After calming down for a while, Feng Feng returned to the ward. Wen Zhouyuan still hadn't woken up. She leaned on the sofa, not even in the mood to drink water.
As noon approached, Wen Zhouyuan finally opened his eyes. Feng Feng immediately got up and went to his bedside. Wen Zhouyuan propped himself up with the bed and forced himself to sit up.
Feng Feng asked him, "Do you want to have porridge for lunch?"
Wen Zhouyuan stared at her for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay."
Feng Feng went to find a caregiver and asked them to buy lunch from the cafeteria.
Wen Zhouyuan was in pain all over. As he sat up to drink the porridge, his face contorted with pain, and his hand holding the spoon trembled slightly.
Seeing this, Feng Feng's eyes suddenly welled up. She lowered her head and quickly wiped her eyes.
She didn't consider herself an emotional person, and rarely got sentimental. But seeing the once spirited man now unable to even hold a spoon steady, she couldn't help but lament the cruelty of fate. A sense of powerlessness washed over her, making her feel unbearable.
Wen Zhouyuan was a very intelligent person. Even though Feng Feng hadn't told him anything, he was aware of his own condition. After a few sips of porridge, he smiled and asked Feng Feng, "Have you notified Bai Zhi?"
Feng Feng choked slightly. "Yes, I've notified her."
Wen Zhouyuan: "Good."
Feng Feng: "You should rest well these few days."
Wen Zhouyuan: "Does the doctor insist that I stay in the hospital?"
Feng Feng: "Don't you want to stay in the hospital?"
In fact, at this point, whether he stayed in the hospital or not, it didn't make much difference.
As the doctor had said, continuing chemotherapy would only cause him more suffering and wouldn't truly extend his life.
Wen Zhouyuan himself likely understood this.
Wen Zhouyuan: "Yes, I want to enjoy my last bit of freedom."
He said it so calmly, not like someone who was dying. He accepted his fate with peace, without any struggle.
Feng Feng was too choked up to speak, and in the end, it was Wen Zhouyuan who comforted her, "This day was bound to come. It's okay."
"I'm already very content," Wen Zhouyuan smiled gently. "I'm very happy that you've been accompanying me during this time."
Feng Feng's tears finally fell. She covered her mouth, trying not to cry out loud.
Feng Feng had a lot of work to do and had taken a day off. She couldn't delay any longer, so she went back to work the next day, but she hadn't rested well and wasn't in the right state.
The entire day was tiring and oppressive.
As work was about to end, Feng Feng received a call from Lan Lan, who asked her to go out and pick out a wedding gift for Lin Mei.
Lin Mei and Xing Zheng's wedding was approaching. It should have been a time of happy celebration, but unexpectedly, Wen Zhouyuan's condition had taken a turn for the worse.
Feng Feng and Lan Lan agreed to meet at the mall and went to meet her after work.
When Feng Feng arrived, Lan Lan was already waiting. Seeing her haggard appearance, Lan Lan couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong with you? You look like you haven't slept in days."
Feng Feng was exhausted. In front of Lan Lan, she could finally let go of her burdens.
Feng Feng hugged Lan Lan and rested her head on her shoulder. "The doctor doesn't recommend Wen Zhouyuan continue with chemotherapy anymore."
Lan Lan's smile froze. "Then how long... does he have left?"
"Not much longer, I suppose," Feng Feng said. "I've expected this day for a long time, but I didn't think it would come so soon."
"Yesterday, I watched him drink porridge, and he couldn't even hold the spoon steady. It's hard for me to connect him with the Wen Zhouyuan of the past," Feng Feng closed her eyes.
Let alone Feng Feng, even Lan Lan couldn't connect the two. She patted Feng Feng and gently comforted her, "You've done all you can for him. These are things we can't control."
Feng Feng and Lan Lan went together to choose a wedding gift for Lin Mei and then went to dinner.
After being comforted by Lan Lan, Feng Feng's state improved slightly.
The next day, Bai Zhi arrived in Nanjiang. Feng Feng took another half-day off, went to the airport to pick up Bai Zhi, and took her to the hospital.
When Bai Zhi saw Wen Zhouyuan, her eyes also turned red. Feng Feng didn't linger, leaving the space for the two of them.
A few days after Bai Zhi arrived, Wen Zhouyuan was discharged from the hospital and returned to the house he had bought.
Bai Zhi and Wen Mubai both accompanied him. Feng Feng visited occasionally.
Wen Zhouyuan's condition deteriorated day by day, visibly becoming more emaciated.
In the blink of an eye, Lin Mei and Xing Zheng's wedding also arrived.
As a bridesmaid, Feng Feng inevitably encountered Shen Su again.
After finishing her call with Bai Zhi, Feng Feng turned to leave and bumped into Shen Su in the corridor. Shen Su, the groomsman, was wearing a dark gray suit, his hands in his pockets, on the phone.
Judging by his tone, he was likely talking to Ji Tong.
Shen Su happened to look over at her as well. Their eyes met. Shen Su merely glanced at her before continuing his call.
"Spend good time with your parents. I'll pick you up at the airport the day after tomorrow."
No wonder Ji Tong hadn't come today; she had gone back to be with her parents.
Feng Feng stood still. After finishing his call with Ji Tong, Shen Su looked at Feng Feng again.
Feng Feng pursed her lips, wanting to say something but hesitating.
Shen Su noticed her intention and asked, "President Feng, is there something?"
"No," Feng Feng replied with two words and walked around him, leaving.
Shen Su didn't pay much attention and returned to the lounge to attend to his own matters.
Lin Mei and Xing Zheng's wedding went smoothly. After the ceremony, it was time for the banquet. The groomsmen and bridesmaids naturally sat at the same table. Feng Feng was directly opposite Shen Su, so she could see him whenever she looked up.
Feng Feng was not in high spirits and therefore did not participate much in their conversation.
Lan Lan knew she hadn't been in a good state recently and didn't bother her. Feng Feng silently finished the meal like this.
There was supposed to be a gathering in the evening, but Feng Feng did not attend and left early.
Lin Mei was worried about Feng Feng's state and asked Lan Lan, "Will she be okay by herself?"
Lan Lan: "Let her have some space. There are some things we can't help with."
—
More than a month passed unconsciously. The day Wen Zhouyuan passed away, Nanjiang experienced a heavy rain.
At night, Bai Zhi discovered that Wen Zhouyuan's condition was not right and immediately took him to the hospital. After a night of treatment, they were ultimately unable to save him.
Feng Feng experienced a night of nightmares. When she woke up in the morning, she was disoriented. While brushing her teeth, she received a call from Bai Zhi.
"He's gone," Bai Zhi's tone was relatively calm, but a slight tremor could be heard if listened to closely.
Feng Feng froze. "Where are you now?"
Bai Zhi: "At the hospital. You can come and see him one last time."
There was no need for further explanation. Bai Zhi already knew what the phrase "not too good" referred to. Even though she had prepared herself mentally, it was still painful when the day finally arrived.
Bai Zhi's voice choked slightly. "I'll book my flight now."
Feng Feng: "Okay."
Bai Zhi: "Thank you for your trouble."
Feng Feng: "It's okay. Have a safe trip. I'll wait for you to come."
After finishing the call with Bai Zhi, Feng Feng did not return to the ward immediately but turned towards the safety exit.
She stood by the window, looking down, her thoughts drifting far away.