Disabled Childhood Sweetheart: A Humble Puppy Begs for the Young Lady's Pity

Winter, 2006, Lin-Shen City.

Zhou Jingchen collapsed on the ice, watching Wenxi disappear before his eyes.

He angrily punched the leg a few times.

He hated his legs; if he could run faster and more steadily, he could catch up with her.

In the crowded throng, Wenxi clutched her chest, gasping for breath, her heart pounding as if it would shatter her ribs.

She kept walking and glanced back quickly—thankfully, no one was chasing after her.

She dared not hesitate or slow down even a fraction, and just kept her head down and rushed forward.

After passing through the bustling commercial district, turning into the winding narrow alleys, stepping over the stinking ditches filled with garbage, we finally stopped in front of a dusty old residential building.

The stairwell was piled with old cardboard boxes and bicycles, the motion-activated lights flickered on and off, and the air was filled with a damp, musty smell and the smell of cooking oil, which made people's noses sting.

Wenxi, panting, climbed to the fifth floor, leaning against the mottled wall. He took out his key, inserted it into the lock, and with a "click," the wooden door opened.

The room is a small, slightly cluttered one-bedroom apartment with many pink and white trinkets, revealing the owner's girlish heart.

This is her temporary place to stay; the fifth floor is the top floor, and the rent is the cheapest there. She'll find a better place to live after her mother is discharged from the hospital.

Wenxi leaned the folding stool against the corner of the wall, took off her heavy backpack, and casually draped her coat over the back of the chair.

The next second, she sank into the sofa, as if all her strength had been drained away.

Even with my eyes closed, my heart was still pounding. The terrifying scene from just now kept replaying in my mind.

Zhou Jingchen, Zhou Jingchen...

It really is Zhou Jingchen.

He has grown taller and more handsome, shedding his youthful naiveté and gaining a more mature and sophisticated air.

If it were anyone else, she wouldn't have run away, but it's Zhou Jingchen, so of course she'd run.

She knew he couldn't catch her, so she ran away.

Is his leg... healed?

I didn't see him using a cane under his arm.

Why did she have to appear at this particular time? Why did she have to show up when she was in such a sorry state?

"Little princess, the phone is ringing! Little princess, the phone is ringing! Little princess..."

The phone in my pocket suddenly vibrated, its ringtone sharp and abrupt.

Wenxi fumbled for his phone, didn't even look at the contact, and pressed the answer button.

"Feed?"

"You brat! Give me back the money! Where have you and your sickly mother been hiding? Don't think you can hide forever!"

The voice on the other end of the phone was rough and fierce, like sandpaper scraping against my eardrums.

Wenxi frowned slightly, then slammed her phone shut, ending the call.

She rested her arm on her forehead, looking utterly exhausted.

"Little princess, the phone is ringing! Little princess, the phone is ringing! Little princess..." The phone rang persistently again.

"Are you ever going to stop?" Wenxi couldn't take it anymore, tears suddenly streaming down her face. Her voice was choked with sobs and fierce: "I already said I would pay it back, I would! You've ruined me..."

"Wenxi."

A deep, magnetic male voice suddenly came from the other end of the phone, interrupting her screams, "It's me."

Wenxi immediately sat up, her tone softening instantly, tinged with a hint of panic: "Dr. Song? I'm sorry, I thought..."

Why would Song Xianglin suddenly call her? Wenxi's heart sank, her fingertips trembling with nervousness: "Is...is something wrong with my mother?"

The man on the other end of the phone seemed to pause for a moment, then let out a soft laugh, gentle and reassuring: "It's alright, Auntie is doing well, the chemotherapy is going smoothly."

Wenxi's tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and she let out a soft "Oh," but her eyes became even redder.

"My aunt asked me today how things are going between us."

Song Xianglin's voice carried a hint of helpless laughter, "She doesn't seem to believe it. If you have time, we can take some photos together and show them to her, so she can feel at ease. A better mood is also good for her recovery."

"Okay, whatever you say. Thank you, Dr. Song." Wenxi sniffed, her voice muffled.

The man opposite him chuckled softly and cleared his throat: "Just like when we were kids, call me Xiang Lin."

Wenxi raised his hand and scratched his head, smiling wryly: "Hehe, it's mainly because we haven't seen each other for so many years, it's really hard to get used to changing how I address you."

"It's okay. I'm working the night shift tomorrow. How about we take some photos in the morning and then go to the hospital to see Auntie together in the afternoon?"

"it is good."

