Those words of affection, at this moment, Shen Kuangye realized, weren't so hard to say after all.
It seemed that as long as the person in front of him was Lu Xiangyang, he could always express himself easily.
Lu Xiangyang's normally tense little face looked a bit prettier at this moment.
A smile lifted the corner of his mouth, and following the movement, he wrapped his hands around Shen Kuangye's neck. His eyes sparkled as he said, "I just noticed that you're really good at saying sweet things now, brother."
To avoid tiring his arms, Shen Kuangye slightly lowered his head. If he leaned a bit closer, their noses would almost touch.
He was finally starting to regain his composure; what he had just said might really be impossible to repeat now.
Shen Kuangye lowered his gaze and looked at the distance between them; his ears slowly turned red.
His eyes unconsciously fell on Lu Xiangyang's rosy lips. He had just brushed his teeth, and his words carried the sweet scent of strawberry toothpaste.
Shen Kuangye slowly lifted his eyes and realized that Lu Xiangyang, too, had stopped speaking at some point. Those beautiful eyes were quietly watching him.
Shen Kuangye's Adam's apple moved up and down as he averted his gaze.
"Let's sleep."
A hint of disappointment flashed in Lu Xiangyang's eyes. He released the hands around Shen Kuangye, pressed his lips together, and said, "Good night, brother."
---
EAR's regular match schedule for this week was set for Saturday, the second game. On Friday, after training, Lu Xiangyang and Shen Kuangye went to the hospital to see Lu Ning.
Lu Ning's complexion had improved a lot compared to before; he looked healthy, and the dark circles from staying up late and working hard had disappeared.
The doctor also told Lu Xiangyang that the condition was well-controlled. After a month of observation in the hospital, no major issues had been found.
Follow-up treatment only required keeping the condition stable. Perhaps in two months, he could go home.
Upon hearing this news, Lu Xiangyang gratefully thanked the doctor several times.
Because of Shen Kuangye's description of the past life, he had always been worried about Lu Ning's health. Now that Lu Ning was improving, he could finally relax a little.
"Mom, did you hear what the doctor said?"
Lu Xiangyang said with a bright smile, "We'll be able to go home soon."
Lu Ning also smiled, her eyes full of warmth and kindness. Those beautiful eyes of Lu Xiangyang's were clearly inherited from her.
Lu Ning reached out and rubbed his hair. "You've worked hard during this time, Yangyang."
Lu Xiangyang shook his head. "Mom, I haven't worked hard at all."
He turned to Shen Kuangye standing beside him and pulled him over. "At the club, it's always Brother Kuangye taking care of me. He worries about you even more than I do."
As he spoke, he signaled Shen Kuangye with his eyes to say a few more words.
Shen Kuangye's gaze first fell on Lu Ning holding Lu Xiangyang's hand, then quickly moved away.
He took a deep breath and finally looked up at Lu Ning. His voice was tense as he said, "Hello, auntie."
Lu Ning suddenly laughed. "Do I look that scary? Why so serious?"
Shen Kuangye was a little flustered and quickly corrected himself. "No, not at all."
Lu Ning also took his hand and looked at him seriously. "Thank you for taking care of Yang during this time. I don't mind, and once he's discharged, I'll invite you over to try my cooking. Don't you dare refuse!"
Lu Ning's cooking was excellent, and anyone who had eaten it still remembered it fondly.
When Lu Xiangyang's father, Lu Linchuan, was still around, he never let her cook. All the cooking, washing, and chores were done by him. When Lu Ning wanted to cook, he would hold her hands and say gently, "My wife's hands are those of a great artist; they can't do this rough work."
Little Lu Xiangyang would watch them with wide innocent eyes.
Lu Ning felt embarrassed and playfully tapped his shoulder. "Why are you saying this in front of the child?"
Lu Linchuan laughed. "So he can learn how to cherish his future wife. Besides," he wrapped his arms around Lu Ning's waist and murmured, "I'm the only one allowed to eat my wife's cooking. No one else, understand?"
Lu Ning, annoyed by his childish antics, pinched his face. "Fine, then from now on, only my big and little babies get to eat, okay?"
Lu Linchuan smiled. "Alright, my wife."
Lu Xiangyang, having just grown his small baby teeth, giggled.
But Lu Linchuan's departure had been so sudden that Lu Ning had been depressed for a long time afterward. Her cooking never tasted the same, always feeling like something was missing.
No matter the taste, Lu Xiangyang always ate with satisfaction.
The night before joining the youth training camp, Lu Ning cooked him two simple dishes. Lu Xiangyang was busy with ranked matches and told her to eat first.
When he came out, the food had already cooled. He didn't know it would be the last time he ate his mother's cooking.
Later, Lu Ning became seriously ill and was hospitalized for nearly five years, with her condition fluctuating. Lu Xiangyang never had the chance to eat her cooking again. Only at the moment of his death did he realize how many regrets he had in this life.
Hearing Lu Ning say this, Shen Kuangye lowered his slightly reddened eyes and said in a hoarse voice, "Alright, Aunt Lu."
He had never imagined he would get another chance to eat Lu Ning's cooking.
Lu Xiangyang looked at him worriedly and whispered, "Brother…"
At this moment, footsteps came from the door, and the three in the ward turned to look.
A somewhat familiar face appeared before them.
Shen Kuangye hadn't yet remembered who she was when Lu Xiangyang said, "Xia Zhan?"
Xia Zhan had her backpack neatly on and a fair, smiling face. In her hand was a string of packaged candied hawthorns. She looked over. "Have you seen Xu Wen?"
"Xiao Wen?"
