nashuaworldcup Chapter 185 How Many More Days Can I Live?
Chapter 185 How Many More Days Can I Live?
The lights in the ward were a stark white, as if the heavy atmosphere had also extinguished any warmth.
Tan Zhengchu lay in bed, weak but keenly aware of something.
He gently patted Su Yingxue's hand and coaxed her tenderly, "Yingxue, don't worry, I'm a little hungry right now. Can you go and buy me some porridge? I want to eat what you buy."
Su Yingxue hesitated, her heart filled with reluctance.
She knelt down, took Tan Zhengchu's hands in her own, and whispered, "I don't want to leave you. How about I call someone to bring it over?"
Tan Zhengchu smiled and shook his head: "No, I just want to eat what you bought yourself. Go ahead, I'll talk to Lin Quan for a bit, it'll be quick."
Lin Quan, standing nearby, quickly chimed in, "Sister-in-law, don't worry, I'll stay here with my brother."
Su Yingxue then got up and left the ward, looking back every few steps.
After the ward door closed, Tan Zhengchu struggled to sit up.
But what used to be easy to do has now become extremely difficult.
His body was extremely thin, and with every movement, it seemed as if the bones in his patient's clothing would pierce his skin.
Lin Quan stood to the side, his fists clenched tightly.
Knowing Tan Zhengchu's strong will, he stubbornly refrained from reaching out to help him.
Watching Tan Zhengchu struggle silently, her eyes couldn't help but redden slightly.
After a long while, Tan Zhengchu finally managed to lean against the headboard.
The dark blue hospital gown he wore looked a bit wrinkled.
Her hair was disheveled, and a few buttons on her collar were undone, revealing a somewhat haggard appearance.
Tan Zhengchu took a few breaths, looked at Lin Quan, and said with a wry smile, "Lin Quan, I know my own body, I'm afraid I can't hold on much longer. What exactly did Wei Hao say? Tell me the truth."
Lin Quan turned his head away, avoiding Tan Zhengchu's gaze, and said in a low voice, "Brother, Wei Hao invented this virus and has refused to hand over the antidote. His attitude is still so resolute, clearly he won't cooperate, and he even threatened to drag you down with him. What should we do..."
Tan Zhengchu leaned against the headboard, his face ashen, but he forced himself to stay awake.
Staring directly at Lin Quan, he asked, "Lin Quan, just tell me the truth, how many more days can I survive this virus?"
His tone was so calm it sent chills down your spine.
He seemed to be talking about something ordinary that had nothing to do with him, but his slightly trembling hands betrayed the tension in his heart.
Lin Quan stood by the bed, his fists clenched tightly, his knuckles trembling slightly, his lips trembling as he hesitated several times before finally speaking.
Hearing Tan Zhengchu press him again, he struggled to raise his head, his eyes reddening, his voice low and hoarse like a broken bellows: "Zhengchu, this..."
Seeing this, Tan Zhengchu forced a smile, a smile tinged with bitterness, but also a hint of comfort for Lin Quan: "Lin Quan, tell me, how many days do I have left? I can hold on, you don't need to worry about me."
Lin Quan felt as if his heart had been violently clenched.
He avoided Tan Zhengchu's gaze and looked out the window.
After a long silence, he finally managed to utter with trembling lips, "At most... one month. This virus is too ferocious. Within a month, your body will be completely devoured by it."
Tan Zhengchu remained surprisingly calm after listening.
After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke: "A month, that's longer than I expected. That's enough."
He seemed to be talking to Lin Quan, or perhaps to himself, his gaze drifting into the distance.
He had already started planning how to spend the rest of his days, especially the time he spent with Su Yingxue.
“Yingxue…” Tan Zhengchu murmured her name, his brows furrowed. “After I’m gone, the children will be taken care of by my brothers, so I’m not worried. But Yingxue… she’s too kind and too sentimental. I’m afraid she won’t be able to handle it.”
He paused, a resolute glint in his eyes, "Lin Quan, for the rest of the days, I need to help her slowly get used to life without me, to become stronger, even if it's just a little bit."
Lin Quan listened quietly, deeply moved by the man in front of him who, even on the verge of death, was still thinking of others.
He raised his head, his eyes filled with anger, and said heavily, "Zhengchu, don't worry, I will definitely find a way to make Wei Hao hand over the antidote."
At this moment, his determination was stronger than ever, as if he were making a vow to Tan Zhengchu and also encouraging himself.
After saying that, Lin Quan suddenly stood up.
With hurried steps and an indomitable spirit, he turned and entered the "interrogation room" where Wei Hao was being held.
Tan Zhengchu was left alone in the ward, immersed in planning for the short time ahead.
Su Yingxue hurried back to the ward, clutching the porridge she had just bought.
Upon opening the door, they found only Tan Zhengchu in the ward; Lin Quan was nowhere to be seen.
Her heart sank, and worry instantly welled up inside her.
Su Yingxue hurried to the bedside, put down the porridge, her brows furrowed, her voice full of anxiety: "Zhengchu, where's Lin Quan? Why isn't he here? What if something happens to you?"
Tan Zhengchu felt a warmth in his heart when he saw her flustered appearance.
He reached out and took her hand, patting it gently as he comforted her, "Yingxue, don't worry. Lin Quan is busy. He said he's going to develop a new treatment plan for me and that I should get some rest. I've been waiting for you to come back, and I don't fall asleep easily anyway."
Su Yingxue nodded slightly, but the worry in her eyes did not disappear.
Tan Zhengchu saw it all and felt deeply pained.
He knew in his heart that he would probably find it difficult to fulfill his promise to grow old with her.
Guilt overwhelmed him like a tidal wave, and pain spread through his heart.
He silently murmured to himself: Yingxue, I'm sorry, I have to break my promise. But no matter what happens in the future, as long as you are happy, I'm willing to do anything.
Su Yingxue sat quietly on the edge of the bed. She glanced up and noticed a deep sadness in Tan Zhengchu's eyes.
She didn't say anything, but conveyed her concern with her eyes, as if to say: I understand your pain, and I'll stay here with you.
After a while, Su Yingxue gently opened the porridge box, picked up a spoon, and scooped out a spoonful of porridge.
I first put it to my lips and gently blew on it to test the temperature.
Then she held the spoon to Tan Zhengchu's lips and said gently, "Zhengchu, come on, eat some porridge. You'll have more energy if you eat."
Tan Zhengchu opened his mouth slightly, took the spoon into his mouth, and slowly swallowed.
His devilishly handsome face looked slightly haggard at this moment, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down with each swallow, revealing a unique kind of sexiness.
Su Yingxue looked at him, her lips unconsciously curving upwards, her eyes filled with love, and said softly, "Eat slowly, don't rush."
After swallowing the porridge, Tan Zhengchu looked up at Su Yingxue with eyes full of affection and softly replied, "Yingxue, it's so good to have you here."
The two of them fed each other, and a warm atmosphere filled the ward.
However, what Su Yingxue didn't know was that behind this seemingly peaceful and beautiful scene lay the bitterness and reluctance of Tan Haoyu's impending separation.