Chapter 28
When the spring chill lingered, Song Mingye suggested taking everyone south to see the sea. After enduring the harsh winter, the warm sun and moist sea breeze by the sea became the most enticing expectation. The night before departure, Song Linchuan lay on his suitcase, neatly folding each piece of clothing, humming a tune: "Brother, should we take Xiaobai with us?"
Song Mingye hugged him from behind, resting his chin on the top of his head, his voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible fatigue: "Of course we should take him, Xiaobai should also go see the sea." He had been feeling weak all over lately, and his back and waist ached from time to time. At first, he thought it was because he was too tired from work and didn't pay much attention to it, only thinking that he could relax properly on this trip.
Chu Xiaoche and Qi Zihao were already packed. Qi Zihao's camera bag was bulging, filled with lenses and film. Chu Xiaoche tidied it up: "Bring less, it's too heavy. I don't want to carry it all the way." Qi Zihao stuck out his tongue and secretly stuffed another roll of film in: "What if we encounter a stunning sunrise and don't have enough to take pictures of?"
Jiang Ziyu was carefully covering his easel with a protective cover, while Mu Nanjin sat beside him, helping him put his paints and brushes into the storage box. "It's windy at the beach, remember to wear more layers," Mu Nanjin said softly, brushing the dust off Jiang Ziyu's shoulder. Jiang Ziyu nodded, looking up at him with eyes full of dependence: "Will you always hold my hand?" Mu Nanjin smiled and took his hand: "Of course."
As the car drove out of the city, dawn was just breaking. Song Mingye was driving, with Song Linchuan in the passenger seat, Xiaobai curled up on his lap, fast asleep. In the back seat, Qi Zihao leaned on Chu Xiaoche's shoulder, excitedly flipping through a seaside travel guide; Jiang Ziyu and Mu Nanjin looked out the window together, watching the roadside trees gradually sprout new buds, exuding vitality.
The journey was long, and Song Mingye was already struggling after driving for two hours, with fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. Song Linchuan noticed that something was wrong with him and asked worriedly, "Brother, are you tired? Why don't we let Chu Xiaoche drive?" Song Mingye shook his head and forced himself to stay awake, "It's okay, I can still drive. We'll reach the service area in a little while."
Chu Xiaoche also noticed something was wrong and handed over a bottle of water from the back seat: "Mingye, don't push yourself, safety first." Song Mingye took the water, took a sip, and forced a smile: "I'm really fine, I'm probably just a little low blood sugar."
Upon arriving at the service area, everyone got out of the car to rest. Song Mingye leaned back in his chair, rubbing his aching back, his face somewhat pale. Song Linchuan squatted down beside him, reaching out to touch his forehead: "Brother, you look terrible, should we go to the hospital to get it checked out?" Song Mingye took his hand and gently patted it: "No need, I probably just haven't rested well, I'll be fine after eating something."
Qi Zihao bought some bread and milk and handed it to Song Mingye: "Mingye, have something to eat first." Song Mingye took the bread, took a bite, and chewed slowly, trying to suppress the discomfort in his heart. Chu Xiaoche sat next to him, his brows slightly furrowed: "Mingye, if you're really not feeling well, we can go to the nearby hospital for a simple check-up. It won't take long."
Just as Song Mingye was about to refuse, a wave of dizziness washed over him, his vision blurred, and he lurched forward uncontrollably. "Brother!" Song Linchuan cried out in alarm, quickly catching him. Chu Xiaoche also immediately reached out, firmly supporting Song Mingye's back, his expression changing drastically: "Quick, get him to the hospital!"
Startled, Qi Zihao dropped the milk in his hand and quickly took out his phone to call for an ambulance. Mu Nanjin quickly laid Song Mingye down, loosened his collar, and gently comforted the panicked Song Linchuan beside him: "Don't panic, the ambulance will be here soon."
The ambulance arrived with sirens blaring and took Song Mingye to a nearby hospital. Song Linchuan stayed close to the stretcher, tears welling in her eyes, but she held them back. Chu Xiaoche arranged for the vehicles to go to the hospital first, while he stayed behind to handle the follow-up matters.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Song Mingye was taken to the emergency room. Song Linchuan sat on a chair outside the emergency room, his hands clenched tightly, his knuckles white. Qi Zihao stayed by his side, gently patting his back: "Achuan, don't worry, Mingye is a lucky guy, he'll be alright." Jiang Ziyu also whispered comfortingly, "Yes, he's probably just too tired, a check-up will do the trick."
When Chu Xiaoche arrived, the emergency room lights were still on. He sat down next to Song Linchuan and handed him a cup of hot water: "Drink some water, don't be too nervous." Song Linchuan took the cup, his hands trembling slightly: "Brother Xiaoche, what's wrong with my brother? He's always been in good health." Chu Xiaoche sighed: "Don't overthink it, we'll know when the test results come out. There's no use in worrying now."
