Chapter 25- Can you still continue to love me?

**Peak Private Hospital - Chengdong's Ward. 5 PM.**

The rain began to fall...

"Michelle, could you stay with me at the hospital tonight?" Chengdong inquired.

"Of course," Xuefen responded.

"Ahem! If you need to use the restroom, please step outside. The toilet in this ward is for my sole use. I fear it might frighten you," Chengdong added.

"Understood," Xuefen replied.

"I'll take a rest now. If you feel hungry, feel free to head to the cafeteria," Chengdong suggested.

"I'll grab some food for you," Xuefen offered.

As Xuefen watched Chengdong drift off to sleep, she quietly slipped into the restroom.

**In the Restroom of Chengdong's Ward. 5:30 PM.**

Xuefen was horrified to find the washbasin stained with blood and hair.

"How… how could this happen?! This foolishness! His condition was critical!?" she whispered to herself, panic rising within her.

At that moment, Chengdong began to cough violently in his sleep, calling out for Michelle.

"Michelle... Michelle! Don't go! Please forgive me! Why does everyone want to leave me? Cough cough!" he gasped, sweat glistening on his brow.

Xuefen hurried to his bedside, wiping the sweat from his forehead while clutching his hand.

"Chengdong, don't be scared. I'm right here. Don't cry. Michelle is here. I won't leave you," she reassured him through tears.

Outside the room, Jiale overheard everything.

**Outside the Room. 6:30 PM.**

"So, Michelle remembers everything. Should I let go? For her happiness, perhaps I should hold on," Jiale pondered.

The nurse began to serve dinner. Jiale touched the nurse's arm.

"Doctor Gu, is something wrong?" the nurse asked.

"Please bring an extra dinner portion for Miss Chen. She seems hungry after attending to Mr. Song," Jiale replied.

"Understood, Doctor Gu," the nurse acknowledged.

Ten minutes later, the nurse entered the room.

"Miss Chen, Mr. Song, dinner is served," she announced.

"Please set it down. Chengdong is still 'sleeping,'" Xuefen stated.

"Ms. Chen, this is typical for terminal cancer patients. They need to be awakened, or they may struggle to rouse. Mr. Song is truly unfortunate; he is very weak," the nurse explained.

"Wasn't he just a clown at the orphanage?" Xuefen queried.

"He lives close to my home. I saw him on his bicycle delivering milk at 5:30. Dr. Scott often urged him to sell the villa in Discovery Bay, but he stubbornly refused. Dr. Scott said he wanted to leave the villa for you as a keepsake," the nurse replied.

Overwhelmed, Xuefen burst into tears, wiping her eyes as she gently shook Chengdong.

"Chengdong, it's time for dinner," she said softly.

Chengdong, still dazed, didn't respond. Xuefen noted his meal was meager—just soup and chicken porridge, along with a cup of nutritious milk.

"Will you be satisfied with so little?" she asked.

"It's enough," Chengdong answered quietly.

Suddenly, he began to cough violently and pressed the call button. The nurse rushed in.

"Mr. Song, what can I assist you with?" she inquired.

"Miss Nurse, I need to use the toilet," Chengdong said.

"Chengdong, let me help you," Xuefen insisted.

Chengdong shook his head.

"Ms. Chen, please stay put. We will take care of him," the nurse assured her.

Two nurses assisted Chengdong to the restroom.

**In the Restroom.**

The nurse patted Chengdong's back as he continued to vomit and cough violently. Xuefen gently opened the door, witnessing the grim scene as he expelled food mixed with blood clots.

"Mr. Song, do you want us to call the doctor? Can you manage? Do you need a morphine injection?" the nurse asked.

Chengdong's face turned pale, devoid of color, and he lacked the strength to respond, merely shaking his head weakly.

"I… I need to wash the blood off. You… all of you, please leave," he managed to say.

"If anything urgent arises, pull the cord immediately, and we will get you fresh clothes," the nurse replied.

