Then, his voice kept coming, many, many words in the style of Yan Xi. Our Aheng, daughter, baby, listened for a long, long time, and it was still novel and interesting.
He said he missed her. Ah Heng unintentionally saw Gu Feibai, who used to be close to her, and Du Qing walking along the long, winding college road through the phone booth. She sighed and realized that this was what it meant for things to change and people to be different. Then, she chuckled and looked up at the other end of the phone and said, "I don't miss you."
I don't miss you, but you call me every day. You're driving me crazy.
The weather has warmed up considerably, and the Jiangnan region is gradually reviving, filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers.
Yan hope's phone has been unreachable for some time. Judging from the timeline, it seems he's working on a case for Da Yi's company and probably doesn't have time to talk to her.
However, Yan hope would always answer the phone no matter what he was doing before, and Ah Heng thought about it and felt that it seemed a bit strange.
She called Da Yi four times in total. No one answered the first three times, but she got through on the fourth time. She asked Da Yi if he had seen Yan Xi, but he hesitated for a long time and said that Yan Xi had a fever. Then, she heard a hissing sound, which meant that someone had snatched the phone.
It is Yan hope.
His voice was okay, but he sounded tired. He said, "Aheng, I'm fine. I haven't brought my phone with me for the past two days."
Ah Heng asked him, "You have a fever? Just a fever?"
Yan hope hummed in agreement and said that she was all better, but she was a little sleepy right now. She would take a nap and call him tomorrow.
Ah Heng breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, then you should get some rest."
After hanging up the phone, I grabbed the application form and rushed to Mr. Li's office. "Sir, I'd like to sign up for the volunteer group."
At that time, a stubborn, contagious virus that was spreading throughout all of humanity was circulating. The World Health Organization had not yet given it a good scientific name, and large-scale outbreaks had already begun in the West. Then, the virus was beginning to appear in southern China. As a leading academic figure in the south, Professor Li, a female professor at Z University's medical school, applied for a research group to study this virus. She planned to take her students to the wards for mild cases to observe it firsthand. Many people in the hospital signed up, not because they were unafraid of death, but because they wanted to risk their lives with Professor Li, which would secure their future postgraduate studies or exchange programs.
Sigh, this is the legendary SARS, the legendary SARS. So, how wonderful it would be if this story were a time-travel story = =.
Getting back to the point, Ah Heng lived up to expectations, and his ranking in the grade soared back to first place at the end of the semester, which is a fitting recognition of his achievement.
But when Mr. Li saw her, he shook his head and sighed – “Sigh, how come all the kids these days are so materialistic!”
Mr. Li had a preconceived bad impression of Aheng, but fortunately, his favorite student Gu Feibai did not go down a dark path.
Ah Heng looked up, her clear eyes darting around, and stammered, "Sir, are we going to take care of those people who have pneumonia because of fever?"
Mr. Li frowned and said that it was not just about that; the main focus was on researching the virus.
Ah Heng was a little embarrassed and whispered, "Sir, my intentions were indeed impure, and I really didn't want to figure out what kind of virus this is. I just wanted to take care of those who are sick. I don't know if that's alright."
Mr. Li was slightly taken aback, but his expression softened—why?
Ah Heng touched his nose and said, "I don't know why, it's just an impulse. Uh, sir, you know what an impulse is, right? It's when you really, really want to do something seriously."
Mr. Li laughed, "There must be a source to this."
He took the application form, waved her away, and let her leave.
Then, Ah Heng thought and thought, this impulse was really... inexplicable.
Yan hope had a fever, and she was too far away to take care of him, so she wanted to take care of people who were sick like him, as if if she did so well, others would also take care of her Mr. Yan in the same way.
I only wish that all people share this sentiment.
Chapter 80
Ah Heng arrived at the hospital with Mr. Li's research team seven days after submitting the application form.
She had promised to return to City B in mid-March, but now her schedule is too tight, and she can't make that decision.
Before leaving, he had no choice but to apologize to Yanxi by phone.
Yan Xi sounded much more energetic than before. He told her to go without worry, to be careful about getting infected, and that he would come to H City to see her if he could find the time.
Ah Heng laughed. When he hung up the phone, taking advantage of the fact that no one was around and the moon was dark, she secretly kissed the receiver, then disappeared into the night, blushing all the way back, relying on the fact that no one was watching.
My daughter has come of age; well, it's only natural.
Who's laughing? Don't! Hold it in!
Our child is shy = =.
Only Aheng went to the dormitory. Xiao Wu helped her pack her luggage and suddenly asked, "Is Yan hope planning to quit his job in the entertainment industry?"
Ah Heng slowed down her movements, puzzled—what do you mean?
Xiao Wu said that during this period, Yan hope's work has been filled by newcomers, and most of the programs, fashion shows and print ads that he had previously scheduled have been canceled. This matter is being discussed in the forum.
Ah Heng said I'm not too sure either. He's often willful and his personality is unpredictable, but once he's thought things through, that's his conclusion, and no one can shake it.
Then, he shook his head, sighed, and smiled indulgently—"Let him think about it."
In short, let him think it over. If you really like him, then be more tolerant.
Xiao Wu pinched the child's cheek, puffed out his cheeks with vinegar, and said, "You really love him."
Little did they know, they were jealous of whom.
Although we do not yet know who Yanxi will marry, Xiaoliu is indeed our little sister.
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When I went to the hospital, they only said they were there to extract virus samples for experiments, but I never imagined it would develop into an uncontrollable situation.
