Chapter 81: We'll meet again at the summit. : I take you as my goal, my role model, and the inexhaustible driving force on my path forward.
Lin Shu let them off the hook, casually pointing to the peak on the chart: "We also have a small punishment for Teacher Qin on this day... Judging from the timing, Teacher Jiang's dramatic fluctuations occurred when Teacher Qin was doing the confession task."
"Hey..." The crowd drew out their cheers.
Qin Lan looked like she was about to spontaneously combust, but she still stubbornly insisted like a bull: "This is normal, okay? Your numbers were also very high when you were blindfolded."
No one paid her any attention. Lin Shu continued, "The theme for Day 9 morning is the King's Game, sigh... tsk... everyone's excitement level... is really fluctuating."
Lin Shu smacked her lips for a while: "Then there's the masquerade ball in the evening, and the one with the highest single-day heart-fluttering value is..."
She was clearly a little surprised and looked up at him: "Teacher Feng Manhong."
Feng Manhong remained calm, the passage of time having sculpted her into a gentle and refined beauty.
"Yes, when I saw Ms. Liu wearing a wedding dress to the ball, my heart was really moved. It was the first time I had ever met someone as brave as Ms. Liu."
Liu Lü covered her mouth, embarrassed, and said, "No, I'm not as bad as you think—"
“Oh, still the most adorable person.” Feng Manhong interrupted her self-doubt with a smile.
She knew better than anyone how vastly different their statuses were in the industry. A three-time Golden Horse Award-winning actress, an international superstar, was having an ambiguous relationship with a nobody who had spent years playing minor roles and was now forced to play mothers, aunts, and great-aunts—even strangers wouldn't bless such a relationship.
Yang Xingji said expressionlessly, "Kill the dog."
Qin Lan put his arm around her shoulder and tried to brainwash her: "You're an idol now, and idols have to have the ethics of idols, otherwise you'll be cursed to death by fans, you know?"
"I'm already twenty-four..." Yang Xingji said wistfully.
"She's still a baby." Yu Jintang ruffled her hair. "Director Lin, what do we do next?"
"Let's talk about our feelings about the show and our expectations for the future."
Lin Shu waved her hand, and staff brought out fruit and desserts: "We will give each guest a 'time capsule,' in which you need to write down your hopes or blessings, and the production team will seal them together in the end."
Old-fashioned parchment paper and quill pens were distributed, and everyone was also given a combination lock box, which added to the sense of ceremony.
"How do you use this thing?" Song Man asked curiously, poking at the quill pen.
"It can write by dipping it in ink." Xiahou Cheng clicked his tongue in amazement: "Director Lin, where did you find these things?"
"Why don't you ask Teacher Yu where he got the investment from, that he would invest in such a strange program like ours?"
Lin Shu shrugged: "Okay, let me start. I'm Lin Shu, the director of 'Call in the Fog.' When Teacher Yu first came to me with a script written on scrap paper, I thought she was joking. What kind of dating reality show forbids physical contact? But Writer Yu eventually convinced me... Whether she appealed to my emotions or money, I'm here. Our show is quite lavish, and Director Yu herself invested a lot, providing the greatest support for my work. There were many joys during filming. Watching you all rack your brains to get close to each other without violating the rules was so much fun. So I always stood behind the monitor, watching you with the satisfaction of a parent... It's a pleasure to meet you all. Cheers!"
She poured out the red wine in her glass, replaced it with half a glass of white wine, and drank it all in one gulp, earning a round of applause and boos.
Jiang Yan spoke for everyone: "Director Lin, you really are asking for trouble."
Lin Shu smiled slyly: "Alright, next up, let's start with Teacher Liu Lü in front of me."
Liu Lü paused for a moment: "Why are you speaking again..."
"Well, I'm actually very grateful to Teacher Yu for contacting me. She said she likes shipping couples and is happy to help others achieve their goals, so I had my first opportunity to be in the same frame as Teacher Feng. Now that my dream has come true, I feel very fulfilled. It's also my luck to meet other teachers, and I've had a very happy time with you all... no, these are the happiest days of my life."
She stood up, toasted everyone, and drank the red wine in one gulp, just like Lin Shu did.
There's a saying circulating online: "Children from ordinary families shouldn't enter the entertainment industry."
Without powerful backing, the only outcome is being swallowed up by capital.
