Chapter 400 Do You Think I Should Agree?
In the evening, the three of them sat around the dining table. Under the warm light, the aroma of food rose in the air.
Chenchen was enthusiastically talking about interesting things that happened in kindergarten. Lu Yiran listened patiently and occasionally picked up some food for him.
At this moment, Mu Nanyan's mobile phone on the table suddenly vibrated and the screen lit up.
She glanced subconsciously, and when she saw the name on the caller ID, she was slightly stunned.
Four words were clearly displayed on the screen: Shangguan Jiuze.
They haven't had any contact since Fuling's birthday party.
Mu Nanyan was indeed a little surprised and abrupt when she suddenly saw his call at this moment.
She raised her head and gave an apologetic smile to Lu Yiran who was looking at her and Chenchen who was blinking his eyes.
"You guys eat first, I'm going to answer a phone call."
After saying that, she picked up her phone, stood up and walked towards the balcony connected to the living room.
The cold wind of the winter night seeped in as the sliding door opened. She closed the door ajar, isolating herself from the warmth and noise in the room.
Pressing the answer button, she put the phone to her ear, and the voice was particularly clear in the cold air:
"Hello, Jiuze?"
Shangguan Jiuze's gentle and magnetic voice came from the other end of the phone, with his usual calmness:
"Nan Yan, did I disturb you?"
Mu Nanyan smiled, her tone polite yet slightly distant:
"No, I'm having dinner. I haven't seen you for a long time. I was a little surprised to receive your call suddenly."
"It's been a long time since we last contacted each other."
There was also a smile in Shangguan Jiuze's voice.
"How are things going lately? I heard your studio is doing very well lately, and Grace's name is becoming more and more famous."
"Thank you, it went well."
Mu Nanyan responded modestly and said,
"How about you? Is everything okay?"
“I… am not feeling well…”
On the other end of the phone, Shangguan Jiuze's gentle voice settled down, revealing a hint of heaviness and earnestness that was difficult to conceal:
"Nan Yan, to be honest, I'm calling because I have something very important...even a little presumptuous. I want to ask for your help."
He paused, as if thinking about how to phrase it.
"It's my father. He...was recently diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, and his condition is critical. The doctor recommended that the most effective treatment is a hematopoietic stem cell transplant as soon as possible."
Mu Nanyan's fingers gripping the phone tightened slightly, and the coldness on the balcony seemed to be even stronger.
She listened quietly, already sensing that this call was unusual.
Shangguan Jiuze's voice continued to come, with a hint of fatigue and helplessness:
"All of our immediate family members underwent matching tests immediately, but unfortunately... none of them were successful. So, we can only place our hopes on the public bone marrow bank."
He took a deep breath, and his tone became more serious, with a faint hope as if grasping at the last straw:
"Just yesterday, we received news from the bone marrow bank... After preliminary screening, they found that your HLA typing data matches my father's... very highly, making you the best donor choice, completely matching at several key loci."
Shangguan Jiuze's voice was filled with unprecedented sincerity and pleading.
"So, Nan Yan, on behalf of myself and my entire family, I solemnly and earnestly hope that you will consider... making a donation for my father. We know this request is very sudden, and we understand that it will require a great deal of effort on your part, and may even cause some physical discomfort, but... this is truly our greatest hope right now."
After he finished speaking, there was a brief silence on both ends of the phone, with only the faint sound of electricity crackling.
Shangguan Jiuze waited with bated breath, knowing that this request was of extraordinary importance.
Mu Nanyan stood on the cold balcony, looking at the dark night and falling snow outside the window, her heart stirred by this sudden and important request.
She had never thought that an accidental registration at the bone marrow bank many years ago would closely link her fate with the Shangguan family in such a way on such a winter night.
Mu Nanyan held the phone, her fingertips were cold.
On the other end of the phone, Shangguan Jiuze's earnest voice seemed to still echo in the air, and every word weighed heavily on her heart.
Her first reaction was resistance, an instinctive act of self-preservation.
The Shangguan family...especially the high-ranking Mrs. Shangguan, Song Yajun, had wanted to kill her without mercy.
That cold fear and disgust can still be easily evoked even after several months.
