"Since we agreed not to contact each other anymore, make sure you stick to it. Don't do anything so unreliable that I end up despising you."
"You should go back. If that crazy woman upstairs sees you, she'll probably rush over to fight you. You wouldn't want to embarrass yourself like that."
The moment of true parting had arrived.
Sweetie looked at Chen Dongyang, their noses and eye sockets both aching and stinging. They both longed to hold onto each other and not let go.
But Chen Dongyang knew his sister was right.
He was scum. Sweetie, such a good girl, he shouldn't ruin her life.
Not wanting to make the separation too painful, something that would leave a sour taste in his memory later, he forced back the sting in his nose and smiled, stroking Sweetie's head.
"Let her take you back. Get a good night's sleep, rest for a couple of days before you go back to work."
"You still can't put too much pressure on your foot. Ask Wushuang for help sometimes, don't try to tough it out yourself. Eat well, drink plenty of water, and take care of yourself."
Sweetie hadn't intended to cry, but she couldn't help it.
Hearing his words, tears instantly streamed down her face uncontrollably.
Chen Dongyang gently wiped away her tears with his thumb and then stroked her cheek.
"You're so wonderful, you'll find someone a hundred, a thousand times better than me who will cherish you. There's no need to cry over me. Be happy. As long as you're happy, I'll be happy too."
With that, he reluctantly pulled his hand away from her face and took a step back.
"Sister, please take her home. I'll come to beg for forgiveness another day. I'm leaving."
He dared not look back, walking away briskly into the building.
The residual warmth from his palm still lingered on Sweetie's hand. Yet, seeing his retreating back grow further and further away, and being unable to do anything, the helplessness and despair nearly drove her mad.
Her face was smeared with tears and snot; she didn't bother to wipe them.
Only when Chen Dongyang's figure vanished from sight did she, in utter despair, let out a sob and bury herself in Chen Jiaojiao's arms.
Chen Jiaojiao had also experienced love and a heartbreak as profound as theirs, which was why she felt so sorry for Sweetie, believing she shouldn't have to go through this.
But now, it was too late for words. Other than quietly accompanying her, she knew nothing else would help.
Sweetie couldn't stop crying. They stood hugging each other by the hospital entrance for several minutes. Chen Jiaojiao realized this couldn't go on and said,
"I know you're hurting and want to cry. But can we move somewhere else? You're a person with a reputation, and it's not good to be seen like this."
She pulled Sweetie into her car.
Being interrupted while deeply upset, she no longer felt like crying.
Sitting in the passenger seat, watching the streets rush past outside the window, she only felt exhaustion.
She didn't want to say anything, as if her soul had been leached out.
Chen Jiaojiao said she would take her home, and Sweetie paused for several seconds before saying 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 several properties and took her to a quiet one.
Upon entering the living room, Sweetie wearily threw herself onto the sofa, covered her face with a cushion, and didn't want to move.
Chen Jiaojiao sat beside her and draped a blanket over her.
"Sleep if you're tired. Tell me if you want to talk. I'll stay here with you."
Sweetie said nothing, just lay there, still, for who knows how long, before drifting into a dazed sleep.
Back at the hospital, Chen Dongyang entered the ward. Huihui's sedative had just worn off, and she had woken up.
Her large eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought.
Sensing someone enter, she turned her head to look.
Seeing Chen Dongyang, tears immediately began to pour out of her like a bursting floodgate.
She had thought she hated Chen Dongyang, hated his betrayal, hated her own helplessness, hated their precarious future.
But upon seeing him, seeing his delicate face, the numbness and exhaustion on it, she couldn't bring herself to blame him at all.
Chen Dongyang listlessly walked to the bedside and looked down at her.
Huihui met his gaze. After letting her tears flow for a while, she suddenly threw off the covers, sat up, and rushed forward to hug his waist.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want this either, but I couldn't control it."
"I'm so scared, Dongyang. Dou Bao could leave us at any moment. You're all I have. Please don't abandon me, okay? I'm begging you, just pity me, don't leave again, okay?"
Chen Dongyang's heart felt like it had shattered into glass shards. He didn't feel pain, only numbness.
He didn't answer Huihui, letting her hold him as she rambled on.
When she finally finished talking and crying, and let go of him, Chen Dongyang asked,
"Where's Dou Bao?"
Huihui's tears flowed again: "His condition has worsened. The night before last, he developed a fever of 40 degrees Celsius and was convulsing."
"I couldn't find you, and I didn't have money for an ambulance to take him to the hospital, so I thought I'd try to cool him down at home. I planned to take him in the morning, but that's how we got delayed."
"He's in the ICU. A suitable heart hasn't been found yet, and 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 perspective, Chen Dongyang understood.
But he didn't want to say it.
He felt a bit like a broken pot, beyond repair.
He wickedly thought, why not just let it all be destroyed? Let everyone perish together.
Living with the person who held his debts, constantly catering to her emotions, was utterly meaningless.
Sweetie woke up to find it was already noon the next day.
Chen Jiaojiao hadn't left. Not only that, but she had also prepared a lavish lunch for her.
Having been her nanny for so many years, she knew her eating habits very well.
Seeing her sit up on the sofa, Chen Jiaojiao gently came to pull her.
"You must be exhausted. You slept for quite a long time. You should be hungry, go wash up and eat."
Sweetie wanted to say she wasn't hungry, didn't want to eat, but looking at the table full of dishes prepared by this seemingly otherworldly fairy, she decided to consider the other person's feelings.
"Thank you, Auntie Jiaojiao."
"Oh my, I've watched you grow up since you were little. Do you really need to be so polite with me?"
Sweetie mechanically ate, solely because Chen Dongyang had told her to take care of herself.
Chen Jiaojiao watched her chew mechanically, her food tasting like ash, and felt concerned.
"Is it not tasty? If you really don't want to eat, that's fine."
"No, it's delicious."
"Come on. You didn't inherit any other good qualities from your mother, but you did inherit her putting on a brave face and pretending to be strong. We've all been young, haven't we all had a few failed relationships? I understand how you're feeling 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, cried enough, the matter will pass."
"Really, trust me, time heals all wounds. If you think time is too slow, there's another method."
Sweetie lifted her eyelids to look at her. Chen Jiaojiao smiled vivaciously.
"Get a new partner. Auntie can introduce you to some high-quality young men, each one stronger than Chen Dongyang. I guarantee you'll forget him within a week."