She'd been an extra for over twenty years, earning about the same pay as other background actors, and was practically forgotten. Having grown accustomed to others' disdain and harsh words, the equality and respect shown by everyone here warmed her heart.
The crowd applauded for her for a while, and then naturally looked at Yun Chui on her right.
Yun Chui remained silent for a long while, and when he looked up, his eyes were filled with tears.
"I will always remember these ten days."
She only said that one sentence, then touched her lips with the cold wine, and that was it.
Song Man turned her head to look and found that Yu Jintang had her brows deeply furrowed.
She always felt uneasy.
Feng Manhong took over the conversation to avoid drawing attention to Yun Chui's abrupt and brief remarks.
Half an hour later, it was Jiang Yan's turn to speak.
Yang Xingji spoke for about ten minutes, but the core message can be summarized in one sentence: I hate all of you who have ambiguous relationships.
Jiang Yan's gaze casually fell on the wine glass in front of her, staring at the slightly swirling liquid inside: "These ten days have also been very enjoyable for me, and I have some blessings to share with everyone."
She stood up and, starting with Liu Lü, toasted each person in turn: "Teacher Liu, I wish you great success, a bright future, all your wishes come true, and happiness and fulfillment."
Liu Lü stood up and clinked glasses with her from a distance.
“Clouds hang low.”
She remained silent for a few seconds.
An unnamed fire burned in Song Man's heart. Another pause! Another silence! Why is it that everything related to Yun Chui involves pauses and silence? Why does everyone seem to be keeping a secret, while she remains completely unaware?
Jiang Yan remained silent for a moment, then raised her glass to her: "I wish you peace and happiness."
Yun Chui's eyes reddened slightly as she stood up to return the greeting.
Jiang Yan toasted everyone, and finally it was the last person's turn at the long table.
She and Qin Lan gazed at each other from afar. They remained silent, their hearts pounding like drums.
Jiang Yan is good at speaking in both human and ghost languages, but she only got stuck for a moment with Yun Chui and her.
"Um... Teacher Qin."
"We've known each other for a long time, and what I want to say is... no matter in the past or now, only you can be my rival. I take you as my goal, my role model, and the inexhaustible driving force on my path forward. We... will meet at the summit."
She gave Qin Lan a deep look and raised her hand to toast her.
Qin Lan raised her glass in return.
She sat down, feeling as if Yu Jintang and Anna had finished speaking in an instant. Now it was her turn, but she had completely forgotten what she was supposed to say.
She felt that there was something strange about Jiang Yan's gaze just now, she couldn't say whether it was good or bad, but it had somehow drawn her soul in, and now her mind was a mess, filled with Jiang Yan's gaze.
She said a few words absentmindedly, drank her wine, and sat down. Lin Shu reminded everyone that they could start writing the time capsule, so everyone hunched over their desks and wrote furiously.
Jiang Yan finished writing first, and when the cameraman wanted to film it, she confidently showed it to the camera. It all boils down to those four words—"See you at the summit."
Two minutes later, Qin Lan had also decided what to write. She made up her mind and wrote the same four words: "See you at the summit."
The cameraman wanted to film the second guest who had finished writing, and Qin Lan didn't hide it. She picked up the parchment, waved it in front of the camera, and put it into the combination box.
Perhaps many years later, she and Jiang Yan will come to Lin Shu to retrieve the time capsule and reminisce about the wonderful times they spent together.
After all the guests had sealed the capsules, Lin Shu asked the staff to take the password box away.
"The mist shrouds the pavilions, the moon obscures the ferry crossing. A heart-stirring scene unfolds within the mist. Whether it represents love or friendship, the heartbeats of the scene prove how deep our feelings are. I'm glad to see everyone gain something from the mist. May we meet again someday."
Everyone applauded, then dispersed. The yacht would depart tomorrow morning, so everyone quickly packed their luggage and went to bed.
The next morning, everyone slept soundly until dawn. Some people were quite unaccustomed to the lack of music to wake them up for tasks.
For example, Qin Lan woke up automatically at six o'clock and lay in bed for a long time before remembering that the recording had already ended.
Around 8 o'clock, Qin Lan, who had taken a nap, wandered down to the kitchen on the first floor to find something to eat.
Jiang Yan handed her a piece of bread. Qin Lan took it in one bite, sat down next to her, closed her eyes to rest, and chewed at an extremely slow pace.
Her cheeks were bulging out, which made Jiang Yan's heart itch, and she couldn't help but gently poke her.