After hanging up the phone, Wenxi sat on the sofa in a daze for a while before dragging her heavy steps into the bathroom and turning on the shower.

-

The next morning.

Wenxi dressed up a little before going out, since it was a date and photo shoot, it wouldn't be right not to look presentable.

She applied some moisturizer to her face, then a light layer of pink lip gloss, and finally put on a mask and a beige newsboy cap.

It's not for the sake of appearance, but because I'm afraid of running into someone on the street.

When she arrived at the agreed-upon restaurant, Song Xianglin was already sitting by the window waiting for her.

Wenxi hurried through the lobby and sat down opposite him.

"You caught a cold?" Song Xianglin asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked at her face, which was covered up tightly.

Wenxi took off her mask, revealing a fair and bright face, and smiled: "No, it's just too cold outside, so I'm using it to keep out the cold."

The restaurant's glass window reflected the girl's figure; she had a beautiful face and curved eyebrows, like a peony blooming in the morning light, delicate and bright.

"What would you like to eat?" Song Xianglin pushed the menu in front of her.

Wenxi pushed the menu back, puffed out her chest, and said, "You order first, it's on me today."

Song Xianglin opened his mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed his words and laughed, "Is the little princess so generous? Then I shall respectfully accept your offer."

The little princess called her that because he had heard her funny cell phone ringtone.

Wenxi laughed awkwardly and waved her hand: "No, please don't call me that, it's so embarrassing." What little princess? She's not even Cinderella.

Song Xianglin was very sensible and only ordered two dishes with relatively moderate prices before handing the menu to her. Wenxi then added two drinks and a signature dish.

Song Xianglin is a good person. She helped her a lot at the hospital and she's not stingy with her friends.

Midway through the meal, Song Xianglin pulled a Fujifilm camera from his bag, smiled, and waved to a waiter nearby: "Could you please take a group photo for us?"

The two stood very close together, with Song Xianglin's left hand resting on her shoulder. From the angle of the photo, it looked like a couple's intimate half-hug.

"Thank you so much, you've thought of everything," Wenxi said.

Song Xianglin laughed heartily: "Since I'm helping you, I have to put in some effort."

After finishing their meal, the two went to the Third People's Hospital of Linshen City.

While waiting for the elevator on the first floor of the inpatient department, a young nurse greeted Song Xianglin, "Dr. Song, aren't you off today?"

"I'm on night shift in the inpatient department tonight," Song Xianglin replied.

He is a surgeon at this hospital. Half a year ago, Wenxi brought Xiangqin here for treatment and met his childhood playmate.

In the ward, Xiang Qin had just finished her IV drip and was resting against the headboard. The loose-fitting blue hospital gown made her look even thinner, and her hair had thinned considerably, with faint strands of silver visible.

Their eyes lit up instantly when they saw the two enter. "Girl, Xiang Lin. You're here!"

Wenxi quickly stepped forward, took her mother's hand, and asked softly, "Mom, how are you feeling today?"

"Much better." Xiang Qin patted her hand, then turned her gaze to Song Xianglin beside her, smiling kindly, "Xianglin, I thought you were off today."

"Auntie, I'm off today. I went out for a stroll with Wenxi and came to see you on the way." Song Xianglin said, taking out a group photo that had just been taken and handing it to Xiangqin. "Look, this is what we took."

Xiang Qin looked at the photo carefully, her smile growing wider.

He sighed, "Before I die, I want to see my precious daughter get married, start her own family, and have someone to rely on. Then I can die in peace."

"Auntie, what are you saying?" Song Xianglin quickly comforted her, "Your illness was treated very promptly, and the surgery was very successful. With proper chemotherapy, you could easily live to be seventy or eighty. You'll still have to help Wenxi take care of her children then."

Xiang Qin was quite pleased with herself, beaming with joy. She held the two of them's hands and chattered on and on for a long time.

I spent the afternoon at the hospital, and by the time I left, the sun was already setting.

Song Xianglin saw Wenxi out of the inpatient department, and the two walked slowly along the path by the artificial lake toward the front gate.

"Brother Xianglin, thank you so much. I can tell my mom is very happy today." Wenxi stopped and looked at him intently.

"Don't mention it. My mom and Aunt Xiang have been best friends since childhood. Speaking of which..." He stopped and looked at her, a casual smile playing on his lips, "Wouldn't you say we're childhood sweethearts?"

Childhood sweethearts?

Wenxi's heart skipped a beat.

A gust of cold wind swept by, carrying fallen leaves. She instinctively pulled her coat tighter, zipping it up to her chin.