Chu Xiao Yin excitedly rushed to O Ruo’s side, her voice brimming with energy. “Senior, I went to see a performance by the Eileen Symphony Orchestra today with my goddess! You know who my goddess is, right? I told you about her before, and she even attended the performance…”

She spoke with enthusiasm, her hands gesturing wildly, her lively energy lighting up the entire ward. The atmosphere in the room, which housed patients suffering from the same illness as O Ruo, was typically somber. While other visitors often wore gloomy expressions, Chu Xiao Yin’s arrival was like a burst of life injected into still waters. Her presence brought noise and vitality.

One of the other family members remarked, “This young lady is really close to her senior. She comes to visit every weekend.”

Another chimed in, “Her younger brother is impressive too. He delivers meals here every day and gave up college to work and pay for his sister’s treatment.”

O Ruo, however, did not seem comforted by these words. To her, they were a painful reminder of how much of a burden she had become. O Lan, sensing her distress, gently took her hand.

“Jie, everything will be fine. You’re the best violinist at the music academy. Once you recover, you can personally drop me off at college and make everyone else envious.”

Chu Xiao Yin echoed his sentiments. “Exactly, Senior! My goddess even told me to tell you that you’re definitely going to get better.”

Some of the weight in O Ruo’s heart lifted, though she glanced at Chu Xiao Yin with a playful pout. “Your goddess, your goddess. When I get better, I’ll have to meet her and see how amazing she really is.”

Chu Xiao Yin grinned. “Go ahead and see! My goddess is super beautiful—I’m not afraid to let you look.”

After a bit of playful banter, Chu Xiao Yin shared the date of the Harmony of Melody finals with O Ruo.

“I asked the doctor, and he said short trips nearby should be okay. If you’re tired of staying cooped up in the hospital, come and watch me compete.”

O Ruo understood that Chu Xiao Yin wanted her to relax. After all, the doctors had said her upcoming surgery had only a 50% success rate.

—

Upon returning home, Mu Wan immediately searched for today’s results for ST and discovered that they had lost. Her already sour mood worsened. Unable to suppress her frustration, she initiated a video call with Kuang Ye.

He quickly picked up, and the background revealed he was at the ST base. Occasionally, angry shouts from the coach could be heard off-camera.

“Are you getting cocky? Look at the garbage you played today!”

“You want prize money? Dream on!”

Mu Wan felt awkward and asked hesitantly, “Is this a bad time for a video call?”

Kuang Ye shook his head and moved further away, isolating himself from the noise. “What’s wrong? Bad mood?”

Mu Wan shook her head, then nodded, looking at him with concern. “You lost the match. Are you okay?”

Kuang Ye chuckled, his tone teasing. “Jie, do you think I’m some invincible god who’s never lost? Winning and losing is part of the game. We’ll just climb back up in the rankings.”

Today’s opponent had been HW’s veteran team, YJ, who were last season’s spring tournament runners-up. Both teams were evenly matched, so the loss was understandable. The coach and manager were probably just frustrated since they had been so hyped earlier in the day.

Seeing that Kuang Ye wasn’t deeply affected by the loss, Mu Wan let out a small sigh of relief. But then, she hesitated, her expression conflicted as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t bring herself to.

Kuang Ye’s heart sank. Off-camera, his hand unconsciously clenched. Although he had told her this was her last chance to escape from him…

“Wan wan, what’s wrong?”

Mu Wan hesitated for a long moment before finally deciding not to say what was truly on her mind. Instead, she asked, “Can you come to my apartment tonight? I want to tell you something in person.”

Having been given a second chance at life, she was torn. Should she intervene in the lives of others? If she didn’t, her conscience would torment her. But if she did, and the outcome still fell short, what path would she take then?

Kuang Ye felt as if his heart had been pierced, leaving a gaping hole.

Silently Bleeding

So, was she regretting it after all? Otherwise, what could have made the usually straightforward Wan wan hesitate and act so cautiously?

“Okay, I’ll come over tonight.”

He had intended to delay a bit, but even now, he couldn’t bear to make Wan wan wait.

—

Evening came quickly. Before heading to the apartment, Kuang Ye stopped by Zui Xian Private Kitchen to pick up Mu Wan’s favorite shrimp balls.

Entering the apartment with the password, he called out casually, “Miss, come downstairs for dinner!”

But no matter how long he called, Mu Wan didn’t respond. The entire apartment was dark, and Kuang Ye’s heart instantly sank into a pit of despair.

Had Wan wan… already left?

Just as he was about to be completely swallowed by the tide of hopelessness, he suddenly heard a faint sound from the bedroom on the second floor. It was like a lighthouse suddenly appearing on a dark sea. His eyes lit up, and he rushed upstairs immediately.

“Wan wan?”

“Ah Ye…” Mu Wan’s voice was weak.

Kuang Ye turned on the bedroom light and saw Mu Wan, usually vibrant and radiant, lying in bed. She was wrapped tightly in her blanket, her lips dry, and her face burning with fever.

All his wild speculations were immediately discarded. He rushed to her side, panic-stricken. “Wan wan, what’s wrong?”

He touched her forehead—it was scaldingly hot.

Panic gripped his face as he wrapped her in the blanket and hurried to the hospital.

On the way, his heart was in turmoil, and he berated himself internally. During their video call that afternoon, he had noticed that Mu Wan looked a little off. Yet he’d been so caught up in his own emotions that he hadn’t paid attention to her condition.

He hated himself for not noticing sooner.