Chapter 37: To dye or not to dye the hair?

Chapter 37: To dye or not to dye the hair?

The protection charm was inscribed with a brush dipped in cinnabar ink and then folded into a triangle for easy carrying.

Ying Li paused slightly, "Is it from the Phoenix Mountain temple I visited today?"

"Yes."

Hearing the affirmative reply, Ying Li found it somewhat unbelievable. Qi Xie must have seen the temple when he scouted ahead. Does this mean he got a protection charm within those few minutes? Didn’t he not believe in these things?

Ying Li glanced at the charm and then back at Qi Xie, "Is this for me?"

Their eyes met through the car window. Qi Xie countered, "Do you need it?"

Rumor had it that the temple was very spiritual. Ying Li had wanted to visit it today, hoping the deities would bless Ying Tao to recover soon. He hadn't expected to get a protection charm.

Whether it worked or not, it was a kind gesture.

Ying Li tucked the charm into his pocket. The light fabric felt slightly warm against his skin. It took a moment before he found his voice, "Thank you."

Accepting favors made one feel indebted. Having received the charm, Ying Li’s stance towards Qi Xie softened, and his gaze was no longer as guarded.

"I should go."

"When are you heading back?" Qi Xie was referring to Bi Shui Bay.

Ying Li's lips quivered, speaking in a gentle whisper, "It'll be late. I'll take a taxi. Don't wait for me; head back soon."

Qi Xie nodded slightly, murmuring in agreement.

With his backpack on, Ying Li started towards the hospital entrance but paused midway. After some thought, he turned back.

The car window swiftly rolled down.

Inside the dimly lit car, Qi Xie's face was shrouded in darkness. Ying Li couldn’t see his eyes but knew he was being watched. His hands clenched inside his pockets. After a long pause, he said, "Remember to take your medication when you get back. Don't forget."

A faint reply came from the car, "Alright."

Until the slender figure disappeared from sight, the car remained stationary. The driver's gaze was as deep as ink, fixated intently on the hospital building.

Cars streamed along the roads, traffic lights at the crossroad changing incessantly. All four windows were tightly shut, not even a sliver left open, as if fearing the fragrance of gardenia might escape.

In half an hour, three ambulances drove in.

The piercing ring of a cellphone sliced through the night. It was from Zhang Shaoling: "Where are you? How did you vanish so quickly?"

Qi Xie's voice sounded cold and tired: "The hospital."

There was a brief pause from the other end, "Why did you head to the hospital without saying a word?"

"To get medication."

Another pause, lasting two seconds, "You went all the way to the hospital just to take medication?"

Qi Xie said nonchalantly, "Uncle Yang took a day off."

"Took a day off?" Zhang Shaoling scrolled through their chat history, realizing he had sent a red packet just yesterday.

He slapped his forehead in annoyance, "I've been so swamped these past days." Then it hit him, "Did you take Ying Li to the hospital?"

Such a change in behavior.

"Yeah, nothing to worry about. I need to go; I haven't taken my meds."

As soon as the words were out, Qi Xie hung up.

"Hello? Hello?" Zhang Shaoling rolled his eyes in frustration, "Everyone's becoming increasingly uncooperative."

Song Ji Mo descended from the floor above, approaching Zhang Shaoling, "Where's the captain? Wasn't there supposed to be a meeting?"

Zhang Shaoling waved him off, "Yes, there is. Don't worry about him. Get everyone else here."

Ying Tao's room was on the third floor. As Ying Li took the elevator up, he saw Ying's mother sitting alone on a bench in the corridor, her back hunched.

Ever since Ying's father injured his leg, he had been resting at home. But now with Ying Tao's illness and the associated expenses, he took a job as a security guard for the apartment complex, working the night shift. Ying's mother worked during the day, and since Ying Tao's room couldn’t be left unattended, the two parents took turns. Ying's father had just left a while ago.

The hallway light cast a sickly pallor, making everyone appear even more pale. Ying Li gently approached and asked, "Mom, why are you sitting out here? Has Ying Tao gone to sleep?"

"Not yet, Tao Tao is watching TV inside." Ying's mother looked up, her eyes a bit red, "How was your day? Was the shoot successful?"

Ying Li nodded, "It went smoothly."

"That's good to hear." Ying's mother said, relief evident in her eyes. "Oh, I forgot to mention, Dr. Qi is now Tao Tao's primary physician. Remember the doctor we couldn't find before? This morning when Dr. Qi visited, your father was over the moon."

