Full charm points, inherit game assets

Chapter 591 Cancer!

"Da da--"

The mechanical clock on the wall ticked away slowly, emitting a regular sound.

Zhang Yan sat blankly on the bed, as if her soul had been ripped out.

The ambiguity and warmth that Tang and Song had just brought were completely washed away by the cold reality of his mother's serious illness.

Her parents divorced when she was in the third grade of elementary school because her father had an affair while working away from home.

Her mother had married far away, so the impact of this incident on her was unimaginable, which is why she ran back to Yang Province, thousands of miles away, in a fit of anger.

Therefore, Zhang Yan never harbored any resentment towards her mother.

Although her life became precarious and she was forced to live under someone else's roof as a result.

After giving birth to her younger sister and gaining a stable income, the mother began secretly sending her living expenses every month.

He would also take long train journeys to visit her from time to time.

It was thanks to this support that she was able to successfully repeat her studies, go to university, and find a job.

From the bottom of her heart, her feelings for her mother far exceeded those for any other relative; that gratitude had long been ingrained in her very being.

That's why she chose to come to Guangzhou after leaving the capital.

Perhaps it's because, in this unfamiliar and huge city, there is at least one relative she can rely on emotionally.

Although my mother can't be with me all the time due to various practical reasons, I just need to visit her occasionally and talk to her.

Zhang Yan's restless heart could always find a moment of solace.

She was originally a person without a "home".

And now, it seems that she is about to lose the person she is closest to in this world.

I don’t know how much time has passed.

“Boom, boom—”

A knock sounded on the door, neither too loud nor too soft.

"I'm back." Tang Song's voice came through the door.

Zhang Yan's body trembled violently, and she stood up like a bird startled awake.

She quickly wiped away the dried tears on her face, took a few deep breaths, forcibly suppressed all her shattered emotions, and stumbled over to open the door.

The door slowly opened, and Tang Song walked in.

He was carrying several dishes packaged in elegant lunch boxes, as well as two bottles of cocktails that looked very appealing.

To avoid letting him notice anything amiss, she kept her head down and avoided eye contact with him.

"The kitchen was just painted, and the smell is still strong. It's not suitable for cooking now." Tang Song pointed to the bag in his hand and said in a relaxed tone, "I bought some food outside. Let's have a simple meal together."

"Thank you." Zhang Yan nodded gently, her voice trembling slightly.

Tang Song immediately sensed something was wrong and asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

"N-nothing." Zhang Yan shook her head vigorously, her lips pressed tightly together.

Tang Song looked at her for a moment, then didn't press further. Instead, he softened his tone and said gently, "Go get some plates and bowls. I'll go wash my hands."

He knew that Zhang Yan was an extremely sensitive person who was not good at expressing herself.

Excessive questioning will only make her retreat further into her shell, like a frightened snail.

Even if you want to ask, wait until she calms down and guide her to talk about it.

"Mm." Zhang Yan nodded, then turned and silently walked into the kitchen.

After tidying up, set out the bowls and chopsticks.

The two sat facing each other at the small coffee table.

Tang Song opened a bottle of apple-flavored cocktail, handed it to her, and said gently, "I remember you really liked eating apples back in junior high school."

These words were like a pebble thrown into a frozen lake, creating subtle ripples in Zhang Yan's heart.

She glanced at him furtively, took the bottle of cold wine, and gently clinked it against his.

"Cheers to your little house, the initial painting is complete."

“…Thank you.” Zhang Yan replied softly, taking a sip of the sweet and sour wine.

The two ate their meal quietly, and Tang Song placed a piece of roast goose on her plate.

Zhang Yan lowered her head, looking at the glistening piece of meat in the bowl, and ate it mechanically in small bites.

Then, Tang Song began to talk to her about her high school and college.

He spoke of some details that had been re-examined by the "Light Feather of Memory" and that he had previously overlooked.

As Zhang Yan listened to his words, her eyes gradually softened.

A faint smile finally appeared on his tense face.

She also carefully placed a piece of green vegetable on his plate.

And so they went back and forth, the atmosphere gradually becoming more relaxed amidst the aroma of food and the tranquility of the night.

After finishing their meal, the two of them cleaned up together.

I sat back down on the small sofa in the living room and started reading the comic book I hadn't finished yet.

