The fragrance of medicine fills the countryside in 1990

Chapter 41: Gu Xinliang, an encounter under the overpass

Gu Xinliang's grandmother passed away. This news was like a heavy piece of lead, weighing mercilessly on his heart, making it difficult for him to breathe.

There was an indescribable sorrow in his eyes.

He stood in front of Su Chenjin, and his tall figure looked so lonely and fragile at this moment.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself and make his voice sound as steady as possible.

"I'm sorry, something happened at home." His voice was low and hoarse, with a barely perceptible tremor.

Su Chenjin raised his head and saw tears flashing in Gu Xinliang's eyes. It was the sadness that he was trying hard to suppress.

His face was also much paler than usual, like a dead branch in winter, having lost its former vitality.

Her heart suddenly tightened and she couldn't help but feel a pain.

She asked with concern: "What's wrong? What happened?"

There was worry in her voice, hoping to share some of his pain.

Gu Xinliang tried hard to control his emotions, clenched his fists, and tried to find a strength to support himself.

He spoke again, his voice choking with sobs: "My grandma passed away."

These words were like a bolt of lightning, instantly striking Su Chenjin's heart.

When Su Chenjin heard the news, he felt sad.

She patted Gu Xinliang's shoulder gently, trying to comfort him. She said softly, "Look forward. Grandma must hope that you can be strong and live a better life."

Gu Xinliang carefully took out a yellowed photo from the drawer. The old lady in the photo was smiling peacefully.

He gently handed the photo to Su Chenjin, his voice trembling: "This is my grandmother, she passed away last year."

Su Chenjin took the photo and looked at it in silence.

She could feel the sadness and longing in Gu Xinliang, and the deep regret and helplessness made her think of her loved ones.

She gently stroked the photo, as if she could feel the warmth and kindness of the old lady in the photo.

Gu Xinliang brought Su Chenjin to his grandmother's old residence, which was an antique little courtyard with a string of wind chimes hanging at the door. Whenever the wind blew, it would make a clear and pleasant sound.

He used to come here every week to visit his beloved grandmother, but now he can only look at the empty house and reminisce about the past.

Gu Xinliang's face was gloomy, his eyes were full of loss and nostalgia. He walked silently in the yard, as if he could still hear his grandmother's gentle voice calling him.

He walked to the orchid bush, squatted down, and gently watered each orchid. These orchids were grandma's favorite flowers when she was alive, and they were also the only thoughts she left behind.

Su Chenjin looked at Gu Xinliang's back, and an inexplicable emotion surged in her heart. Although she had never seen Gu Xinliang's grandmother, she felt that she must be a very good old lady.

Gu Xinliang has deep feelings for her and it will take him time to get over it.

She would stay by his side silently until he knew that she was his strongest supporter and protected him silently.

She walked to Gu Xinliang and said softly, "Director Gu, let me help you." As she spoke, she took the kettle from Gu Xinliang's hand and carefully watered the orchid.

The two stood side by side in front of the orchid bushes, watering the flowers silently. At this moment, they seemed to be able to feel the presence of their grandmother, the kind old woman was right beside them, smiling at them.

Gu Xinliang leaned against the pillar of the old house, looking at Su Chenjin from afar. The bright sunshine shone on Gu Xinliang.

The moment Su Chenjin turned around, her eyes narrowed slightly. Looking at the busy figure in the sun, she couldn't help but sigh in her heart that the sun was really strong today.

Gu Xinliang is a good cook. Today he prepared lunch for Su Chenjin.

Gu Xinliang turned around and started frying the hairtail again.

He carefully put the fish into the pan. The golden fish sizzled in the pan, accompanied by slight smoke rising, emitting a mouth-watering aroma.

Sometimes he gently turned it over with a shovel, and sometimes he lowered his head to sniff the intoxicating aroma, with a look of satisfaction in his eyes.

Finally, Gu Xinliang was busy making the pan-fried buns.

He skillfully rolls the dough into a thin crust, then wraps it with delicious fillings, and finally slowly fries it in a frying pan until it is golden and crispy.

Three steaming hot dumplings lying in the pot, exuding an enticing aroma, making people want to taste them as soon as possible.

Su Chenjin and Gu Xinliang sat face to face at the dining table, and Gu Xinliang placed two bowls of steaming rice on the table.

The sunlight shines through the window onto the dining table, adding a touch of comfort to this simple and warm scene.

The two of them were very quiet while eating, as if the whole world had stopped.

The sound of chopsticks gently touching the edge of the bowl was particularly clear.