In the intensive care unit, patients wearing oxygen masks struggle in pain, often stopping breathing at night with bulging veins, while the hospital can only administer ordinary sedatives and antibiotics intravenously.
It is an unbearable helplessness for medical staff, and their souls are tormented by the increasing pressure of patients.
Of the eighteen people who came, only five remained in the end, including Mr. Li and four students.
Ah Heng stayed there. She couldn't remember why she stayed; she just watched her classmate leave with indifference.
Who isn't afraid of death? But holding that sick little child, watching him cough, watching him gasp for breath, watching him cry and fuss in her arms for his mother, always fills her heart with immense sorrow.
The child's nickname was Xiaoxiao, and it was a task assigned to her by Mr. Li.
She was so young, just learning to speak, when she contracted this disease. She was even isolated because of the severity of her symptoms, unable to touch the embrace of her mother who had never left her side.
Xiaoxiao's mother never cried; she only asked Aheng to take good care of the child and gave her a lot of chocolates, saying that Xiaoxiao liked them.
Ah Heng knew perfectly well that the child had pneumonia and shouldn't eat spicy food, but she couldn't bear it. She took the candy away and used it to coax Xiaoxiao when she was holding him.
Xiaoxiao was very mischievous, always reaching out her little hands to grab the mask on her face. He had never seen what Aheng looked like, only vaguely calling out "jiji".
Ah Heng smiled, hugged Xiao Xiao tightly, fed him, and said, "Wrong, it's 'sister'... sister, jiejie, Xiao Xiao."
Laughing and giggling, chirping, chirping, chirping... chirping.
Her little head was tilted to the side, her hair was soft, and she was laughing, looking innocent and adorable.
Gu Feibai, who stayed behind with him, always frowned and warned—don't get too close to him. Although he's a child, he's still a patient after all.
Ah Heng said, "Although he is a patient, he is still a child after all. Do you think that makes sense?"
Gu Feibai glanced at her indifferently, tightened his grip, and left haughtily.
People with different principles cannot work together.
Xiaoxiao's condition was not very serious at first, but she suddenly developed a fever at night. Because she was young, she could not be given strong injections. Xiaoxiao's high fever persisted, and we tried everything, including ice packs, alcohol rubs, and cooling blankets, but nothing worked.
The attending physician said the child was not going to make it; they should notify the parents.
Ah Heng held Xiao Xiao in her arms, lost in thought all night. Her forehead was pressed tightly against his as she mechanically changed towels and wiped his body. She said, "Xiao Xiao, wait a moment, Mom will be here soon, very soon."
But Xiaoxiao slept soundly and sweetly, her little hands tightly clutching a few pieces of chocolate until the first light of dawn, when she finally let go.
The little child, whose body was still so soft, gradually grew cold, grew cold.
When Xiaoxiao's mother arrived, she snatched the child from her arms and cried out in anguish.
She cried and pounded on Aheng, "Give me back my Xiaoxiao, Xiaoxiao, my Xiaoxiao!"
Ah Heng looked at her, took off her mask, gently bowed her head, and said sorry.
When I turned around, the hospital corridor was very deep, dark and cold, without sunlight or artificial light.
Behind him, Gu Feibai's voice could be heard; he called out to Wen Heng.
Ah Heng did not turn around; she was dressed in white, her shoulders delicate.
She hasn't contacted anyone for two months, spending day and night at the hospital.
Holding a public phone in the hospital corridor, she spoke softly—Yan hope, do you know, my first patient has passed away.
She said, "Yanxi, you don't know what an adorable child he is. He smiles every day, like a little kitten, snuggling in my arms and calling me 'Jiji.' He loves chocolate candy, and because he's so young, he sometimes wets the bed at night, rubbing his eyes and looking for Jiji. But I've always worn a mask… He… doesn't even… know… what… I look like…."
As she spoke, she squatted down on the ground, finally choked up, and burst into tears.
Yan hope, what should I do? Yan hope, I'm so sad. Tell me, what should I do...?
Yan hope...
When she called that person's name, it was a sorrowful cry of despair, vulnerability, and a search for faith.
Not far away, stood that proud and aloof man, watching her back. His eyes were calm, but they were red-rimmed.
The phone was broken long ago; how could she possibly make a call?
It was just a source of comfort, nothing more. How could she bear to let that person worry about her?
He was speaking to himself, expressing genuine emotions, genuine pain, genuine... longing.
He had never actually met Yan hope, the man she spoke of, even though he had heard his voice on the phone. Even though that man would always say, in a restrained and low voice, "Thank you for taking care of Aheng, thank you" on the other end of the line.
But Ah Heng had no idea that when she fled from City B to City H, a man accompanied her all the way until he safely delivered her to his side.
For two whole autumns and winters, the man said, "It's getting cold, could you spend more time with me?"
Could you buy her some more candy?
Could you take her to an amusement park?
Can you tell her every day, "Baby, you are amazing"?
Could you... give her a warm home?
Is it possible?
He and she could be very intimate, holding each other's hands, but he didn't know that she was afraid of loneliness, afraid of being rejected, loved sweets, and that her biggest dream in life was to be a virtuous wife and loving mother.
Even on the day she left, that boy who was often powerful and noble on television, that sharp-looking man with his eyebrows raised, was still humbly asking him—could he wish her a happy birthday at midnight on January 10th?
How tragic! He boasted that he loved this woman deeply and was devoted to her to the core, yet he didn't know her birthday.