Shadow and Sunlight
On May 24, 2012, when Wenqing finished his company duties and rushed back to the hospital, Xiaofeng's room was empty. The bed was immaculately made, the sheets smooth as if no one had ever slept in it, as if everything here was just an illusion.
He hurriedly called the nurse, who said that Miss Rao had been discharged from the hospital.
"Why didn't she contact me after she was discharged from the hospital?" Wen Qing's voice was filled with uncontrollable panic.
The nurse replied calmly: "She is an adult and has the right to make her own decisions."
He immediately called Zhou Yong, who rushed back to the hospital from home and checked the surveillance footage - Xiaofeng packed up her things and took a taxi away.
At this moment, Xiaofeng was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, talking to Xiaoqi on the phone: "It's my problem. He clearly said he doesn't like me, but I always feel that he does..."
"So what are you going to do?"
"I'd better live alone to avoid causing trouble to others. It just takes some time. I think... I can do it."
Jiang Wenqing mobilized all the resources and connections he could, practically turning Ninghai upside down. Half a month later, he walked into Zhou Yong's office.
Zhou Yong asked with concern: "Is there any news about Xiaofeng?"
Jiang Wenqing laughed self-deprecatingly. "I always thought I was a calm person, but Xiaofeng is an exception. Whenever something has to do with her, I simply can't think calmly."
"What do you mean?" Zhou Yong's tone was full of confusion.
"In Ninghai, I'm the first person who wants to find Xiaofeng, and Uncle Zhou, you're definitely second." Jiang Wenqing suddenly smiled faintly. "But it's been half a month, and you haven't called the police or taken any action. The only possibility is... Xiaofeng is with you." He paused, his tone sincere. "If it's because of what happened before and you want to test me, I accept it. But at least let me know where she is and whether she's okay."
Zhou Yong pulled up the surveillance footage on his computer and turned the screen to show Wen Qing. In the footage, Xiaofeng was pacing the ward in her hospital gown, her phone in one hand and her other hand unconsciously gesturing, her brow slightly furrowed.
"What's wrong with her?" Jiang Wenqing stood up suddenly, his heart instantly rising to his throat.
"My father has myelodysplastic syndrome, and Xiaofeng was a successful match." Zhou Yong's voice was low.
"she……"
"She wants to donate bone marrow and is now in the preoperative preparation stage." Zhou Yong hesitated, as if considering whether to continue.
"Is there something wrong?" Jiang Wenqing loosened his tie suddenly, his Adam's apple rolling.
"After the preoperative injection of recombinant human granulocyte-stimulating factor, she experienced significant side effects."
"What are the side effects?"
"She has back pain, aches in her limbs, and a low-grade fever..." Zhou Yong's voice choked. "This morning's blood test showed a low white blood cell count."
"Can we pause? I don't agree! Her body has only just recovered a little!"
"My father is also making preparations for the operation. Pausing it now would be tantamount to pushing him into a desperate situation." Zhou Yong suddenly raised his voice, his eyes full of helplessness.
Jiang Wenqing felt like he was about to collapse. Staring at the sycamore tree outside the window, he suddenly remembered the nurse's words: She was an adult. Who was he to interfere with her decision?
"Can I go and accompany her?" His voice suddenly became very hoarse.
"She doesn't want to see you." Zhou Yong pointed at the computer screen hurriedly. "That's what she said."
"Uncle Zhou, please give me a chance to talk to her, just once, okay?"
When Zhou Yong connected the video call, Xiaofeng was sitting by the bed, swinging her legs. At the sound, she straightened her back abruptly, her eyes zooming to the screen, her head tilted like a frightened deer, her fingers instinctively clenching around the phone.
"Uncle Zhou..." She forced a smile at the camera, "Why haven't you finished get off work yet?"
"What are you doing?" Zhou Yong noticed the reflection on the screen.
“I’m watching a dance video,” she said, turning her phone over so the screen faced the security camera. “I’m following along.”
The conversation suddenly paused. Zhou Yong saw her subconsciously pressing her ribs and asked softly, "Does it hurt?"
Xiaofeng's smile was like the surface of a lake rippling in the wind, swaying and then dissipating. But in just a moment, she put on a perfect smile again: "It's okay, maybe my nap posture is wrong. I'll go to bed soon. I'll get a good night's sleep, and the pain will definitely go away tomorrow. Don't worry about me!"
"Xiaofeng..." Wenqing's voice was choked with sobs, but still as gentle as water. "Let me stay with you, okay?"
This familiar voice gave Xiaofeng a jolt, as if struck by an electric current. Her fingers trembled, and she nearly dropped the phone. She said nothing, but nodded instinctively.
"Uncle Zhou, were you the one talking to me through the surveillance camera just now?"
"Yes, Xiaofeng."
"Oh, I thought I was dreaming." She suddenly looked up, her eyes were surprisingly bright, as if there were stars hidden in them.
"It's not a dream. He has already gone down."
The sound of the door being pushed open was like a signal gun. Xiaofeng stood up suddenly, but the moment she saw who it was, all her tense strength was instantly withdrawn. She slowly lowered her toes and let herself fall into the arms that were so familiar and so missed.
Zhou Yong silently exited the surveillance screen.
When Jiang Wan arrived at the hospital, she looked at Xiao Feng with tears in her eyes and said, "Girl, can we not always meet in the hospital? Move back home after you are discharged and let your parents take care of you."
After the surgery, Xiaofeng's face was as pale as rice paper, and she didn't even have the strength to lift her hands. The pain from the puncture site seeped in, and she bit her lip, a fine layer of cold sweat beading on her forehead.
"Does it hurt?" Wenqing's voice echoed in her ears, cautiously soft. He sat down beside her bed, his palm resting on her forehead, the warmth just right. Xiaofeng blinked, too tired to speak. She watched him rise, pour a glass of warm water, and wet her chapped lips with a cotton swab.
For the next few days, Jiang Wenqing stayed in the hospital ward. When feeding her, he would cook the porridge until it was soft and sticky, crush the vegetables bit by bit with a spoon, and blow it cool before bringing it to her mouth. Once, Xiaofeng choked, and he immediately put down the bowl and patted her back, his eyes more panicked than hers.
"I used to think that love meant keeping you behind me and not letting anyone get close." He sat by the bed, peeling an apple, the peel forming a perfect arc. "Now I understand that true love is being able to share your pain and be there for you until your wounds heal."
Xiaofeng gently held his hand, and the thin calluses on his palm rubbed against her fingertips, bringing a solid warmth.
That night, as Jiang Wan was rubbing Xiaofeng's back, she looked at the dressing on the puncture site and burst into tears. Xiaofeng gently patted her hand and comforted her, "Mom, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda."
"Yes, this is such a great merit." Jiang Wan knelt on one knee beside the bed, placed her palm on the back of Xiaofeng's cold hand, and held it tightly. "Wenqing has good vision and is even more blessed to have met you."
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