Chapter 01.4

The New Year’s holiday passed quickly, and Wen Tianyu became a completely different person.

He was already a man of few words, but now he spoke even less. Since that day, after Xiang Qing started chemotherapy, her hair began to thin day by day. Wen Tianyu ran back and forth between the hospital, school, and home daily. Sometimes, Xiang Qing would occasionally see injuries on Wen Tianyu, and assumed someone had been bothering him, and he got hurt when he fought back.

As winter passed and spring came, Wen Tianyu spent almost every day of the winter break in the hospital room. They encouraged each other, both hoping the other would get better. Xiang Qing woke up from a nap and saw Wen Tianyu sitting on a stool across from her, earnestly solving problems. She laughed softly, today’s sunlight was especially dazzling, shining through the window onto them, making it seem like a moment of peaceful years. Xiang Qing watched him, praying if only time could stop at this moment… but she knew her own body condition well… A hint of sorrow appeared in Xiang Qing’s eyes, turning into reluctance. She opened her mouth several times but in the end, she did not speak to him…

Finally, the third year of high school was coming to an end, and their bright youth of three years was about to come to a close. Wen Tianyu’s grades were undoubtedly excellent; he passed the university entrance exam and was admitted to A University. Holding the admission notice, he rushed to the hospital. At this time, Xiang Qing, severely weakened by the chemotherapy, looked drastically different from the shy, timid girl she once was.

When Wen Tianyu arrived, Xiang Qing’s parents were crying, and Grandma sat on a bench provided by the nurse, her eyes brimming with tears, unsure what to think. An Yi and Jiang Sheng, usually the most talkative and lively, were exceptionally quiet today.

“What’s wrong with you guys, why aren’t you speaking, did something happen to Xiang Qing? Wasn’t she fine just a few days ago?”

“Tianyu, it’s because Xiang Qing didn’t want us to tell you. Actually, Xiang Qing… she might not make it through tonight…”

“Good kid… Uncle and Auntie know you’re good to Xiang Qing, and we know you’ve been trying hard. Xiang Qing didn’t want you to be distracted at this critical moment. Go in and talk to her for the last time.”

Xiang Qing’s mother sobbed, breaking off several times before she could complete her sentence. Wen Tianyu held back his tears and entered the hospital room.

Xiang Qing on the bed looked entirely withered due to chemotherapy. Seeing Wen Tianyu, she managed a bitter smile and said, “I look ugly, don’t I… in this state.”

Wen Tianyu, holding back tears, shook his head, “Not ugly, very beautiful, I like it.”

“Tianyu, I’m really sorry, I couldn’t keep our promise to apply to A University together. But I might not be able to apply to A University anymore. I know you’re a very good boy, you’re not some delinquent, and you have our friends, cough, cough… I know, with your ability, you definitely got into A University, right?”

“Yes… I got in, it’s the school that Ah Xiang and I longed for,” Wen Tianyu’s tears couldn’t be held back anymore, streaming down as he sobbed.

“Yes, it’s a very good university. Tianyu, you have to carry my part with you, understand?”

“What are you talking about, you’ll take your own entrance exam, being my junior is fine too,” Wen Tianyu forced out a smile uglier than crying.

Xiang Qing weakly shook her head, “Call them in, I have some things to say, I’m afraid I won’t have time if I don’t say them now.”

Wen Tianyu opened the door to the hospital room, and everyone came in one by one, unable to control their sobs. Only Grandma, she closed her eyes and shook her head, indicating she wouldn’t go in. She was too distressed to bear seeing her granddaughter in this state.

Wen Tianyu sat by the bed, holding Xiang Qing’s hand. Xiang Qing gently held back and then spoke, “Dad, Mom, thank you. During the time I’ve been sick, you didn’t leave me. I’m really happy. My childhood wish has finally come true.” Xiang Qing’s mother couldn’t control herself and leaned on Xiang Qing’s father, already crying into a tearful mess.

“Yiyi, you are my best friend. Remember to visit the roses in the secret base, remember to visit grandma, and bring Jiang Sheng with you. You two always manage to make her happy. After I’m gone, grandma will definitely be very sad. You must keep her company and distract her. You always say you can’t catch up with my grades, but since childhood, you’ve been clever and smart, with even more tricks up your sleeve than me. You’re not any less than me at all. You are the best girl in the world. I’m so happy that when I was alone and my parents weren’t by my side, it was you who stayed with me and made me happy.”

“Xiang Xiang, stop talking, please.”

An Yi’s face was covered with tears and snot, while Jiang Sheng silently handed her tissues without saying a word.

“Jiang Sheng, Tianyu doesn’t have many friends. Ever since I’ve known him, I’ve never seen him with any friends, only you. When I’m gone, I hope you can bring him breakfast and study hard with him. Don’t let him be so lonely anymore.”

Jiang Sheng nodded vigorously. He didn’t dare to speak. If he did, his voice would surely tremble more than An Yi’s.

“Wen Tianyu…”

Xiang Qing called out to him, and Wen Tianyu softly responded, already unable to hold back his tears.

“The days spent with you were very happy and joyful, but… you have to remember… remember… to find a girl who will bring you sour plum soup when you drink, who can study and progress with you, who can pull you out of your lows…”

Xiang Qing paused, feeling somewhat presumptuous. It seemed she really had fallen for Wen Tianyu. Let her be selfish this once…

Wen Tianyu listened silently, his heart growing heavier with each word.

“Xiang Qing, what nonsense are you talking about? I’m still waiting for you to become my junior, please don’t talk nonsense anymore, I beg you.”

Xiang Qing weakly turned her head to look out the window.

The breath of early summer was everywhere, with birds occasionally flying onto the lush trees.

The vitality outside formed a stark contrast with the atmosphere in the ward.

“It’s early summer now… summer vacation is coming soon… it’s such a pity… I really, really want to go to our secret base with you all again to watch the summer night sky, to see the roses bloom again under the mud house…”

Xiang Qing’s thoughts drifted farther and farther, to a place so distant she couldn’t grasp and pull them back. She seemed to return to that summer when she first met Wen Tianyu, that small alley, as if she saw herself and Wen Tianyu in the coffee shop where he worked, making a promise to get into A University, as if she returned to that New Year’s Day, spending New Year’s Eve with him…

A crystal-clear tear slid down Xiang Qing’s cheek, the sunlight reflecting off the tear as if carrying all of Xiang Qing’s beautiful hopes and past, falling with it…

“Xiang Qing, Xiang Qing!!!” The hospital room was filled with cries, everyone’s expressions panicked, and grandma hurried into the room calling “Darling”.

Xiang Qing still left everyone, in the year they graduated from high school, on the day Wen Tianyu received the admission notice from A University, she fell into eternal sleep.

Another early summer a year later, Wen Tianyu returned to this small county town.

Looking at the unchanged streets, he dialed Jiang Sheng’s phone. An Yi was also next to Jiang Sheng, and they discussed today’s memorial for Xiang Qing. After paying their respects, they planned to gather on the rooftop of the secret base.

Wen Tianyu agreed, but for some reason, he went to the secret base first. As soon as he entered, he saw a bright red color, which was the rose.

Wen Tianyu walked towards the rose, pondered for a long time, and finally picked it. He took the rose to Xiang Qing’s grave and gently placed it in front of her tombstone…

-The End-

Author’s Note:

Thank you all for your support, see you in the side stories~