Chapter 27: Drama is coming. Brace yourselves.

Chapter 27: Drama is coming. Brace yourselves.

"When was the last time you self-harmed?"

Ying Li was initially taken aback, his clear and lively eyes widening in astonishment. Then, a rush of color flooded his cheeks, and his fingers unconsciously curled on his lap.

Why would Song Ji Mo ask him such a question?

This was awkward.

Qi Xie's brows furrowed, giving

Shen Yao touched the tip of his nose. Conversations like this were not uncommon among guys, and he had been through discussions far more explicit.

But would someone as well-behaved as Ying Li also...?

Engage in such discreet acts...?

On second thought, isn't it perfectly normal? If not discreetly, then blatantly? Besides, every man does it, so what was he thinking?

"Wow, that's pretty explosive. You can ask that?" Xie Wen Shi exclaimed first.

Even Bian Qiao, who usually kept his distance from them, looked over with apparent interest: "Isn't this crossing into personal territory? Isn’t this pushing it too far?"

Song Ji Mo shrugged, a perpetual smile on his face, "Is it not allowed? I thought anything goes."

Shen Yao frowned, "You can't ask that. Stick to what's on this booklet."

"How boring," Song Ji Mo remarked with a light laugh, casually turning to Ying Li. "May I ask?"

The question was once again directed to Ying Li, and all eyes were on him.

"Well, it's not that I can't," Ying Li began as he reached for his drink. He took a sip, feeling the cool, sweet liquid slide down his throat, "I just can't remember."

He never took much interest in such matters. His energy was predominantly devoted to studying daily. His adolescence was uneventful, and he seldom encountered such situations.

Song Ji Mo looked surprised.

Anticipating Song Ji Mo's skepticism, Ying Li quickly added, "I truly don't remember. I'm not lying to you."

With a chin resting gesture, Song Ji Mo regarded him with poised elegance, rephrasing his inquiry, "Has it never happened recently?"

Ying Li nodded with certainty, "Never."

Is he that innocent?

Probably still untouched, with even his first kiss intact. So naively tender.

Song Ji Mo's criteria for a boyfriend are simple: good looks and cleanliness. Ying Li meets both.

A hint of a mischievous gleam flashed in his eyes, his expression more delighted. However, the way he gazed at Ying Li was undeniably suggestive. "Hmm, I believe you."

Strangely enough, Qi Xie detected a hint of fondness in Song Ji Mo's tone. He took a deep breath, feeling increasingly uneasy.

Now, he was certain that Song Ji Mo had taken an interest in Ying Li.

Song Ji Mo's orientation was clear to everyone, and his straightforward question left no room for doubt about his intentions.

He stared deeply at Ying Li, then took a big swig from his glass. The fiery liquor scorched his throat, and his possessive urges peaked.

The online gossip was spot on. He was indeed a man of dark obsessions, even more terrifying than they had imagined. Every time Ying Li interacted with someone, jealousy consumed him. Upon recognizing Song Ji Mo, a wild thought crossed his mind: he wanted to lock Ying Li away, keeping him out of everyone's sight and touch.

He felt he might have genuinely gone mad. From the moment he laid eyes on Ying Li during the school celebration, his obsession began, driving him to find ways to get closer...

Qi Xie adjusted his collar and closed his eyes, avoiding looking at him, fearing he might act impulsively under the influence of alcohol.

Ying Li's cheeks flushed deeply, the redness extending to the corners of his eyes. His long eyelashes fluttered uneasily. The unexpected and intimate question had caught him off-guard. While he knew Song Ji Mo meant no harm, he felt uncomfortable addressing such a personal topic, silently hoping he wouldn’t be put on the spot again.

Ying Li's face turned a deep shade of red, the corners of his eyes redder, and his long lashes fluttered unnaturally. Caught off guard by the intrusive question, he felt incredibly embarrassed. Though he knew Song Ji Mo had no ill intentions, he still felt uncomfortable addressing such private matters and silently hoped he wouldn't be put on the spot again.

Shen Yao wore a puzzled expression, thinking, "It's been so long that I can't even remember..."

