In the ward, Lin Xi's eyes were red and swollen. She dared not cry out loud for fear of disturbing her mother's rest. She kept trying to adjust her state so as not to worry her mother.
But the tears seemed unstoppable, streaming down her face as if they wouldn't listen. She raised her hand to wipe them away, constantly reassuring herself that there would be a way.
About an hour later, Lin's mother opened her eyes with difficulty, and what came into view was Lin Xi, who seemed completely unaffected.
Seeing that her mother was awake, Lin Qi forced a smile and said, "Mom, you're awake! What are we having for dinner tonight?"
"Qiqi, I..."
Lin's mother's voice was hoarse, and her gaze towards Lin Xi was complicated before finally settling on, "Mom wants to drink water."
"Okay, I'll go pour it for you."
The room fell silent, except for the clinking of cups and kettles. Both knew each other's situation, but neither spoke immediately.
Lin Xi, fighting back tears, handed her the water in her hand, saying, "Mom, drink this."
"Okay, thank you, my darling."
"I'm going to buy food."
Lin's mother gazed tenderly at Lin Xi's retreating figure, unwilling to miss a single moment. It seemed she could never get enough of looking at her. Where Lin Xi couldn't see, Lin's mother raised her hand to wipe away her tears; she couldn't cry in front of Xi Xi.
This situation continued for several days, and Lin Xi was listless and in poor condition during class.
Shen Muqing asked worriedly, "Qiqi, what's wrong?"
It couldn't be because she knew Yi Ci's "white moonlight" was coming that she had a conflict with Yi Ci.
These past few days, I've noticed that Yi Ci and Lin Xi are ignoring each other. Even though they sit at adjacent desks, they haven't exchanged a single word, just like when they first met.
"Qingqing, can I borrow money from you?" Lin Xi looked tired and spoke weakly.
"Sure, how many do you want?"
One million.
"Qiqi, is something wrong?"
Shen Muqing definitely has a million, but Lin Xi wants so much all at once, something must have happened.
"Qingqing, my mother has late-stage liver cancer. The doctor said that the last resort is to try a liver transplant."
At this point, Lin Xi had no strength left.
"Sure, which hospital is your mother in? I'll try to find a good team to see her."
"Really? Thank you, Qingqing."
Even if there's only a sliver of hope, Lin Xi will seize it—just in case a miracle happens.
After school, Shen Muqing had already told Uncle Chen to contact a reputable doctor, and Uncle Chen said he had made the arrangements.
As Lin Xi and Shen Muqing left, Yi Ci couldn't help but put his arm around her and ask, "Lin Xi, is this how our relationship ends?"
"What's our relationship?" Lin Xi shook off his arm, not wanting to deal with this mess anymore.
"good."
Yi Ci's pride wouldn't allow him to linger, so he let her go. Yes, what relationship did he have with Lin Xi? At most, they were classmates. He chuckled self-deprecatingly.
Time was of the essence, and Lin Xi eagerly dragged Shen Muqing to the hospital.
On the top floor of the hospital, a large group of doctors, specially transferred from Beijing, were gathered at the door of the ward, having a heated discussion.
The final conclusion was that the disease was discovered too late, missing the optimal treatment window, and that transplanting the patient now might result in severe rejection.
The news was like a bolt from the blue. Lin Xi could not accept that her mother, who had been with her for nearly twenty years, had just disappeared.
"Qiqi, you..." Shen Muqing didn't know how to comfort Lin Qi, so he could only support her and try to soothe her emotions.
The most painful thing in life is the separation of life and death.
"Qingqing, what should I do?" Lin Xi murmured to herself, then grabbed the doctor and asked, "Would a liver transplant be better?"
"A liver transplant can be very painful for the patient. If you want to force a transplant, that's possible, but the consequences..."
The doctor only said half of what he meant, but everyone knew what he was about to say.
Lin's mother, who was in the ward, had obviously heard their conversation outside the door, and she had already figured out what to do.
Lin Xi pushed open the door and entered, followed by Shen Muqing. "Xi Xi, you're here. Is this your classmate?"
"Mom, this is Shen Muqing. She is my best friend at school."
"Hello, Auntie!" Shen Muqing entered cautiously and greeted Lin's mother very politely.
Having lived for over fifty years, Lin's mother still had a good eye for people. Seeing that her daughter's friend was her put her mind at ease, so that her daughter wouldn't be left without support after she passed away.
"Oh, okay, can I call you Aunt Mumu like that?" Lin's mother leaned back on the hospital bed, her pale face full of smiles.
"Can."
Shen Muqing nodded quickly. Lin's mother reached out to touch her, and Shen Muqing, sitting on the edge of the bed, extended her hand to Lin's mother.
Lin's mother looked at Shen Muqing with affection, "I'm so glad that our Qiqi has made such a good friend like you. I hope you can take good care of our Qiqi after I'm gone."
“Auntie, I can do it even if you don’t tell me. Lin Xi is also my good friend.” Shen Muqing continued, following her lead.
"Mom! Don't say things like that. You'll live to be a hundred."
Lin Xi's eyes were red as she refuted her words.
"Okay, okay, cough cough cough~"
Shen Muqing stood up and left the ward with a solemn expression. She found the specialist and asked, "Doctor, is there no other way? Don't worry about the money."
"Miss Shen really has no other choice. Her life or death is in our hands, and there is nothing we can do about it."
"Thank you for your help, doctor."
"It's no trouble for us to do it." The doctor hesitated, as if he had something left to say, but seeing that Shen Muqing was alone, he said to her:
"Miss Shen, the patient probably won't make it through tomorrow. You need to be prepared."
"Um."
Shen Muqing was very irritable, scratching her head helplessly. What kind of situation was this? Why did it have to happen at this crucial moment? She didn't even want to think about how Lin Xi would accept it.
Inside the ward, Lin's mother seemed to know that her days were numbered, and she kept talking to Lin Xi until her throat was dry, but she was reluctant to stop.
"Qiqi, Mommy really wants to see you again. Mommy said I would pick you up after your exam, but it seems like none of that will happen."
"Mom is sorry."
Lin's mother could no longer contain her emotions, and tears streamed down her aged face.
"Qiqi, you'll have to walk your own path from now on. Mom can only accompany you this far."
"mom."
Lin Xi was almost speechless, but she held her mother tightly and refused to let go.
"Mom, I don't want you to leave."
Lin Xi never met her father growing up because he died in an accident. Her mother raised her alone, and the two relied on each other for survival. Fortunately, Lin Xi was a good student and always ranked first in her class. She was also very sensible at a young age.
Lin's mother felt sorry for her daughter and hated herself for not being able to give her a good life and instead being a burden to her.
"Qiqi, Mommy won't leave. I'll always be by your side."
"You're not lying to me, you won't lie to me, right?"
Her mother responded with a warm hand, stroking her head with reluctance.
The next day, Lin Xi and Shen Muqing both took leave because Lin's mother passed away in the early morning.
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