Orange nimbly jumped onto Zhang Yan's lap, curled up into a ball, and made a satisfied "purring" sound in its throat, occasionally letting out a "meow".

A light drizzle began to fall outside the window sometime earlier than I had noticed.

The evening breeze blew in through the half-open window, carrying the scent of damp earth and feeling slightly cool.

A light rain tapped on the window, while the lights shone brightly.

A colorful comic book, featuring two people and a cat.

This scene was as quiet as an old film frame that had been softened.

...

Half past nine in the evening.

After finishing the sixth volume of the comic book, Tang Song got up to say goodbye.

"Tomorrow is Monday, you still have to go to work, right? Get some rest."

The word "go to work" sent a sudden shiver down Zhang Yan's spine.

Yes, the weekend is over.

He also has to take care of his work, so he definitely won't stay in Guangzhou for too long.

She looked at that handsome figure.

He asked in a weak voice, almost to himself, "When...when will you return to Yancheng?"

Tang Song thought for a moment and said, "Wednesday or Thursday, I think. There's still a lot of work to be done in Yancheng."

The Double Eleven shopping festival is about to begin, and it concerns his [growth plan task], so he definitely needs to go back and handle it.

Besides the financing matters for Zhilian Future, the purpose of this trip to Guangzhou was also to secretly visit Zhang Yan and pave the way for her.

His plans changed simply because of her letter.

However, he will definitely make arrangements for Zhang Yan before leaving.

My junior high school deskmate was far too fragile.

She is completely different from Lele, the "Cinderella" at Yancheng Normal University.

Although Lele also felt somewhat inferior, it was only because she clearly understood the gap between reality and her feelings that she showed inferiority in relationships.

In real life, however, she is a very independent, self-reliant, stable, positive, and courageous girl.

During her university years, she could set up a stall and do various part-time jobs.

In comparison, Zhang Yan is truly vulnerable, inside and out.

Tang Song was afraid that he might accidentally use too much force and completely break her.

As for how to arrange Zhang Yan's affairs, that matter will probably have to be handled by "Big Sister" Wen Ruan.

It just so happens that Nebula International Group is a good fit for their expertise.

Of course, before that, he had to appease his older sister.

After all, he was once again being blamed for something he didn't do, and he felt a little embarrassed himself.

Zhang Yan remained silent for a long time after hearing Tang Song's answer.

Forcing a smile, he said, "Tang Song, well then... I wish you success in your work and peace and happiness."

"Hehe, thank you. By the way, it's raining outside. I'll take a car home, so you don't need to take me today."

Zhang Yan bit her lip and nodded gently.

The two came to the door.

Tang Song squatted down and rubbed the orange, then stood up and looked at Zhang Yan.

"Be careful on the road." Zhang Yan finally couldn't help but raise her head and look into his eyes.

Those eyes were so beautiful, clear and bright, as if they could reflect her disheveled figure.

For the past two days, she has been deliberately trying not to think too much, immersing herself in this sudden, unreal happiness and joy.

But the sudden bad news about her mother was like a bucket of ice water, completely waking her up.

He was so outstanding and exceptional, and beside him was the radiant Liu Qingning.

Some people, some worlds, are destined to be very, very far away from her.

She shouldn't have such unrealistic fantasies, so that her heart won't ache so much when he leaves.

"Zhang Yan," Tang Song suddenly called out to her.

"Ah."

"Hand out."

Zhang Yan was stunned for a moment, but still subconsciously obediently extended her hand.

Tang Song took out an exquisite jewelry box from his pocket and gently placed it in her palm.

"This is a little gift for you. I hope you like it."

Zhang Yan held the gift box, her gaze blank.

Immediately afterwards, Tang Song stepped forward, opened his arms, and gave her a gentle but brief hug.

"You can send me WeChat messages anytime from now on, Zhang Yan."

Feeling the slightly trembling, frail body in his arms, Tang Song gently patted her back and then let go.

He picked up the umbrella by the door, waved to her, and turned to leave.

Zhang Yan subconsciously followed him out the door.

Standing in the stairwell, I watched his figure slowly descend and disappear.

She only snapped out of her daze when Orange's cries rang out.

I returned to the living room and closed the door.

Take a deep breath and open the exquisite gift box.

Inside were a pair of small, iris-shaped earrings that shimmered with starlight under the light.

