Shang Wu and A Ying sat on the cold bench in the corridor.
A few hours later, the emergency room door opened, and the attending physician came out with a thick stack of lab reports, his face grave.
He looked at Shang Wu, who was at the head of the group, and Lu Rang, who had rushed over, took a deep breath, and announced in a deep voice: "The test results are in. Mr. Cheng Zhou has been diagnosed with... acute lymphoblastic leukemia and needs to be hospitalized immediately for further evaluation and treatment."
leukemia?
Shang Wu's face turned deathly pale instantly, and she almost lost her balance. Lu Rang, who was standing next to her, caught her.
Aying also covered her mouth, her eyes filled with shock and fear.
In the ward, Cheng Zhou had just regained some consciousness and learned about his condition from the doctor.
He lay on the hospital bed, staring at the pale ceiling, his face expressionless, devoid of fear or excitement, only a deathly stillness.
It was as if this news was just the last straw that broke the camel's back, causing his already battered heart to sink into an abyss.
He didn't even have the interest to ask about the treatment plan; he simply closed his eyes slowly, utterly disheartened.
Shang Wu was extremely anxious seeing his utterly lifeless appearance.
She knew that at this moment, perhaps only one person could give him any strength.
She walked out of the ward, leaned against the cold wall, and dialed Lu You's number with trembling hands.
The call connected, and Lu You's slightly cold voice came from the other end: "A-Wu? What's up?"
Shang Wu took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice from trembling too much, but it still carried an undeniable heaviness and sob.
"Sister You, where are you? Something's happened! Cheng Zhou is sick, very seriously ill. The doctor said it's leukemia. Can...can you come to the hospital?"
There was a long, suffocating silence on the other end of the phone.
Shang Wu could even hear Lu You's suddenly rapid and suppressed breathing.
A few seconds later, the call was abruptly disconnected, leaving only a rapid busy tone.
Holding her phone, Shang Wu leaned against the cold wall and slowly slid down onto a bench in the corridor.
She knew that Lu You needed time to process this devastating news, and also time to struggle and make choices.
Time passed by, and only the smell of disinfectant and the occasional hurried footsteps of medical staff remained in the corridor.
After arranging the hospitalization details, Lu Rang sat down next to Shang Wu, gently put his arm around her shoulder, and offered his support silently.
With tears in her eyes, Aying went to handle all sorts of tedious procedures.
About an hour later, the sound of hurried and slightly chaotic high heels finally came from the end of the corridor.
The sound grew louder as it approached, carrying an obvious sense of panic and uncertainty, and finally stopped at the door of the ward.
Lu You has arrived.
She stood outside the ward, her face paler than the ward walls, her lips devoid of color, trembling slightly.
She had clearly rushed over from somewhere after receiving a call; her hair was a little messy, and her carefully drawn eyeliner was smudged, perhaps from wiping away tears.
Lu Rang stared at the half-closed door, looking at it several times, but he still didn't have the courage to push it open.
Those eyes, which usually sparkled with confidence, were now filled with immense bewilderment, helplessness, and a barely perceptible hint of fear.
Shang Wu stood up, walked to her side, and said softly, "He's inside. He just finished a preliminary examination, took some medication, and is awake, but he doesn't talk much."
As if startled awake, Lu You suddenly came to her senses and glanced at Shang Wu. The complexity in her eyes made Shang Wu's heart ache.
She finally took a deep breath and, as if facing death, forcefully pushed open the ward door.
The ward was dimly lit, but it still couldn't hide the cold, unpleasant atmosphere of a hospital.
Cheng Zhou lay on the hospital bed with an IV drip in his arm. His face was sickly pale, his eyes were sunken, and he had lost a lot of weight, as if all his energy had been drained away overnight.
He stared blankly at the ceiling, his eyes unfocused, showing no reaction to the noise at the doorway.
Lu You stopped at the doorway, as if nailed to the spot.
Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar person on the hospital bed, her heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, the pain almost making it hard for her to breathe.
Is this really Cheng Zhou? Is this the same Cheng Zhou who was once spirited and always teased her with a roguish smile, and who would prepare midnight snacks for her?
How could... how could it have turned out like this?
Lu You opened her mouth, but her throat felt like it was blocked by something, and she couldn't make a sound.
She slowly, step by step, moved to the bedside.
Lu You stood by the bed, looking down at Cheng Zhou, still unsure of what to say.
"What’s wrong with you?"
This question seems so pale and ridiculous.
In the end, it was Cheng Zhou who reacted first.
He seemed to sense his gaze, his eyes slowly shifting before finally landing on her face.
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