Chapter 403: Chapter 403: Terminal Illness
The man in black was in a great hurry as he dialed his phone while driving. He frantically began to call his elder brother.
“Xiao Han, I’m sorry!” Liu Yiyi closed her eyes, her breath wandering.
The speed of the car increased sharply, as the man in black accelerated rapidly, racing along the road. The car moved so fast it almost seemed to shoot out in the blink of an eye, heading straight for People’s Hospital. After finishing the call, the man in black drove furiously.
Upon arrival at the hospital, the man in black quickly carried Liu Yiyi into the ward and ran out, where the hospital had experienced senior doctors ready to receive the patient. From the reactions of both parties, this seemed not to be the first time this had happened. Both parties were very calm during the handover, and neither spoke, as the doctors took Liu Yiyi straight to the emergency room.
The man in black let out a long sigh of relief but, as he looked down, he saw Liu Yiyi’s mobile phone had fallen to the ground. He hurriedly bent down to pick it up. On the screen was a large ink painting. On closer inspection, wasn’t it the same painting that young man had drawn on stage today? The man in black glanced at it, then pocketed the phone. He stood in the hallway, waiting patiently.
...
Before long, a dignified, burly middle-aged man arrived with a delicate middle-aged woman in a flurry. More than a dozen sturdy men in black followed them,
“Elder brother!” said the man in black, hurriedly running over to them.
“How is Yiyi?” asked the middle-aged man in a low, composed voice.
“It’s good that we made it in time,” the man in black quickly nodded, saying, “The main issue was that Miss didn’t get her treatment on time last time. So this time the delay was too long, causing a relapse. Brother, this outbreak has a lot to do with Miss attending the gala recording, she was too exhausted!”
“Poor Yiyi, she’s had such a hard life!” the middle-aged woman said tearfully at their side, “Why can’t she be cured?”
“Ting Ting, don’t worry. No matter how much money it costs or what the price, I will cure Yiyi’s illness!” the middle-aged man stated decisively. Liu Yiyi was his only daughter and his only hope. If she were to leave, it would be a heavy blow to him, and to his wife as well.
The middle-aged woman leaned on his shoulder and said, “Mmm, anyhow, please save Yiyi, she is my only daughter.”
The middle-aged man sighed, then said, “I know. But… it’s hard to find a match. I am already trying my best to find a compatible donor, hoping for success. As long as we find a match, we’ll start the surgery right away!”
Liu Yiyi, Gang Leader Liu’s only daughter, also known as the Young Princess of the Nine Dragons Gang. The Nine Dragons Gang, the most powerful entity in the provincial city second only to Dao Meng. With formidable strength and countless followers. And most importantly, Liu Daguo held an extraordinary status in the provincial city. Alas, despite being a man of high position with countless brothers under him and controlling vast wealth, he still couldn’t cure his daughter’s illness. That was the most heartbreaking thing for him.
When his daughter had a persistent high fever at the age of ten, they discovered she had a strange illness. After consultations with countless domestic and foreign experts, they still couldn’t find the root cause of the illness. Every time she fell ill, Liu Yiyi suffered terribly, with excruciating pain all over her body, fever, and bleeding from her nose. It was unbearable agony, the kind that most people couldn’t withstand. The strange illness had been investigated for a very long time until—at the age of fifteen—it was finally determined to be leukemia, a very peculiar type of leukemia. It was a type of leukemia that left doctors clueless and desperate. This leukemia was the ‘panda’ among leukemias, requiring a very high level of bone marrow compatibility. Normally, a compatibility of ninety-seven percent is needed, but for Liu Yiyi’s leukemia, it required a compatibility of over ninety-nine percent. Otherwise, the chance of surgery success would definitely not be higher than ten percent.
Liu Daguo absolutely would not gamble with his daughter’s life because he couldn’t afford to lose. So, for years, he had been searching for a donor with a compatibility of over ninety-nine percent. Despite screening so many people, he had yet to find a suitable match. Therefore, Liu Daguo was very anxious. Fortunately, as soon as his daughter’s condition flared up, the hospital could immediately intervene with emergency treatment measures.
Even with the hospital’s timely intervention and treatment, over the years, the condition seemed to have become more severe. It used to occur once every three to five months, then once a month, and now, she had relapses every half-month, sometimes even less. This tore at Liu Daguo’s heart, fearing that his beloved daughter would leave him. That’s why he was so distressed.
“Yiyi is a blessed child; heaven will protect her!” Liu Daguo consoled his wife in his arms.
“Yes!” his wife said with a sob, “I haven’t committed any sins in my life, so why does my daughter have to suffer this illness? If the heavens are just, and they can cure my daughter, from now on I will abstain from meat, pray to Buddha, and offer prayers and incense to the heavens.”