She stared at the earrings, her eyes gradually losing focus.

Looking back on everything that happened these past two days, from the dreamlike reunion to eating together, painting walls, and reading comics...

The helplessness, sadness, and emotion that had been suppressed for so long finally erupted at this moment.

Her lips trembled, and low, suppressed sobs echoed in the small living room.

Orange came closer and nuzzled her leg with its head, seemingly trying to comfort her.

Zhang Yan squatted down and hugged the oranges tightly.

The sound of crying drifted out of the living room, across the newly painted balcony, and out the window.

Ultimately, it was shattered by the night rain of late autumn.

……

The Presidential Suite at the Four Seasons Hotel.

The door was slowly pushed open, and Tang Song changed into slippers and walked towards the brightly lit living room.

"Oh, our CEO Tang is finally back?" A lazy, teasing, mature female voice drifted over.

I looked up and saw the older sister sitting on the sofa.

She appeared to have just finished exercising in the evening, wearing a workout outfit that perfectly accentuated her powerful and voluptuous figure.

A thin layer of sweat still clung to her face, and a few strands of hair at her temples were damp with sweat, sticking to her fair cheeks.

It shimmered softly under the lights, making it appear even more languid, charming, and alluring.

Tang Song approached her and asked with concern, "When did you get back?"

He had asked on WeChat before, but the older sister hadn't given him a specific time, clearly she was a little angry. "Tsk tsk." Her soft, almond-shaped eyes swept him up and down with a hint of mockery. "Look at our CEO Tang's smug expression, it seems his weekend trip to Guangzhou was quite fruitful!"

Tang Song gave an awkward laugh. "It's alright."

"Hehe, I'm really in trouble," Wen Ruan sighed, feigning grievance. "I worked so hard to help someone go to Shenzhen to 'appease' his pure and innocent white moonlight, but I still got 'warned' and tested by him, making me feel like a little lover who went to provoke him and ended up being easily manipulated by the Empress."

"I'm sorry, Ruanruan, you've worked so hard."

"What are you sorry for?" Wen Ruan blinked, feigning surprise. "Our CEO Tang is extremely busy and has the world on his mind. Occasionally, during breaks from work, he takes the time to 'experience' the 'humanities and customs' of different regions, contributing to the local GDP and emotional consumption. That's a great thing! How could I blame you? I'm so proud of you."

"Uh..." Tang Song felt guilty after being mocked by her older sister.

Of course, the most important thing is that he still has Zhang Yan on his mind, and if he were to bring it up again...

He really didn't know how to start the conversation.

Seeing Tang Song's guilty look, Wen Ruan's mockery disappeared, replaced by a smug chuckle.

She leaned back lazily on the sofa, her body fully stretched out, her breathtaking curves resembling a continuous, snow-covered mountain range under the warm yellow light.

She stretched out a smooth foot and gently tapped his lower abdomen with her toe, her voice suddenly becoming cold and aloof.

He said in a somewhat commanding tone, "Isn't Mr. Tang usually quite eloquent? Why are you pretending to be mute now?"

Then, she slowly spread her long, voluptuous legs and raised her eyebrows at him provocatively.

Tang Song's throat moved. Looking at the alluring older sister in front of him, his reason was instantly overwhelmed by the torrent of desire.

He pounced directly on him.

He decided to use the simplest and most direct method to "seduce" the older sister.

"Hey! What are you doing! Get out of here!"

"You... lecher... um—"

Wen Ruan originally wanted to play some fun role-playing games, but she soon realized that Tang Song was acting a little strange tonight.

It was just like Dian Wei unleashing his full power.

The rain outside the window had gotten heavier at some point, pattering against the glass.

Wenru's eyes widened, her gaze gradually becoming unfocused.

Incoherent, broken babbling came from his mouth.

In her confusion, she seemed to hear Tang Song's suppressed and urgent voice in her ear, as if he wanted her to do something for him, and mentioned the Guangzhou branch of Xingyun International Group, saying that he wanted to introduce her to some kind of talent.

But she couldn't hear clearly, nor could she think, and could only subconsciously respond with "uh-huh" and "ah-ah".

……

Monday, November 6, 2023, cloudy.

In the morning, it's still dark.

The rain had stopped sometime earlier, leaving only a thin layer of condensation on the glass.

Zhang Yan sat up in bed, hugged her knees, and stared blankly into space.

