"Xiao Anjing is a good person. It's your fortune that he likes you, but I can't let him think you're easy to get. You need to handle this yourself." Her mother said, closing her eyes and feeling weak, wanting to fall asleep again.
She knew her body was failing. Her only worry was Lan Yu, but seeing Xiao Anjing today made her feel as though she had found someone she could entrust Lan Yu to.
If Lan Yu could truly be with Xiao Anjing, she could also pass away with peace of mind.
"Okay, I understand. Don't worry too much..." Before she could finish, she realized her mother had already fallen into a weak slumber.
She held her mother's hand and stayed by the bedside for a while.
This was her only family in the world. She didn't want to, nor could she bear to, watch her mother leave her eyes.
While her mother was asleep, she took photos of all the medical records and sent them to Xiao Anjing.
Her mother was right. The previous two times Xiao Anjing had helped, she felt he was a good person.
But after what happened at her place last time, things had changed between them.
She had accepted the check in a fit of pique then, never intending to spend such a large sum of money.
Not long ago, Dr. Lu told her that their hospital had introduced a new cancer therapy that might be effective for her mother's condition, but the cost was very high.
To save her mother's life, she had no choice but to use that check. Now, it seemed she could never repay what she owed him.
Even if she became a dance teacher and taught classes day and night, she would have to live frugally for ten to twenty years without eating or drinking to clear the debt.
Now that the latest therapy had failed, they had to seek treatment abroad, which required even more exorbitant medical fees.
Not long after, Xiao Anjing replied with a simple "Received." She put down her phone and sat in the ward, staring at the white walls.
Tonight, she didn't want to go anywhere but to stay by her mother's side.
She fell asleep leaning against the chair. In her dreams, she saw Xiao Anjing, then Xie Qining, and that arrogant, triumphant female celebrity. Those people alternated in her dreams, preventing her from sleeping soundly.
She woke up suddenly to see her mother on the hospital bed breathing rapidly. She immediately pressed the call button, grabbed her mother's hand, and said in a frightened voice, "Mom, Mom, what's wrong? Where does it hurt?"
"Pain, pain, my whole body hurts so much..." Her mother's eyes widened, and she gasped for breath in discomfort.
Soon, the on-duty Dr. Lu and nurses rushed into the ward. She moved aside.
Watching the medical staff put her mother on a ventilator and administer painkillers, and after a period of rescue, her mother gradually stabilized and was no longer in as much pain.
"Dr. Lu, is my mom okay now?" Lan Yu asked anxiously in a low voice.
"Yes, she's fine for now," Dr. Lu said, also sighing with relief.
Seeing her mother now with her eyes closed, struggling to breathe with her mouth open while on the ventilator, afraid she wouldn't be able to breathe if she stopped, pained her deeply.
Dr. Lu gently patted her shoulder and gestured for her to come out with him.
The nurse had already returned to the front desk. Lan Yu and Dr. Lu stood in the hallway, Lan Yu saying worriedly, "My mom was in so much pain just now. Will she, will she..."
"No, but you should be prepared. In the later stages, she will be in more and more pain, and painkillers will have little effect. So I suggest you should consider a hospice," Dr. Lu didn't know how to advise her. "I'm sorry, all we can do now is try to alleviate her suffering."
Lan Yu said stubbornly, "There are more advanced treatments abroad, right? And authoritative experts who can cure her?"
"As far as I know, it's very difficult," Dr. Lu said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "That Mr. Xiao, apart from having money, knows nothing. Don't let your mother's illness make you compromise yourself by being with him. He's so rough; I'm afraid you'll be bullied..."
Lan Yu shrugged nonchalantly, avoiding his hand, and said, "I didn't expect him to be so impulsive and even resort to violence. I'm sorry, he wasn't like this before. Actually, he's helped me a lot every time I've met him."
Seeing her evasive expression, Dr. Lu quickly said, "I also want to help you; you know that. It's just that I didn't expect you to go to such lengths for the treatment costs..."
"Dr. Lu, I know you've taken good care of us since my mother was hospitalized." Lan Yu dared not look at him, fearing he might suddenly confess. "But you just pity my mother and me. You don't understand me, and I'm not as good as you think."
"I understand you!" Dr. Lu said, grabbing her shoulders with excitement.
Lan Yu looked at him with a hint of panic. "You're hurting me."
Dr. Lu immediately let go. "I'm sorry. Actually, I've known you for a long time, you just don't know it. I recognized you when your mother was admitted to the hospital, but you don't remember me anymore."
His words left Lan Yu somewhat bewildered. "Did we know each other before? When and where?"
"Do you remember the performance in Greece, Swan Lake?" Dr. Lu had originally intended to speak to her after her mother's condition improved or when a suitable opportunity arose, but Xiao Anjing's appearance made him feel as though he was about to miss this girl from his dreams again.
"Of course, I remember. That was a significant overseas performance for our troupe," Lan Yu recalled how she was the lead dancer then, the principal dancer of Odette in Swan Lake, the most glorious period of her ballet career.
Dr. Lu said, "I happened to be in Greece attending an academic exchange at the time and was invited by friends to watch your performance. It was the first time I saw Swan Lake live in such a top-tier theater. I was deeply moved by your portrayal of the White Swan. Your dancing was so beautiful; it's a great pity you didn't continue with ballet."
Lan Yu pursed her lips and smiled. She used to receive countless ovations and flowers after every performance. If she hadn't given up ballet for Xie Qining, her life would be completely different now.
"You performed in Greece for a whole week, and I went to almost every show. On the last day, I brought flowers and went backstage to find you. We even had a brief chat then," Dr. Lu continued. "Learning that you had no more performances and would be spending a few days traveling in the Aegean Sea, I went to your hotel the next morning, intending to ask you to go to the Aegean Sea together. But because of a last-minute performance, you returned to China early. When I arrived at the hotel entrance, I saw you getting on the bus. I felt quite regretful then."
"Ah, so you were my fan."
Dr. Lu's words reminded her of those glorious times. There were indeed many admirers who sought opportunities to get to know her back then, but she had no recollection of Dr. Lu from that time.