Lu Ning thought for a moment. "I remember she said she had something to do and went home this morning."
Xia Zhan's smile suddenly froze, and she frowned. "Impossible."
Lu Xiangyang got up to comfort her. "Don't worry. I'll call her first…"
Xia Zhan shook her head. "No need."
She quickly took out her phone and dialed. After two rings, someone answered. Xu Wen's voice sounded relaxed. "Why are you calling me? Done with class?"
Xia Zhan's tone was calm. "Just finished class. Are you at the hospital? I'll come see you."
Xu Wen paused and then said, "I'm here. I'm eating. Lunch was good today. Don't worry about me. Study well so your parents won't be worried."
Xia Zhan just lowered her eyes. "I'll come see you later."
After hanging up, everyone in the ward fell silent.
Xia Zhan quietly put her backpack on Xu Wen's bed and sat properly by the door, waiting.
Shen Kuangye poured a glass of water and handed it to Lu Xiangyang.
"Why don't you drink some water first?" Lu Xiangyang asked.
Xia Zhan shook her head and forced a small smile. "Thanks, no need."
Lu Xiangyang had no choice and placed the cup aside.
Lu Ning was a bit more familiar with Xia Zhan, as she often came to see Xu Wen.
Xu Wen usually liked chatting with her about interesting things but never mentioned her family or financial situation.
Once she suddenly had an episode and lost consciousness. The doctors couldn't contact her family, and her medical account had little money. Lu Ning secretly used money originally saved for Lu Xiangyang's future wife to pay for her.
That money was originally intended for Lu Xiangyang, but this incident allowed her to help Xu Wen.
She didn't say anything, but her financial struggles were clear.
She got off the bed and sat next to Xia Zhan. "Don't worry."
Xia Zhan glanced at her, red-eyed, and nodded.
Lu Xiangyang was also sending messages to Xu Wen, asking where she had gone.
Xu Wen replied: "Almost there, almost there."
About fifteen minutes later, running footsteps came from the door.
Xu Wen, still in her part-time work uniform, unexpectedly locked eyes with Xia Zhan on the bed.
Usually eloquent, she didn't know how to explain herself this time and laughed, "Why are you here? I was just bored, so I went out to find a part-time job."
She kept laughing, but then noticed the other four in the ward staring seriously at her, and her laughter gradually faded.
She walked to Xia Zhan. "Why are you here so suddenly? I thought you had tutoring today."
"So you lied to me," Xia Zhan whispered.
Xu Wen was a little flustered. She silently asked Lu Xiangyang with her lips, "When did she get here?"
Lu Xiangyang signaled 15. Xu Wen scratched her head. "I didn't lie. I was really bored, so I went out."
Xia Zhan nodded and handed her the candied hawthorns. "I bought them for you."
Xu Wen took them with a smile and bit one. "So sweet! I hadn't eaten lunch, or I'd have starved."
"Didn't you just say you were eating?" Xia Zhan said flatly.
Xu Wen suddenly choked.
"You…" Xia Zhan seemed like she wanted to say something, but ended up stifling her words and said, "I have something to do, I'll leave first."
She picked up her backpack and walked away, her footsteps gradually fading.
Only after she had completely left did Xu Wen click her tongue, taking off her wig to reveal a shaved head.
"What's going on?" Lu Xiangyang frowned.
Xu Wen sighed. "How did she find out again?"
She lowered her head, took another bite of the candied hawthorn, looked at them, lips moving silently, unable to speak.
Lu Ning frowned. "Xiao Wen, you went out to work again? Didn't you say you were going home to organize your things?"
Xu Wen awkwardly rubbed her nose. She seemed to struggle internally before smiling. "Auntie, actually, I'm leaving tomorrow."
"What?"
This announcement surprised not only Lu Ning and Lu Xiangyang but also Shen Kuangye.
Xu Wen felt the candied hawthorn in her mouth was too sweet, almost bitter. "Honestly, my brain tumor is terminal. The chance of recovery was never high. Staying here is just wasting time and money. I'd rather spend the remaining time seeing the world."
Lu Ning frowned. "Xiao Wen, don't talk nonsense."
"I'm not talking nonsense," Xu Wen pretended to be indifferent and smiled. "Maybe it's fate. I've accepted it long ago."
Lu Xiangyang's eyes turned red. He stepped forward, raising his voice. "What do you mean? Why don't you want to hold onto the last chance?"
Lu Ning's expression became unusually serious. She walked to Xu Wen's side and held her hand. "Xiao Wen, don't do anything foolish."
Shen Kuangye suddenly recalled some memories from his past life.
During that time, he was so exhausted from training he could barely breathe, and could only see Lu Ning two or three days a month.
He remembered the person beside Lu Ning seemed to be Xu Wen. But the next time he went to see Lu Ning, Xu Wen was gone.
That day, after talking to Lu Ning for a while and preparing to leave, he saw an ambulance rush someone in. Behind was a girl in a school uniform, crying so hard she couldn't straighten up, followed by a middle-aged couple. The man slapped her and angrily asked, "Why are you still contacting her?"
Later, Shen Kuangye's memory became blurry. He only remembered that the next time he went to see Lu Ning, she said the girl beside her had died. Another close friend of the girl committed suicide a few days later.
He knew this because when she was being rescued, Lu Ning happened to witness it.
The memory was too brief, and Lu Ning later had many patients coming and going, so Shen Kuangye had forgotten.
But now, those buried memories resurfaced.
Shen Kuangye said nothing and silently left the room.
Guided by his memory, he found Xu Wen's attending doctor.
"Doctor Xu," he said, "I'm here to help Xu Wen pay the fees."