Chapter 193: Wish
Xie He awoke that night on the seventh.
Upon learning that she hadn’t undergone surgery, she wasn’t disappointed. Instead, she smiled and comforted Xie Jingyan: “Brother, surgery must hurt a lot. I hate surgery.”
How could Xie Jingyan not see the sadness in her eyes? She was clearly the one who had been looking forward to it the most.
Xie Jingyan didn’t know how to tell her.
Should he say that Sister Ning, her favorite, had sold the matching bone marrow that originally belonged to her to someone else?
It had already been successfully transplanted to another patient three days ago.
Finding another suitable one now was as difficult as ascending to heaven.
They had searched for years to find this sliver of hope.
Xie He saw Xie Jingyan remaining silent.
She propped up her frail body and nestled into Xie Jingyan’s arms, her voice childish: “Brother, hug me.”
Xie Jingyan held her in his arms, his voice a bit hoarse: “Okay.”
Xie He tilted up her pale little face, her big eyes blinking, smiling: “Brother, will you have other sisters in the future?”
Xie Jingyan looked down at her, forcing a smile at the corner of his mouth: “No, Brother will only have one sister, Xiao He.”
“It would be great if Xiao He had a sister too. That way, Brother wouldn’t be lonely in the future. Brother, if I die, don’t be sad. I’m just going to heaven to find Mom and Dad. They’ll take care of me.” She looked out the window. It had been a year since she last went outside.
Because she would get sick from even a gust of wind.
Xie He continued: “Actually, this is pretty good. I finally won’t have to get injections or take medicine anymore. Brother, I hurt every day. Every time you ask, I say it doesn’t hurt—that’s all a lie.”
Xie Jingyan seemed amused by Xie He, his voice very soft: “Then why tell the truth now?”
“Because I’m going to die. Brother, once I’m dead, it won’t hurt anymore, right?”
Her voice was very childish, yet carried some innocence.
Xie Jingyan took a deep breath, his eyes stinging, his voice slightly choked: “Yeah, it won’t hurt anymore.”
“Brother.”
“Yeah.”
“Brother.”
“Here.”
“Brother.”
“What’s wrong?”
A blush rose on Xie He’s pale face. She sat up and leaned to Xie Jingyan’s ear: “The person I like most is Brother. Brother is the best person in the world to me. When I go to heaven, I’ll bless you.”
Xie Jingyan buried his face in Xie He’s frail shoulder.
Just five years ago, she was still a slightly chubby little fatty.
But after one illness, she was as light as a piece of paper.
“Brother knows. Thank you, Xiao He.”
Like a little adult, she stroked Xie Jingyan’s hair: “Brother, don’t cry. Xiao He is fine. I’ve been very happy this lifetime.”
“Yeah.” Xie Jingyan’s voice was thick with nasal tones.
He hoped his sister’s time could last a little longer.
“Xiao He, Chunfen’s day is Brother’s birthday. Can you stay with me through my birthday?”
Xie He furrowed her little brows in some distress.
Xie Jingyan continued: “This is Brother’s wish.”
Xie He then hesitated and nodded: “Then I’ll obediently take my medicine. Can I eat cake that day?”
When she said the last sentence, her eyes sparkled.
Because of her illness, there were many things she wasn’t allowed to eat much of.
Every birthday, she only got a little, not even enough to fill the gaps between her teeth.
Xie Jingyan nodded: “Yes, as much as you want.”
Xie He cheered excitedly: “Yay, thank you, Brother.”
Half an hour later, Xiao He fell asleep.
Meng Su waited outside the hospital room, his brows deeply furrowed: “Why did Jiang Ning do this? When did she become like this?”
Xie Jingyan didn’t know how to explain to him and chose silence.
Meng Su clenched his fists tightly: “If she hadn’t saved Xingcan, I would definitely make the Jiang Family pay the price!”
Xie Jingyan’s expression was calm: “Let’s talk outside. Don’t disturb Xiao He.”
Meng Su sighed, and the two walked out of the hospital.
The early spring weather was still very cold.
The wind was biting.
The capital city’s night wasn’t very dark, illuminated brightly by the neon lights on the streets.
Meng Su took a cigarette pack from the pocket of his coat and lit one in his mouth.
Xie Jingyan glanced at it and reached out: “Give me one.”
Meng Su looked at him in surprise: “Didn’t you not smoke?”
“New habit.”
Xie Jingyan took the cigarette pack. The lighter’s flame illuminated the youth’s face, adding a touch of cold loneliness.
Meng Su shook his head: “This habit isn’t good.”
“Yeah.”
Meng Su sighed: “What next?”
Xie Jingyan was somewhat puzzled: “What?”
He pursed his lips: “Jiang Ning…”
“Blood Debt Must Be Paid. What do you think?”
Meng Su looked up, meeting Xie Jingyan’s indifferent dark eyes, hesitating: “But my entertainment company just signed A-Li… She doesn’t know what her sister did. How should I step in?”
He feared Jiang Li would desperately protect Jiang Ning. Jiang Li’s destiny had already been bitter enough; it had finally turned for the better, and Meng Su didn’t want her to be harmed.
He could only smoke in frustration.
“No need for you to step in. I’ll handle it.” Xie Jingyan said indifferently.
The scent of nicotine slowly drifted away.
Xie Jingyan somewhat disliked this taste, but it did dissipate his irritation.
Smoking is addictive.
Meng Su hesitated: “What do you plan to do?”
Xie Jingyan lowered his eyes, his profile half-hidden in the light and shadow gaining sharpness. He slightly curved his thin lips: “Make the Jiang Family bankrupt.”
Meng Su’s eyes widened in shock: “Xiao Jing, how can you shake the Jiang Family with your current position? Are you thinking of cooperating with the Huo Family again? That family isn’t anything good. The Huo Family even has marriage ties with the Bai Family. It was Bai Yingjie’s interference that caused your parents’ relationship to break down.”
“I have a method. I don’t need the Huo Family, and I don’t need you. I don’t want to put you in a difficult position.” Xie Jingyan said.
Meng Su was also helpless. He really wasn’t convenient to step in. If he got involved in “making the Jiang Family bankrupt,” his relationship with Jiang Li might also break down.
She had only just accepted her family.
He could only say: “I don’t know what happened to Jiang Ning to make her like this, but the other people in the Jiang Family are innocent. Xiao Jing, I know your pain… but I don’t want hatred to blind you.”
Xie Jingyan frowned in annoyance: “You don’t know. You don’t understand my pain. You know nothing. Don’t preach to me.”
Meng Su fell silent, then said after a moment: “One last question. Do you still like Jiang Ning?”
Was the Xie Jingyan who used to wake up an hour early to cross half the city to pick up Jiang Ning still there?
Was the Xie Jingyan who stayed up late sorting exercise books for Jiang Ning still there?
Was the Xie Jingyan who got shy kissing the girl he liked, nervous confessing, and bravely persistent despite countless rejections still there?
Xie Jingyan gently closed his eyes, erasing Jiang Ning bit by bit.
It seemed… he had also broken his promise.
Love in pain will collapse.
He tossed the cigarette butt to the ground and walked forward under the streetlights.
“I don’t like her anymore.”
