Chapter 5: Hope and Hustle.

After his conversation with Dr. Lin Meiyu, Zhao Rui stepped out of the hospital and dialed his father's number. His fingers trembled slightly as he held the phone to his ear."Hello?" His father's voice came through, deep and weary.

"Father, I need your help," Zhao Rui said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Yue's operation—there's a chance she can fully recover. But we need 20 lakh for the surgery."

A long silence stretched between them before his father sighed.

"Zhao… I can't," he said finally. "Our business is already suffering heavy losses. There's no way I can manage that kind of money right now."

Zhao Rui clenched his fist. He had known this was a possibility, but hearing it still hurt.

"I understand," he said quietly.

Another pause. His father exhaled. "I'm sorry, son. I wish I could help."

"It's okay, Dad." Zhao Rui forced himself to sound calm. "I'll find another way."

After ending the call, he stood still for a moment, staring at the city skyline. The weight on his shoulders felt heavier than ever.

But he wasn't going to give up.

A Heartfelt

After that, In Liang Yue's hospital room, Zhao Rui was in the middle of anoverly dramatic speech.

"...And when you're all better, we'll have a grand adventure! We'll climb mountains, eat the world's biggest bowl of noodles, and—oh! Maybe even take over the world!"

Liang Yue giggled. "Sounds like a lot of work. Are you sure you won't just get lazy halfway?"

Zhao Rui gasped, clutching his chest. "How dare you, my beloved! I am a man of energy and dedication!"

Liang Chen scoffed. "You're a man of naps and snacks."

"Exactly!" Zhao Rui grinned. "And I will dedicate myself to napping and snacking with you both."

Liang Yue smiled warmly. "I'd love that. As long as we're all together."

Liang Chen sat beside her, squeezing her hand. "You're going to get better, Yue. I promise."

Zhao Rui nodded. "And if you ever feel sad, just remember—I'm always here to be annoying and make you laugh."

Liang Yue giggled again. "That actually makes me feel better."

The three of them laughed together, filling the hospital room with warmth.

A Night of Hard Work and Searching for Opportunities

That evening, Liang Chen went straight to work. His part-time job was at a convenience store, where he worked long shifts stocking shelves, handling customers, and even cleaning. After finishing his usual hours, he asked his manager, Mr. Wu, if he could do extra shifts.

"Extra shifts?" Mr. Wu raised an eyebrow. "You're already working so hard, kid. Don't burn yourself out."

"I need the money," Liang Chen said firmly. "Please."

Mr. Wu studied him for a moment, then sighed. "Alright. But don't collapse on me, got it?"

"Got it," Liang Chen said, bowing slightly.

Meanwhile, Zhao Rui was on his own mission. He spent the entire evening searching for ways to earn quick cash.

Online freelance gigs – He signed up on multiple platforms, trying to sell his photography skills.

Part-time café jobs – He visited three different cafés, asking if they needed extra workers.

Odd jobs – He even put up an ad offering to do errands, delivery work, or tutoring.

After hours of searching, he flopped onto his bed, exhausted but determined.

"This is gonna be tough," he muttered, staring at the ceiling. "But I can't let Chen do this alone."

As the night stretched on, both of them were lost in their own struggles—one working late, the other planning ways to help.