A gleam appeared in Ying Li's eyes, "Really?"

"Yes, and Dr. Qi mentioned that Tao Tao's illness was detected in time. With proper chemotherapy, she can remain stable for a long period. The hospital is actively searching for a stem cell match. Tao Tao will surely pull through," Ying's mother said, motioning him to sit beside her. "We also sold our house in the countryside for 150,000."

Ying Li looked surprised, "That much?"

Their ancestral home was in the southern rural region. Public transport had only become accessible there the year before last. Given the house's modest size, it seemed unusual for it to fetch such a price.

Ying's mother smiled, "Indeed. We owe it to Dr. Qi. He mentioned to your father that he had a friend looking for a house in the countryside to retire in. They came to the hospital in the afternoon, finalized the paperwork, and in a few days, we'll need to pack up and hand over the house."

The family had initially intended to move back to that house after Tao Tao finished college. They had even renovated it two years ago. Selling it now certainly came with mixed emotions, but nothing took precedence over Tao Tao's treatment. Fortunately, the sale brought a good price, which was a relief for the couple.

"We owe a big thanks to Dr. Qi," Ying Li responded with a smile. "I'll pop in and see how Tao Tao is doing."

Ying's mother grasped his hand, "Ying Li..."

Ying Li noticed her hesitation, "What's wrong?"

"After today's chemotherapy, Tao Tao had her hair shaved off." She wiped away a tear. Tao Tao had been incredibly brave, not shedding a single tear during the process. But watching strand after strand fall to the ground, Ying's mother couldn't hold back her own tears.

Pushing open the door to the ward, Ying Li saw Tao Tao propped up in bed with a cushion behind her. She wore a knitted hat and was engrossed in her phone. Though her complexion was pale, her spirits seemed high – a sign that the chemotherapy had likely gone well.

Ying Li settled into the visitor's chair, "What are you watching?"

"Bro! You're here! I'm watching your live stream," Tao Tao exclaimed excitedly. She had only seen half of it in the morning before being wheeled away for treatment. Thankfully, there was a recorded version, and she was now up to the part where they had reached the viewing platform.

Ying Li cautioned, "Keep your phone a bit further away; you don't want to strain your eyes."

Cocking her head, curiosity in her eyes, Tao Tao asked, "What wish did you make at the temple? Was it for my speedy recovery?"

Ying Li nodded slightly, "You always see right through me."

"Of course! We share a unique bond." Tao Tao's gaze returned to her phone, "Phoenix Mountain looks so beautiful. Once I recover, I want to climb it too."

Today's treatment had been excruciatingly painful, so much so that she sometimes wished she could just let go. But every time she thought of her parents and brother, she'd grit her teeth and persevere. She was amazed at her own resilience.

"Agreed, we'll all go together," Ying Li replied. He reached out to pat her head but was met with the soft texture of yarn. His hand hesitated mid-air, overcome by a sinking feeling of helplessness.

Tao Tao looked up, saying upfront, "Brother, I shaved my head."

Due to the side effects of chemotherapy, hair tends to fall out continuously and becomes difficult to manage, leading the doctors to recommend shaving it off.

Ying Tao inherited her parents' genes, boasting hair as dark and shiny as seaweed, suitable for a shampoo commercial. However, now, not a strand remains. Concerned that shaving her head would make her catch cold easily, her mother bought her a hat — a gesture to protect her sensitive spirit.

A lump formed in Ying Li's throat, making him feel choked up: "Mm."

Ying Li sighed discreetly. That's the only downside of his brother – he's overwhelmingly sentimental.

Once, while watching a melodramatic TV show, she was cringing hard, only to turn and see her brother shedding tears, inexplicably moved by it.

Seeing him on the brink of tears again, she quickly diverted the topic by taking out her phone: "I checked out various wig styles this afternoon. Which one do you think looks good?"

Ying Li examined the shopping cart intently and pointed to a red wavy wig: "This one."

Ying Tao bit her finger hesitantly, "Isn't this too red?"

"Haven't you always wanted to dye your hair?" Ying Li scrolled down the screen, "You can try this one, but definitely not the green one."

Ying Tao, spotting the cosplay wig his finger was pointing at, burst into laughter: "Hahaha, bro, you're hilarious."

"Let's get it," Ying Li said, "I just asked the hospital staff. The kitten in the garden is a stray and is available for adoption. I'll discuss it with mom later."

"Really?" Ying Tao's eyes sparkled.

