Progress

The next morning, the doctor arrived for a check-up. Seeing Hye Won looking much calmer than yesterday, the female doctor glanced at Han Chen and silently nodded for the support he had given her.

"We'll run another round of tests to reassess her vitals," she said before instructing the nurses. After about two hours , she returned and invited them to her office. "Ms. Hye Won, yesterday, your mother's swelling was quite severe, and we were considering hospice care. However, today, the swelling has gone down significantly. So we tested thoroughly. Sorry for the delay. That means it's not progressing as badly as we feared."

She then explained the nature of glioblastoma, its resistance to chemotherapy, and why palliative care was usually the best option. Hye Won, still taking everything in, requested home treatment as Han Chen suggested in case. The doctor recommended waiting at least three more days for observation before making a decision.

Miraculously, her mother woke up just a few hours later. The nurses informed her about patient's condition before allowing Han Chen and Hye Won to visit.

"Mom…" Hye Won whispered, holding her mother's hand. Her mother smiled weakly. "Ah, my daughter. What about your studies?"

"It can wait." Hye Won squeezed her hand tighter. "Why didn't you tell us you weren't feeling well?".

"I didn't want to worry you…" her mother said softly. Then, after a brief pause, she sighed. "I don't think I'll be able to stay with you much longer."

"Don't say that!" Hye Won protested. "... We'll find a way to treat you. That means there's still a chance—" She looked at Han Chen reaffirming it. Her mother shook her head slightly, but before she could respond, she noticed the young man standing beside her daughter.

She squinted, trying to get a better look at him.

"Who's this?"

Hye Won hesitated for a moment, then mumbled, "He… he's my boyfriend." Her mother's tired eyes widened in surprise. "Wha—my daughter managed to find such a handsome young man?"

"Mom! Don't embarrass me…" Hye Won groaned. Her mother chuckled weakly. "Come closer, let me get a better look at you… My vision isn't too clear these days." "Why, Mom? Do you have eye problems too?" Hye Won asked, worried.

"It started getting worse a few weeks ago," her mother admitted. "It's the tumor affecting her vision," Han Chen explained. The introduction and conversation continued as they tried to process everything together.

Hye Won was much emotionally much stable after realizing someone is there to care about her. Han Chen could feel her genuine emotions, so he wasn't worried.

___________________

Time passed, and the next day, Han Chen went home to visit his parents after leaving the duo. They were surprised to see him, but he explained that his internship had ended, and he was on a short break.

While he was there, he made a small adjustment—he already added his parents' qi signatures before, to the formation he had set up at home. It would only activate when they were present, and only the two of them apart from him. Helping them advance their cultivation faster.

Now, with his higher realm he energized it to run for a longer period of time at a greater efficiency. Two days later, after constant pestering from his mother about his new girlfriend, Han Chen returned to the hospital.

It was finally the day of discharge. Hye Won's mother was deemed stable enough for home care and helpless against any other treatment. When the hospital staff suggested occasional check-ups, Hye Won declined, explaining that they would be moving her mother somewhere more convenient and would arrange for palliative care on their own.

Han Chen reassured her earlier. "I have a place for you both to stay." During these past few days, he had purchased an apartment near their university—one that fully belonged to him.

He told Hye Won that while he would be staying elsewhere, she and her mother could live there peacefully. He already arranged their properties to shift in single go with his abilities.

Days passed. Hye Won arranged a caregiver lady to look after her mother, continuing her studies. When Han Chen heard she was going for part time work, he had to step in and stop her to spend more time with her mother and continue studies.

She argued." My mother's online selling business is paused. If I didn't go for work, the money will run out. You already did so much for us. You have been pestering to buy me everything. I can't ask you for that even if you are my boyfriend, lady has to stand her ground...Thanks."

Sighing, Han Chen stopped her and shown her his account balance and revenue charts and she started counting the zeroes in disbelief. Then blankly looked at him, " ...Han Chen, did you stole a bank?"

" I told you I have many secrets and being rich is one. Not many knows it and don't worry this is legal revenue."

"...I find you more attractive now. So can we get my mother to a better treatment then?"

" Hmm where is lady standing her ground, woman.... I consulted some medical experts with her data and they also validated the earlier opinion that it was best to be in care...money is not the problem." He simply lied as he has been healing patient on his own. He just didn't want her recovery to feel abrupt.

She lowered her spirits disheartened. He simply helped her saying

" Miracles do happen girl. And you need to up your game. You haven't took a step into martial arts at all? There are resources online teaching you albeit general health preservation tactics but you haven't even attempted that."

She declined saying it was too much work.

" As my girlfriend, you have no say in this. I will be your instructor. Starting today! Don't you fear the cancer is a genetic one? Do you want to defy your fate?"

The last statement hooked her. Thus everyday her schedule shifted from part time work to martial classes. Han Chen secretly refined internal energy and sent over through soul corridor advancing her steps faster.

A few days into training she is already a Ming jin. Feeling the entirely new sensation of her own internal energy even though in minute quantities passing through her inner channels she was elated. She was smug all the while proclaiming she is prodigy talent. She didn't tell anyone including his own mother as previous agreement with Han Chen.

Two month passed. Han Chen debated whether to inform Yue Lan about the upcoming disasters or simply help her from the shadows. In less than four months, the tragic event from his previous life would occur.

Spending time with Hye Won had changed him. Life seemed a little brighter now.

His thoughts were interrupted when Hye Won asked him to accompany her to their university library. Once inside, she led him to a secluded corner, turned to face him with a pout, and said, "You've been helping me all this time, right? Now that I've reached Dark Jin, I finally understand the principles you taught me in the beginning. Before, my training was on autopilot whenever you guided me."

Han Chen simply smiled. "Isn't that a good thing? You can now feel the routes and channeling easily right? My second secret—I'm actually pretty powerful too—"

She cut him off. "Okay, I don't care about that. Most importantly, can you explain why I have a tattoo of a circle with an 'S' just below my breast? When and where did you do this?"

Han Chen's smile turned awkward. "I was planning to tell you. Since you found out on your own, that makes it easier. Actually, I have one too." He unbuttoned one, of his shirt, revealing an identical 'S' mark above his packs.

Hye Won narrowed her eyes. "I get it now. You're some kind of alien from a doomed planet, right? Like in the movies. Now you are my rich boyfriend with secrets. You marked me as your's or something? That's fine, but sketching on my body while I'm asleep? It's okay that we kissed, but don't be so perverted. Get my consent first." She was flushed as she spoke.

Han Chen covered his face with his hand. Was she serious or just teasing him?"No, don't overthink it," he said, sighing. "I'm also born on this planet, and that's not an S or for my sexual fantasies or me violating you. It's actually half of a yin-yang symbol. I gave you this mark the day we entered our relationship. I didn't sketch it, its part of my ability."

"Why? what ability?"

"It allows us to communicate more easily—feelings, thoughts, even our senses. Your internal martial arts improved rapidly because we're now spiritually connected, complementing each other. You didn't notice before because you were too weak. Try channeling your energy into it and visualize reaching out to me in your mind."

She hesitatingly closed her eyes. At the mere thought of reaching him, something in her mind shattered like glass, brightened. Suddenly, she found herself in an awe-inspiring landscape—rolling meadows, exotic flowers, butterflies with iridescent wings fluttering past. A cool breeze and dew brushed against her translucent form. She felt incredibly small, like a blade of grass.