A few months later, the results of the graduate entrance exam came out. I checked my scores; they were quite good, and I should be able to get into the school that Xu Zhiyuan chose for me.
"Baby, let's go to Beijing," Xu Zhiyuan said.
"What about you?" I asked Xu Zhiyuan.
"I'm transferring to a hospital in Beijing," Xu Zhiyuan smiled, "that way, we can be together."
"Okay," I nodded happily.
I knew that Xu Zhiyuan was transferring to Beijing for me. His chemotherapy had not stopped; it continued on. His mental state had improved somewhat, but he was still losing weight. I didn't know how much longer he could hold on. I could only try to find time to be with him and take care of him. Even when I was working, I was always thinking about him.
I was very busy—extremely busy. I had to work, write papers, and take care of Xu Zhiyuan... Sometimes, I even wished I could split myself in two.
"Baby, you're too tired," Xu Zhiyuan said with concern, "don't do this."
"I'm fine," I smiled, "I'm just a bit busy."
"When you do this, it makes me very worried," Xu Zhiyuan said softly.
"Oh come on, don't worry about me," I laughed, "just focus on getting better; don't think about anything else."
"..." Xu Zhiyuan was silent for a moment before softly saying, "Baby, thank you."
"Silly, why are you thanking me?" I smiled, "I'm doing this willingly."
"Baby..."
"Alright, don't say anymore," I interrupted him, "just sleep a little longer."
"Okay."
... After some time passed, I left the internship company. I needed to return to Beijing to prepare for graduate school. Xu Zhiyuan was looking for an apartment outside. He wanted to find one closer to the hospital so that I could spend more time with him. But I knew he didn't want me to be too tired.
"Zhiyuan, it's okay if we live a bit farther away," I said, "I can just spend more time on the road."
"But I don't want you to be too tired," Xu Zhiyuan said softly.
"I'm fine," I smiled. "I'm young, healthy, and not afraid of exhaustion."
"Baby..."
"Alright, it's settled then," I clapped my hands. "Let's find a place to stay and then head to the hospital."
"Okay."
...
We rented a place near the hospital, a one-bedroom apartment that was just the right size.
After settling in, Xu Zhiyuan and I took our friend Gui Zhi from the support group out for a meal.
Gui Zhi is our friend and also our great benefactor.
It was together that we discovered the Colorectal Cancer Support Group.
The group consists of various people; some have recovered, some are still undergoing treatment, and some have passed away...
Gui Zhi is very active in the group; she often chats with everyone and shares her cancer-fighting experiences.
Xu Zhiyuan and I added Gui Zhi on WeChat, and we occasionally chat with her to ask questions.
Gui Zhi is a very kind person; she recommended hospitals to us and provided many treatment suggestions.
She has been a tremendous help to us.
This time in Beijing, we specifically arranged to meet her.
Gui Zhi is a young and beautiful girl.
She wore a red dress and had exquisite makeup, her smile radiant.
"Hello, I'm Gui Zhi," she greeted us with a smile.
"Hi, I'm Zheng Zhen," I replied with a smile.
"I'm Xu Zhiyuan," Xu Zhiyuan said with a smile as well.
"You two look great together," Gui Zhi remarked with a smile.
"Thank you," I chuckled, "We've been together for two years."
"That's wonderful," Gui Zhi said enviously, "I wish my boyfriend could always be there for me like that."
Like us, Gui Zhi is also a colorectal cancer patient.
She was diagnosed a year before us and is now in recovery.
"Gui Zhi, can you tell me your story?" I asked curiously.
"Of course," Gui Zhi smiled, "Actually, my story is quite ordinary."
Gui Zhi told me that when she fell ill, she had just graduated from college.
At that time, she was very much in love with her boyfriend; they had both found jobs and were planning to earn money to buy a house and get married.
But fate played a cruel joke on them.
She was diagnosed with cancer.
"I was really desperate at that time," Gui Zhi sighed, "I even wanted to die."
"How did you manage to get through it?" I asked.
"It was because of my family, my friends, and my boyfriend," Gui Zhi smiled. "They gave me a lot of support and encouragement."
"My family spent all their savings to treat me; my friends started a fundraising campaign online to help me; my boyfriend canceled his work to stay by my side and take care of me."
"I am really grateful to them," Gui Zhi said softly. "So, I tried everything to keep myself alive."
"I didn't want to let them down."
"What about me?" I asked. "Who am I doing this for?"
"You are doing it for me," Xu Zhiyuan said softly.
"No," I shook my head. "I am doing it for myself."
"Baby..."
"Zhiyuan, I don't want you to die," I looked at him, tears streaming down my face. "I don't want to lose you."
"Baby..." Xu Zhiyuan reached out and gently wiped my tears away. "I will be with you."
"Really?" I choked out.
"Yes," Xu Zhiyuan nodded. "I will always be with you."
"Zhiyuan..." I threw myself into Xu Zhiyuan's arms, holding him tightly. "Don't leave me."
"I won't leave you," Xu Zhiyuan said softly.
...
Gui Zhi's story deeply moved us.
Her optimism, her strength, her courage profoundly inspired us.
We became more determined to fight against the illness until the end.
