Chapter 25

The past few days had been gloomy.

They had planned to come home in the evening, but an unexpected incident happened in the afternoon—Grandpa had fainted.

The old man had always been in good health, almost eighty years old and never having been to the hospital. He didn’t even suffer from high blood pressure or diabetes. He had been sitting comfortably in his room when, suddenly, he fainted.

Fu Cheng rushed him to the hospital and into the emergency room. At the time, his vital signs were stable, but the doctor was concerned it might be a cerebrovascular issue and recommended hospitalization for further tests.

Given his advanced age, the hardening of the blood vessels and sudden fainting could have many causes, so it needed to be thoroughly investigated.

Fu Cheng sent Youyi home and stayed in the hospital to accompany his grandfather.

The old man was quite stubborn. Even though Fu Cheng was his only grandson, he refused to let him stay in the hospital, saying that seeing him would only make him angry, worsening his condition.

Fu Cheng had no choice but to hire a caregiver for him.

During this period, Youyi had a packed schedule, with many practical lessons. Sometimes she had classes all morning or all afternoon, and she didn’t get home until after nine in the evening. After showering and going to bed, she barely had any time to see Fu Cheng.

Youyi knew that Fu Cheng was busier than she was.

He had to take care of his grandfather and deal with work, leaving him no time at all.

On Friday afternoon, Youyi returned home to pick up a lab report. As soon as she exited the elevator, she ran into Fu Cheng, who was about to leave.

“How is Grandpa doing?” Youyi asked.

Fu Cheng looked tired, carrying a bag in his hand. He said, “He had an angiogram yesterday. They found a small issue with the blood vessels, but it’s not serious. He just needs to take medicine at home.”

Youyi asked, “So he’s being discharged today?”

Fu Cheng replied, “I’ll handle the discharge procedures tomorrow morning. The doctor said he needs to receive another dose of IV fluids today.”

Youyi was relieved to hear this.

She had visited his grandfather at the hospital on Wednesday during her internship. The old man was in decent spirits, though not as good as on his birthday.

Seeing him in the hospital reminded Youyi of the time her own grandfather was in the hospital.

Her grandfather had been in the military for many years and had numerous injuries. Two years ago, he was diagnosed with stomach cancer and had a large part of his stomach removed, followed by chemotherapy. By the time he was discharged, he had lost a significant amount of weight.

Within a year, the cancer cells had spread.

Before Youyi entered middle school, she lived with her grandfather. She remembered him as a strong man who could carry a gas can up five flights of stairs and who always spoke with a robust voice. He used to eat two large bowls of the meals her grandmother prepared.

During his frequent hospitalizations that year, he had a stomach tube and could only consume liquid food, which was crushed and injected into his stomach one small bowl at a time. He was often in pain.

Youyi, being a medical student, knew how excruciating late-stage cancer pain could be. Her grandfather tried hard to endure it to avoid worrying her.

During his last hospitalization, he could still play on his phone, send messages, and make calls. Later, he couldn’t even unlock the phone screen.

He said that the day he felt better was a bright sunny day. He told Youyi he had seen an old comrade.

“Youyi, Fu Cheng is a good kid. I have no other wish but to see you both get married.”

Many years ago, the engagement was not very formal or solemn. Her grandfather mentioned it as his wish, and Youyi had only seen Fu Cheng from a distance at the hospital.

She agreed.

Thus, on her twentieth birthday, Youyi and Fu Cheng went to get their marriage certificate.

A week later, her grandfather passed away.

Even though she had prepared mentally, no one could truly accept the reality of death calmly.

On the day of the funeral, Youyi locked herself in her room and cried, overwhelmed by the thought that her grandfather was no longer there. She cried until she was nearly unconscious.

When she came out of her room, she saw Fu Cheng outside.

She was in a terrible state—her eyes were swollen, her face covered in tears. She froze for a moment when she saw Fu Cheng and then remembered that she had just gotten married to him a week earlier.

Fu Cheng said nothing. He simply handed her a packet of tissues.

He was like a dark, silent shield.

And now, he was the same.

After talking about her grandfather, there was a brief silence until Fu Cheng asked, “Do you have a day off tomorrow?”

Youyi replied with a quiet “Yes.”

After a busy week, she finally has a day off on Saturday.

“I brought back some things. The house is quite messy, and I haven’t had time to clean it,” Fu Cheng said. “If you have time, could you help me tidy up?”

Youyi nodded.

“Have you been busy these past few days?” Fu Cheng asked, brushing some stray hair from behind her ear. His fingers were cooler than usual, and he paused when his fingertips touched her ear.

Youyi said, “I added a new course and more internship tasks. There are many reports due with the semester halfway through.”

“Make sure to get some rest,” Fu Cheng advised.

Just then, the elevator door opened.

Youyi had intended to say “You should rest too,” but as he entered the elevator, she swallowed her words.

*

In the evening, Youyi had a dinner gathering.

She had promised Wei Jing to have a meal when she was free. After several postponements, Wei Jing invited her and her dorm mates to dinner, and Huang Youyi was dragged along by Youyi.

“With so many classes recently, I’m exhausted. We really need to unwind.”

Huang Youyi sat down and immediately ordered a bucket of beer.

