Beloved Beyond the End

Part 14.

As time passed, Weiying's condition failed to improve. Another two weeks slipped by, and he found himself trapped in a cycle of despair. The bitter medicines he was forced to take were unpalatable, and he often struggled to force them down. Each time he swallowed, he felt an intense burning sensation in his mouth, and the desperate need for water consumed him.

**Weiying's POV**

It hurts. My mouth burns... Water, please! I can’t breathe! Tears? Can they be drunk? I looked around for something—anything—to collect them in, but it wasn't enough. I’m drinking my own tears to quench my thirst, but it’s not helping at all.

I need water...

Suddenly, everything went black as I fainted.

---

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of incessant knocking on my door. It was Wangji, come to check on me. After a few moments of knocking without a response, his worry must have compelled him to enter.

As the door slid open, I stepped out, feeling pale and weak. “Sorry, I was sleeping,” I said with a smile that felt genuine upon seeing him.

“I want to know how you’ve been doing. Any better? Did you take the medicine?” Wangji asked.

I nodded and smiled again, though it was more of a reflex than true happiness.

“Do you want to talk?” he offered.

“Water, please...” I managed to say, grabbing the door handle for support. Wangji quickly took my arm and wrapped one arm around my waist while the other steadied me as we made our way back to the bed.

The room was a complete mess; embarrassment washed over me as I turned my head away from him.

“I’ll bring you some water,” Wangji said before leaving.

He returned shortly with a jug of water and poured me a glass. As soon as it was in my hands, I drank greedily, like someone who hadn’t seen water in ages, choking slightly as I gulped it down.

“Slower,” Wangji cautioned.

I finished the entire jug in one go, feeling both embarrassed and relieved. “Thank you so much,” I said between breaths.

“Hm,” Wangji replied curtly before adding, “Have you taken a bath? You smell.”

I lowered my head in shame. “I’m sorry, but as you see, I don’t have any water here to take a bath.”

“I’ll bring water for you to bathe,” he said firmly.

“Wait! You’ll get in trouble if you do anything for me!” I protested weakly.

“I’ll handle that,” he replied before leaving again.

---

**Wangji's POV**

How could Weiying not have any water? Why did I even ask if he had taken a bath? He looks so pale and desperate for something as basic as water. It struck me how inconsiderate my question had been given his dire situation.

I resolved to send extra water for him to drink. If anyone asked why I provided it, I would say it was because he was stinking and that it made me uncomfortable talking to him while he coughed. My brother might help me with this; though it went against clan rules, I needed to do something for Weiying’s sake...

---

That day, Weiying managed to take a bath using only a few mugs of water and soap. He stored the remaining water in whatever containers he could find in his room. Each drop felt precious as he tried to make the most of what little he had left while grappling with the reality of his situation—one that felt increasingly hopeless with each passing day.