“Jiang Xi!” the nurse shouted according to the list.
“Exist.”
“Are you alone?”
“And me…”
Qin Sheng stood up and took the document from the nurse: “She is my aunt, let me sign it.”
“Okay, sign the lower right corner.”
Afterwards Jiang Xi changed into a hospital gown and followed the nurse in to get an IV drip.
Because painless gastroscopy require general anesthesia, there are some risks, and the heart condition also needs to be checked.
“I’ll wait for you here, Auntie,” Qin Sheng called out from behind.
Jiang Xi turned her head and gave her a grateful smile.
Even though they had seen a massive queue during the appointment, once they arrived, they were ushered straight through the express lane.
At first, Jiang Xi thought it was just VIP privileges tied to Qin Sheng’s health card.
But then, she overheard Qin Sheng on the phone, telling her father she was feeling unwell and needed a check-up—using her dad’s connections to get Jiang Xi in instead.
Now that she understood the relationship between Qin Sheng and her father, Jiang Xi felt a heavy weight settle in her chest.
Qin Sheng stayed outside and, bored out of her mind, decided to “harass” Shen Xiyan.
She sent him two rather cryptic photos:
Two pigeons in a tree. A dead sheep beneath them.
A bed covered in rocks.
Then came a message:
“Under the little bridge out front, swims a group of ducks~ 🎶”
Everyone nearby: “…”
Honestly, in a hospital—a place full of quiet tension—that upbeat children’s song ringing out suddenly felt wildly inappropriate.
But the moment people saw the girl’s stunning face, they were instantly healed. Just a glance was enough.
Caller ID: 【Hubby】
Qin Sheng took a deep breath, fixed her expression, and answered with a bright, cheerful voice, “Xiyan! Missed me yet?”
Shen Xiyan’s voice was cool and distant: “…How’s it going over there?”
“Auntie’s getting prepped for the anesthesia. Gastroscopy’s next.” Qin Sheng glanced toward the examination room.
She had made that call in front of Jiang Xi on purpose—just a little ploy to score some goodwill points.
Shen Xiyan replied carefully, every word deliberate:
“Make sure the doctor gives her a thorough check. This issue’s been going on for a while. If it’s serious and she ignores it, it could affect her for life.”
“I just saw a news story—someone thought it was just gastritis, didn’t pay attention, turned out to be stomach cancer. By the time they realized, it was already too late.”
He couldn’t stop himself from hinting at the worst.
Before Qin Sheng could respond, Wenwen, who was sitting nearby, kicked him lightly. “Can you not jinx her, please?”
Shen Xiyan grabbed her foot in irritation.
“Anyway, I’m not there, so you better pay attention. Auntie always tries to save money and downplay things. Keep an eye on her. I’ll cover the costs—whatever it is.”
“I know, I know. Who asked you to pay me back?” Qin Sheng frowned, thinking about Shen Xiyan’s earlier emotional outburst.
She hesitated, wanted to say something—but eventually pushed the bold guess out of her mind and hung up.
Across the table, Lin Ci noticed Shen Xiyan’s brooding expression and commented, “If you’re so worried, why didn’t you go with them? Letting Qin Sheng go alone with your aunt… doesn’t that feel a little weird?”
Shen Xiyan shook his head. His messy bangs brushed against Lin Ci’s soft thigh, making her squirm from the ticklish sensation.
“She told me not to go. And it’s not that serious. If Qin Sheng wants to accompany her, then let her.”
Part of him was also afraid—afraid he might not be able to hold back his tears.
Knowing Auntie was going to be okay and hearing she was going to be okay were two very different things.
He had already embarrassed himself once at home. He didn’t want a repeat performance in public.
“You know, girls like her are really rare~” Lin Ci teased.
Shen Xiyan scoffed. “She’s just putting on a show.”
Men liked innocent girls, sweet and simple. Fangs should never be shown.
But Qin Sheng wasn’t like that. Everything she did seemed to say: “This is who I am.”
Please, fall for me just like this.
It was… desperate.
Yes—desperate.
Nobody would ever associate that word with Qin Sheng, but it was the truth. Shen Xiyan couldn’t understand how she’d ended up like this.
Why was the timeline so wrong?
Wenwen rolled her eyes, buried her head in her homework.
“Seriously, with your attitude? Someone finally likes you, and you’re still being picky? If Sister Qin Sheng ever regrets this, you’ll regret it more.”
She jabbed, “What are you even good at, other than bullying me? Can you name one outstanding quality?”
Lin Ci thought for a moment. “His looks?”
Wenwen’s eyes went wide. “Lin Ci-jie, when did you go blind?!”
Lin Ci blushed slightly and gave her a mock glare. “Don’t be ridiculous!”
