459: Chapter 459 Desperate Woman 459: Chapter 459 Desperate Woman “Hmm, does your family also live here?” Tangyu asked when Zhang Xiaoxi led him into the Military Region Compound, the same one he had visited with Fang Yishui last time.
He couldn’t help but wonder.
Those who can live in a military compound like this must have impressive family backgrounds.
It seems that Zhang Xiaoxi’s family is not bad either.
The Military Region Compound is divided into inner and outer areas, with the outer area probably housing ordinary people.
Those living in the inner area must be the real powers of the military, like the elder of the Fang Family, who was once a high-ranking official.”
Upon hearing Tangyu’s words, Zhang Xiaoxi looked at him with some surprise, “Yes, my home is here.
Do you know this place?”
Tangyu nodded, “I know it.
The Military Region Compound, who doesn’t know it?
I was here a few days ago.”
“You’ve been here?” Zhang Xiaoxi was even more astonished.
“Yeah, Fang Yishui brought me here.
I was visiting her home.
Do you know Fang Yishui?” Tangyu said.
“Yishui, of course, I know her.
We grew up together, like sisters.
How could I not know her?
You actually know Fang Yishui, too.
But it’s strange; she would actually bring you to her home as a guest.
What is your relationship with her?” Surprise flickered in Zhang Xiaoxi’s eyes.
A girl bringing a boy home as a guest was inherently an intimate and thought-provoking situation.
Moreover, the Fang Family had very strict family rules; very few visitors could come over to their house, and even the big shots of Donglin City might not be easily invited in, let alone Tangyu.
So, Zhang Xiaoxi couldn’t help but suspect the relationship between Tangyu and Fang Yishui.
“Absolutely normal and pure male-female relationship,” Tangyu said.
Zhang Xiaoxi did not probe further, thinking she would just ask Yishui later.
Clearly, Zhang Xiaoxi’s home was also in the inner area.
The inner area of the military compound wasn’t really that large, and it consisted of standalone villas which were not numerous— adding up to about a dozen or so.
In other words, those residing here totaled only about a dozen families.
Finally, Zhang Xiaoxi stopped at a villa in the furthest corner of the inner area.
The style of the villa was very old, seemingly aged, and although it appeared slightly run-down compared to the others, its land area and size were probably the biggest.
What surprised Tangyu the most was that there were actually two armed guards standing in front of Zhang Xiaoxi’s villa.
It seemed that only Zhang Xiaoxi’s home had the additional security of two guards in the inner area; at least, Tangyu hadn’t seen guards at the entrances of any other homes.
The two of them got out of the car, and the guards’ gazes immediately swept over in alert.
They approached Tangyu, gesturing for him to stop.
“This person is my guest, there’s no problem,” Zhang Xiaoxi told the guards, who then stopped their action and made a welcoming gesture, allowing them to pass.
“Your family’s guards are really strict,” Tangyu noted.
Zhang Xiaoxi glanced at Tangyu, “Sorry about that, they are just this way.
Except for people brought by me or my grandfather, everyone else must be searched.
That is their duty and mission.
I hope you understand.”
Tangyu didn’t say more, but thoughts began to surface in his mind.
Zhang Xiaoxi’s grandfather must hold a very high position, perhaps even higher than the elder of the Fang Family, at least that was Tangyu’s impression.
They walked through the spacious yard and quickly arrived at the main hall of the house.
Upon entering the hall, Tangyu saw an elderly figure sitting in a wheelchair by the window, basking in the sun while reading the newspaper.
A maid was tidying up the living room.
Seeing Zhang Xiaoxi’s return, she immediately nodded with a smile, “Miss, there’s a visitor.
I’ll prepare something.”
“Hmm,” Zhang Xiaoxi nodded.
Hearing the noise, Old Master Zhang put down his newspaper and turned his wheelchair around to face Tangyu, his gaze landing on him.
Tangyu’s gaze also fell on Old Master Zhang, and upon seeing him for the first time, Tangyu felt as if his own gaze was repelled by something, instinctively wanting to turn away.
A powerful aura pressed invisibly against him, causing a surge of vigilance within Tangyu.
It was a peculiar sensation.
Tangyu was taken aback, for he had never encountered someone who could make him feel this way.
The mighty aura radiating from Old Master Zhang indicated that he must be a person of great capability.
It was an aged face, likely at least eighty years old, with almost completely white hair.
Nonetheless, he still appeared spirited and determined, particularly with a face as resolute as a sword, showing little signs of the weariness that comes with age.
It is indeed rare to have such a presence in one’s advanced years.
“Grandfather, Tangyu is here,” Zhang Xiaoxi said as she arrived beside Old Master Zhang, helping to push his wheelchair towards Tangyu.
“Good day, Elder Zhang,” Tangyu greeted.
After observing Tangyu for a moment, Old Master Zhang nodded slightly, “Hello Tangyu.
You’ve been in the news quite a lot these past days.
It’s becoming increasingly rare to see young people as brave and capable as you are.”
Hearing Old Master Zhang’s praise, Tangyu modestly responded, “Elder Zhang also follows the news, huh?
It’s really nothing much; I just had someone I needed to save.
Those reports are a bit too exaggerated.”
“Hmm, it’s good for young people not to be arrogant or impatient.
Being humble is a good thing,” Master Zhang nodded again.
“Grandpa Zhang, we should go see the patient first,” Tangyu said.
