Together Forever - Chapter 60
Volume 3, Chapter 60: Simple Happiness (3)
She never mentioned what she had seen that night, pretending it hadn’t happened.
But she spent her free time researching first aid procedures and medicinal recipes, diligently learning everything she could. Gu Pingsheng had never hidden his health issues from her and always took her to his monthly checkups. She wasn’t worried about him neglecting his health, but she wanted to be prepared.
Once, the court clerk she was interning with, seeing her browsing medical websites, asked curiously, “Is there someone seriously ill in your family?”
“Not really,” Tong Yan minimized the window, giving a vague answer. “It’s always good to know these things.”
“You’re a strange girl,” the clerk chuckled, shaking her head, and walked away.
Before, apart from going home, Gu Pingsheng’s life had revolved around work and the university.
Now, with his grandfather’s illness, he also spent time at the hospital every day. Tong Yan knew it wasn’t appropriate for her to visit, so she prepared nutritious meals for him to take to the hospital.
Perhaps because of his frequent visits, he occasionally shared stories about his medical internship in Beijing.
He once mentioned a patient who had been rushed into surgery without a proper examination and had been diagnosed with AIDS the next day.
She had been peeling a boiled egg for him, and her eyes widened in alarm. “What happened? What if you were infected during the surgery?” She held the egg to his lips.
He took a bite of the egg white, leaving the yolk. Tong Yan ate the yolk, then placed the remaining egg white in his congee.
“It’s not uncommon. It happens every month,” Gu Pingsheng said with a faint smile. “Every profession has its risks.”
Tong Yan nodded slowly, watching him eat, lost in thought. He took a couple of spoonfuls of congee, then, noticing her gaze, looked up, smiling. “What are you thinking about? Still sleepy?”
“I was thinking you must have been a picky eater as a child,” she said with a playful smile. “You don’t even eat egg yolks.”
Gu Pingsheng chuckled. “I was a picky eater.”
“You still are.”
Tong Yan continued peeling the egg for him.
His face had always been on the thinner side, his features sharp and well-defined. But now, he looked too thin. Her gaze drifted from his fingers to his arm, and she gently poked him with her pinky finger. He looked up at her.
“You’ve lost weight,” she said, her voice laced with concern. “As your… keeper, this is a matter of great concern.”
“Really?” He raised an eyebrow playfully. “I want chestnut chicken.”
Tong Yan smiled and nodded. “Will you be home for dinner? I can stop by the supermarket after work.”
“Tomorrow night,” he said, glancing at his watch and quickly finishing his congee. “I’ll be at the hospital this afternoon. My grandfather has an important consultation; I might not be back until after dinner.”
Whenever he had his 8 PM class, he would leave earlier than her but arrive home much later. She tried not to dwell on it, focusing on her studies, looking forward to graduation and starting her career, so she could share his burdens, but for now, all she could do was wait.
Worried the supermarket might not have fresh chestnuts, she went to the market further away.
Not wanting to watch the butchering process, she chose a chicken, then retreated to a safe distance, returning only after it had been cleaned and packaged.
“Scared of blood?” the vendor chuckled.
“Not really,” Tong Yan admitted sheepishly. “I just… don’t like seeing… things being killed. I usually buy frozen meat from the supermarket…”
“Supermarket chicken isn’t as good as fresh chicken,” the vendor said, grabbing a handful of scallions from his vegetable stall. “Here, to calm your nerves.”
Tong Yan, amused by the gesture, thanked him and took the scallions.
The market was in an awkward location, not easily accessible by bus. It was a twenty-minute walk back to her apartment, and despite the winter chill, she was sweating by the time she arrived.
It was past six, and the sky was dark. The streetlights in the complex were on, illuminating the paths as people hurried home. Since it wasn’t dinnertime yet, she walked at a leisurely pace. As she rounded a corner, she saw two figures in the distance.
Lu Bei and Fang Yun Yun.
They were arguing by the entrance to her building, their movements agitated. They hadn't seen her yet. He was holding the door open, trying to enter, while she was blocking his path, seemingly reluctant to escalate the situation. The security alarm blared incessantly.
It was the entrance to her building.
