NOVPUBA fiery kiss that left them breathless and close to suffocation before they finally parted.
Li Chen held Song Yu in his arms, looking at her pale face, and said with heartache, "From now on, no matter what happens, don't ever treat yourself like this again, not eating is not okay!"
"I... I just can't eat..." Song Yu blushed deeply, ashamed, and lowered her head like a schoolkid who had messed up.
"Wait, I'll fix you something." Li Chen got up and left the room.
In the kitchen, he found Yunduo already busy making steaming soup noodles.
Yunduo was indeed the name of the girl.
From what Song Yu had told him, Li Chen knew that the two of them rented this place together and were also best friends.
"Humph, all sweet talk, Xiao Yu is such a good girl, and yet she fell for your tricks."
"I'm going out now, clean up later."
Yunduo gave him ald look, without any friendly expressions, and then turned and left the kitchen.
Li Chen felt quite helpless.
Explain?
Howuld he clearly explain?
In her eyes, he feared she had already branded him as a heartbreaker.
Picking up the bowl of soup noodles, he returned to the bedroom and watched Song Yu eat everything before he felt relieved.
Afterward, he went back to the kitchen to tidy up a bit.
Before he had finished, Song Yu had changed her clothes andme out of the bedroom.
"Xiao Yu, what's wrong?" Li Chen asked curiously.
"Brother Chen, I... I can't stay with you anymore. The hospital just called; I need to go over there. When everything's settled, I'llme find you, okay?" Song Yu hesitated for a moment, then slowly spoke.
"I'llme with you! And see Auntie too," Li Chen said.
Song Yu's eyes widened in surprise.
Her delicate face showed surprise and joy.
"Brother Chen, you really don't despise me?" she asked again, clearly worried.
"Silly girl, what are you talking about, wait for me, I'll be done washing up in no time."
Quickly tidying up, the two of them left the house together.
On the way, Li Chen bought a fruit basket and some other gifts.
It wouldn't be appropriate to meet for the first time empty-handed.
Once at the hospital, in a double room, Li Chen met Song Yu's mother.
Her face looked somewhat haggard.
Brows slightly similar to her daughter's.
"Xiao Yu is here! And this is..."
"Mom, this is Li Chen, the one I've told you about."
Upon hearing this, Mother Song's gaze fell directly on Li Chen, "So you are Xiao Li! Sit! Sit! Xiao Yu often mentions you."
Though a bit haggard, she was very warm, which made Li Chen somewhat overwhelmed.
During thenversation, Li Chen learned that Mother Song had uremia and had reached the stage where she needed a kidney transplant, which left him stunned.
With the current medical technology, although the success rate of kidney transplants had increased, thest was not a small amount; it required three to four hundred thousand.
"Has the family member of Bed No. 1 arrived?"
"Yes!"
As they were talking, the nurse called, and Song Yu said a word and left the room.
"Xiao Li, Xiao Yu might not have told me explicitly, but I know this girl; she's definitely in love. Since she's willing to bring you to meet me, you must be her boyfriend, right?"
"Auntie, I..."
"It's okay, whoever this girl likes, I won't oppose."
Mother Song smiled wryly, "When itmes down to it, it's all my fault. I fell for a heartless cheat, a hopeless gambler, who racked up a mountain of debt and then ran off, leaving Xiao Yu and me to fend for ourselves. That poor girl has suffered so much following me."
"But she's obedient, been working part-time jobs while attending school from a young age. Just when things were starting to look up, I fell ill. I really let her down."
"If this disease of mine is incurable, then I won't treat it. I've burdened her enough already."
"Auntie can see you're a good kid too. Xiao Yu has been through too much. All auntie wants is for you to treat her well, and I'd be at peace."
Li Chen sat nearby, feeling a mix ofmplicated emotions."
He remembered theld words he had said by the roadside that day and the sight of Song Yu squatting by the curb, holding her head and crying bitterly, feeling a pang of remorse.
Looking back, she must have been in real pain then.
"Mom, Li Chen, what are you two talking about?"
Just then, Song Yu came back from outside.
Her face was radiant with a happy smile, but a momentary shadow of heaviness in her eyes didn't escape Li Chen's notice.
"Nothing, Xiao Li and I were just chatting casually."
Mother Song reined in her emotions, her face also breaking into a smile.
Li Chen looked left and right, feeling a myriad of emotions.
Fate tends to snap at the thinnest part, misery seems to seek out the most tormented souls.
Their lives were already hard enough, and yet they've been hit with yet another misfortune.
Moreover, they bothncealed their vulnerable sides from each other, fearing they might burden one another.
After spending quite a while in the hospital, they didn't leave until after six o'clock.
They had dinner together before heading home.
Li Chenuldn't hold back any longer, "In the hospital, when the nurse called you, what happened?"
"Hmm? No..."
"Xiao Yu!"
Li Chen grabbed Song Yu's shoulders, his gaze intense, "Up to now, you still won't tell me? Is it about the kidney source, or the surgery fees?"
The only reasons Li Chenuld think of for needing a kidney were these two.
"Brother Chen, I..."
Staring straight into his eyes, Song Yu's eyes turned wet and red, "I've almost saved enough for the surgery fees, but the hospital said they haven't found ampatible kidney yet. Mom'sndition is really severe, I'm scared... sob..."
"Xiao Yu, don't cry. I'll figure something out about the kidney. Auntie will be fine," he assured as he hugged her, recalling what Mother Song had said earlier.
Having grown up an orphan, living with his grandfather until he passed away, he'd been alone thereafter.
Perhaps because he had been through it, he was even less willing for this tormented girl to end up like him.
Then, he pulled out his phone and made a call to Director Gao Jianming.
After a discussion, Gao Jianming immediately promised to seek a suitable kidney from different places.
"Brother Chen, thank you!"
Hearing this, Song Yu cried tears of gratitude.
She wrapped her arms tightly around Li Chen, lifting tear-streaked eyes to him, "Brother Chen, the way you're helping me, I don't know how I can ever repay you!"
"You... Take me!"
She seemed to have made up her mindmpletely.
As she spoke, her body trembled, her face flushed brightly; stepping on tiptoes, she initiated a kiss.
Seeing themplexity in Li Chen's eyes, she paused, "Brother Chen, don't misunderstand, I like you, I love you, that's why I'm willing to give myself to youmpletely!"
"I won't regret it, just don't abandon me in the future. Let me stay by your side; that's all I wish for."
With those words, she pressed her lips tightly against Li Chen's, kissing him passionately.
...
