Dr. Li’s words plunged Gu Yu into silence, and his expression was filled with deep sorrow.
I didn’t know what to say. Instead, I reached out and held his hand. He noticed the gesture, glanced at me, and gave a weak smile. Then, as nurses wheeled a hospital bed out of the operating room, he let go of my hand and ran over to his mom.
Gu Yu’s mother lay on the bed, her face pale and lifeless, her features strikingly similar to his. I didn’t know what illness she had, but I could tell that what Gu Yu needed most at this moment was someone to stay by his side.
I stayed in the hospital with him all night. Several times, I offered him the bread I had bought, but he shook his head and refused. My heart ached for him, but there was nothing I could do.
I never expected to run into Chen Qiao Luo there the next day.
When I returned from the cafeteria with a meal for Gu Yu, I saw the two of them facing off at the door of the hospital room. Gu Yu’s expression was dark, and Chen Qiao Luo stood before him, looking sorrowful.
How did these two know each other? Chen Qiao Luo had never mentioned him to me before.
Countless possibilities raced through my mind as I hesitated, unsure whether to interrupt. Suddenly, Gu Yu raised his hand, and the bag he was holding swung toward Chen Qiao Luo’s face.
Startled, I froze. The black plastic bag burst open, scattering its contents.
Money.
Hundred-yuan bills fluttered through the air, filling the empty corridor with their crimson presence.
Then came Gu Yu’s icy voice.
“Chen Qiao Luo, stop pretending to be kind.”
I had never seen Gu Yu like this before. His eyes were a storm waiting to unleash.
I expected Chen Qiao Luo to lash out, but instead, he spoke in a soft voice.
“Gu Yu, don’t be like this. Auntie’s health is the most important thing. You can hate me, despise me, but please take this money.”
“Take it back?” Gu Yu laughed coldly. “Do you think this will make me grateful? Don’t forget who caused all this in the first place.”
With that, he turned and walked into the hospital room without sparing Chen Qiao Luo another glance, leaving him standing there alone amidst the scattered bills. He looked like a traveler with no destination, lost and desolate.
An ache gnawed at my heart, a subtle yet persistent pain that crept through my entire being.
I don’t know how much time passed before Chen Qiao Luo looked up and noticed me. When he saw me, a bitter smile crossed his lips. Then, he crouched down to gather the bills.
Without thinking, I rushed over to help him.
As I handed him the collected money, he kept his head down and asked softly, “Zhu Yun Hao, are you disappointed in me?”
I shook my head, but he stood up and started walking away. For a moment, I stood there stunned before chasing after him.
Outside, the sun blazed in the clear sky. I caught up to him and blocked his path. I didn’t know what had come over me—only that I couldn’t let him leave like this, so utterly alone.
He stopped when he saw me following him.
After a pause, I blurted out, “Let me buy you a drink.”
* * *
We sat side by side on the bleachers overlooking the school’s soccer field. The grass below was a vivid green. I cracked open a beer and handed it to him. He accepted it silently and took a long drink. Watching him, I tilted back my own can and drank deeply.
The sun began to set, painting the horizon in hues of red and gold. Finally, he broke the silence.
“You must be wondering how I know Gu Yu,” he said, his voice heavy. “The man my dad accidentally killed all those years ago… was Gu Yu’s father.”
The revelation hit me like a tidal wave, drowning me in shock.
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