Ten minutes later, Yang Xingji appeared with huge dark circles under his eyes, yawning and holding out his hand: "Bread? Give me a slice."
Jiang Yan pushed the bag over: "Stayed up all night again?"
"Damn level 599, I just can't get past it..."
Yang Xingji cursed and sat down opposite her, then noticed Qin Lan's head resting on Jiang Yan's shoulder.
The bread in her mouth fell to the ground.
"what?"
Jiang Yan found it somewhat amusing to see her blank expression.
"I'm full." Yang Xingji stood up and left expressionlessly.
Why did she leave?
Qin Lan, who was yawning from sleepiness, opened her eyes and looked at Yang Xingji's lonely figure with a puzzled expression.
Jiang Yan said casually, "They think I'm too good-looking and are too embarrassed to sit across from me."
"She's quite self-aware."
Qin Lan began to chew the bread in large bites.
At nine o'clock, everyone left the villa one after another and boarded the ship at the dock.
A group of young people stood on the deck, full of youthful vigor. One of them, a woman wearing a baseball cap, shouted, "Beautiful spring! Here we come!"
Then Yu Jintang was kicked into the cabin.
"Spring my ass! You have no sense of decency whatsoever!"
Yu Jintang calmly got up, and in front of her stood a pair of calves and shoes. She wiped the dust off her clothes and laughed, "Hammer is still the best, it won't make a fool of me..."
Yun Chui did not answer, but leaned forward with his hands on his knees, his face looking very unpleasant.
"Yun Chui?"
Yu Jintang's heart tightened, and he quickly looked down to check her pupils: "Can you hear me? Is this an acute attack?"
Before Yu Jintang fell in, Yun Chui already felt chest tightness and shortness of breath. Unfortunately, Anna went to the bathroom and, finding the reading on her monitoring watch incorrect, hurriedly pulled up her pants and ran out. Then Yu Jintang descended from the sky. At this moment, Yun Chui already felt dizzy, had tinnitus, and his vision was blacking out; he could barely hear anything.
Yu Jintang noticed that her pupils were unfocused and her face was deathly pale, so he quickly shouted, "Anna! Anna!!"
Anna rushed in, clutching her waistband with one hand and carrying a first-aid kit with the other: "Put two cushions behind her back, and make sure she doesn't lie down at a 45-degree angle!"
Yu Jintang did as instructed, and nearly flew out of her hand when she took out her phone.
The people on deck realized something was wrong and hurried into the cabin.
Anna quickly pulled out the oxygen mask and emergency medication, connected it to the oxygen concentrator, and adjusted the oxygen supply.
She covered Yun Chui's face with the mask, snatched Yu Jintang's phone, and her lips flew across the screen: "Emergency? The patient is experiencing an acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary hypertension and is now experiencing severe respiratory distress and is on the verge of fainting. The patient is currently taking targeted drugs such as bosentan and needs an ambulance. Please have Nanyu Second Hospital prepare to receive the patient!"
Yu Jintang took the phone, Anna dialed the oxygen concentrator, and began feeding Yun Chui nitroglycerin.
The group blocking the doorway were stunned. Song Man took two steps forward, looking astonished: "What did you just say?"
Yu Jintang quickly said, "I know you're anxious, but don't rush. We can talk after she's safe. She can't get agitated right now, so please don't say anything."
Song Man stood there, stunned. Jiang Yan nudged Qin Lan, who was equally astonished, signaling her to take Song Man away first.
Then she turned around and said, "Everyone, please don't crowd here. Otherwise, the air inside won't circulate properly, and it can easily cause psychological stress for the patients."
Everyone looked at her, Yu Jintang, and Anna with strange expressions, but they still silently turned and left.
Yu Jintang tried hard to recall the knowledge he had researched before, half-embracing Yun Chui, and tried his best to soothe her emotions: "Anna is here, it's okay, don't be afraid, don't be afraid, the ambulance will be here soon, and the hospital will be here soon too."
Panic and anxiety can increase the burden on the heart, which is especially dangerous for patients who are on the verge of suffocation.
Yun Chui's fingers twitched, as if he wanted to ask how Song Man was doing.
Yu Jintang immediately understood: "She's fine, she's waiting for you outside. You must take good care of yourself and don't let her worry."
She called Jiang Yan in: "Have Lin Shu dock quickly, there's an emergency."
Jiang Yan turned and ran.
Yun Chui's head lolled to the side, and he completely lost consciousness.