The sky outside the window gradually changed from dark blue to gray-white.

"Deng deng deng-"

The WeChat voice call notification tone suddenly sounded.

Her body trembled violently, and she almost instinctively grabbed her phone from beside her pillow.

Zhang Lu

She breathed a sigh of relief, but then felt inexplicably lost, and answered the call.

"Hey, Lulu."

"Hello, Zhang Yan, did you have a good weekend? I've been very sensible and haven't dared to bother you." Lulu's voice was teasing.

Zhang Yan bit her lip and simply murmured an "Mmm".

"I'm going to Nebula International for my second interview this morning, and I'm not sure when it will be over," Lulu continued, her voice filled with barely suppressed excitement and nervousness. "Oh, by the way, I've already organized the manuscript from my last business trip and put it on the shared cloud drive. If you're free this morning, you can give it to Fatty Bai along with it."

Zhang Yan paused for a moment, then said in a dry voice, "I... Lulu... I also need to ask for leave this morning."

"Oh? You've already invited them?"

No, not yet.

“I applied for paid sick leave yesterday, and that fat guy only reluctantly approved it. Now that you're suddenly asking for leave again, he probably won't approve it and will definitely try to make things difficult for you.”

Zhang Yan pursed her lips. "It's okay."

“Then you should… Zhang Yan, it would be best to keep your options open while you’re still employed. At least stay until the 15th of this month, pay your social security contributions, and then leave, right? Don’t be too impulsive.”

"I do have something very urgent to do."

"What is it?"

Zhang Yan hesitated for a moment, then finally said in a low voice, "My mother is sick, and I... I need to go to the hospital with her for a checkup."

"Oh?! Auntie is sick? What's wrong? Is it serious?" Lulu's voice instantly became anxious.

"I do not know yet."

Hearing her trembling voice, Lulu on the other end of the phone seemed to understand something.

He decisively said, "Then let's just ask for leave! This is a huge deal! Don't worry about whether he approves it or not! At worst, we'll just quit this lousy job!"

"Ah."

"Then I won't bother you anymore. Let's keep in touch. If needed, I'll come to see you right after my interview."

hang up the phone.

Zhang Yan checked the time, opened DingTalk, and submitted her leave application with a blank expression.

Then, I started tidying up numbly.

She washed up, changed her clothes, and didn't even eat. She just mechanically fed Orange cat food and water.

As she picked up the slightly worn backpack, her gaze couldn't help but fall on the exquisite jewelry box on the bedside table.

Footsteps echoed hollowly in the dilapidated stairwell.

Went downstairs.

She looked up at the gloomy sky, then strode forward without pausing for a moment.

A gentle breeze ruffled the hair at her collarbone, outlining her as a thin and lonely silhouette against a gray background.

...

Yucai Middle School East Campus, Junior High School Section.

Zhang Yan handed her ID card through the small window of the guardhouse and wrote down her information and the name of the person being visited, Chen Shuangshuang, in the visitor registration book.

They were able to enter without any problems.

She had been here a few times, and had made some money there. She wanted to improve her relationship with this "younger sister" and buy her some gifts.

The campus was quiet, with only the sound of students reading aloud drifting from the windows.

After walking through the tree-lined corridor, I found the eighth-grade teaching building and arrived at the door of my sister's classroom.

I stood quietly in the shadows of the stairwell, waiting.

After what seemed like an eternity, the shrill school bell finally rang.

The classroom door was opened, and students in blue and white school uniforms poured out in twos and threes.

Zhang Yan's eyes quickly searched through the noisy crowd and soon spotted that familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar figure.

Chen Shuangshuang had grown taller since the last time we met, with a simple ponytail and a youthful look on her face.

She didn't joke or play with her classmates; she just walked out silently, carrying her schoolbag.

Their gazes met in the air.

Chen Shuangshuang paused for a moment, then quickly walked up to Zhang Yan, her lips tightly closed, not saying a word, but her eyes gradually began to redden.

"Let's go ask for leave."

Zhang Yan and Chen Shuangshuang went to the homeroom teacher's office, explained the situation, and used Zhang Yan's ID card as collateral to successfully get Chen Shuangshuang leave.

Throughout the entire process, Chen Shuangshuang remained unusually silent.

The two walked out of the school gate one after the other, without saying a word.