A night at a barbecue stall was perfect for this kind of weather—cool and refreshing. Grilling skewers and having some beer, then heading home when it’s time.

“The fried rice here is delicious,” Huang Youyi recommended. “The 21-yuan price is definitely justified.”

“Do you want to try it?”

“No, I’m not eating tonight,” Sheng Sheng refused.

Youyi also declined.

Huang Youyi wrinkled her nose.

Fine, if she gained weight, it would be her own problem.

Besides Wei Jing, there were two other male classmates.

“Youyi, have you been feeling down lately?” Wei Jing asked. “You seem unhappy.”

Clearly, Wei Jing had noticed Youyi’s mood.

“No,” Youyi denied. “I’ve just been really busy.”

Indeed, she had been swamped with classes lately.

Wei Jing didn’t press further. He nodded and said, “It’ll be better after this month.”

Sheng Sheng buried her head in her food. When she looked up, a large plate of beef had been served, and her face scrunched up.

It was a bit nauseating and ruined her appetite.

“I can’t look at that right now,” Sheng Sheng turned her head away.

It resembled human muscle tissue too closely, and the color was like it had been soaked in formalin for many years.

“It’s nothing. It’s really delicious,” Huang Youyi said, picking up a piece and putting it in her mouth.

Sheng Sheng gagged and nearly threw up.

“Quick, Wei Jing, put it all in your bowl,” Huang Youyi instructed. He, being a bit clueless, nodded and moved the entire plate of beef into his bowl.

“Sorry, if I’d known, I wouldn’t have ordered this,” Wei Jing apologized.

Wei Jing paused and asked Youyi, “Do you not like it either?”

Youyi wasn’t particularly picky about beef, though lately, her appetite had been lacking.

“I’m okay.”

Wei Jing asked again, “So, what do you like to eat?”

Before coming, Wei Jing had asked Youyi’s roommates about her preferences. They said Youyi wasn’t picky and didn’t have a particular favorite, but if she had to choose, she preferred desserts.

Wei Jing knew that Youyi was troubled and annoyed by Du Li’s persistent pursuit of her, so he was cautious and didn’t want to cause her any more discomfort with his actions.

If Youyi had feelings for him, he would persist, but if not, he wouldn’t bother her anymore.

“Me?” Youyi was taken aback.

With so many people around, Wei Jing specifically asked her.

His intentions and purposes were too obvious.

Youyi simply said, “I’m not picky.”

Wei Jing seemed a bit disappointed.

Lately, it was apparent to him that Youyi wasn’t interested in him.

Wei Jing wanted to keep the conversation going but, lacking experience, didn’t know what else to talk about with a girl.

“Let me tell you some gossip.” Tian Ning said, closing her phone screen. She leaned in and lowered her voice, “I heard that Chief Instructor Fu Cheng is actually married.”

“What?” Sheng Sheng’s eyes widened, and she hastily swallowed a piece of pork belly.

“Someone as… formidable as him, is already married?”

Sheng Sheng struggled to find words to describe Fu Cheng, settling on “formidable.”

Formidable meant—

Serious, fierce, indifferent.

Intimidating.

“Where did you hear that from?” Huang Youyi asked.

Tian Ning, a gossip expert who was active in many clubs and knew many people, was always the first to hear the news.

Tian Ning replied, “A few days ago, a senior in the Information Science department confessed to him—she’s the extremely pretty one, the one who’s always competing for the campus belle title.”

“He ignored her. Later, when the senior wanted to treat him to a meal, he clearly said that he was married.”

Is that it?

It didn’t sound very credible.

Huang Youyi said, “That could be an excuse. Look, he doesn’t even wear a wedding ring.”

During the week at the training base, his behavior didn’t suggest that he was a married man. He didn’t even seem to care much about his phone.

“My club sister and the senior are roommates. She said Fu Cheng was very clear. To summarize, not only is he married, but he also loves his wife a lot.”

“Doesn’t sound like an excuse.”

Tian Ning was also shocked when she heard it. It was hard for her to imagine someone as cold as Fu Cheng being so in love with someone.

She really couldn’t picture it.

“He said he loves her?” Youyi, who had been silent all the time, spoke up.

“Hard to believe, right?” Tian Ning clapped her hands, “I wonder if his wife can handle him, considering how fierce he is.”

Sheng Sheng, who had previously admired his looks, was now more curious about what Fu Cheng’s wife looked like.

Youyi was stunned, and she didn’t catch much of what they said afterward.

After the gathering, they headed back to school together. Wei Jing offered to walk Youyi back, but she declined.

Huang Youyi advised her: “Actually, Wei Jing is a pretty good guy. He’s good-looking, has a good personality, respects people, and is very honest.”

Sometimes he can be a bit single-minded, but that’s not a problem.

Du Li is a bad example, he was almost too good.

“Yeah,” Sheng Sheng agreed, “If he genuinely likes you and is sincerely pursuing you, it’s worth considering.”

While they were talking, Wei Jing didn’t interrupt but quietly listened, paying the bill and reminding them to be safe.

Youyi was absent-minded and shook her head.

“Why?”

“Actually, I…” Youyi hesitated, then decided to speak up.

“I’m also married.”