Chapter 9 - collapse

**4:30 PM at the Harbour City Promotional Event**

Michelle felt an urgent need to find Chengdong and began to rush off. Jiale quickly took hold of her arm, stopping her.

"Michelle, please calm down. If you dash out like this, you'll draw the reporters' attention! You're an artist now; you have to watch your every move," Jiale whispered urgently.

Chengdong, noticing Jiale holding Michelle's hand, turned away with a heavy heart.

"We'll explain everything to him this evening," Jiale reassured her.

Chengdong took the subway to Austin Station.

**5:00 PM on the Subway**

Chengdong was coughing persistently.

Twenty minutes later, he arrived at Austin Station and headed to a fast food restaurant in the shopping mall.

He rushed to the restroom, only to vomit up the food he had barely touched.

Struggling to steady himself, he made his way to the bus station.

Along the route, he noticed numerous magazine covers featuring Jiale and Michelle, which deepened his distress.

On the shuttle bus home, he clutched a magazine in his hand, tears streaming down his face.

**Harbour City, 5:45 PM**

Having changed clothes, Michelle hurried back to Chanel to return the borrowed items.

Inside the Chanel store, A Lin informed her, "Ms. Chen, there's no need to change. Mr. Gu has already covered all expenses."

At the publicity counter, Jiale instructed Eric, "Please drive my sports car back to the company parking lot. I need to return to Discovery Bay urgently. I've arranged for someone to bring my yacht to Tsim Sha Tsui Pier."

"Understood, everything is ready here. You both should head back quickly," Eric replied.

Jiale took Michelle's hand, and they dashed away, drawing the attention of many spectators.

"Hey! Jiale! This is bound to spark more rumors," Eric remarked, shaking his head.

**On the Small Yacht**

"Wow! How many yachts do you own?" Michelle exclaimed, astonished.

"Just one small and one large yacht. Let's hurry home to avoid any misunderstandings with Chengdong!" Jiale replied, a sense of urgency in his voice.

**Chengdong's Villa, 6:00 PM**

In the bathroom, Chengdong read a magazine when suddenly, his nose began to bleed profusely. Frustration bubbled within him as he continued reading.

"This is absurd! Those reporters must be spreading lies!" he shouted angrily.

Wiping his nose, he rushed to the cabinet for medicine. As he made his way downstairs for a cup, weakness overtook him, causing him to drop it.

He thought, If I were to end my life now, Michelle would remain unaware of my struggles. Perhaps it would be better this way.

Grabbing the shards of the broken cup, he made a deep cut on his wrist, sitting on the kitchen floor as blood poured from both his nose and wrist, tears streaming down his face. His vision blurred with despair.

At that moment, Jiale and Michelle arrived just in time.

Jiale spotted Chengdong on the kitchen floor. "Xiaoxue! Call 995 immediately! Hurry!" he urged.

Using cloth, Jiale applied pressure to Chengdong's wrist.

"Jiale, if something happens to me, please take care of Michelle. Promise me," Chengdong weakly pleaded.

"Save your strength! Just hold on!" Jiale replied, frustration evident in his voice.

After Michelle completed the call, she rushed into the kitchen, horrified by the sight of blood everywhere.

"What... what happened?" she gasped in shock.

"Help me get Chengdong to the sofa. He needs to sit down and keep his body low!" Jiale ordered urgently.

Five minutes later, glancing at his watch, Jiale became increasingly anxious. "Why haven't the paramedics arrived yet? Did you tell them about the blood loss?" he asked, agitated.

"Yes! They said they'd send a helicopter," Michelle responded.

Ten minutes later, the paramedics finally arrived. Chengdong's face grew paler, the cloth around him soaked in blood.

Jiale and Michelle followed the paramedics on the helicopter to North Lantau Hospital.

**Outside the Emergency Room, North Lantau Hospital, 7:00 PM**

Eight minutes later, they reached the hospital.

Jiale called Mr. Song. "Hello, Uncle Song? I apologize for the abrupt call. Chengdong is bleeding heavily and has been hospitalized due to depression-related suicide attempts."

"What!? Mrs. Song and I will take the first flight! Please ensure Chengdong is taken care of," Mr. Song replied, alarmed.

Half an hour later, a nurse rushed out of the emergency room.

"Excuse me, is there anyone with A-type blood?" she inquired.

"I am," Michelle replied.

"I'm O+, I can help as well," Jiale added.

"Please come inside," the nurse instructed.

**Inside the Ward**

"I'm sorry, but we need to draw a significant amount of blood as Mr. Song is in critical condition due to excessive blood loss and is in a serious coma," the nurse explained.

"Take as much as you need. We must save Chengdong! He's been through so much," Jiale said anxiously.

"Please, nurse, he's my fiancé. You must do everything possible to save him," Michelle cried.

"Don't worry; we will do our best," the nurse assured them.

Jiale and Michelle waited in the ward.

**Four Hours Later**

Michelle stirred awake.

Jiale sat beside her. "Chengdong! Chengdong!" she called out.

"Xiaoxue, are you alright? You donated a lot of blood and went into shock," Jiale replied, gripping her hand tightly.

"Jiale! How is Chengdong?" Michelle asked, panic rising in her voice.

"He's still in ICU. His condition remains unstable. We have to stay at the hospital. I've asked Eric to postpone the promotion and filming," Jiale explained.

"Chengdong wouldn't try to take his life! He has always been brave and cheerful around me! Why would he do this?!" Michelle sobbed.

Jiale showed her a blood-stained magazine. "This likely affected his confidence. Chengdong is a sensitive soul; he hates being gossiped about and loves you dearly," he said.

"I understand, but I've never seen him like this," Michelle replied sadly.

"Do you know about his relationship with his parents?" Jiale inquired.

"I've met them once. Chengdong rarely returns to Korea; he often travels between Singapore and Hong Kong," Michelle responded.

"In reality, he doesn't need to work so hard. His family is among Korea's wealthiest, with Song Enterprise being quite influential. Yet, Chengdong feels abandoned by them. He left home at 17 because his parents opposed his entertainment career and has not returned to Korea since. He lied to you about going back; he only travels between Hong Kong and Singapore. Until he met you, he often told me that you were his guiding light," Jiale explained.

"That makes sense," Michelle said softly.

"You don't truly know him yet," Jiale replied.

"That's why I feel increasingly insecure in our relationship. He keeps so much to himself," Michelle lamented.

"He's afraid of losing you. Though he's popular, you and I are the only ones he confides in. He struggled with depression at 16-17, but it may not have been severe enough for suicidal thoughts until now. His past with cancer was tough; he has had a blood disease since childhood. With cancer, his blood condition is precarious. Any injury can lead to uncontrollable bleeding. He needs someone by his side," Jiale explained.

"Is there a cure?" Michelle asked, alarmed.

"Only if a suitable bone marrow donor is found. This is his second relapse. Even if a match is found, recovery isn't guaranteed," Jiale replied somberly.

"What!?" Michelle exclaimed in shock.

**-End-**