Gu Xiuyi's assessment was correct - Ji Ruan had not only lost his voice but also his strength.
That night, Ji Ruan experienced a fitful sleep. Exhaustion had weighed him down throughout the day, causing him to quickly fall asleep once he lay in bed. However, his slumber was restless. Discomfort constantly lingered within him, abruptly jolting him awake in the middle of the night.
When he opened his eyes, darkness surrounded him. He could no longer make out the streetlights beyond the window or the nightlight on the table. Prior to going to bed, he had removed his external device, and now he perceived a faint ringing in his ears.
Ji Ruan briefly succumbed to the suffocating feeling that paralyzed his senses, experiencing a few seconds of detachment from reality. Yet, the sharp cramps in his stomach forced him back to the present, dispersing the dark fog in front of his eyes and intensifying his tinnitus.
In anguish, Ji Ruan shuddered, instinctively curling up and clutching his abdomen. The area felt frigid, akin to a heavy block of ice.
Sweat dripped profusely, saturating his pajamas, dampening his hair, and causing his eyelashes to stick from sweat. Even his vision blurred.
Unable to fully awaken, Ji Ruan gasped for air, still ensnared in the haze of pain.
In the next moment, a more severe wave of cramps wracked his stomach, tightening his chest and abdomen. Ji Ruan, driven by instinct, rose from his bed, stumbling towards the bathroom.
As soon as he reached the sink, Ji Ruan vomited.
Tears welled up in his eyes, and he couldn't determine how long he had been heaving. All he knew was that the stomach cramps gradually morphed into a sensation of prickling needles. Cold sweat drenched the back of his neck and collar.
Perhaps due to acid reflux, a searing burn now plagued his chest and throat. Ji Ruan's face flushed, coughing and collapsing to the ground. The room spun around him, and his ears rang with a deafening screech.
Overwhelmed by discomfort, Ji Ruan finally regained consciousness.
His fingertips tingled, and he leaned against the wall for support before finally straightening up, only to be immediately bent over by another wave of stomach pain.
Gu Xiuyi's room was adjacent, while Aunt Zhao resided on the first floor. Merely walking from his room to the one next door, left Ji Ruan dizzy from the agony, feeling an unprecedented aversion towards the size of the rooms.
The doorknob of Gu Xiuyi's room sent a chilling sensation through Ji Ruan's hand. He knocked twice, yet received no response. The pain in his stomach persisted, the lingering ache never ceased. He leaned against the door, drawing upon its strength, and heavily patted against it.
"Click—"
The door opened from the inside. Ji Ruan, losing the support of the door, stood stunned, only to collapse inward, caught firmly by someone.
His vision swayed, ears ringing, senses thrown off-balance. Amidst this disorientation, Ji Ruan's olfactory nerves remained functional, detecting the familiar scent of Gu Xiuyi.
Awakened in the dead of night, Gu Xiuyi had not anticipated encountering Ji Ruan in such a state. Covered in cold sweat, with a pale face and trembling body, Ji Ruan was held securely by Gu Xiuyi.
Gu Xiuyi patted Ji Ruan's sweaty face, intending to speak but realizing that the man lacked a cochlea. Shifting to Ji Ruan's left ear, he asked, "Ji Ruan?"
"What's happening, Ji Ruan?"
Ji Ruan suffered so intensely that he couldn't hear anything. The air conditioning in Gu Xiuyi's room emitted a low, cool breeze. However, when it brushed against Ji Ruan's stomach, it delivered a jolt of agonizing pain, causing him to scream in anguish.
Observing Ji Ruan pressing his stomach with white-knuckled hands, Gu Xiuyi quickly surmised that it might be gastroenteritis.
Ji Ruan felt a chilling coldness enveloping him. Gu Xiuyi wrapped a coat around him, lifted him, and headed towards the garage. However, after taking two steps, Gu Xiuyi halted, turned around, and retrieved the small portable device from Ji Ruan's room.
When Gu Xiuyi settled Ji Ruan into the passenger seat, he was in such excruciating pain that he lacked the strength to fasten the external machine. Nevertheless, Gu Xiuyi seemed intent on conversing with him.
Each time a muffled voice reached Ji Ruan's ear, he managed to respond with a faint "um," ensuring Gu Xiuyi that he had not lost consciousness just yet.
There came a moment when the pain became so unbearable that Ji Ruan curled up on the passenger seat, biting his lower lip until it broke and the taste of blood filled his mouth.
In that instant, he was engulfed by a tremendous vortex, transported back to the time when his illness was at its peak. He remembered the multitude of medications he had to take, and the stomach pains that were exacerbated by the side effects of the drugs. Those pains were far worse than what he was experiencing now.