It wasn't until they were standing by the roadside waiting for a car that Zhang Yan finally spoke, "Which hospital?"

"The First Affiliated Hospital of the Pharmaceutical University".

Which department did you register with?

Chen Shuangshuang's shoulders trembled violently, and her voice trembled with tears as she squeezed out three words, "Oncology Department."

Zhang Yan's hands and feet instantly turned ice-cold. "Oncology department? Oncology?"

"Yes." Chen Shuangshuang nodded, her voice choked with emotion, "Chen Yao came back yesterday. She said she'd go with her to the hospital today. She definitely... she definitely doesn't want Mom to get treatment! That's why I called you."

Chen Yao is her half-sister who just graduated from university.

Zhang Yan was somewhat aware of the conflicts within this blended family.

Because of the age gap and the fact that they were not born to the same mother, the two older brothers and sisters were always wary of Chen Shuangshuang and her mother.

In particular, her mother frequently sent her living expenses and child support, and even secretly sent her several large sums of money when she was already an adult.

The other party caught them doing this.

Once, Chen Yao even called her specifically to scold her.

Looking at the panicked Chen Shuangshuang in front of her, Zhang Yan's sense of responsibility as the older sister instantly overwhelmed all her panic and fear.

She gritted her teeth and said firmly, "It's okay. Tumors can be benign too. Let's go take a look first; the situation might not be as bad as it seems."

Chen Shuangshuang looked at her, silently lowered her head, and followed her into the taxi.

She was a sensitive and intelligent girl, and the complexities of her family made her much more mature than her peers.

She knew that her brother, Chen Bingwen, was getting married soon, and the family's finances were already very tight.

If my brother's fiancée finds out about this, the marriage will definitely be called off immediately.

The mother's serious illness was nothing short of a catastrophe for their family, and the father would definitely back down for the sake of his son's important matter.

Those two siblings who are not related by blood must be eager to sever ties with their mother immediately.

She doesn't want to be without her mother.

But she was just a 15-year-old middle school student, and there was nothing she could do. Nobody took her seriously.

At that moment, the only person she could think of and rely on was this "older sister" whom she had always rejected, yet with whom she shared the same blood.

The taxis kept stopping and starting in the congested city.

More than ten minutes later, we finally arrived at the hospital gate.

The two walked quickly into the outpatient building.

The hospital was packed with people on Monday, and the air was filled with the smell of disinfectant and the noise of the crowd.

Zhang Yan's hands and feet were cold, and her lips were dry.

She held Chen Shuangshuang's hand tightly, consulted at the information desk, and then took the elevator toward the oncology department.

The two started their search from the oncology department, looking room by room.

Soon, Chen Shuangshuang tugged at her arm forcefully and said urgently, "Over there!"

Following the sound, Zhang Yan saw her mother's thin and frail body slumped on a bench in the corner of the second ward, occasionally letting out a few suppressed, violent coughs.

Uncle Chen sat next to her, head down, not saying a word, his expression terrifyingly gloomy.

Chen Yao, dressed in a fashionable manner, stood in front of them, holding several examination reports and CT scans in her hand, and was talking loudly about something.

Zhang Yan weaved through the crowded flow of people and made her way inside with difficulty.

As the distance closed, Chen Yao's cold and sarcastic voice gradually entered her ears.

"...The doctor made it very clear that if you want to use the best CAR-T cell therapy for your condition, it will cost 1.3 million yuan, and it may not be able to cure you completely. We don't know how much it will cost afterward."

"Even if we take a step back and use oral immunomodulators plus monoclonal antibody therapy, it will still cost tens or hundreds of thousands of yuan a year!"

"My brother is getting married soon! The bride price and dowry have all been agreed upon, and we're just waiting for the wedding banquet."

"If they find out about this terrible situation our family is in, will the wedding still go on? Who will own the house then? Everything will be for nothing!"

"This is... cancer! It's lymphoma!"

The word "cancer" struck Zhang Yan like a bolt from the blue, shattering her last shred of hope.

Her mind went blank for a second, and she stumbled, nearly falling to the ground.

She stared blankly at her mother, who was extremely weak from the torment of illness.

Reason collapsed at that moment.

"mom--"

She rushed over, pushed Chen Yao aside, and tightly hugged her mother's frail body.

(End of this chapter)