If it was Song Yajun who needed help today, she would refuse without hesitation and let her fend for herself.
However, it was not Song Yajun who was critically ill.
It’s Mr. Shangguan.
In her vague memory, the elder who always seemed to have a gentle smile, completely different from Song Yajun's sharpness.
He is also the father of Shangguan Jiuze and Shangguan Fuling.
Shangguan Jiuze... They were not close friends, but they were friends after all. He had extended a helping hand to her when she was in trouble.
And there is Fuling, the little girl who is as pure and warm as a little sun and who always calls her "Sister Nan Yan" and "Sister Nan Yan". She likes her from the bottom of her heart.
It was a human life, a vital pillar that held those she cared about together.
To save or not to save?
Complex emotions were pulling fiercely in her heart.
Good instincts and past traumas clash with each other.
She couldn't make a decision immediately. She needed time and space to sort out her chaotic thoughts, and she also needed... to discuss it with Lu Yiran.
She took a deep breath of the cold balcony air and tried to make her voice sound calm and cautious, neither making a promise easily nor rejecting it outright.
"Jiu Ze, this matter... is a bit sudden for me. Let me think about it, and I'll get back to you later."
There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone, and the few seconds of waiting seemed to be stretched infinitely.
Shangguan Jiuze was obviously desperate for a positive answer, but he also heard the struggle and caution in her tone. In the end, he chose to respect her.
"Okay, I understand. No matter what the result is, thank you in advance. I... will wait for your news."
There was a hint of loss in his voice, but he still maintained his composure.
The call ended.
Mu Nanyan slowly put down her phone, but did not immediately return to the warm room.
She leaned alone on the cold balcony railing, staring blankly out the window.
The night is deep, and snowflakes fall tirelessly and silently, covering the hustle and bustle of the city, leaving the world in a quiet pure white.
At this moment, the sliding door of the balcony was gently pushed open a crack, and the warm light and the aroma of food in the room flowed out.
Lu Yiran appeared at the door, holding a thick velvet coat of Mu Nanyan in his hand. He walked straight behind her and put the coat on her shoulders.
"Why did you come out when you were on the phone? It's so cold outside."
There was natural concern in his voice, and his fingers helped her to smooth her collar.
Mu Nanyan obediently wrapped her coat tightly around her neck, turned around and gave him a forced smile:
"It's okay, just answer the phone, it will be fine soon."
However, the smile was short-lived and fragile, not reaching the eyes. Instead, it was like a veil that could not conceal the confusion and trance underneath.
Lu Yiran keenly caught this abnormality.
He did not leave, but instead hugged her from behind, using his broad chest and body temperature to warm her body which was slightly chilled by the cold wind.
He gently rested his chin on her neck, and his low voice rang close to her ear, with a hint of worry:
"Who's calling? What happened?"
Mu Nanyan leaned in his warm embrace, drawing comforting strength from him. She was silent for a few seconds before she whispered the name:
"Shangguan Jiuze."
Sure enough, upon hearing the name, Lu Yiran's brows immediately furrowed unconsciously, and the arms around her tightened slightly.
He really had no good feelings towards the Shangguan family, especially Shangguan Jiuze.
Putting aside the fact that he was Su Muyang's best friend, the fact that his mother Song Yajun had once tried to kill Nan Yan was enough to make Lu Yiran unbearable.
His voice became deeper, with a barely perceptible chill in it:
"Why would he call you suddenly?"
Mu Nanyan leaned in Lu Yiran's warm arms, feeling his steady heartbeat, and her chaotic mood seemed to have found a temporary support.
She organized her words and told him as clearly and concisely as possible the content of Shangguan Jiuze's phone call, as well as the whole process of Mr. Shangguan being seriously ill, urgently needing a hematopoietic stem cell transplant, the failure of his entire family to match him, and finally being matched with her in the bone marrow bank.
She did not hide her grudge against Shangguan's wife, Song Yajun, and also frankly confessed her hesitation and struggle because of Shangguan Jiuze and Fuling.
Lu Yiran listened silently, his deep gaze cast at the endless snowy night outside the window, his brows furrowed the whole time.