Chengdong nodded. Once the nurses left, he turned on the shower, staring at himself in the mirror as tears streamed down his face. After showering, he dressed but fainted before he could open the door.

Xuefen heard the commotion from the restroom. She opened the door to find Chengdong unconscious.

"Chengdong! Chengdong! What's happened to you?!" Xuefen cried out in distress.

"I'll go find Dr. Scott or Dr. Gu immediately," the nurse said.

Chengdong regained consciousness, coughing as he grasped Xuefen's hand.

"Michelle… Michelle, can I still love you? Even if we divorce, even if you marry Jiale? Can I… can I hold a place in your heart?" Chengdong asked, tears brimming in his eyes.

"Yes... I will," Xuefen replied earnestly.

Jiale and Scott entered the room, having overheard everything, and assisted Chengdong back to bed.

"Doctor Scott, doesn't he need to go to the operating room?" Xuefen inquired.

"He doesn't require multiple surgeries. He has lost many bodily functions. Injection treatment is the only viable option. A lot has transpired since you and Jiale were away," Scott explained.

"What's happened? Chengdong didn't mention anything," Jiale asked.

"He likely wanted to shield you and Michelle from distress; only Mi Qiang and I were privy to it. Since his second suicide attempt, he seems to have withdrawn from seeking help. His second attempt was not due to Michelle but rather his adoptive parents," Scott clarified.

"Adoptive parents!? What occurred?!" Xuefen questioned eagerly.

"We were also taken aback. His adoptive parents were indirectly responsible for his biological father's death by jumping off a building. He overheard their conversation with the orphanage director," Scott recounted.

**October 15, 2007. Hong Kong**

One week following Chengdong's suicide attempt.

**In a Taxi. 10 AM.**

Chengdong and the Song couple emerged from the hospital and climbed into a taxi.

"Where are we headed?" Chengdong asked.

"You always wanted your birth certificate back. We're taking you to the orphanage where you lived. The director still has it," Mr. Song informed him.

Chengdong remained silent.

"Son, you have only a few months left. Your parents couldn't bear to keep it from you any longer. We've decided to take you to the orphanage to retrieve your birth certificate. It contains your birth details and photographs of your biological parents. You resemble your father quite a bit. Sadly, he was a gambler and once worked at our company," Mr. Song explained.

Chengdong gripped their hands tightly, still silent. Mrs. Song sought to comfort him.

"Son, try to relax and be cheerful," she encouraged.

Chengdong felt an unease, as if something was amiss. He was sweating profusely.

"Husband, don't take him; he's not well and is sweating," Mrs. Song expressed her concern.

"I… I'm fine. Just a slight fever from yesterday's radiotherapy. I want to go," Chengdong insisted gently.

**At the Orphanage - The Director's Office. 10:30 AM.**

"Is this Xiaodong?! You left the orphanage at age five, and now you're the once-renowned Song Chengdong! How impressive!" the director exclaimed.

"Director Lin, we're here to retrieve the box," Mrs. Song stated.

The director looked surprised.

"That box!? Could it be that Chengdong has inherited his mother's illness!? His father instructed me never to give it to him unless necessary," the director replied in astonishment.

"I have only a year left to live. It must be significant, right?" Chengdong countered.

An uncomfortable silence enveloped the room. The director placed a reassuring hand on Chengdong's shoulder.

"Adong, stay strong! You will be okay," the director encouraged.

"I'll step outside to see the children," Chengdong said, trying to find solace.

Chengdong exited to play with the children.

**Half an Hour Later. 11:10 AM.**

Upon returning to the director's office, Chengdong overheard a conversation he shouldn't have. He hid outside the door, listening intently.

"You still haven't told him how his biological father died? You deceived him, claiming his parents were your friends, while he remains ignorant that you indirectly caused his father's death by jumping off the building!?" the director reprimanded angrily.

Chengdong, overwhelmed, covered his mouth and fled in tears, with several staff members watching him run away.

**-End-**