＊
When she woke up again, she found herself half-reclined on a stretcher. People were running around her, the ringing in her ears was still deafening, black dots were spreading out, and everything was spinning.
Her heart was pounding faster and faster, and she felt a tearing pain in her chest.
Two nurses pushed a stretcher, running and talking, while Anna, Qin Lan, and Song Man ran after them.
"She's awake!" Song Man exclaimed in surprise, her bangs disheveled.
Anna and Qin Lan looked at her together. Yun Chui's eyes widened, and she coughed up a mouthful of pink blood.
The door to the emergency room closed in front of them, and Song Man's legs went weak, causing her to collapse to the ground.
Qin Lan stood at the door, his lips pressed tightly together, unaware of her. Anna paced back and forth, muttering to herself, seemingly already in another world.
It wasn't until Yu Jintang and the others rushed over that Jiang Yan noticed Song Man, who was slumped on the ground, and quickly helped her sit down.
Song Man stared blankly for a long time before slowly asking, "Pulmonary hypertension... what is that?"
Yu Jintang glanced around amidst her busy schedule.
Xiahou Cheng put his arm around her shoulder, Qin Lan was still standing motionless in front of the door, Yang Xingji was at a loss, and Anna was immersed in the world of medicine.
Feng Manhong was persuaded to stay because of her high status, and Liu Lü stayed in the car with her.
Although everyone else was wearing masks, it was hard to guarantee that passersby wouldn't recognize her, as she was busy processing messages.
Jiang Yan and she exchanged a glance and nodded helplessly: "To be precise, it's idiopathic pulmonary hypertension, which is a very special disease. We don't know why people get it... nor do we know how to treat it."
Qin Lan finally reacted: "What do you mean by not knowing how to treat it?"
Jiang Yan shook her head sadly.
The corridor fell silent, and everyone could hear Anna muttering to herself: "Idiopathic pulmonary hypertension, or IPAH for short, is a persistent increase in pulmonary artery pressure caused by unexplained increases in pulmonary vascular resistance..."
"How do you treat it?" Song Man interrupted her with a hint of anticipation.
Anna muttered to herself, "...With the continuous advancement of medicine, nearly half of the patients can survive for five years or more. Yun Chui's heart function was classified as Class III at the time of diagnosis, and his median survival is about 5-7 years..."
Song Man leaned forward: "What does 'intermediate survival period of five to seven years' mean?"
Anna finally returned to human society: "That means 50% of the patients were still alive at this point in time."
"Isn't there any way to cure it completely? If there's a problem with the lungs, what about a lung transplant?"
Anna explained, "Lung transplants cannot be performed unless the patient is in a high-risk stage. The surgical mortality rate is too high, and there are postoperative complications... The new lung has a high rejection rate, and patients still need to take medication and be monitored for life. Only half of the patients can survive for more than five years after the surgery, and a matching lung is extremely scarce."
Song Man was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly asked, "You said before that as long as you get timely treatment and take your medicine properly, the probability of surviving for more than ten years is still very high, right?"
Anna sighed heavily, as if she were too exhausted to utter another word. Her sigh sent a chill down everyone's spine. Qin Lan felt a chill run through her; she gasped for breath, her gaze falling on Jiang Yan.
Jiang Yan kept her head down, gently stroking Song Man's back, completely ignoring Anna's words.
They obviously already knew.
"Say something!" Song Man cried out urgently, "That's what you just said! Traditional treatments only allow you to live for two or three years, but targeted drugs can generally allow you to live for seven or eight years or more!"
“That’s what I’m saying,” Anna sighed again, “but there are some prerequisites: early detection, fewer symptoms, active cooperation with treatment, use of new drugs… and most importantly, no adverse reactions to the new drugs.”
Song Man stopped breathing for a while.
It wasn't until Jiang Yan gently patted her that she breathed a sigh of relief: "She... she wouldn't, right?"
Anna glanced away with a pained expression: "Currently, targeted therapies are not very effective, so we are preparing to use potent targeted drugs that require intravenous injection, which means... the probability of success has greatly increased."
After a moment of silence, Song Man calmly pursed her lips, her voice even sounding somewhat cold.
"What is the probability?"
Anna now fully understood why Yun Chui left without saying a word.
"It's the probability of death," she said dejectedly, covering her face in shame.
Song Man tucked her chin in.
————————
Wow, we'll have a main couple tomorrow!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com