Ah Yu's Difficult Choice

When Ah Yu heard Gu Yanting's words, she was struck dumb, her mind went blank for a moment, as if the whole world had frozen in that instant.

Gu Yanting's smug voice, like the whisper of a devil, kept echoing in his ears: "As long as you break up with Zhong Hua and leave her world, I can consider helping to pay for your treatment, otherwise..." Although he didn't finish the sentence, the threat in it was so heavy that Ah Yu couldn't breathe.

Ah Yu's heart was instantly plunged into a painful struggle, a struggle like a cruel war, each clash leaving his heart riddled with holes. On one side was Zhong Hua, whom he deeply loved; their love had weathered storms and was deeply rooted. The days they had spent together played out in his mind like a movie.

They still remembered the day they first met. The sun was shining brightly, and Zhong Hua was like a ray of light illuminating his somewhat mundane life. Her smile was like a flower blooming in spring, fresh and captivating. At that time, Ah Yu was intently watching a group of children play in the park when she accidentally bumped into Zhong Hua, who was hurrying along. Their belongings scattered on the ground, and in the instant they picked them up together, their eyes met. At that moment, it seemed as if time itself stood still for them. From that moment on, the red thread of fate tightly bound them together.

They strolled together on the beach, listening to the waves lapping against the sand, sharing their dreams and secrets; on starry nights, they sat side by side on mountaintops, feeling each other's heartbeats; when one faced setbacks, the other offered the warmest encouragement and support. They weathered countless storms together, and neither career lows nor minor life conflicts could diminish their love; instead, it grew stronger.

However, at this moment, what lay before him was the life of Zhong Hua's mother. A Yu knew all too well that without the money for her treatment, Zhong Hua's mother might very well pass away, something he simply couldn't accept. Zhong Hua's mother had always treated him like her own son; her kindness and care made A Yu feel the warmth of home. Whenever he visited Zhong Hua's home, his mother would always prepare his favorite dishes and care for his daily life. The loving look in her eyes gave A Yu, who had wandered for many years, a long-lost sense of belonging.

He clenched his fists, veins bulging on the back of his hands, as if trying to vent his anger and helplessness through those clenched fists. Sweat beaded on his forehead, large drops sliding down his cheeks and dripping onto the back of his hands, but doing nothing to alleviate his inner turmoil. Looking at Gu Yanting's smug face, his anger burned like a raging fire, he wanted nothing more than to rush forward and beat this despicable man to a pulp. But he couldn't do that; he knew perfectly well that acting impulsively at this moment would only make things worse.

A wave of helplessness washed over him, completely overwhelming him. He hated his own powerlessness, how insignificant and helpless he felt in the face of such a predicament. Caught in this dilemma, he painfully closed his eyes, trying to escape this cruel reality. But the beautiful memories with Zhong Hua, and the image of Zhong Hua's mother lying weakly in her hospital bed, kept flashing through his mind, leaving him nowhere to run.

He recalled a time when Zhong Hua was hospitalized, and Zhong Hua's mother stayed by her bedside day and night, exhausted but still managing to care for her daughter. When A Yu visited, Zhong Hua's mother still made sure to ask if he had eaten and told him to take care of himself. That care still deeply moved him. And now, that kind old woman was facing a life-threatening crisis; how could he stand idly by?

However, agreeing to Gu Yanting's conditions and leaving Zhong Hua would undoubtedly be adding insult to injury for Zhong Hua. With Zhong Hua already suffering from the double blow of cyberbullying and her mother's worsening condition, his departure would be the final straw. He could almost see the despair in Zhong Hua's eyes after learning of his departure; the pain and confusion in those eyes felt like countless needles piercing his heart.

Ah Yu's mind was filled with various hypothetical scenarios. If he left, would Zhong Hua be able to face all of this with strength? Would she fall into even deeper despair and pain? And if he didn't leave, what would happen to Zhong Hua's mother? Would she really have to watch helplessly as her daughter left this world because she couldn't afford treatment?

Time ticked by in this agonizing struggle, each second feeling like an eternity to Ah Yu. He constantly weighed the options in his mind, trying to find a way to achieve the best of both worlds, but reality was so cruel that it never gave him that opportunity.

Gu Yanting stood aside, watching Ah Yu's painful appearance with great interest, as if admiring a work of art he had carefully created. He enjoyed the feeling of controlling someone else's fate, and seeing Ah Yu struggle in pain under his threat filled him with a twisted pleasure.

"Well, have you thought it through? Time waits for no one. Zhong Hua's mother's condition won't improve just because you hesitate." Gu Yanting spoke again, his voice carrying a hint of urging and full of sarcasm.

Ah Yu slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with pain and confusion. He looked at Gu Yanting, his lips trembling slightly, wanting to say something, yet unsure where to begin. At this moment, he felt as if he were trapped in a dark swamp, the more he struggled, the deeper he sank, unable to find any hope of escape.

During this long and agonizing ordeal, Ah Yu's heart was in constant turmoil. He thought of Zhong Hua's strength; how she had persevered despite her exhaustion in the face of cyberbullying, refusing to succumb to malice. If he were to back down and leave her because of this difficulty, how disappointed would Zhong Hua be? Yet, at the same time, he couldn't ignore the fact that Zhong Hua's mother was dying.

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