A BITTER LIFE

PART 65

Elsewhere. "The surgery needs to happen immediately," Mianmian said, catching everyone’s attention. "Can I spend some time with you and A-Yuan before the surgery?" Eros asked. Gu Wei wiped away his tears. "Once you're fully recovered, we'll have plenty of time together," Gu Wei assured him.

"Zhan, can I talk to you for a moment?" Mianmian asked, and Gu Wei nodded. "We'll step out for a bit," he said as they left the room.

Once outside, Mianmian spoke. "Grant him this one request," Mianmian said. Gu Wei looked at her but didn’t say anything. "I know you just want to get the surgery done as quickly as possible, just like I do. But he'll have more reason to fight if he spends some time with you and A-Yuan, if he feels the importance of being alive with you both," Mianmian explained, and Gu Wei immediately understood.

"You know his condition, and he can’t help but worry that when he wakes up after surgery, he might forget you again." Gu Wei couldn’t hold back his tears anymore. Mianmian moved closer to him and embraced him. "I may not know exactly what you're going through, but you need to stay strong because he needs you. You’re the only reason he’s fighting to stay alive, to live for your child," Mianmian said, letting Gu Wei cry in her arms.

"You know, I try not to show it, but my mind is breaking down. I seem strong to others, but my mind, my body, it feels like it's about to give up. I’m forcing myself to understand everything that's happening, but deep down, I’m struggling," Gu Wei said as he tightened his grip on Mianmian, his body trembling.

As Mianmian and Gu Wei embraced, Mianmian could feel something was wrong. Gu Wei was struggling to breathe. "Yibo..." Mianmian called out to him, and Gu Wei pulled away from her embraced. "Please, stop. Have mercy on me," Gu Wei pleaded, leaving Mianmian stunned. Before she could react, Gu Wei suddenly knelt in front of her, pressing his palms together. "Have mercy, I won't run anymore. Just don't hurt me," he begged.
"Chen Yu," Mianmian called again, and as the door opened, Yibo froze at the sight before him.

When Gu Wei noticed Eros, he crawled over to him on his knees, terrified. "I promise I won't run away again, just please don't hurt me," Gu Wei sobbed. "I won’t run, I won’t run anymore," he repeated. "What’s going on here?" Yibo asked, kneeling to be at eye level with Gu Wei.

"Zhan, Zhan, no one is going to hurt you," Eros said, trying to calm him. But Gu Wei heard a whisper: "Do you think your husband will still accept you when he finds out how d@rty you are?" His eyes widened, and he suddenly shoved Yibo, who was confused by what was happening.

"Stop it! I’m disgusting, I’m filthy!" Gu Wei shouted, shocking Mianmian, Youn, and Jili. Yibo, however, already knew why Gu Wei was acting this way. "Panic attack," he muttered, grabbing everyone's attention. Gu Wei, as usual, began obsessively cleaning his body, as if trying to remove something dirty. "Please, I have a husband," he cried. When he saw the others weren’t looking at him, Gu Wei shoved Yibo again and ran into the room.

The push was so strong that Eros fell to the floor, and the others rushed to help him up. Once Eros was on his feet, he quickly followed Gu Wei into the room. What he saw left him devastated—Gu Wei was holding a pair of scissors to his n@ck.
"If you come any closer, I’ll k@ll myself," Gu Wei threatened, his hands shaking. "I’m so tired of all of you ab@sing me," he cried, pressing the scissors even closer to his n@ck. On the other side, Yibo suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head.

"I’m disgsting, I’m disgsting. Because of you, my husband will never accept me again," Gu Wei sobbed, tears streaming down his face. "Zhan, no matter what, I love you," Yibo said, stepping closer. But Gu Wei warned him not to approach. "Even if you go back to your family, they won’t accept you because you’re dirty," Gu Wei heard the voice of Liying whispering in his ear.