Master Zhang’s expression also changed slightly, and he nodded to Zhang Xiaoxi, “Let’s go.”
Zhang Xiaoxi pushed Master Zhang’s wheelchair while Tangyu followed behind them.
They crossed the living room and emerged into a long corridor that ended at an independent little wooden cabin.
This made Tangyu somewhat puzzled.
Why was Zhang Xiaoxi’s sister living separately?
Could it be that her illness was contagious?
Tangyu frowned and then detected a strong scent of herbal medicine, including the aroma of many precious herbs.
The intensity of the smell reminded Tangyu of a medicine decoction room; it had been a month or two since he last smelled such a potent aroma.
Upon arriving at the little wooden cabin, Zhang Xiaoxi moved forward and gently knocked on the door, saying to the inside, “Sister, Grandpa and I have come to see you.”
“Have you and Grandpa brought another doctor with you?
Forget it, I don’t want to see anyone.
I don’t wish to meet anyone,” came a cold voice from inside.
The voice was almost identical to Zhang Xiaoxi’s, and if it hadn’t sounded so icy, you wouldn’t be able to tell them apart at all.
“Xiaodong, Grandpa understands how you feel, but this doctor is different from the others.
Perhaps there might be a chance to cure your illness,” Master Zhang said, his voice carrying a mix of helplessness and world-weariness that was heart-wrenching to hear.
“Grandpa, don’t comfort me anymore.
What difference does it make?
They are all just doctors.
Over the years, which famous doctor haven’t I seen?
Even the Divine Doctor and Doctor Xiao couldn’t cure my illness.
My disease is incurable; I’ve known this for a long time.
Let it go, Grandpa, stop worrying about my illness.
Let’s just leave it to fate.
I have already resigned myself to it,” Zhang Xiaodong said, her voice filled with despair, or rather, devoid of any desire to live.
Upon hearing Zhang Xiaodong’s words, Zhang Xiaoxi’s eyes reddened, and tears started to glisten.
Master Zhang too sighed silently, a heavy burden weighing on him like a mountain.
“Isn’t it a bit childish to speak of despair so prematurely?
Don’t you value life at all?” Tangyu said to the inside.
Zhang Xiaoxi and Master Zhang immediately turned their gaze toward Tangyu, who signaled to them with his eyes.
A moment of silence followed inside the cabin, and then the cold voice spoke up again: “If this doesn’t count as despair, then what does?”
Tangyu replied, “I remember reading a saying that goes like this: ‘If the world were to end the next second, as long as that second has not arrived, I believe we will not die.’ Do you really think you’ve reached the point where you should despair?
I have always believed that even if there’s only a one in ten thousand chance, it’s still a chance.
Illness is frightening, but life is precious.
If you’ve lost even the tiniest desire to live, you’ll only fall prey to the illness, and when someone loses their will to live, they’re nothing more than a walking corpse.”
Inside the little wooden cabin, silence fell again.
After a while, a voice came back: “You have your reasons, and I have my thoughts.
You can’t control me.
You don’t understand the pain I’ve endured.
Go away, I won’t see you.
Life and death have lost their meaning to me.”
Tangyu let out a cold laugh and said, “Really?
They’ve lost their meaning?
Are you truly devoid of anything in this world that you still long for?
Can you really bear to see your grandfather and your younger sister Zhang Xiaoxi heartbroken for you?
Don’t you want to live a happy and joyful life with them?
Only those who give up on themselves speak like this.
I’ve always felt it’s a sign of cowardice.
Since you are a lady, I will still say it.
If you really think there’s nothing left in this world for you, then I think it’s better for you to find release sooner and spare yourself from further pain.”
“Tangyu, you—” Zhang Xiaoxi started, visibly upset by Tangyu’s last remark.
Master Zhang’s eyes also flickered at Tangyu’s words.
Tangyu paid no attention to the two of them and stood there calmly.
Zhang Xiaodong now had a serious psychological issue.
If he couldn’t treat her mental state first, there was no way to make further progress.
As a qualified doctor, the most important thing is not to treat the body, but to heal the mind.
A positive mindset often suppresses half of the illness.
Therefore, if he could properly adjust Zhang Xiaodong’s mindset, the chances of curing her illness would be much greater.
Tangyu waited, sensing that Zhang Xiaodong was not entirely hopeless or indifferent to her life.
At least, there were still things in this world that she was attached to.
As long as there was still a thread of attachment in her heart, she would surely retain some fondness for the world.
A truly hopeless person would have nothing to latch onto, no place in the world that could make them linger.
If that were the case, Zhang Xiaodong surely would have already died.
Her current state was merely due to the torment of her illness, which had completely shattered her confidence; and for this, she could not be blamed.
After a long pause, a voice from inside the little cabin said again, “So what?
You can’t save me, no one can.
Right now, I’m just living each day as a bonus.
So, whether I see you or not, what difference does it make?
Besides, I don’t want to see strangers, so no matter how persuasive you are, I won’t meet you.”
Tangyu curled his lips and retorted, “Why do you assume that what others can’t do is also impossible for me?
Just because others couldn’t cure your illness, does that mean I definitely can’t?
I’d like to ask, what kind of logic is that?
If I didn’t have any confidence, do you think I would have come here to humiliate myself?
I know of the Divine Doctor and Doctor Xiao, and I don’t think I’m inferior to them.”