He's the type with boundless energy, easily impulsive and reactive, but he knows restraint. Whenever he feels an urge, he would distract himself with other tasks, which had been more frequent in recent days.

In the second round, Shen Yao finally secured a win. But it wasn’t Ying Li who ended up last, it was Xie Wen Shi.

Without thinking, Xie Wen Shi blurted out, "I choose 'Dare.'"

Shen Yao quickly responded, "Share an embarrassing photo of yourself."

Xie Wen Shi, ever-conscious of his public image, immediately backtracked, "I change my mind. I'll take 'Truth.'"

Shen Yao, not letting him off easily, retorted with a hint of annoyance, "Are you reneging now? Ying Li is playing more boldly than you!"

Ying Li stayed silent, holding his drink.

Annoyed by Shen Yao's incessant teasing, Xie Wen Shi compromised, "Alright, a bet is a bet. I'll send the embarrassing photo, but none of you can save or show it to others."

As he turned to take the photo, Shen Yao interjected, "Wait a moment. Ying Li isn't in the chat group yet." He then addressed Ying Li, "Come on, I'll add you in. Let's enjoy his funny photo together."

A vibration signaled a notification on Ying Li's phone, indicating Shen Yao had indeed added him to their intimate group chat of five members, which was nameless.

Xie Wen Shi fumed, "You're taking this too far!"

Shen Yao prodded him, "Hurry up and take the photo. No cheating! If it's not embarrassing enough, you'll have to redo it."

After much hesitation, Xie Wen Shi begrudgingly snapped a photo and sent it to the group, warning, "No one's allowed to laugh."

The photo loaded, and Ying Li opened it to find Xie Wen Shi with his mouth agape, tongue skewed to one side, and eyes rolled back.

Song Ji Mo raised an eyebrow, barely containing his amusement.

Shen Yao almost choked from stifling his laughter.

Ying Li simply smiled lightly.

Noticing Shen Yao's twitching eyes, Xie Wen Shi turned to Ying Li and inquired, "Is it really that bad?"

Ying Li chuckled again and said, "Not at all. It's actually quite cute."

Xie Wen Shi exclaimed, "Really?"

Ying Li nodded earnestly, "Truly. When one has good looks as a foundation, even the ugliest expressions can't diminish their charm."

Xie Wen Shi's cheeks flushed in an instant, and he subconsciously touched his ear.

Then, in the third round, Ying Li lost again. This time, the winner was Xie Wen Shi.

Shen Yao scratched his head in frustration. "This game truly relies on luck. Why isn’t it my turn to ask questions?"

Accepting his fate, Ying Li said, "I choose... 'Dare,' then."

He was hoping not to answer an embarrassing question like the previous one.

Not wanting to put Ying Li in a difficult position, Xie Wen Shi gave a straightforward dare, "Share the most recent photo from your gallery in the group chat."

"I don’t have any."

Ying Li showed them his phone, and, surprisingly, his gallery was empty.

Puzzled, Xie Wen Shi wondered aloud, "How can someone not have a single photo in their gallery? How about you take one now?"

Ying Li gently shook his head, firmly stating, "I don't like taking photos."

After some thought, an idea struck Xie Wen Shi, "Then... how about setting my embarrassing photo as your wallpaper? And you can't change it for 24 hours."

Shen Yao glanced at him. Having Xie Wen Shi's photo as the wallpaper meant Ying Li would see it every time he used his phone. It was a clever way of maintaining a presence in Ying Li's life.

They played a few more rounds afterward, and Ying Li never ended up last again. They played until past eleven before they decided to head back to Bi Shui Bay.

Leaving the private room, they took the elevator to the underground parking lot.

It was late, and the temperature had dropped. The room had been quite warm, and Ying Li, feeling the sudden change in temperature, zipped up his jacket. Song Ji Mo reached out to touch the collar of Ying Li’s jacket, remarking, "You've just gotten over a cold, and you're dressed so lightly."

Song Ji Mo's fingers, a tad cold, brushed against the back of Ying Li's neck. Ying Li instinctively shrank back, "That tickles! I'm not cold."

Amused, Song Ji Mo pinched his fingers together slightly, "So sensitive, huh?"