After an unknown amount of time, the emergency room lights finally went out. The doctor came out, took off his mask, and looked serious. Song Linchuan immediately rushed over: "Doctor, how is my brother?" The doctor looked at him and slowly said: "The patient has woken up and is fine. It was just a fainting spell caused by overwork. However, we found a shadow on his lumbar spine during the examination. We recommend a detailed examination to rule out the possibility of malignancy."
"A shadow? A malignant lesion?" Song Linchuan's voice rose instantly, his eyes filled with fear. "Doctor, what does this mean? Is it very serious?" The doctor quickly reassured him, "Don't get agitated. This is just a preliminary finding. We can't determine what it is yet. We need to do further CT scans and pathological examinations to make a diagnosis. It could also just be a common benign nodule. Don't think the worst."
Song Mingye was taken to the observation room. He leaned against the headboard, his face still a little pale, but his spirits had improved considerably. Seeing Song Linchuan come in, he forced a smile: "Achuan, don't worry, I'm fine." Song Linchuan walked to the bedside, took his hand, and finally couldn't hold back his tears: "Brother, the doctor said there's a shadow on your lumbar spine, and you need to do further examinations."
Song Mingye's eyes darkened for a moment, then regained their composure: "It's alright, let's have the check-up. It'll be good to see what's going on, so we won't worry about it later." Chu Xiaoche, Qi Zihao, and Mu Nanjin also entered the observation room, and looking at Song Mingye, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
“Mingye, you should rest well. We’ll help you with the hospital admission procedures, and you’ll have a detailed examination tomorrow,” Chu Xiaoche said. Song Mingye nodded, “Thank you for your trouble.” Qi Zihao smiled and said, “Don’t be so polite with us. Just focus on getting better.”
In the days that followed, Song Mingye underwent a series of examinations at the hospital. Song Linchuan stayed by his side every step of the way, feeding him, bathing him, and taking meticulous care of him. Chu Xiaoche was in charge of handling company affairs, but he would take time to visit him every day. Qi Zihao and Jiang Ziyu also came frequently, bringing them fruit and flowers, and telling Song Mingye interesting stories from the outside world to cheer him up.
On the day the test results came out, the doctor called Song Mingye and Song Linchuan to his office. "Doctor, how did it go?" Song Linchuan asked nervously. The doctor looked at them and slowly said, "The test results are in. It's diagnosed as early-stage bone cancer. Fortunately, it was discovered early, and the cancer cells haven't spread yet. With surgical treatment, the cure rate is still very high."
“Bone cancer…” Song Linchuan’s voice trembled, and tears instantly streamed down his face. Song Mingye held his hand and patted it gently: “Don’t cry, it’s only in the early stages, it can be cured. We should be glad that it was discovered early.” The doctor nodded: “Yes, you don’t need to worry too much. As long as you actively cooperate with the treatment, the chances of recovery are very high. Moreover, the surgery time can be arranged according to your situation, there’s no rush.”
Song Mingye thought for a moment and said to the doctor, "Doctor, can we be discharged first? I want to finish this trip and then come back for the surgery." The doctor was taken aback for a moment, then nodded, "Yes, as long as you pay attention to rest and avoid strenuous exercise, there shouldn't be any major problems. However, you need to come back for treatment as soon as possible and can't delay for too long."
Stepping out of the doctor's office, Song Linchuan looked at Song Mingye: "Brother, are you really going on the trip first? Let's have the surgery first, I'm worried." Song Mingye smiled: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. We've been looking forward to this trip for so long, we can't cancel it because of this little thing. Besides, the doctor said it's not a big problem, we'll have the surgery as soon as we get back from the trip."
After learning the results, Chu Xiaoche, Qi Zihao, and Mu Nanjin also urged Song Mingye to have the surgery first, but Song Mingye was adamant, so they had no choice but to agree. "Then you must take care of yourself. If you feel unwell, tell us immediately," Chu Xiaoche instructed. Song Mingye nodded: "I will."
The next day, Song Mingye was discharged from the hospital. The group packed their things and set off for the seaside again. As the car drove along the coastal highway, the sea breeze blew in through the windows, carrying a faint salty smell. Song Linchuan leaned on Song Mingye's shoulder and whispered, "Brother, after we get back from our trip, we'll have the surgery. You have to get better." Song Mingye held his hand: "Okay, I will get better, and I'll take you to see many, many more seas."
Qi Zihao shouted excitedly, "Look! The sea!" Everyone looked out the window, where the boundless sea shimmered under the sunlight, a breathtaking sight. Song Mingye gazed at the sea before him, a long-lost smile returning to his face. He knew that this trip was not only about relaxation, but also about anticipation for the future. He would definitely pursue his treatment diligently, live well, and spend many more springs, summers, autumns, and winters with those around him.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