After lunch, Gu Xinliang got up and washed the dishes, while Su Chenjin picked up the fruit knife and started peeling the apple.

At this moment, time seems to have frozen. The years are peaceful and time is long.

In the afternoon, Gu Xinliang went to school to cancel his vacation.

Su Chenjin went to a supermarket in the afternoon. This chain supermarket was located near the zoo. Su Chenjin did not take a car but walked there. She met Xu Tian under the overpass.

When he saw Su Chenjin, Xu Tian showed a surprised expression on his face, "It seems that you are also a girl who likes sports!" Xu Tian calmed down and put away the inappropriate thoughts.

After hearing this, Su Chenjin simply responded calmly, "Not bad."

Xu Tian stood quietly in front of Su Chenjin, and the two fell into silence. "I want to thank you for taking care of my sister Juanzi. She is living a happy life now." Xu Tian thought for a moment and said, "Without you, my sister wouldn't be so happy now!"

Su Chenjin was silent for a moment, then said, "We are relatives, no need to thank me. I have a question that I just figured out. Can you explain it to me?"

Xu Tian's expression was unpredictable. He could guess what Su Chenjin would ask, but he remained calm. "That day when you went to see your aunt, she was unconscious. Why didn't you send her to the hospital?"

After hearing this, Xu Tian's eyes flashed with hesitation as he weighed whether to answer the question.

Then, he finally spoke, "I was afraid of causing misunderstanding. I saw you coming."

His voice was full of helplessness; he had no other choice.

After hearing this, Su Chenjin pressed on, "So, how long did Aunt's nightmare last?"

Xu Tian took a deep breath and finally said, "Three years, and it relapsed again this year. Brother Chen Tian originally didn't plan to be with his sister again. His appearance was completely ruined, and he was a completely new person. He thought that he was no longer the same person he used to be, but his sister's relapse of illness made him very tormented."

He whispered, his voice trembling slightly.

Su Chenjin stood quietly aside. At this moment, she chose to listen silently. "In fact, the reason you came to see your aunt was just because of the tuition fees of Jiang University."

She had already seen the clues, but she just didn't say it out loud.

Xu Tian's face turned pale instantly. He looked at Su Chenjin awkwardly, as if his thoughts were seen through. He pursed his lips tightly, trying to hide his inner panic, "How...how did you know?"

He asked in a low voice, his voice full of anxiety and confusion.

Su Chenjin smiled gently, "I wish my aunt and uncle happiness forever."

Su Chenjin returned from the supermarket with a heavy shopping bag in her hand, which was full of the trivialities and warmth of life.

As night fell, the city's neon lights began to flicker, shining on her young face, leaving a faint halo.

She walked through the bustling crowd, but her heart seemed isolated from the world, immersed in her own little world.

The dormitory corridor was dim and quiet. Su Chenjin's footsteps echoed in the empty corridor, breaking the silence.

She pushed open the door of the dormitory and a cold and desolate atmosphere hit her in the face.

In the dormitory, the only light source comes from the desk lamp on Yoona's desk.

It emits a soft and warm light, illuminating Yoona's quiet profile.

Lin Yoona sat there, like a lonely sculpture, quietly guarding her own world.

Her eyes were deep and distant.

Su Chenjin's footsteps startled Lin Yoona. She raised her head and her eyes met Su Chenjin's.

Lin Yoona smiled slightly, and that smile was like the first ray of sunshine in the morning, warm and gentle.

Lin Yuner is introverted and not good at speaking, and she has no friendship with Su Chenjin. She is not a student of the medical school, but a member of the English department.

There was only a brief exchange between the two of them, but that sentence was buried like a seed in Su Chenjin's heart.

When Su Chenjin stepped into the dormitory again, the scene before her made her slightly stunned.

Lin Yoona hugged her head tightly, tears silently sliding down from the corners of her eyes, her shoulders trembling, as if she was enduring unspeakable pain.

Su Chenjin could feel the sad atmosphere. It was like an invisible force that tightly wrapped around the entire dormitory, making it impossible to escape.

Su Chenjin asked softly: "What happened? If you want to cry, just cry. Maybe it will make you feel better."

Lin Yuner raised her tearful eyes, forced a smile, and said softly: "I'm fine, don't worry. Go to class, don't delay your studies because of me."

She knew that Yoona was trying her best to hide her emotions and didn't want to make her worry.

She looked at the watch on her wrist and saw that there were only ten minutes left until class started.

Helplessly, she could only hide her worry in her heart, told Yoona to take good care of herself, and then hurriedly left the dormitory.