Ever since that night when Song Ji Mo expressed his interest in Ying Li, Shen Yao felt that every one of his gestures towards Ying Li seemed inappropriate. Whether touching his back or his neck, Shen Yao perceived it all as indecent and frivolous.

Observing Ying Li, he seemed as innocent as a little white rabbit, completely clueless. There's no way he could outwit this cunning fox, Song Ji Mo. There's a good chance he might get entranced by Song Ji Mo's facade of tenderness. No, no, this definitely can't happen.

Shen Yao pried off Song Ji Mo's hand from Ying Li's shoulder, raised an eyebrow suggestively, and said with a mischievous grin, "I'm cold. Why don't you lend me your coat?"

"Sure." Without hesitation, Song Ji Mo tossed his jacket at him.

Shen Yao, hit by the jacket, threw it back. Why would he wear that? Just like its owner, the jacket had a peculiar scent.

The elevator dinged, opening its doors on the third floor. A group of tipsy people, both men and women, stumbled in.

"Hey, hey! Don't push."

"Bump into me once, bump into me twice, and you'll be crawling out of here tonight."

The confined elevator space was quickly filled with the smell of alcohol. A tall young man squeezed in, causing Ying Li to frown and attempt to move aside.

Suddenly, Ying Li's wrist was grabbed, and Qi Xie switched places with him, shielding him protectively from the rest. All Ying Li could see was Qi Xie's broad and sturdy back.

Song Ji Mo noticed and, hands in his pockets, smirked.

Bian Qiao and Song Ji Mo were the designated drivers since they hadn't drunk. Ying Li sat in the passenger seat, looking out at the scenery.

The nightlife in Nancheng was bustling. The eateries and KTVs near the university were open all night. However, the university had a curfew, and staying out past eleven was considered late. Ying Li had never lingered outside this late before.

The highway was clear, and the cityscape flew by outside the window. From his angle, Shen Yao could perfectly see Ying Li's reflection in the side-view mirror.

Immersed in the hazy night, a cool breeze rustled Ying Li's hair. His side profile was sharp: a prominent nose and upturned lips. So handsome, almost breathtakingly so.

Xie Wen Shi, slightly tipsy, noticed Shen Yao almost pressing his face against the car window, intently staring at the rearview mirror, "Da Yao, you're grinning like a goofy dog."

Shen Yao shot him a glare, "Who are you calling a goofy dog?"

Xie Wen Shi retorted, "I'm calling you."

Ying Li couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Oh, you're setting me up again," Xie Wen Shi realized, starting to tease Shen Yao.

The next moment, Ying Li's phone rang, its sharp ringtone interrupting their laughter.

When Ying Li glanced at his phone, he was surprised to see it was his mother calling. Puzzled, he answered, "Hello, Mom. Why are you calling so late?"

There was a brief pause on the other end, followed by a soft sobbing sound. "Lyle, are you still awake? Can you... come to the hospital?"

Ying Li detected the distress in his mother's voice and asked, "What happened?"

His mother was nearly inconsolable. "TaoTao... she's been diagnosed with leukemia."

-

The haze of alcohol quickly faded from his mind. By the time Ying Li reached the hospital, it was almost 1 a.m.

He headed straight for the main hospital building and located TaoTao's ward.

Pushing open the door, he saw TaoTao lying quietly on the narrow hospital bed. The cold white light illuminated her face, her lips devoid of any color, and a thick IV line was inserted into her frail arm. She looked as delicate as fine china.

Beside TaoTao's bed were not only Ying Li's parents but also a middle-aged woman in her forties — TaoTao's class teacher, Ms. Liu.

Breathless from running, Ying Li inquired, "Mom, how's TaoTao doing?"

Tears welled up in his mother's eyes, and Ms. Liu emotionally wiped her own tears, advising, "She's about to wake up. Please, let's not discuss this in front of her."

Ying Li's mother adjusted TaoTao's blanket and gently closed the door, leading Ying Li to the hallway, leaving only his father inside to watch over TaoTao.

With red, swollen eyes, his mother choked back tears, "We just got the test results. The doctors said it's acute leukemia."