He pondered for a moment, then said:
"No wonder... I recently wanted to meet with Mr. Shangguan to discuss further cooperation, but his assistant kept making excuses. It turns out he's been ill."
This news forced him to re-examine the situation from a businessman's perspective.
If the Shangguan family lost Shangguan He, the pillar of support, Shangguan Jiuze alone...
Lu Yiran's frown deepened.
He had heard rumors about this Young Master Shangguan a long time ago:
A typical second-generation rich kid who idles away his time, hanging out at various parties and clubs. He has no interest in running the family business, let alone any sense of responsibility.
Thinking of this, Lu Yiran couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
For someone from a background like Shangguan Jiuze, everything in the world is readily available, and it seems that there is really nothing that can inspire him to work hard.
His father is the head of one of Haicheng's top wealthy families, and his mother's family has deep roots in politics. With such a background, anyone who meets him would be wary of him.
But the flowers in the greenhouse cannot withstand the wind and rain after all. If Shangguan He really falls, the Shangguan family's status and influence in Haicheng will probably plummet.
Mu Nanyan looked at his solemn profile, sighed softly, raised her head, and looked at his angular jawline inquiringly:
"Yiran, do you think... should I agree?"
Lu Yiran withdrew his gaze from the window and looked deeply into Mu Nanyan's eyes filled with struggle.
His warm palm gently stroked her back, his voice low and steady, with a reassuring power:
"Nan Yan, there's no standard answer to this matter, and there's no right or wrong. The final decision lies with you. No matter what you choose, I respect and support your wishes."
He gave her the freedom of choice completely and without reservation.
He slowed down his tone, with a hint of unquestionable solemnity:
"I just hope that you can think clearly before making a decision. Don't be held hostage by past grudges, and don't be troubled by future possibilities. Simply follow your truest heart - are you willing to endure everything this process may bring in order to save a life?"
He slightly tightened his arms around her, as if to transfer all the strength to her:
"If your heart's answer is yes, and you're willing to lend a helping hand, then I want you to remember—"
His eyes became extremely sharp and firm:
"I will immediately contact the nation's top team of hematologists and transplant specialists to conduct the most comprehensive and rigorous physical evaluation for you. The entire donation process must be conducted under the most authoritative medical supervision to ensure that there are no mistakes and to minimize any possible impact and risks to your body."
"This is my bottom line, and it's the most practical guarantee I can provide you."
His words were powerful and full of unquestionable determination.
"You give me your kindness, and I will be responsible for your safety. You don't have to face anything alone."
His words were like a steady rock, paving the most solid safety net for any path of kindness she might take.
He did not make the decision for her, but he provided her with a worry-free sky for the choices she might make.
Mu Nanyan snuggled quietly in Lu Yiran's arms, listening clearly to every word he said.
Not only did he give her complete decision-making power, he also promised to hire top experts to ensure her safety throughout the process. This unreserved respect and support deeply touched her.
Her originally struggling and restless heart gradually calmed down, and her tense shoulders relaxed.
Raising her head, the mist in her eyes dissipated, revealing a clear and determined light, and a genuine and soft smile spread across the corners of her mouth, reaching straight into her eyes.
She hugged him back gently, resting her cheek on his warm chest, feeling the reassuring strength.
"Thank you, Yiran, thank you for protecting me like this."
She said softly, her voice full of steadiness and emotion. His support gave her the courage to face the choice.
Mu Nanyan leaned in Lu Yiran's arms, but she had already made up her mind.
She wants to save.
This idea did not just come from her affection for Shangguan Jiuze and Fuling, the deeper reason was buried in the most difficult time in her memory.
When Chenchen fell ill and was hospitalized, she had seen too many children suffering from leukemia and their exhausted parents in the cold hospital corridors.
Those pale little faces, the hair that fell out due to chemotherapy, and the desire for life and pain in the children's eyes were all deeply imprinted in her heart.
It was that experience that made her resolutely enter her HLA typing data into the China Bone Marrow Bank.
She knows better than anyone how precious a matching hematopoietic stem cell donor is to patients and their families struggling in despair - it is almost the only spark of hope in the darkness.
Now, by some strange coincidence, this lamp lights up for someone she once knew.
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