New Year's emergency light

In the last few hours of 2015, a few fireworks exploded sporadically outside the window, and the host on TV was reading out his hopes for the New Year in an impassioned tone.

However, what really put an end to this year was not the clock striking midnight, but the sound of the ambulance siren that suddenly pierced the night sky at three in the morning.

"What's going on outside?" I was awakened by the sudden noise. I rubbed my eyes and got up to look at the alarm clock. It was only three o'clock in the morning.

When I opened the door, the glaring light in the living room made me squint subconsciously.

My parents were already dressed and looked solemn.

"Awake? That's great, don't sleep any more." Mom said hurriedly, stuffing a set of clothes into my arms without giving me any explanation.

I held the clothes, looking confused, "Huh?"

"Your Aunt Shen's situation is not good."

As her mother zipped up her coat, she quickly explained, "The ambulance just took you away. Now that you're awake, come with your dad and me to the hospital. Hoshino is alone there, so you can keep him company."

I woke up instantly, hurriedly put on my clothes, and followed my parents downstairs.

The wind on a winter night is really cold, but what makes people feel even more chilled is the unknown.

The same hospital, the same operating room door, even the smell of disinfectant in the air carries a familiar sense of oppression.

I stole a glance at Lu Xingye beside me. Compared to his collapse and loss of composure the last time Aunt Shen fell ill, this time, he sat quietly on the bench, his back straight, his face expressionless, and his calmness almost weird.

I sat down next to him and racked my brains for words of comfort, but words seemed powerless.

"Don't worry too much. It'll be fine."

In the end, I could only squeeze out these few words dryly.

He turned his head and said in an unnaturally calm voice, "Lin Nian, if...she can wake up this time, I won't let her stay here anymore."

I stared at him blankly, "What?"

Where to stay? Where to go?

He shook his head, stopping me from asking further questions, and turned his gaze back to the glaring red "Surgery in Progress" light on the operating room door.

Although he looked very strong, he made me feel even sadder than last time. It felt like a stone was pressing on my chest and I couldn't breathe.

I impulsively grabbed his arm, and the cold touch made my heart tremble.

"Lu Xingye, listen," I promised eagerly, "no matter what happens, we will always be by your side. You are not alone."

He didn't pull his arm away, but he didn't respond either.

My words fell on deaf ears. Apart from that almost decisive declaration just now, he didn't utter another word throughout the rest of the night.

There are no windows in the corridor outside the operating room, so you can't feel the passage of time.

But when Jiang Yuanzhou and Lulu arrived breathlessly, I was sure that it was already dawn.

Lu Xingye still maintained his previous posture, as if he didn't notice their arrival at all.

I looked at Jiang Yuanzhou and Lulu for help.

They shook their heads at me, asked no questions, and sat down quietly to accompany us.

Time is passing by every minute and every second.

"Who are Shen Jingyi's family members?"

The door of the operating room finally opened.

A doctor in a green surgical gown came out, his mask covering most of his face.

"I am"

The boy next to me said the second sentence of 2016.

Lu Xingye stood up and pulled his arm away from my hand, but didn't say a word to us.

I don’t know how much time passed before the door of the operating room opened again.

The nurse pushed out a mobile bed. Aunt Shen's face was terribly pale, and only the jumping numbers on the monitor proved that she was alive.

"The patient is out of danger for now," the doctor said, taking off his mask. "But his condition is still unstable and requires close observation."

Lu Xingye followed the mobile bed towards the ICU, his steps a little unsteady.

I subconsciously wanted to help him, but he had already stood firm.

"Hoshino..." I called him softly with some concern.

He stopped and finally looked back at us with a blank look in his eyes. "You guys go back first. I'll stay here."

"No!" I shook my head firmly, "We will accompany you."

Aunt Shen stayed in the ICU for three days.

On the afternoon of the third day, Aunt Shen's condition finally stabilized and she was transferred to the general ward.

Several of us took turns serving food, but Lu Xingye ate very little. He would often mechanically take a few bites and then put down his chopsticks.

"Eat a little bit,"

My mother pushed the thermos closer to him and said, "If you fall down, who will take care of your mother?"

This worked.

He finally sat down and ate a few more bites seriously, but remained silent.

We all tacitly agreed not to disturb him.

The day Aunt Chen woke up was a rare sunny day.

Lu Xingye sat on a chair next to the bed, holding Aunt Shen's hand that was not on the IV.

Aunt Shen moved her fingers and slowly opened her eyes.

Her eyes were a little dazed, and it took her a while to focus on Lu Xingye.

"...Hoshino..." Her voice was weak.

Lu Xingye leaned over and put his ear close to her lips.

We all held our breath.

Aunt Shen's gaze lingered on Lu Xingye's face for a long time. She opened her mouth and said, "...Mom...it's okay..."

I saw Lu Xingye's shoulders finally relax, he suddenly lowered his head and buried his face in their clasped hands.

This scene made my eyes a little sore, but Lu Xingye didn't cry.

I think some tears probably flow into my heart.