"TaoTao fainted during her physical education class this afternoon. The school nurse initially thought she was hypoglycemic and treated her accordingly. But when she fainted again during evening study, she was taken to the hospital where tests revealed she has acute leukemia."

"TaoTao has been complaining of fatigue, dizziness, and nosebleeds for a while now. I just thought the stress of being in ninth grade was getting to her..."

On top of that, TaoTao has always had a weak constitution and was anemic. Previous medical checks at the county hospital hadn't revealed anything, so they hadn't given it much thought.

"I should've taken TaoTao to a bigger hospital for a check-up..." His mother blamed herself.

Trying to remain composed, Ying Li asked, "What did the doctor say? Is it difficult to treat?"

His mother explained, "The doctor said there's hope for a cure. They'll start with medication to stabilize her condition, followed by chemotherapy. But she might face complications during the treatment. If a compatible stem cell donor is found, she can undergo a transplant..."

However, finding a matching stem cell donor isn't easy. Many patients don't make it to that stage. Even if a suitable donor is found, the exorbitant cost of the procedure can be prohibitive for many families.

Ms. Liu comforted her, "Mrs. Ying, I've informed the school leadership about TaoTao's condition. The school has organized a fundraiser among the students. We'll do whatever we can to help. We all hope TaoTao recovers soon and returns to class; the teachers are very fond of her."

Mrs. Ying kept expressing her gratitude, "Thank you, Mr. Liu. Thank you."

At that moment, the door was pulled open from the inside. Mr. Ying limped out and said, "Tao is awake."

Tao opened her eyes, her vision blurred, to see the pristine white ceiling. The scent of disinfectant and bleach lingered in the air. She moved her fingers slightly, wincing as the IV tube on the back of her hand tugged painfully.

Mrs. Ying anxiously touched her forehead, which still felt warm. "Tao, how are you feeling? Is there any discomfort?"

"Mom, Dad," Tao, weak and frail, recognized the figures beside her bed and croaked out, "Bro... all of you..."

Lyle's voice choked a little, "Want some water? I'll pour it for you."

Tao shook her head. She thought she was dreaming, but the reality was undeniable. The tear streaks on Mrs. Ying's face and the redness around Mr. Ying's eyes were evident. Even the usually stern Mr. Liu looked at her with deep concern.

After a moment of silence, she asked, "I overheard... I have leukemia, am I going to die?"

Lyle was taken aback, his throat tightening.

"Nonsense, our Tao will be just fine..." Mrs. Ying's tears began to flow again. Her heart felt as if it were being shredded. Tao was only in her first year of high school, her life was just beginning. She wished she could bear the illness in her daughter's place; no mother could bear to see her child suffer.

Lyle's hands, hanging by his sides, trembled, "Don't say such things. Just focus on getting better; everything will be okay."

"Stop lying to me. I know everything," Tao fought back tears, her eyes reddened like a rabbit's. She turned away, tears silently falling, "Leukemia is hard to treat. It's expensive, and chemotherapy will make me lose my hair. I don’t want to look ugly."

"Leukemia isn't as terrifying as you think. The doctors said there's a chance for recovery. Trust them," Lyle gently wiped away her tears, comforting, "If you lose your hair from chemo, I'll shave my head with you."

Mrs. Ying quickly added, "Your father and I will join too. Even bald, our Tao will be beautiful. We will always be by your side, always together as a family."

Tears brimming in her eyes, Tao looked at them, "Really?"

Lyle extended his pinkie finger, like when they were kids, "Really. Want to make a pinkie promise?"

Tao hesitated for a moment before slowly hooking her pinkie with his.

"Promise for a hundred years, no going back?" Lyle gently swayed their connected fingers, "Shall we seal it with a stamp?"

Tao glanced at her hand, bruised from the IV, and broke down, tears streaming down her face. She pulled away from Lyle and cried out, "No."

Lyle's breathing became sharp, "What's wrong?"

"Don't shave it. It'll look terrible on you."

Ying Tao pulled the blanket over herself, burying deep within, as if hiding from the world could shield her from reality.