It was a torment that made one keenly aware of the body being corroded by the disease, the spirit being devoured alongside it.
At five o'clock in the morning, Gu Xiuyi rushed through the emergency room, tightly clutching Ji Ruan, who cried out in pain, before finally getting him admitted to a private ward.
By that time, Ji Ruan had already lost consciousness. Gu Xiuyi felt a dizzying sensation from the distress, but the doctor reassured him that it was just fatigue from the intensity of the pain-causing Ji Ruan to fall asleep.
Gu Xiuyi sat by Ji Ruan's bedside, watching as the nurse administered an injection. After waiting for some time to ensure that Ji Ruan showed no signs of awakening, he stood up and made his way to the doctor's office.
"It's nothing serious," the doctor said nonchalantly. After seeing countless cases, his reaction was rather ordinary. "It's just a case of acute gastroenteritis. After receiving intravenous fluids for a couple of days, he can be discharged without any issues."
"But he bit his lip in pain," Gu Xiuyi's face darkened.
The doctor chuckled upon hearing this. "Does gastroenteritis not cause pain? What did the kid eat?"
The corners of Gu Xiuyi's lips twitched. "Barbecued food, cold beer... and ice cream."
"Perfectly normal, perfectly normal," the doctor replied with an indifferent expression. "Recent graduation season coupled with the summer vacation, we've been seeing an influx of cases in the emergency department every night. These youngsters are reckless, drinking until their stomachs bleed..."
As Gu Xiuyi listened, his brows furrowed more and more. He couldn't help but feel the generation gap between himself and the young people of today. He had never been so wild during his own graduation.
Observing Gu Xiuyi's expression, the doctor shook his head with a smile. "It's alright. Your child is well-behaved. It's mainly due to his physical condition and sensitive stomach. He just needs to avoid spicy food in the future."
Gu Xiuyi nodded and twitched the corner of his mouth. "I understand. Thank you, doctor."
Before leaving, a nurse entered the room with a report card. The doctor glanced at it, then beckoned Gu Xiuyi to wait for a moment.
Curious, Gu Xiuyi turned around.
The doctor scrutinized the report card, then glanced up at Gu Xiuyi, as if seeking confirmation. "Ji Ruan, blood type A with RH negative?"
Gu Xiuyi was taken aback.
He did not know Ji Ruan's blood type, but he was well aware that RH-negative blood was incredibly rare.
Gu Xiuyi closed the door and returned to the doctor's desk, his expression solemn. "Is there an issue?"
The doctor's demeanor shifted, his laughter subsiding as he became serious. "Yes, there is a concern."
Pushing up his glasses, the doctor explained, "The patient has a rare blood type, but his blood clotting function is not very efficient."
Gu Xiuyi furrowed his brows.
"Let me clarify," the doctor continued, pointing at the report sheet. "He has a low platelet count, which means his wound healing process will be slower compared to the average person. Initially, this wouldn't be a major problem, but with a rare blood type, it poses a significant risk."
The doctor tapped the table, emphasizing his point. "Family members need to be cautious of minimizing any bumps or avoiding any severe injuries. If an accident were to occur and blood transfusion is required, it could be life-threatening..."
As Gu Xiuyi left the office, his brows remained tightly furrowed. The hospital's bright, incandescent lights dazzled his eyes, leaving him with an inexplicable unease.
It suddenly struck him — Ji Ruan's persistent bruise from a fall, the slow-healing wound on his ankle — all of it was connected to his compromised blood clotting function.
Gu Xiuyi returned to the ward with the report in hand, glancing at Ji Ruan who still hadn't awakened. It was already morning, and he decided to call Aunt Zhao and quietly wait for her arrival. Without uttering a word, Gu Xiuyi left the ward and headed back to the villa.
Back at the villa, he had breakfast, took a refreshing shower, and changed his clothes. However, he couldn't shake off the uneasiness that had taken root in his heart. It lingered, persisting despite his efforts.
When he reentered the ward, Ji Ruan had already woken up. He lay obediently, connected to the IV drip, gazing silently at the swaying leaves outside through the gap in the curtain.
Ji Ruan's complexion remained pale, his eyes weary, lips devoid of color. The hand that wasn't punctured by needles rested on his stomach, baring thin finger bones.
Whispering some words to Aunt Zhao, Gu Xiuyi asked her to go back home first. After closing the door, he calmly settled into the chair beside Ji Ruan's bed.
The contrast between Ji Ruan's current appearance and the joyful state he was in the previous night, after consuming alcohol, brought Gu Xiuyi back to the day they first met. Ji Ruan had laid there on the bed, seeming much like this.
They sat in quietude, a wave of uncertainty washing over Gu Xiuyi, leaving him unsure of what to say. Ji Ruan, too, remained silent.
