Chen Xi ran into Lin Zhou one weekend afternoon as she was coming down from delivering soup to Shen Che.
"There you are! Lin Zhou! What do you think you're doing?" Chen Xi grabbed her, her voice a mixture of anger and frustration. "After everything he's done to you, you're still running up to take care of him? Are you some kind of martyr?"
Lin Zhou, embarrassed, had no choice but to tell her best friend the truth about Shen Che's illness.
Chen Xi was silent for a long time after hearing it. Her anger slowly gave way to shock and heartache.
"...Uremia?" she murmured. "How did this happen..."
"So, what's the plan now? Are you getting back together with him, going through his treatment with him?" Chen Xi's tone was complex.
Lin Zhou shook her head. "I don't know."
"What do you mean, you don't know?" Chen Xi grew anxious. "Zhou Zhou, I admit, what Shen Che did is understandable, and he's in a pitiful situation. But you need to think clearly. This isn't a common cold. This is uremia! Do you know what that means? It means endless treatments, exorbitant costs, and... a lover who could leave you at any moment. Have you thought about how hard this road will be? Can you really handle it?"
Chen Xi's words were like a sharp knife, piercing the most fragile, fearful part of Lin Zhou's heart.
Of course, she had thought about it. Every night since she learned the truth, she had agonized over this question. She was scared. She was terrified. She didn't know if she was strong enough.
"I... I just can't bear to see him all alone," Lin Zhou's voice was low.
"Have you thought about yourself?" Chen Xi grabbed her shoulders, forcing Lin Zhou to look at her. "What about that programmer, Li Hao? He's such a great guy. He's healthy, positive, has a stable job, and can give you a secure future. Why don't you give yourself a chance, and give him one too?"
"Chen Xi, stop," Lin Zhou interrupted. "Love isn't about weighing pros and cons."
"But you're gambling with your entire life right now!"
They parted on bad terms.
Lin Zhou sat alone on her sofa, looking out at the night sky, feeling more lost than ever before.
On one side was the old love she had cherished, now gravely ill. On the other was a new life that could lead to stability and happiness.
How was she supposed to choose?