It wasn't the hair she feared losing, but confronting her illness. At just 14, with so much of life unexplored, how could she be nearing its end?

The room echoed with Ying Tao's sobs. Her parents' hearts shattered while Teacher Liu, fighting back tears, mourned silently. Ying Tao, the diligent student beloved by all, how did she come to bear such an affliction?

Weak from crying, Ying Tao soon drifted into sleep, soothed by her mother's lullaby.

That night, Ying Li kept vigil by her side.

Just before dawn, he dreamt of fragmented memories from their childhood, blurry yet intensely real.

Raised by their grandmother, Ying Li would fetch young Ying Tao from school every weekend. Back then, her spirit knew no bounds, and only her brother could rein her in. They were each other's balance.

Their grandmother passed away during Ying Li's university entrance exams. When he left for university, their parents returned. Not long after, their father suffered a work injury, crippling him and depleting their savings.

To keep them both in school, their mother worked three jobs, and Ying Li took on part-time work to share the burden.

As those memories flooded back, the tough times seemed behind them. Their father's health improved, Ying Tao excelled in school, and Ying Li was nearing graduation. Life seemed to be looking up.

An abrupt alarm yanked him from reminiscence, dragging him from the mundane to a waking nightmare.

Turning off the alarm, his phone still displayed the leukemia research page. Messages from Shen Yao and others filled his WeChat.

"What happened?"

"Can we help?"

"Is everything okay?"

Ying Li replied, assuring them not to worry and that he could handle it.

In their haste, they had brought nothing to the hospital. Now, with Ying Tao needing long-term care, their mother planned to go home to pack.

It was only 6:30 a.m.; both her father and Ying Tao were still asleep. Ying Li decided to buy breakfast, opting for millet porridge and Ying Tao's favorite dumplings.

However, upon his return, he found the hospital bed empty.

Their father lay beside the vacant bed. Startled, Ying Li shook him awake, "Dad, where's Ying Tao?"

Father Ying groggily opened his eyes, the whites streaked with red. He had stayed up all night and had only managed a brief slumber in the early hours. But in that short span, Yingtao had vanished.

The two searched the entire floor but found no one.

Yingtao was mature for her age. Fearing the worst, Yingli hurriedly asked the nurses at the station, "Have you seen a young girl from room 124? About this tall and quite pretty?"

The nurses shook their heads, "Isn’t she in her room?"

"We haven't seen her leave."

"Let me check the surveillance footage for you."

Overwhelmed with guilt, Father Ying lamented, "It's all my fault. I didn't even realize when Yingtao woke up..."

The nurse, after checking the footage, frowned, "It seems she took the elevator to the 6th floor."

"The 6th floor?"

The 6th floor was the topmost level of the inpatient department. Father Ying felt like his soul had been sucked out, "Yingtao wouldn’t do something foolish, would she?"

Panicking, Yingli was about to run upstairs when another nurse approached, "The girl you mentioned? I saw her downstairs in the small garden, playing with a cat."

Ying Li dashed downstairs as if propelled by wings.

Beneath the inpatient building lay a small garden where many took morning strolls. The sun had just risen, casting a gentle light upon the world. To Ying Li, however, its brightness was blinding.

It had rained the previous night, and most flowers in the flowerbeds had wilted. Yingtao, in her loose patient's gown, was squatting by one of these beds. She looked so fragile, as though a mild breeze could knock her over.

A small black-and-white cat sat in front of her, licking her hand.

A cannula was fixed to Yingtao's swollen left hand. "Little kitty," she whispered, "I heard what they said last night. The treatment for my illness involves chemotherapy, which sounds terribly painful. But if I don't get the treatment, I'll die, and death sounds even more painful."

As she gently stroked the cat's back, she murmured to herself, "There's so much I haven't done yet. I haven't started high school, or gone to university, or earned money, or taken care of my parents in their old age. I don't want to die, but the treatment is so expensive..."

Yingtao was somewhat aware of her family's financial situation. Waking up to see her father's graying temples, she had thought of giving up on life, thinking it might alleviate the family's burden. The money saved could provide for her parents. But as she reached the rooftop, she felt fear. She wasn't as brave as she'd imagined. The thought of dying and the fear of pain overwhelmed her.