…
The recording of the New Year’s gala was finally over.
It had continued from a little after two in the afternoon till almost five o’clock. The recording had finally concluded. They had had an early dinner, so Xiao Han wasn’t very hungry. Director Zhao invited all the performers to the hotel for a celebratory banquet.
“I have prepared a celebration banquet for everyone at the hotel opposite!” Director Zhao smiled, “This recording was very successful, and the performances of several big stars were excellent. I believe our show will definitely be a great success.”
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Rousing applause…
Director Zhao’s mouth curved into a smile as he said, “I’m very grateful for everyone’s support and efforts.”
Just as everyone was preparing to head to the hotel, Xiao Han rushed to Director Zhao and said, “Director Zhao, I have something urgent, I need to go. I won’t be able to attend the dinner. Thank you for your warm invitation.”
“You’re not going?” Director Zhao asked in surprise.
Xiao Han nodded, “Yes.”
“Why?” Director Zhao quickly asked.
“I must go now,” Xiao Han said with a smile.
“That’s fine!” Director Zhao nodded and said, “I’ll have someone take you.”
“No need…” Xiao Han was about to refuse when Jiang Xiaoqing hurriedly interjected, “Director, let me take Xiao Han. I brought him here, so I’ll see him out.”
“Sure!” Director Zhao nodded.
Jiang Xiaoqing turned to follow Xiao Han out. Along the way, both were silent.
It wasn’t until they got into the car that Jiang Xiaoqing broke the silence, “Xiao Han, what should we do about the car?”
“Don’t worry, they will come looking for you,” Xiao Han said. “When they do, just return the car to them.”
“But…” Jiang Xiaoqing shivered at the thought.
After Xiao Han got into the car, he closed his eyes and said nothing. Jiang Xiaoqing glanced at him and, seeing he wouldn’t speak, didn’t know what to do. She just drove towards the television station. As she drove, Xiao Han’s mind was filled with the image of Liu Yiyi’s face, her delicate features seeming otherworldly, as though she had stepped out of a painting, so ethereal that she should only be admired from afar but never defiled.
The drive was silent.
The car arrived at the entrance of Shuimu University.
Just as Xiao Han was about to get out, Jiang Xiaoqing said hastily, “Xiao Han!”
“What’s wrong?” Xiao Han asked.
“I… I want to ask you!” Jiang Xiaoqing pursed her lips, then said, “I want to know who bought my first night?”
“You don’t need to worry about who it is!” Xiao Han said with a smile. “At least this person can give you money, right?”
“I—” Jiang Xiaoqing was about to say that money wasn’t the most important thing. At least, it couldn’t be a slovenly uncle who picked at his toes and nose; and especially not a balding one, as that would be unbearably uncomfortable.
“Do you agree?” Xiao Han asked.
“I… I… Okay!” Jiang Xiaoqing nodded. “I agree. When?”
“I’ll arrange it later and send you the location!” Xiao Han replied.
“Okay,” Jiang Xiaoqing said, her eyes moist.
Xiao Han opened the passenger door and headed into the university. Jiang Xiaoqing felt lost, or perhaps it was hesitation. Was she truly out of options? Did she really have to sell her first time to pay off debts? This was something she, full of pride, was reluctant to do. But compared to life-threatening danger, it seemed there was nothing to fear in bowing her proud head.
Deep inside, Jiang Xiaoqing was in anguish and sadness. But thinking that in one night it would all be over, she suddenly felt much lighter at heart.
Nobody wants to live like a rat. To avoid debt collectors, she had to work overtime at the television station every day. If she could, she would work there twenty-four hours a day; as long as she was inside, they couldn’t get to her. But those people were like Yin Spirits, always able to track her movements. It was when Director Zhao sent her to pick up Xiao Han that she was caught, nearly taken by them.
Enough!
It was time to end this!
There was a voice inside Jiang Xiaoqing, yelling and calling out continuously. She had had enough of this life, these days. They had exhausted her body and soul; not only the physical toll but even more so the emotional torment, a pain unbearable.
Jiang Xiaoqing clenched her teeth as she seriously drove towards the television tower.
Soon, the mobile phone on the passenger seat rang. Jiang Xiaoqing didn’t pay it much attention at first and just picked it up, but then she saw a new message on the screen: A tycoon has made the arrangements for you. Be at the Four Seasons Hotel lobby at nine o’clock tonight and wait for the message.
Her heart skipped a beat…
Jiang Xiaoqing’s heart trembled. She hadn’t expected it to happen so fast; the speed was shocking. Although she had braced herself, when the moment to face it actually came, she suddenly felt as if she had lost her very soul, her body shaking increasingly, growing colder and colder. Driving on, Jiang Xiaoqing was distracted, her mind a blur.