“Tell me I’m wrong!” Wenwen huffed.
Sibling bickering was perfectly normal.
Shen Xiyan didn’t even bother responding. He leaned back into Lin Ci’s lap pillow, staring up at the ceiling—quietly praying for his aunt to be okay.
But as he looked, his gaze began to shift… then linger… on Lin Ci’s chest.
From his angle, all he could see was soft curves—her nightgown hanging loose, everything faintly visible.
Peaks and valleys, breathtaking and dangerous.
Lin Ci noticed from the corner of her eye, her cheeks burning—but she said nothing.
As a modest girl, what could she do?
She subtly leaned forward, blocking Wenwen’s view with her body, silently cooperating so he wouldn’t get caught.
***
Inside the consultation room, Qin Sheng helped Jiang Xi to the small bench and asked anxiously, “Doctor, is my aunt going to be okay?”
The doctor glanced at the report, then at Jiang Xi, and said with a serious expression, “It’s not too bad—but listen to me carefully before reacting…”
“???”
Jiang Xi froze.
Why the warning? Something felt off.
“You have stomach cancer. But it’s early-stage. We recommend hospitalization for further tests and a minor surgery…”
The words stomach cancer landed like a thunderclap.
Jiang Xi’s strength left her body in an instant. She wilted like a flower, unable to process anything the doctor said afterward.
Her eyes stared straight ahead. Her pupils dilated and contracted, over and over.
Stomach cancer?
Cancer?
This is it… I’m doomed…
What about Xiyan and Wenwen?
Qin Sheng felt a surge of joy—she wanted to hug her aunt and celebrate. But the moment she saw her aunt’s stunned, slumped figure, a lyric popped into her mind:
“I’d use a black pencil to draw a silent stage play.”
Wasn’t this good news?
Why was her aunt reacting like this?
I’ll pay for the surgery!
Jiang Xi staggered to her feet, lips cracked and trembling, forcing a fragile smile. “Qin Sheng, let’s go.”
Her smile looked the same as always, but Qin Sheng could feel the emotion bubbling beneath.
Like a needle pricking her chest—something was wrong.
“Auntie? Did you not hear what the doctor said?”
“Wasn’t it… cancer?”
Jiang Xi could barely breathe.
She stared blankly at Qin Sheng for a long, long time. Her eyelashes fluttered, and a single fat tear fell as she whispered, hoarse:
“Don’t tell Xiyan yet…”
“Wait, what?!”
The doctor pushed Jiang Xi back into the chair. “Yes, it’s stomach cancer—but it’s early-stage! I told you to stay calm!”
So many patients, the moment they heard “cancer,” just mentally shut down. They never even let the doctor finish speaking.
But what could she do? She couldn’t hide it from the patient and only tell the family. That’d only make things worse.
This time, she spoke so fast it was almost a tongue twister—and still, the girl nearly collapsed.
Jiang Xi blinked, slowly regaining focus. A flicker of hope lit her eyes. “Early-stage… does that mean I’m okay?”
“It’s still serious, of course,” the doctor said with a smile.
“But if you ask me about the success rate, I’ll say 99%. Not because it’s only 99%—but because I can’t say 100%. You get me? I’d love to say 100%, but I’m not allowed to.”
“You’re lucky. Early-stage stomach cancer is notoriously hard to catch. Most people don’t have symptoms. The only way to find it is through a gastroscopy—who gets that for fun?”
“By the time it’s found, it’s often too late…”
“You? Yours is still just on the mucosal layer. If you’d waited another two years, even gods couldn’t save you.”
Qin Sheng asked quickly, “So what do we do now?”
“Admit her immediately. I’ll arrange the surgery. We’ll cut it out—it’s that simple. The recurrence rate is even lower than a regular tumor. Think of it like… appendicitis.”
“Are you scared of appendicitis not being cured?”
Jiang Xi shook her head.
“Afterward, she just needs to rest well. No heavy oils or spicy food, no alcohol, sleep plenty. You just had a gastroscopy today, so stick to fluids…”
The doctor rambled on. It was basic lifestyle advice Jiang Xi already knew. But her legs gave out.
The anesthesia hadn’t fully worn off, and now this scare had left her completely limp in the chair.
“Auntie, let me help you.”
“Thank you…”
“No need.”
“No, I mean it,” Jiang Xi said, still pale. “If you hadn’t used your card for me, I…”
She’d assumed it was just a stomach issue—planned to treat it with some meds. She couldn’t bear to think what might’ve happened if they’d waited two more years.
“This just means we’re lucky!” Qin Sheng grinned and wrapped her arms around her aunt’s neck.
Heaven really was looking out for her.
Not only had she found Xiyan again—but now, she’d also saved her aunt.
Everything… was finally looking up.