She wanted to live.

Looking at Yingtao's lonely silhouette, Yingli's heart ached, and his legs felt as if they were weighed down, making it almost impossible to move forward.

Softly, he called out, "Ying Tao."

"Brother," Ying Tao sniffled, turning to him with a smile. "I saw a kitten upstairs. Can I keep it?"

The sibling resemblance was uncanny, especially when they smiled.

The little tabby, seemingly sensing her intentions, affectionately rubbed against her leg, rolling playfully and showing extreme fondness.

Ying Li approached slowly and crouched down. "This kitten seems well-cared for. It might belong to someone. I'll check later. If it doesn't have an owner, you can keep it. But the hospital doesn't allow pets. Mom and Dad can look after it for now, and once you're better, you can care for it yourself, okay?"

Ying Tao grinned, revealing her cute canine teeth. "Okay!"

Back in the room, their father sat on a chair, a large gash on his knee oozing blood. It was a distressing sight.

"Dad... I'm sorry," murmured Ying Tao, weighed down by guilt.

Their father, more concerned than upset, smiled. "It's alright. Just a small accident. What matters is that you're okay. Eat up; your brother bought your favorite dumplings. They're getting cold."

As Ying Tao ate, tears streamed down her face. She felt foolish. Everyone was fighting for her chance to live, yet she had thought of giving up.

Her father's eyes glistened. "Why the tears, my precious girl?"

Ying Tao replied, "It's too hot."

Not long after, their mother arrived. The three silently chose not to mention the earlier incident.

"Is there a relative of Ying Tao here? Please come forward for payment." A nurse knocked on the door.

Their mother went to the counter, parting with nearly a hundred thousand yuan in fees.

Holding their passbook, their father murmured, "If we sell the old house back in the village, we might gather some more. If it's not enough, I'll borrow from relatives. We have to get Tao Tao well again."

Their ancestral home was in a rural area with inadequate infrastructure. Whether it would sell was uncertain, and even if it did, it wouldn't fetch a hundred thousand yuan.

Overnight, Yingli noticed that his parents had aged considerably. Their hair had turned white, their backs hunched. They weren't like the youthful images he remembered from his childhood. In truth, he couldn't quite recall what they used to look like; their family had spent so little time together.

He pulled a bank card from his backpack, handing it to his mother, "I have a hundred thousand on this."

His mother's eyes widened, "Where did you get so much money?"

Yingli replied, "From accumulated scholarships during school and money I earned from summer jobs. All together, it's about a hundred and ten thousand."

The advance from Zhang Shaoling was also included.

That morning, the three managed to gather over two hundred thousand, but it still wasn't enough.

Yingli sat on a bench outside the ward. The corridor was bustling, the constant movement making him dizzy.

He was eerily calm, rapidly considering every possible opportunity to raise money. Suddenly, he remembered he had some funds in his C-site account.

He planned to sign a contract with C-site and withdraw the funds. But as he reached for his phone, he felt a business card - the one Li Changhong had insisted on giving him the day before.

In a flash, Yingli recalled the words Li Changhong had spoken yesterday.

Hesitating for a moment, he made a call, his voice shaky with anxiety, "About the triple compensation you mentioned last time, how much would it be?"

Author's Note:

Some unified replies:

1: I don't have an account on other sites. I'm a new author, having signed a contract recently. I'm still finding my footing and learning. Please bear with my shortcomings.

2: I have a penchant for melodrama. Expect some outrageous and even cringeworthy plot twists. I cringe while writing too. At this point, I've cringed enough to build a castle. You're all welcome to visit.

3: I'll gradually fix plot inconsistencies and typos. There are too many comments to go through, way too many.

4: Stop making inappropriate remarks! We'll get banned by the administrators. I haven’t deleted any comments. The admin does, and I can’t even appeal them (facepalm).

5: I'm not writing full-time. Updates are usually late at night. If I’m busy, I'll notify.

6: The sister's illness will be cured. No heartbreaks here. Everything will get better for everyone!

That's it! Love you all to bits! Ahhhh, let me give you a kiss, a must-have kiss!