At the moment Su Chenjin left, Lin Yuner's eyes flashed with a complicated emotion.
The next morning, when the sisters in the dormitory were still in sweet dreams, Su Chenjin had already gotten up early, sat at the desk, and immersed himself in the ocean of books. The pen tip danced quickly on the paper, leaving behind lines of neat handwriting.

Just then, the door opened gently, and Yoona Lin returned to the dormitory quietly like a tired little bird.

Her face was pale, and her eyes revealed deep fatigue. She lay silently on the desk, as if the whole world had nothing to do with her.

Su Chenjin noticed something strange about Lin Yoona, and a feeling of worry surged in her heart.

She put down the pen in her hand, walked to Lin Yuner's side, and asked softly, "Are you okay?"

Lin Yuner raised her head slightly, with a hint of gratitude in her eyes. She shook her head silently, and said in a low and weak voice: "It's okay, just a little tired."

Su Chenjin was confused, but more concerned.

She opened the drawer and took out a hot steamed bun. The skin of the bun was slightly browned and exuded an enticing aroma.

She handed it to Lin Yuner: "Here is a steamed bun, you can eat some first. You came back so late last night, you must not have slept well, eat something to fill your stomach, and then go to rest."

Just as Su Chenjin finished speaking, Lin Yoona unexpectedly raised her head, with a stubborn light flashing in her clear eyes.

Although her voice was weak, it carried a hint of coldness and alienation, as if she was using this method to protect herself and not let others easily touch her inner fragility.

"Why didn't you ask me where I went last night? I can't afford a steamed bun that costs only 1 cent each!"

There was a hint of stubborn challenge in Lin Yuner's words, trying to test the trust and feelings between the two.

Su Chenjin was slightly stunned, and the gentle light in her eyes was like a spring breeze blowing across the lake, dispelling all the haze. She gently pushed the bun in front of Lin Yuner, and her voice was as soft as the gentle rain, "I'll give you half, you seem a little tired today.

Lin Yuner's eyes were slightly red. She nodded gently, her voice trembling slightly: "I work as a toll collector on the highway. I offended someone yesterday."

Su Chenjin's brows were slightly furrowed, her eyes revealing concern and curiosity, "Did that person teach you a lesson? Is that why you came back so late?"

Lin Yuner gently shook her head, her voice choked with an imperceptible sob, her eyes were red, as if she was filled with endless sadness: "He is my cousin."

Every word revealed the heaviness and pain in her heart.

After saying this, she could no longer hold back her tears, and they rolled down her cheeks and wet her clothes.

Su Chenjin felt a pang of pain in his heart when he saw her tearful face.

She sat quietly beside Lin Yuner, without disturbing her crying, but silently handed her a soft tissue, which was the only comfort in her hand.

She didn't ask more questions, she knew that everyone has their own pain, and some pains can only be digested slowly by oneself.

She just used her warm voice to comfort him softly: "Don't cry."

Lin Yuner shook her head, trying to swallow the grievance in her heart, but her voice was choked with sobs: "It's not a family matter, it's my cousin who asked me to borrow money. I'm just a poor student, where can I get so much money?"

After saying this, she couldn't hold back any longer, and tears rolled down her cheeks like beads that had broken off the string.

Su Chenjin frowned slightly, her eyes revealing deep thought. She suggested: "Yun'er, maybe you can try to reject him. This kind of entanglement is not a solution."

After hearing this, Lin Yoona smiled bitterly helplessly.

Her slender fingers gently stirred the corner of her clothes, and confusion and helplessness flashed in her eyes.

She complained in a low voice: "He waits at the school gate every day, following me like a shadow. I can't even concentrate in class. Xiaojin, I really don't know what to do."

Su Chenjin looked at her, a trace of heartache flashing in his eyes.

She took a deep breath and comforted her: "Yun'er, you can't force money. You should protect your own interests first and not let this entanglement continue.

Lin Yuna looked up at her, a hint of gratitude flashing in her eyes.

However, what followed was a deeper confusion: "I know, but I'm just an ordinary student. Where can I find a way out? How can I get out of this predicament?"

Her voice was full of helplessness and confusion, as if she was looking for a ray of light in the darkness.

Looking at Lin Yuna's expression, Su Chenjin felt that things did not seem simple.

Su Chenjin decided to comfort her in a gentler tone: "Yun'er, don't worry too much. Everyone has things they can do, as long as you do your best, it's good enough. Of course, if something is beyond your ability, it is wise to seek help from others."

When Lin Yoona listened to Su Chenjin's words, a warm feeling surged in her heart.