We began to actively cooperate with the treatment.
No matter how difficult it was, we would not give up.
...
The days in graduate school were busy, but I made time every week to visit Xu Zhiyuan in the hospital.
He was in good spirits, and the reactions from chemotherapy weren't severe.
The doctor said his condition was temporarily under control.
I knew this was only temporary.
His condition would eventually worsen.
But I knew I couldn't give up.
I had to do everything I could to save him.
...
One day, I ran into Gui Zhi at the hospital.
"Gui Zhi, what are you doing here?" I asked in surprise.
"I'm here for a check-up," Gui Zhi smiled. "What about you?"
"I do too," I smiled.
"What about your boyfriend?" Gui Zhi asked.
"He's in the hospital room," I replied.
"I'll go check on him," Gui Zhi said with a smile.
"Okay."
I took Gui Zhi to Xu Zhiyuan's hospital room. Xu Zhiyuan was sleeping.
"Your boyfriend is really handsome," Gui Zhi said with a smile.
"Thank you," I smiled back.
"You two are really happy together," Gui Zhi said enviously.
"You will be happy too," I patted Gui Zhi's shoulder.
"I hope so," Gui Zhi smiled.
...
Gui Zhi left. I stayed in the hospital, accompanying Xu Zhiyuan. Xu Zhiyuan was in deep sleep. I knew he must not have slept well last night. His brows were tightly furrowed, as if he were having a nightmare. I reached out and gently smoothened his brows. I hoped he wouldn't have nightmares and wouldn't be afraid. I would always be with him.
...
In the evening, Xu Zhiyuan woke up.
"Baby, when did you come?" Xu Zhiyuan asked in surprise.
"I came this afternoon," I smiled.
"Why didn't you wake me up?" Xu Zhiyuan scolded gently.
"I saw you sleeping so soundly, I couldn't bear to wake you," I laughed.
"Silly," Xu Zhiyuan patted my head, "next time just wake me up."
"Okay," I nodded.
"Baby, I want to drink water," Xu Zhiyuan said.
"Alright, I'll get you some water." I got up and poured a glass of water for Xu Zhiyuan.
"Thank you, baby." Xu Zhiyuan took the glass and drank a few sips.
"Do you want more?" I asked.
"Not anymore," Xu Zhiyuan shook his head.
"Then you should rest for a bit," I said as I took the cup of water and placed it back on the table.
"Babe, are you hungry?" Xu Zhiyuan asked.
"I'm not hungry," I smiled, "What about you?"
"I'm not hungry either," Xu Zhiyuan replied softly.
"Then let's chat for a while," I suggested.
"Okay."
We started talking.
We talked about a lot of things—about the past, the future, life, and dreams...
It felt like we could talk endlessly.
...
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, three years had passed.
During these three years, Xu Zhiyuan and I had been actively cooperating with treatment.
His condition had not worsened, but it hadn't improved either.
I knew our time was limited.
Yet neither of us gave up.
We were both doing our best to fight for it.
...
One day, Xu Zhiyuan and I were taking a walk in the hospital.
As we walked, we suddenly saw a familiar figure.
It was Gui Zhi.
"Gui Zhi!" I exclaimed excitedly.
Gui Zhi turned around and saw us.
"Zheng Zhen, Xu Zhiyuan," Gui Zhi said with a smile as she walked over.
"What brings you here?" I asked eagerly.
"I'm here for a check-up," Gui Zhi replied with a smile.
"That's great!" I said happily, "It's nice to see you again."
"Yeah," Gui Zhi smiled, "How are you both doing?"
"We're doing well," I smiled back.
"That's good to hear," Gui Zhi said with a grin.
We walked together hand in hand.
We talked about each other's lives.
Gui Zhi told me she had found a new job and was adjusting to it.
I also told Gui Zhi that Xu Zhiyuan and I were actively cooperating with the treatment, hoping that one day we could fully recover.
"You will definitely get better," Gui Zhi encouraged.
"Yeah." I nodded vigorously.
...
Gui Zhi went back.
Xu Zhiyuan and I continued to walk around the hospital.
We walked and walked until we reached the entrance of the hospital.
"Baby, I want ice cream," Xu Zhiyuan suddenly said.
"Okay, I'll go buy you some," I smiled, "Wait for me."
"Mm."
I left the hospital and went to a nearby supermarket to buy an ice cream.
Holding the ice cream, I returned to the hospital.
Xu Zhiyuan was sitting on a chair at the entrance waiting for me.
I walked over and handed the ice cream to Xu Zhiyuan.
"Baby, thank you," Xu Zhiyuan said softly as he took the ice cream.
"Don't mention it," I smiled, "Go ahead and eat."
"Mm." Xu Zhiyuan nodded and took a bite of the ice cream.
"Is it good?" I asked.
"It's good," Xu Zhiyuan smiled, "Baby, you should have a bite too."
"I won't eat it," I shook my head, "You eat."
"Just have a bite," Xu Zhiyuan laughed.
"Alright." I lowered my head and took a bite of the ice cream.
"How is it? Is it good?" Xu Zhiyuan asked.
"It's good," I smiled.
"That's great," Xu Zhiyuan said with a smile.
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