntie Yin!"

  Pei You shouted in a low voice and grasped Yin Zhaoman's hand.

  "What are you doing?!" Yun Zhao Man's heart ached as she struggled to compose herself, and seeing that the one blocking her way was actually her son's best friend, she couldn't help but shout in anger, "Yao's illness is so severe, yet all she cares about is that heart of hers! Are you still protecting her?!"

  "I'm sorry..."

  Pei You hung his head in shame.

  Yin Zhaoman looked at him, then glanced at her, a self-mocking cold smile appeared on his lips, and he slowly withdrew his hand, turned around and left the principal's office.

  Xiaomi was completely unaware of what had happened.

  Tears quietly spread across her cheeks as she stared at Dean Ren, feeling empty inside, as if nothing was left. The emptiness was so cold. If just crying could make one feel this empty and cold, then when she saw Ye Fan lying in the icebox, with white mist rising from his body and a black hole in his chest, wasn't he even colder?

  Pei You patted her shoulder.

  Her tears flowed into his chest.

  She wept, and wept, and wept like a bewildered child, she began to wail loudly, crying out in a voice that seemed to say that if only she could cry hard enough, she wouldn't have to believe it, she could die, she could never wake up again.

  She looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

  Tears sparkled like diamonds on her cheeks.

  She gazed at him with tears in her eyes...

  Suddenly, she was stunned, staring at him blankly, gently raising her hand, and gently touching his face, as if touching a fragile dream. She suddenly smiled, hugged him, and held him tightly, laughing and crying, shouting:

  "Oh God! It was just a dream! You're still fine! Still fine! You won't leave me, you said you wouldn't leave me! I know you won't deceive me, right?! Oh God, you're still fine..."

  Pei You painfully hugged her tightly.

  Tears like stardust.

  Her fingers on his cheek also had small stars.

  She held his face and laughed and cried:

  "I was wrong, tomorrow I swear I will never speak loudly to you again, never scold you, and never eat jelly. I'll make longevity noodles for you, study hard, exercise well, never sleep in late again, and never get angry with Dad. I'll be a good girl and listen to whatever you say... Is that okay? ... Please, can you please not let me have scary dreams anymore?"

  "Good."

  Pei You held her tightly, his heart aching as if being strangled. At this moment, he suddenly wished he could turn into a swallow, just so she would be fine, just so she wouldn't cry, just so she could be happy.

  It was all just a dream after all...

  Xiaomi smiled happily.

  She smiled at him with tears in her eyes, a radiant smile that was as pure and perfect as an angel.

  Then——

  She fell back softly and fainted in his arms.

  The venetian blind in the principal's office revealed a pitch-black night outside.

  Bai You gently held her tightly in his arms. Just sleep like this, don't think about anything, just quietly and peacefully sleep. He gently stroked her fluffy short hair, with a pang of pain in his heart, and prepared to leave with her in his arms.

  As he turned around, he saw Dean Ren who had been completely stunned.

  "Dean..."

  "Huh?"

  "Where is that heart?" His eyes dimmed. Generally speaking, it's rare for a hospital to encounter a volunteer who has agreed to donate their organs after death in a car accident. If the deceased's heart is in good condition, it won't be abandoned and not used.

  Dean Yan stared at him.

  "Please tell me," Pei You said quietly, "because that donor... is my younger brother."

  PS: Thank you to the lovely editor, she agreed that I can start posting the subsequent chapters from today on, dear~~~ I've always felt very sorry for not being able to let everyone see the complete content in a timely manner, it's just because the copyright of the manuscript has been sold, and what I could do and strive for is only this much.

  Sorry, it's impossible to post all at once now.

  Some friends hope to read the whole article in one breath, so just wait and don't look at the serialized chapters for now? I'll make a note on the title of the article once everything is posted.

  I'm really sorry...

  Also, ps: The next chapter will be posted in a few days. I see that some friends are unhappy and I feel sad too. However, being able to publish is also one of my wishes, but after the copyright is sold, some things are no longer under my control. Sorry again.

  Ashamed Xiaoxi

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