But she still shook her head firmly, with a hint of helplessness in her voice: "Xiao Jin, I appreciate your kindness. But my parents are simple farmers. They are busy in the fields all day long, running around for a living. I really don't know who else I can ask for help in this situation."

After saying that, she lowered her eyes, not daring to look directly into Su Chenjin's eyes, as if she was afraid of causing trouble for the other party.

However, Lin Yoona couldn't help but secretly look up at Su Chenjin, her eyes full of anticipation and anxiety.

She added: "Xiao Jin, I know you are very busy and have a lot of things to deal with. If you really can't help me, don't force yourself. I will find a way to solve it myself, but..." She interrupted her words, but the helplessness and desire became more obvious.

Su Chenjin was silent for a while, then slowly said: "Perhaps you can consider being an English tutor. Your English level is very good, this is a feasible way out."

However, Lin Yuner on the other side shook her head firmly, her eyes full of stubbornness and determination: "Thank you for your kindness, but this is my own business, I want to solve it myself."

After saying that, Lin Yoona gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, tore off a tissue from her bag, and then quietly turned around and left.

Her back looked so fragile yet firm under the dim light, like a flower standing proudly in the wind and rain.

Su Chenjin looked at her departing back, feeling a complicated emotion well up in his heart.

Gu Xinliang has been busy like a top these days, and the series of meetings almost made him breathless. After returning to school, he threw himself into various affairs and was so busy that he was dizzy.

It was not until dusk on the third day that he was able to see Su Chenjin again.

He handed her a box of small desserts with a look of joy on his face, "I prepared this especially for you, try it."

Su Chenjin took the dessert, his eyes sparkling with happiness.

She took a gentle bite, and the sweetness of the dessert instantly melted in her mouth.

Gu Xinliang added: "By the way, your new book has arrived."

His words interrupted the silence, but could not break the beautiful atmosphere between them.

Su Chenjin was a little surprised, "New book?"

Her eyes were full of anticipation and curiosity.

Gu Xinliang nodded, took out a thick book from the bag behind him and handed it to Su Chenjin.

"These are the works of several medical masters. I know you have a deep interest in medicine. I hope you can learn from them and make continuous progress."

His tone was full of anticipation and concern.

Su Chenjin responded with a smile: "Don't worry, I will definitely study hard!"

At ten o'clock in the evening, Su Chenjin ended a long day of self-study, dragged his tired body and took heavy steps back to the dormitory.

The light in the dormitory is like a lonely lighthouse, emitting a soft and warm light in the dark, illuminating that small world.

Lin Yuner returned early, but her face had lost its former liveliness and laughter. Her eyes were deep and empty, like an unreachable abyss filled with endless secrets and pain.

Her fingers unconsciously stroked the pages of the book, making a rustling sound, breaking the silence of the dormitory.

Su Chenjin was sitting at the desk, fiddling with a radio from the 90s.

Although the machine is a little old, it still exudes a retro charm.

He gently turned the FM knob, and gradually the clear sound of an international English broadcast rang in his ears, like a call from afar, crossing the barriers of time and space.

In another corner of the room, Yoona quietly poured herself a glass of water.

The water cup was made of transparent glass, and the moonlight shone through the window onto it, reflecting her soft face.

She just took a sip of water, but at that moment, her face suddenly turned as pale as paper, her eyes turned black, and her whole body fell straight to the cold floor like a puppet without a soul.

Everything around me seemed to be still. The English voice coming from the radio became vague and distant at this moment, as if it was isolated in another space.

The moonlight still shone through the window onto the floor, but it cast a shadow. That was the figure of Yoona lying on the ground.

There was an indescribable tension and solemnity in the air.

Su Chenjin was stunned by this sudden change.

The radio in her hand fell to the ground with a dull thud.

She didn't bother to pick it up and rushed towards Yoona, her heart filled with endless worry and fear.

Lin Yoona's face was as pale as paper, her eyes were closed, and her breathing was so weak that it was almost imperceptible.

Her body was trembling slightly, like a flower that could wither at any moment.

The world around her seemed to fade away, leaving only her painful expression and weak breathing echoing in the air.

The people around were deeply shocked by this scene.

Su Chenjin held her hand tightly, his determined eyes full of concern and strength, trying to give her some warmth and comfort in life.

The other female classmates were frantically dialing the emergency number. Their voices were filled with anxiety and urgency, as if they were challenging fate and trying to save this fragile life.

At this moment, time seemed to be stretched, and every second was filled with endless torment and anticipation.

However, just when everyone felt helpless and desperate, a bright light suddenly illuminated the entire space, as if a miracle had appeared, giving everyone hope and strength.