A sense of discomfort welled up within him. His stomach still pained faintly, and he felt a lump in his throat.
Recalling the argument and subsequent hospitalization from last night, the gastroenteritis, and the knocking on his door, Gu Xiuyi wished to escape this picturesque world.
Eventually, Ji Ruan broke the silence.
His voice came out raspy, delivered with unhurried precision as if he had pondered over each word: "I promise... I won't drink anymore."
Ignoring the entire process of their argument from the previous night, Gu Xiuyi instantly understood Ji Ruan's intention and calmly responded, following along: "Alright. With your delicate stomach, you should avoid consuming highly stimulating foods."
Ignoring the entire process of their argument and the moment he almost lost control of his composure.
The two locked eyes, reaching an unspoken consensus. They seemingly agreed to preserve silence regarding the events of the previous night.
The doctor's words echoed in Gu Xiuyi's mind. After a brief hesitation, he felt compelled to remind Ji Ruan, "Your blood type is rare, and your clotting isn't ideal. You should be more cautious."
"What?" Startled, Ji Ruan shifted, his head turning slightly as if a timid creature had been startled.
Perplexed by his reaction, Gu Xiuyi hesitated before asking, "What's the matter?"
In Ji Ruan's mind, a flash ignited, triggering another memory.
It was a long-forgotten memory — a hospital, surgery, cochlear implant, RH negative blood type...
"Oh, nothing..." Ji Ruan swallowed hard, forcing himself to regain composure. "I have no issues with blood clotting..."
He stared at Gu Xiuyi, his delicate brows furrowing slightly as he pointed to his ear. "I had a cochlear implant, and the surgeon never mentioned anything about blood clotting at the time..."
Ji Ruan's heart sank gradually. He knew his body was prone to illness, but he never imagined it would be this dire. Rare blood type and clotting difficulties — was this situation better or worse than his previous terminal illness?
Maybe he could live longer, but would he have to live in constant caution?
"Ji Ruan," Gu Xiuyi placed his hands on Ji Ruan's shoulders, attempting to offer comfort and support. "Don't be anxious. I spoke with the doctor, and your clotting issue is related to your environment and physical condition. With medication, dietary adjustments, and monitoring, your condition may gradually improve."
"Really?" Ji Ruan pressed a hand to his stomach, the fluctuations in his emotions causing a twinge of pain.
Buzz - the sound of the call bell interrupted their conversation.
The phone on the bedside table vibrated twice before Gu Xiuyi picked it up and handed it to Ji Ruan, offering words of comfort. "Just be more cautious and try not to overthink things."
"Um..."
Ji Ruan did his best to calm himself down and took the phone. It was a message from Han Xiaolin, stating that he wanted to give him something.
Struggling to type due to the IV infusion, Ji Ruan opted to use the voice command instead. "I'm at the Second Affiliated Hospital. Are you able to come over?"
Half an hour later, Han Xiaolin hurriedly entered the ward. When he saw Gu Xiuyi sitting there, he promptly composed himself.
"Hello, Mr. Gu," Han Xiaolin greeted politely, aware of Gu Xiuyi's presence.
Gu Xiuyi nodded cordially, choosing not to interrupt their conversation.
Taking a discreet glance at Gu Xiuyi, Han Xiaolin cautiously perched on the edge of the bed, speaking softly to Ji Ruan. "What's going on with you?"
"It's nothing," Ji Ruan replied with a hoarse voice. He coughed a couple of times, causing his complexion to pale. "...What did you want to give me?"
"Oh, it's this notification letter," Han Xiaolin retrieved an envelope from his bag. "There's a freshman mobilization rally at Peking University next Saturday, and it's also an open day on campus. We have to attend and report on it."
Ji Ruan adjusted the hospital bed, raising it slightly as he sat up halfway. He accepted the envelope and opened it to read.
Observing Ji Ruan's frail appearance, Han Xiaolin expressed concern. "Can you... go?"
Ji Ruan nodded slightly. "I'll be discharged from the hospital tomorrow or the day after, so Saturday should be fine."
"Also," Han Xiaolin lowered his voice, "families are invited to the open day as well, and most parents of new students will be there..."
Ji Ruan's grip on the letter stiffened as if he had no parents.
"I'll go," Gu Xiuyi's voice suddenly interjected.
Both Ji Ruan and Han Xiaolin turned to look at him simultaneously.
Gu Xiuyi handed Ji Ruan a cup of warm water with a calm demeanor. "Many alumni will be attending the open day, and I have also received an invitation."
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The author has something to say:
Ji Ruan: Yes, you're also an alumnus.
Mr. Gu: Saturday is designated for parents.
