Melody was a lawyer before. The country she came from had a high degree of freedom, and everyone valued their rights, so the legal profession was popular. She had handled many fights and brawls.
It was precisely because she had handled so many that she keenly sensed that Long Yifei's condition was not a simple fight.
However, what did it have to do with her?
The words at the tip of her tongue were swallowed back.
Long Yifei didn't explain. He saw that she was still wearing the same dress as when she arrived, her hair loose, with patches of scalp showing here and there on her head, her face pale. She seemed to have become thinner and smaller than when she first arrived.
From a certain angle, her current appearance was even a bit frightening.
He was quite shocked to realize that this was her true appearance hidden beneath her beautiful exterior.
But as a man, he still had to show basic respect. He glanced at her and then looked away, lowering his head and kicking his shoes towards her feet.
"I didn't buy groceries. I don't feel like cooking today, so I'll take you out to eat."
After being alone for so many days, it was a lie to say he didn't want to eat something delicious.
Melody felt lightheaded and dizzy every day. Although she knew she was not far from death, it was better to be a well-fed ghost than a starving one.
"Okay."
She got out of bed, put on her shoes, and stood up. She intended to go to the bathroom to wash up, but she was so dizzy that she sat back down.
She was young and beautiful, hiding away in such a desolate place all by herself, not contacting friends or going out every day.
Long Yifei had initially thought she was heartbroken, but now he had a different answer in his mind.
As he was contemplating whether this was the case, he saw Melody cover her head and sit back down, which confirmed his guess.
"What's wrong? Are you not feeling well somewhere?"
Melody covered her head, wanting to shake it, but she dared not.
She felt flustered and short of breath, unable to speak with any strength. After a while, she broke out in a cold sweat, and then felt a little better.
She said softly, "I am a bit. I'm hungry, so I'll have to eat a lot later."
The temperature had dropped significantly in the past few days, and it was almost dark again. A gust of evening wind blew, and fallen leaves swirled around. She was definitely not dressed appropriately for this.
While she was washing up, Long Yifei found a set of autumn clothes for her in his sister's wardrobe.
When Melody came out, she understood his intention and didn't stand on ceremony. She put them on and slowly walked out of the room.
She put on her hat and wig again. Although the clothes were very student-like, she wore them with a youthful flair, regaining her beautiful and cool demeanor.
Long Yifei glanced at her. Recalling the scene just now, he couldn't help but sigh at the fickleness of women.
"Are you ready? Then let's go."
Melody adjusted her hat and sat in the car. Seeing that he hadn't asked about her hair, she looked out at the desolate autumn scenery and said proactively.
"I know you have secrets, but I won't ask too many questions. Just like I have mine, but you won't ask, right? You've done a good job with this, Mr. Long."
Long Yifei hadn't done a very good job. After all, she was his tenant. If she was really sick and didn't get treatment, what would it mean for her to live in his house and eat his food every day, waiting to die?
He was about to ask Melody what was going on and persuade her to go home, but she stopped him with a sentence.
After thinking for a moment, Long Yifei changed his approach.
"My parents are gone. They died when I was sixteen. They were taking my sister to pick me up from school when they got into a car accident and died on the spot."
"My sister survived, but her eyes were injured, and she became like this."
"Although I'm only ten years older than her, I'm her parent, and I watched her grow up bit by bit. Besides me, she has no other relatives in this world."
Melody didn't understand why he was suddenly telling her about his past. Seeing him pause, she looked over and asked.
"So? What does that have to do with me?"
Long Yifei said, "So, I can't get into trouble. Otherwise, my sister will be homeless. Miss Melody, if something happens to you here, I will inevitably be affected."
So that was what he meant. He had taken quite a detour.
Melody looked out the window and suddenly felt like she had become a rootless duckweed again.
"It won't happen. Although I'm not a person with strong morals, I have this basic morality. I won't cause you any trouble."
Long Yifei didn't believe her assurance.
"Forgive me for speaking bluntly, but when you're truly unwell, illness strikes like a mountain collapsing, and you can't control it yourself..."
Melody interrupted him, "Then what do you want? Kick me out right now?"
"That's not what I meant, Miss Melody. You are very young and beautiful. There should be no illness in this world that can stump you. You can easily..."
Melody interrupted him again, "How do you know there isn't?"
Long Yifei slowed down the car and looked at her.
"Huh? So, what illness do you have? Cancer?"
Melody didn't want to say. She gave him a cold profile. After a few seconds, she finally hummed in agreement.
"Can I ask what kind of cancer?"
Melody thought he was scared and sneered, "You should have basic common sense. Cancer is not contagious."
Long Yifei was speechless. "Don't be so malicious, Miss Melody. I'm genuinely just concerned."
"Breast cancer."
Melody seemed to have given up, turning her face back to look at him.
"Then I promise you, I will leave here before I become completely incapacitated or before my illness strikes like a mountain. Please don't rush me, okay? I quite like this place. It's quiet enough, and I haven't decided where to go yet. Give me some more time."
A sense of desolation and sympathy spread through Long Yifei's heart.
He hadn't expected such a good girl to contract such a disease. There were truly too many unfortunate people in the world.
"Let me say it again, that's not what I meant. Forget it, just pretend I didn't say anything."
Neither of them spoke further. Long Yifei drove the car to the county town.
To replenish Melody's strength, he chose a high-class restaurant and booked a private room.
He didn't let Melody order the dishes, ordering whatever was hearty and greasy.
They ordered seven or eight main dishes and two soups.
After the waiter left, Melody joked with him.
"You made a lot of money on your outing, so why are you suddenly so generous? The 1000 yuan rent I gave you isn't even enough to pay for this meal."
Long Yifei smiled, thinking of how he had haggled with her a few days ago, and felt a little embarrassed.
"Consider it me making friends with you. Eat whatever you want."
"You're quite good at changing the subject."
What Melody actually wanted to know was whether he had gone out to make money these past few days. Long Yifei didn't answer, and that was fine.
They ate for over an hour, and Melody's stomach was about to burst.
Long Yifei, who had been extravagant when ordering, became stingy after eating and asked the waiter to pack the leftovers.
When they returned to the car, Melody was about to get in, but Long Yifei pointed to a budget hotel across the road.
"We're not going back tonight. Let's go there."