Before My Withering [枯萎之前]

Chapter 14

[Kites have wind, dolphins have sea]  

Qi Shu and I, perhaps, also had good times.

He wasn't as temperamental as he was now before. Although he'd usually be indifferent, he'd occasionally be gentle to me.

We hugged, kissed, exchanged body heat on countless nights, and did everything lovers would do, except whisper loving words.

The first time he'd made a move on me was two years ago, and I still don't know what part of that plate of cut-up fruits had pissed him off. He swept the plate to the floor and then pushed me down hard, the shards of glass on the ground cut numerous deep and shallow slashes on my body. He tore my clothes as the smell of blood permeated.

The tiny glass residue embedded in my flesh and blood. Afterwards, Qi Shu called his family doctor to treat my wound. I'd been under so much pain and couldn't stop crying, while he watched coldly from the sidelines, completely indifferent.

After that event, he seemed to start becoming obsessed with the taste of blood, and with the thrill of abuse.

I used to be so afraid of pain, but now I could endure his abuse without uttering a word.

Humans were really cheap animals.

Zhou Chen quickly arranged the surgery for me. Before entering the operating room, he put a large bouquet of white roses on my bedside and told me, "You know, a poet once said, 'a rose is a rose, no matter the fragrance' ( it means that no matter what Xiao Yu experienced, he's still him and that will not change)."

A question had lingered in my mind for a long time, so I couldn't help asking, "Why are you helping me like this?"

During this period, Zhou Chen had accompanied me everyday in the hospital room. Technically, I wasn't even considered a patient of his, so he didn't have to do that.

"Because..." He drew a flower, put it under the tip of his nose and sniffed it. He then raised his eyes and gave me a slight smile, "I'll tell you when you're done with the surgery."

"Just say it or don't..."

His smile deepened.

Removing the gland was much easier than planting it. The anaesthesia was slowly pushed into my body, and when I woke up, I was back to my previous room with a vague pain in the back of my neck, which wasn't too unbearable.

The first thing I saw was still Zhou Chen. He asked me how I was doing, and I said I felt lighter.

He took it seriously and said helplessly, "You're a bit too thin."

Counting the time I'd been in a coma, I'd been lying in the hospital for more than ten days. During this period, I basically didn't eat anything. I relied on the infusion of dextrose to maintain my life. It would be strange if I wasn't thin.

Fortunately, now that there wasn't any need to please anyone with my appearance, it didn't matter now if I became a skeleton.

Zhou Chen held a cup and spoke slowly, "The doctor said you've dragged your feet for too long, and with the changes during this period, your body is severely damaged. It wouldn't be easy to regain your health."

"But don't worry, take your time to recuperate. You'll get better."

"Will I ever get better?"

"You will." His voice was as calm as ever. "You will be."

I saw my phone at the head of the bed. It's powered off after a long time of no use.

Zhou Chen followed my gaze. He picked it up, connected it to the charger and handed it to me.