She had a feeling she knew what was happening. She wanted to avoid them, but she was also worried about Fang Yun Yun barging into her apartment. As she hesitated, Fang Yun Yun saw her and, letting go of Lu Bei, walked towards Tong Yan, her pace rapid, almost aggressive, as if afraid Tong Yan might run away.
There was no escaping this.
As Fang Yun Yun approached, before Tong Yan could even greet her, she slapped Tong Yan hard across the face. “This is for everything you’ve done to me. I’ll repay everything… everything I owe you…” Tears streamed down her face as she spoke.
Her voice echoed in the quiet complex.
Tong Yan stood there, stunned, her cheek stinging, Fang Yun Yun’s words a blur.
Lu Bei rushed over, grabbing Fang Yun Yun’s arm. “Are you crazy? You’ve been at this since yesterday! When will it end?”
“I am crazy! Lu Bei, what’s wrong with me? I’ve given you everything! What more do you want?!” Fang Yun Yun sobbed hysterically, struggling against his grip. “It’s been four years! What are you waiting for? Do you want a divorce? Do you want to be with her? I’ll let you go! I’ll give you everything…!”
Their argument, their accusations, every word, every sob, echoed in her ears.
Tong Yan closed her eyes, then opened them again, the emotions she had suppressed for days surging to the surface.
“Let me talk to her,” she said, walking towards them. Lu Bei, his eyes red-rimmed, looked at her hesitantly, then released Fang Yun Yun. Tong Yan turned to Fang Yun Yun, whose face was streaked with tears.
She was surprised by her own calmness.
Fang Yun Yun, her voice laced with anger and hysteria, said, “Go ahead… I know you have a lot to say…”
Slap!
Tong Yan slapped her back, just as hard. “This is for what you did to me. I owe you nothing. I never did, and I never will. Whether you want a divorce or not, leave me alone. No one is as lucky as you, throwing tantrums over love, oblivious to the struggles of real life.”
Her hand trembled as she lowered it.
It was the first time she had ever hit anyone, and the gesture reminded her of Gu Pingsheng. Had his hand trembled like this when he slapped her, the action more painful for him than for her…?
As she entered the building, she could still hear Fang Yun Yun’s cries.
She walked up the stairs, her mind numb, and after reaching the third or fourth floor, she leaned against the wall, finally letting the tears flow.
Her body shaking with sobs, she sat down on the steps, her face buried in her knees.
Life was so unfair. Some people lived in a bubble of romantic love, oblivious to the hardships of reality. Others, simply seeking a peaceful existence, faced one challenge after another. Before meeting Gu Pingsheng, she had felt sorry for herself, burdened by her family. Now, however, her heart ached only for him.
He had longed for a mother’s love, yet indirectly caused her death. He had dreamed of being a doctor, yet had to abandon his dream. He had lost almost everyone he loved, clinging desperately to those who remained, yet his efforts seemed futile…
Tong Yan traced his name on the white wall with her finger.
Gu Pingsheng.
His name was beautiful, a comforting warmth.
She sat there, her head resting on her arm, thinking of him, her cheek still stinging from Fang Yun Yun’s slap. It had been a forceful blow, fueled by anger. Her own slap, however, had been less forceful; perhaps because she didn’t hate Fang Yun Yun, she hadn’t been able to hit her as hard.
Her phone rang, the sound echoing in the empty stairwell.
She sat up and retrieved it from her pocket, the screen’s blue light illuminating the darkness: Forgot to mention, Mr. Gu likes chestnuts. TK
Seriously…?
Tong Yan chuckled, the movement making her puffy eyes sting. Okay, I’ll make chestnut chicken. Two chicken legs and a whole pot of chestnuts, sound good?
Sounds delicious. TK
She glanced at the time; it was past seven. Her grandmother would be worried if she didn’t go upstairs, but going up now, in this state… As she hesitated, her gaze fell on his name on the wall.
It wasn’t good to leave it there.
She scratched out the first character of his name with her fingernail, then stared at the remaining two characters, lost in thought. After a moment, she wiped the dust from her finger and carefully wrote a sentence after his name.
To have met you in this lifetime is enough.
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