Su Tong understood that a girl like Chen Yuanyuan was someone he could never hope to be with in his lifetime.
Therefore, even though his career was going more and more smoothly at work, and even though he was assigned a small two-bedroom apartment in the family building that only the "top students" could get, he still didn't dare to go to Chen Yuanyuan to express his feelings.
On several occasions, after he went out to run errands and deposited money at the bank, he would always take a detour on his way back.
We paused for a moment at the entrance of the machinery factory.
Knowing that Chen Yuanyuan works here makes me feel at ease.
However, one time, when he got off work, he saw Chen Yuanyuan and a young male worker walking out of the factory, chatting and laughing.
The young male worker pushed his bicycle out of the factory gate, got on, and Chen Yuanyuan quickly ran a few steps and jumped onto the back seat.
The workers started to jeer.
At that moment, Su Tong felt his blood turn ice-cold.
He overlooked one thing—Chen Yuanyuan already had a boyfriend.
Yes, how could such an outstanding girl not have a boyfriend?
He recalled the events of his birthday party, and indeed, several girls had asked Chen Yuanyuan why a certain person hadn't come.
Chen Yuanyuan's answer was, "He/She is away on a business trip."
At the time, he automatically assumed that person was a girl, but now, looking back, he realized that if someone asked that question, they certainly weren't asking about some girl who was overshadowing him, but rather about Chen Yuanyuan's partner.
Looking at the radiant couple, Su Tong felt ashamed of himself once again.
From then on, the name Chen Yuanyuan was completely sealed in his heart.
Now, Chen Yuanyuan lies on her deathbed, uttering sharp words, single-mindedly contemplating suicide.
Su Tong's eyes were red-rimmed, and he blurted out, "I'll take care of you! I'll take care of you for the rest of my life!"
Chen Yuanyuan was stunned.
Once Su Tong started, he went on and on: "Chen Yuanyuan! I'm not bragging, I can totally do it—my salary is eighty-three yuan and fifty cents a month, and after I'm discharged from the hospital, I'll hire a full-time caregiver for fifteen yuan a month! I can totally afford it! I can support you!"
Chen Yuanyuan looked at him, tears welling up in her eyes, about to fall: "You don't need to pity me like this! If a person has to rely on other people's pity to survive, what's the point of her living?"
Su Tong said urgently, "Your injury may not be permanently irreversible! Just like me, I had a congenital heart disease, and everyone said I wouldn't live past 18! I'm already 19 this year! And all my illnesses are cured! Chen Yuanyuan, as long as you're alive, miracles are possible! If you die, you'll have nothing left!"
Chen Yuanyuan's tears finally fell: "Is it really true? Do you really have a heart condition? But... you said it was a miracle! Miracles don't happen every day. Su Tong, I know you have a kind heart, but please don't be nice to me anymore, I have nothing to repay you with!"
Su Tong also shed tears, saying, "Yuanyuan, don't think like that. I beg you, don't think like that. I've already called my sixth sister, and she'll be back soon. She cured my heart condition back then, and maybe she can help you heal your back injury too—my sixth sister, she has had some extraordinary encounters!"
"Sister Ruyi?" Chen Yuanyuan's eyes widened. "Sister Ruyi cured your heart disease?"
"Yes, after she went to the countryside, she worked as a village doctor in her village. She's a well-known little miracle doctor," Su Tong said. "Moreover, she's especially skilled at treating bone injuries like yours!"
Fearing that Chen Yuanyuan might commit suicide, Su Tong, who never lied, started talking nonsense.
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Chen Yuanyuan cried out, "No! I don't want to see Ruyi! My father... my father back then..."
“Your dad is your dad, and you are you. No one will confuse your dad with you,” Su Tong comforted her. “I won’t think that way, and Ruyi certainly won’t! I promise you!”
"But Su Tong, why are you so good to me?" Chen Yuanyuan asked, puzzled. "I'm a cripple, I have nothing to repay you with!"
“Because…” Su Tong knew that he had finally reached the inescapable juncture. “Actually, from the moment I met you, I hoped that the person I could spend my life with would be you.”
"What?!" Chen Yuanyuan was stunned. "Su Tong, are you serious? Or are you just trying to comfort me?"
“Of course not, I swear to the leader!” Su Tong raised three fingers.
"No—" Chen Yuanyuan suddenly cried out in anguish, "Why is fate so cruel to me?!"
"Yuanyuan, I know I'm not good enough for you, don't get agitated..." Su Tong didn't expect Chen Yuanyuan to react this way, and hurriedly explained.
“Su Tong!” Chen Yuanyuan suddenly grabbed his hand, and said with a bitter smile, “You know what? From the first moment I saw you, I also… But, at that time I had a boyfriend, my boyfriend hadn’t done anything wrong, we had even met each other’s parents… I never expected this, I really never expected this…”
This time, it was Su Tong's turn to be stunned: "Yuanyuan, are you serious?"
"I swear too! I swear to the leader!"
Chen Yuanyuan raised three fingers, then her expression turned dejected. "But what's the use of knowing each other's feelings now? I can never be anyone's revolutionary partner again; I can only be a stumbling block..."
"No, Yuanyuan! My heart has never changed, and it never will! I won't fawn over you just because you're a glamorous young lady, nor will I kick you when you're down on your luck. I, Su Tong, am not that kind of shallow person!"
Chen Yuanyuan instantly thought of her ex-boyfriend, Zuo Han. Wasn't Su Tong referring to Zuo Han?
She couldn't help but laugh: "I believe you."
Su Tong breathed a sigh of relief: "Promise me you won't try to kill yourself, okay?"
"Su Tong, given my current situation, it's impossible for me to have children. Can your family, your parents, agree to me being with you?" Chen Yuanyuan asked again.
She disregarded any female embarrassment; she had to make these points clear.
“My family doesn’t really interfere in my affairs. Our family situation is rather special, but I’ll tell you in detail when I have the chance.”
Thinking of Guan Yumei and Su Dazhi's various misdeeds, Su Tong couldn't help but shudder. "If possible, I will never have much contact with my family again in this lifetime."
Chen Yuanyuan looked at Su Tong with bright eyes: "Although I can't move, I can still do some housework! Su Tong, can you find me a pair of crutches? I want to practice walking again! I can still feel my right leg!"
"Okay! I'll go find a carpenter later and have a good cane made for you!" Su Tong was very happy to have persuaded Chen Yuanyuan.
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