"Since we agreed not to contact each other anymore, make sure you stick to it. Don't do anything that makes me look down on you by going back on your word."
"You should go back. If that crazy woman upstairs sees you, she'll probably rush out and try to kill you. You wouldn't want to be embarrassed like that."
The moment of true parting arrived.
Tian Tian and Chen Dongyang looked at each other, their noses and eyes feeling sore and stinging. They desperately wanted to hold onto each other and never let go.
But Chen Dongyang knew his sister was right to scold him.
He was a scumbag. Tian Tian was such a good girl, and he shouldn't ruin her life.
Not wanting to make their parting too painful, which would lead to heartache in future memories, he forced back the sting in his nose and smiled as he gently stroked Tian Tian's head.
"Let her take you back. Get some good sleep, and rest for a couple of days before going back to work."
"You still can't put too much weight on your foot. Ask Wushuang for help sometimes, and don't try to tough it out yourself. Eat well, drink plenty of water, and take care of yourself."
Tian Tian hadn't intended to cry, but she couldn't help it.
Hearing his words, tears instantly and uncontrollably streamed down her face.
Chen Dongyang gently wiped her tears with his thumb and then touched her cheek.
"You're so wonderful. You'll meet someone a hundred, even a thousand times better than me who will cherish you. There's no need to cry over me. Be happy. If you're happy, I'll be happy too."
With that, he reluctantly withdrew his hand from her face and took a step back.
"Sis, please take her home. I'll apologize to you another day. I'm leaving."
He didn't dare to look back and strode quickly towards the inside.
The warmth of his palm still lingered on Tian Tian's hand, but as she watched his retreating figure grow further and further away, unable to do anything, the helplessness and despair almost drove her mad.
Her face was smeared with tears and snot, but she didn't want to wipe them.
When Chen Dongyang's back was no longer visible, she felt utterly despairing and cried out, throwing herself into Chen Jiaojiao's arms.
Chen Jiaojiao had also been in love, experiencing a love as deep and unforgettable, which was why she felt so sorry for Tian Tian and thought she shouldn't have to go through this.
But at this moment, it was too late for words. All she could do was stay by her side, knowing nothing else would help.
Tian Tian's crying wouldn't stop. They stood hugging each other outside the hospital entrance for several minutes. Chen Jiaojiao said that this couldn't go on.
"I know you're hurting, and it's okay to cry. But can we move somewhere else? You're a person of standing, and it wouldn't be good if people saw you like this."
She pulled Tian Tian into her car.
Being interrupted while crying so heartbrokenly made her stop wanting to cry.
Sitting in the passenger seat, watching the streetlights blur past the window, she felt utterly exhausted.
She didn't want to say anything, as if her soul had been drained away.
Chen Jiaojiao offered to take her home, but after a few seconds of silence, she said she didn't want to go back.
"Then is there anywhere you'd like to go?"
"As long as it's not home, anywhere is fine."
Chen Jiaojiao owned many properties, and she chose a secluded one to take Tian Tian to.
Entering the living room, Tian Tian wearily collapsed onto the sofa, covering her face with a cushion, unwilling to move.
Chen Jiaojiao sat beside her and draped a blanket over her.
"Sleep if you're tired. Talk to me if you want to vent. I'll stay here with you."
Tian Tian didn't say anything, just lay there, quietly, for an unknown amount of time, before drifting into a dazed sleep.
Back at the hospital, Chen Dongyang entered the ward. Hui Hui's sedative had just worn off, and she had also woken up.
Staring blankly at the ceiling with vacant eyes, she was lost in thought.
Sensing someone entering, she turned her head to look.
Upon seeing Chen Dongyang, tears immediately began to flow like a broken dam.
She had thought she hated Chen Dongyang, hated his betrayal, hated her own powerlessness, and hated their precarious future.
But seeing him in person, seeing his delicate face, the numbness and exhaustion etched upon it, she couldn't bring herself to blame him at all.
Chen Dongyang walked numbly to the bedside and looked down at her.
Hui Hui met his gaze, letting her tears flow for a while. Suddenly, she lifted the covers, sat up, and lunged forward, hugging his waist.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want this, but I can't control myself."
"I'm so scared, Dongyang. Dou Bao could leave at any moment. You're all I have. Please don't abandon me, okay? I'm begging you, just pity me, please don't leave again, okay?"
Chen Dongyang's heart had shattered into glass shards. He felt no pain, only numbness.
He didn't answer Hui Hui, letting her hold him as she chattered on.
When she had said enough and cried enough, she released him. Chen Dongyang then asked,
"Where is Dou Bao?"
Hui Hui's tears flowed again. "His condition has worsened again. The night before last, he had a fever of 40 degrees and was convulsing."
"I couldn't find you, and I didn't have money to call an ambulance to take him to the hospital, so I thought I'd try to cool him down at home and take him in the morning, but that delayed things."
"He's in the ICU, and a suitable heart hasn't been found. The doctor said he might not make it this time... Dongyang, I'm so scared, really, do you understand how I feel?"
From a rational standpoint, Chen Dongyang understood.
But he didn't want to say it.
He was in a state of reckless despair.
He wickedly thought, why not just let everything be destroyed? Let everyone be gone together.
Living with the person who held his debt every day, catering to her emotions, was utterly meaningless.
Tian Tian woke up the next day at noon.
Chen Jiaojiao hadn't left. Not only that, but she had also prepared a lavish lunch for her.
Having been her aunt for so many years, she knew her dietary preferences very well.
Seeing her sit up on the sofa, Chen Jiaojiao gently pulled her.
"You must be exhausted. You've slept for a long time. You must be hungry too. Go wash up and eat."
Tian Tian wanted to say she wasn't hungry and didn't want to eat, but looking at the table full of dishes prepared by this "fairy" who seemed detached from worldly affairs, she decided to consider the other person's feelings.
"Thank you, Aunt Jiaojiao."
"Oh, I've watched you grow up since you were little. Is there any need to be so polite with me?"
Tian Tian ate mechanically, only because Chen Dongyang had told her to take care of her body.
Chen Jiaojiao watched her chew as if tasting ash and couldn't help but worry.
"Is it not good? If you really don't want to eat, that's fine."
"No, it's delicious."
"Come on. You didn't inherit any of your mother's other good qualities, but you've inherited her tendency to put on a brave face and pretend to be strong quite well. We've all been young. Who hasn't had a few failed relationships? I understand how you feel right now."
Chen Jiaojiao took her chopsticks away.
"Cry if you want to cry, talk if you want to talk. There's no need to hold back. Once you've said it all and cried enough, it will pass."
"Really, believe me, time will heal everything. If you think time is too slow, there's another method."
Tian Tian lifted her eyelids to look at her. Chen Jiaojiao smiled vivaciously.
"Find a new boyfriend. I'll introduce you to some high-quality young men, each better than Chen Dongyang. I guarantee you'll forget him within a week."