She had these symptoms...
She remembered, of course she remembered—
That summer camp, Yang Jin came to visit her, bringing a large amount of nuts and snacks that her family usually limited her intake of.
That was the first time she had ever eaten to her heart's content without any restraint.
It was also the first time.
As the night wore on, I started to feel itchy all over, covered in red rashes, and my throat felt tight. It felt like I was being choked by a hand as I tried to breathe.
Yang Jinchu was frantic and wanted to take her to the hospital.
She stubbornly refused to let her family know, fearing that she would be scolded by the adults.
Finally, we made it through without any major incidents.
After that, she learned that she was mildly allergic to nuts, but she was fine because she controlled her intake.
Moreover, she knew that her cousin, Xingci, had the same symptoms as her.
But—Jin Xuan?
She snapped back to her senses and almost instinctively spoke.
"Dr. Wang?"
Dr. Wang had already turned and taken two steps when she called him back. He turned around and asked with a smile.
"Miss Chu, is there any other question?"
Chu Wuyang's voice trembled slightly.
"Wait... what you just mentioned... burns, plastic surgery...?"
Dr. Wang paused for a moment, as if realizing he had spoken out of turn, and gave a dry laugh.
"Oh, sorry, sorry, I was just saying it offhand."
"However, you are his only family member, so I suppose these things aren't really private."
“It’s actually in his medical records.”
He spoke slowly, as if searching through his memories.
"His background was extremely complicated when he first transferred here,"
“We were also called to a special meeting – the burn area was over 40 percent, there was extensive tissue necrosis on the left side of the face, neck and back, and the respiratory tract was damaged. It would be a miracle if we survived.”
"The surgery was extremely difficult, and we even had to consult with foreign experts overnight."
Chu Wuyang's heart sank little by little, and her face slowly turned pale.
"...When did this happen?"
Her voice was barely audible.
"Ah, that must have been several years ago."
Dr. Wang thought for a moment, then frowned and added,
"I remember the exact date of my first visit was clearly stated in the file, it was about five years ago—I have a very strong impression of the injury report from that time,"
"That was the most serious fire in Haicheng in recent years, affecting an entire residential building and causing heavy casualties."
"Jin Xuan's family... was also one of the victims; he was the only one left in the family."
He sighed as he said this.
"Tsk tsk, that kid is really tough. Most people wouldn't be able to survive that."
"Fortunately, you relatives have done your best, and the psychological recovery has been relatively smooth."
Chu Wuyang's hand slowly tightened, her fingertips and knuckles turning white.
Five years ago, in the biggest fire in Haicheng, only one member of a family survived.
Five years ago...the fire that killed her uncle, aunt, and cousin...didn't it?
Why?
She felt dizzy and almost couldn't stand, so she grabbed the wall next to her.
Aunt Rong sensed something was wrong and quickly called out in a low voice.
"Yangyang?"
She bit her lip, trying to steady her breathing.
"Dr. Wang, do you remember the details of that fire?"
Dr. Wang waved his hand.
"I don't know about that."
“We only took over the case after the patient was brought in. The patient was unconscious when the ambulance arrived. The patient was registered with severe burns, inhalation injury, and a bunch of subsequent complications.”
He smiled again.
"However, the follow-up treatment costs are quite high, and there are people specifically responsible for signing the bills,"
“Every time you have a skin graft or rehabilitation, a man comes to check on you personally. He must be quite close to you, Ms. Chu, right?”
Who is that person?
Chu Wuyang felt as if she had been struck by a heavy hammer.
Male? He's specifically in charge of signing contracts, arranging surgeries, and running errands.
Yang Jinchu—is it him?
She tried desperately to steady herself, managing to force a smile:
"Sorry, I suddenly feel a little dizzy."
Dr. Wang: "Would you like to go to the rest room? I'll arrange for a nurse to take you—"
Chu Wuyang: "No need, thank you."
She thanked her softly, then turned and left with Aunt Rong.
I walked step by step toward the elevator.
She felt as if she were walking on a wad of cotton, and the sounds around her were muffled by a thick fog.
Images flashed through my mind.
Her cousin who always pestered her and called her "Sister Yangyang".
The fire that plunged the whole family into darkness.
Her parents comforted her somber face as she said, "The person is gone."
Jin Xian's eyebrows and eyes seemed familiar, and the sharp look that occasionally flashed across his face when he smiled and called out "sister".
Yang Jinchu—has an inexplicable closeness with Jin Xian.
Why did she never have any doubts?
Why have I never seriously thought about this?
She lowered her head.
Her fingertips trembled slightly as she touched her lower abdomen, and she seemed to hear Jin Xian's familiar and affectionate self-reference in her ear—
"uncle?"
A fog rolled in front of me.
She should have known.
Only family members would risk their lives to save her.
Aunt Rong couldn't help but ask,
"Yangyang, what's wrong?"
"Is Jin Xuan, the doctor just mentioned, your friend?"
"……Um"
Chu Wuyang murmured, raising her hand to cover her brow.
Aunt Rong asked nervously,
"Is Yangyang tired? Let's hurry to the parking lot, our son-in-law has been waiting for a long time."
Chu Wuyang: "Aunt Rong, wait here for me for a while... I need to make a phone call." (Confirmation)
Chu Wuyang stood on the hospital balcony, his back taut like a fully drawn string.
She took a breath, took out her phone, and tapped a familiar number with trembling fingertips.
The call connected quickly, and Yang Jinchu's voice on the other end was warm and deep.
"Yangyang?"
She closed her eyes, her voice hoarse, and asked directly.
"Jin Xian, he is Xing Ci, right?"
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by a soft sigh.
"...You found out?"
really.
There was no denial.
Not surprised.
Chu Wuyang's heart tightened, and her voice trembled slightly.
"Why does he refuse to acknowledge me while he's still alive? Why is he hiding his identity?"
"A man should always have some pride."
Yang Jinchu smiled, a hint of helplessness in his voice.
"He wants to achieve something before acknowledging you,"
"Otherwise, it would be too embarrassing to come to you empty-handed and rely on your help."
Chu Wuyang sneered, her eyes slightly reddening.
"I don't believe you!"
"You lose face by relying on me, but you gain face by relying on you?"
"Yang Jinchu, to be honest, if you lie to me again... I will never trust you again."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, as if the other person had completely given up.
"……yes."
Yang Jinchu said in a low voice,
"He asked me to help him hide his identity."
"As for the reason... let him tell you himself later."
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