Ying Li nodded, "Yes, but the condition is that you have to get better first. Bringing the kitten home now, with no one to look after it, would be irresponsible. If you truly want to adopt it, you need to focus on your recovery."

"Of course, I'll cooperate." Ying Tao pouted, "I want to live too."

Ying Tao had taken her medication half an hour ago. The drowsiness from the meds was kicking in, and she drifted off in the middle of their chat.

The phone screen was still on. Ying Li turned it off for her, placing it aside, and closed both the window and the curtains, tucking her in carefully.

Ying Tao still had half a bottle of IV fluid remaining. The hand with the IV needle was swollen, but the doctor said it was a normal reaction.

The clear fluid continued to flow into her delicate veins. Ying Li silently watched her for a while, and when the bottle was empty, he fetched a nurse to change it. Through all this, Ying Tao remained asleep.

Opening his bag, Ying Li placed a postcard on the table. Before leaving, he remembered the amulet in his pocket and discreetly tucked it under Ying Tao's pillow, hoping it would bring her safety and smooth recovery.

As he was about to leave, a frail hand emerged from under the blanket, catching his clothes.

Barely able to keep her eyes open from exhaustion, Ying Tao mumbled, "Bro, you're not allowed to shave your head. Not a single hair..."

Ying Li was amused and gently tucked her hand back under the covers, patting her through the blanket, "I got it, I won't shave. Now sleep."

Ying Tao soon drifted back into sleep.

Gently closing the door behind him, he saw his mother still sitting on the bench outside, "Are you heading back?"

Ying Li nodded, "Yeah."

His mother adjusted his clothes for him, "Be careful on the road. It's going to get colder tomorrow. Dress warmly and take care of yourself."

The couple always felt guilty. Years ago, when they went out to earn money, they left their two children at home. At that time, the internet was not widespread, and even phone calls were a luxury. The family could hardly see each other throughout the year. Ying Li was exceptionally understanding, never holding any grudges against them. He even helped his grandmother look after his sister, acting more mature than his peers. The more responsible he was, the more his parents felt they owed him.

After leaving the hospital, the night breeze made Ying Li feel cold. His reflection was mirrored on the glass door, his bangs almost covering his eyes, signaling that it was indeed time for a trim.

Across from the hospital was a long street where you could buy just about anything. It was almost ten, but a barber shop's revolving light was still on, with a sign offering a quick cut for fifteen yuan.

Ying Li pushed open the door and saw the owner packing up, "Sir, can I still get a haircut?"

The owner looked back, "You're in luck. I was just about to close up. Come on in."

These roadside barber shops were straightforward—just a quick wash and then the cutting began.

Ying Li's hair had a natural curl, which became more pronounced when wet, clinging to his forehead, making him look as innocent as a drenched kitten. His eyes also appeared moist.

The barber felt his hair and began praising, "Young man, you've got great hair. It would look good permed or even dyed."

Ying Li replied politely, "No need, I just want to trim it a bit."

"Aren't you young folks all about fashion? These colors are trendy right now."

"If you dye it, you'll definitely look good. I guarantee every girl on the street will notice you."

The barber, probably noticing Ying Li's well-dressed appearance, tried his best to upsell, hoping to make a bit more money before closing. But in reality, Ying Li's shirt cost only fifty yuan, including shipping. However, his good looks made even the cheap shirt seem high-end, leading the barber to mistake him for a wealthy individual. Yet, would a wealthy individual come to a street-side shop for a fifteen yuan haircut?

Ying Li, with his thin skin, couldn't handle the constant persuasion and blurted out, red-faced, "I'm starting chemotherapy tomorrow..."

The middle-aged man was taken aback instantly. Even Ying Li was taken by surprise. The two stared at each other in the mirror.

Once the reality sank in, the barber kept apologizing, "I'm so sorry, so sorry..."

Weary of explaining, Ying Li decided to let it be, "It's fine. Just give me a short cut."

The barber, with a heavy heart, gave what he felt was the most remorseful haircut of his life. In the end, he wanted to waive the fee, but Ying Li declined and quickly left after paying.

Upon leaving the barbershop, Ying Li went to the side of the road to hail a cab. Just as he opened the ride-hailing app, a white sedan pulled up in front of him.

The car window rolled down, and the person in the driver's seat whistled at him, cheekily saying, "Heading to Blue Bay, handsome?"

Author's note:

The barber, waking up in the middle of the night: I'm such a fool!