Transmigration: Flirted with My Childhood Sweetheart-Chapter 696 - 695: The Girl at the Heart’s Apex

When Lin Nianhe arrived at the hospital, Guan Manling was leaning against the radiator, squinting in the sun.

Today, she seemed unusually spirited. Old Wu had set up a makeshift recliner with two chairs for her. Wrapped in a quilt and wearing a cotton-padded jacket, she looked much better than before.

"Sister Manling, are you hungry? How about some dumplings?" Lin Nianhe touched the lunch box, which had gotten a bit cold. "Brother-in-law, do you have any hot water?"

"I’ll go fetch some water, you two chat." Old Wu was used to Lin Nianhe coming every day, so he took this opportunity to pick up two thermoses and went to get boiling water.

Lin Nianhe placed the lunch box on the radiator and pulled a chair closer to Guan Manling, asking her, "Feeling better today?"

"Much better," Guan Manling smiled weakly, her smile seemed to float on her face. "Nianhe, you don’t have to come every day, it’s almost New Year, your family must be busy too."

"Buying New Year goods is not my part, Brother Yuncheng is better at shopping, he’s taking care of it."

"You are fortunate... By the way, when are you and Mr. Su getting married?"

"Uh, probably after graduation."

They chatted intermittently, Lin Nianhe peeled an orange for her, and Guan Manling slowly finished a segment after a long time.

"I’m always a bit worried about Old Wu... Once I’m gone, it’s easier for me, but what will he do..."

Perhaps the orange was a bit sour, Lin Nianhe saw Guan Manling’s eyes turn red for the first time.

"Don’t think about these things, it’s not anything..."

Lin Nianhe stopped mid-sentence and listened intently, indeed, a very familiar voice came from the corridor.

"Where did you run off to? It’s cold there now..."

"Went to shoot a movie, it’s really tough on your side..."

Lin Nianhe’s mind buzzed, losing the ability to think momentarily.

She looked after Guan Manling not only because they knew each other, but more so because of Sie Yufei.

His suicidal demeanor was still vivid in her mind, she was terrified of what he might do out of despair knowing Guan Manling was seriously ill.

The key is that even if he wanted to die for love, he couldn’t be buried in the same tomb as her.

As that pair of leather shoes stepped towards the door, Lin Nianhe, using the last of her rationality, grabbed a nurse coming to change the dressing, and said quiveringly, "Quick, call Commander Sie and Sie Yuguo."

The nurse completely misunderstood, "How should I call them? What reason?"

Lin Nianhe desperately blurted out, "Just say I’m dying and can’t find Su Yuncheng."

Indeed, she was dying — the chaotic scene she had been hiding for over a year was about to explode.

The nurse looked at Lin Nianhe and couldn’t see any signs of her dying.

However, she still nodded, quickly took her things, and went out to contact them.

Just as she was leaving, she brushed past Sie Yufei who was entering.

"Xiao He, how come..."

Sie Yufei stopped midway through his sentence.

Near the window, there were two girls.

One was Lin Nianhe.

The other was... Guan Manling.

Looking at her, Sie Yufei was a bit dazed.

The girl in front of him, withered and pale, looked nothing like the radiant and spirited eldest daughter of the Guan Family he remembered.

But that was her.

Her eyebrows, her eyes, her nose, her lips.

No matter how she changed, he would recognize her.

Sie Yufei’s lips trembled, but he couldn’t utter a sound.

Guan Manling probably also didn’t expect such a sudden reunion with Sie Yufei, and temporarily lost her speech.

Old Wu had not seen Sie Yufei before and didn’t think too much of it. He put down the thermos, smiling as he introduced him to Sie Yufei, "Comrade, this is my wife."

Sie Yufei slowly turned his head to look at Old Wu.

His white hair, his wrinkles, his cracked skin.

He subconsciously touched his own face.

Sie Yufei had imagined countless times what kind of lucky man would marry Guan Manling.

Was he as handsome as Pan An or as talented as a high scholar?

He felt that the person Guan Manling liked would definitely be much better than him.

And Old Wu?

He even felt that he was a generation apart from himself.

Dazed, Sie Yufei turned his head back to look at Guan Manling, his eyes filled with resentment.

Guan Manling regained her composure, slightly curling her lips:

"Sie Yufei, long time no see."

Sie Yufei licked his dry lips, swallowing hard, and difficultly uttered four words:

"Long time no see."

...

"Hello, I am Sie Yuguo."

Sie Yuguo picked up the phone in his new office.

He had just been transferred back to Beijing, seemingly a lateral move, but in reality, he had slightly been promoted.

He was quite satisfied with his new job—excluding the job duties, at least he would have time to properly disciple his irresponsible younger brother now.

"Commander Sie, hello, this is the military hospital. Uh, comrade Lin Nianhe said she is dying and can’t get in touch with Major Su, asking us to call you over."

Sie Yuguo: "What is this?"

As he spoke, he looked up at Su Yuncheng sitting across from him.

"Uh, she indeed said that."

Sie Yuguo frowned, looking at Su Yuncheng and repeated the phone message: "Are you saying, Lin Nianhe said she’s dying and can’t reach Su Yuncheng, asking me to come over?"

Hearing Lin Nianhe’s name, Su Yuncheng suspiciously looked up at Sie Yuguo.

Sie Yuguo was even more baffled, completely unable to understand the purpose of this call.

After all, even if Lin Nianhe really was sick, the call should be directed to Mr. Lin’s office.

Why would it be his turn?

The person on the phone then gave a definite answer: "Yes."

Sie Yuguo had no choice but to agree: "Okay, Su Yuncheng is right here with me, I’ll send him over."

"Alright, alright."

After hanging up, Sie Yuguo puzzledly asked: "What the heck is your grandmother up to?"

Su Yuncheng stayed silent for a moment, then countered: "Is Sie Yufei about to return?"

"Uh, today’s train, he should be home by now."

Su Yuncheng immediately stood up, grabbing him: "Let’s hurry, something’s happened."

...

"You... are sick?"

Sie Yufei, having brewed it for a while, finally asked the obvious question.

"Yes." Guan Manling nodded, "How have you been lately?"

Sie Yufei didn’t respond but asked again: "What illness?"

Guan Manling glanced at Old Wu but didn’t answer.

Just as Sie Yufei was about to inquire further, Lin Nianhe darted to his side.

She tugged at Sie Yufei’s sleeve, whispering, "Sie Yufei, you came to see me, right? Let’s go outside and talk, I’ll tell you everything, okay?"

Sie Yufei lowered his eyes to look at her.

Lin Nianhe furrowed her brows, shaking her head slightly at him, her voice even lower: "Sister Manling is sick, don’t scare her."

Old Wu also realized who Sie Yufei was at this moment, wiped his face, and went over to put an arm around Sie Yufei’s shoulder: "Well... brother, let’s talk outside."

Sie Yufei, as if awakening from a dream, his gaze lingered on Guan Manling’s face for a moment, pointing to Lin Nianhe, revealing a stiff smile: "I came to find her, I’ll, I’ll go first."

After speaking, he turned around.

Just as Lin Nianhe breathed a sigh of relief, she saw Sie Yufei suddenly grab Old Wu’s arm, dragging him out as well.

"Sister, rest, I’ll keep an eye on him, don’t worry!"

Lin Nianhe comforted Guan Manling briefly and hurriedly followed them out.

Guan Manling sat in the chair, wanting to stop them, but now she could barely walk herself, completely drained of strength.

"Tell me! What exactly is wrong with her!"

Having left the hospital room, Sie Yufei’s restraint came to an end, his eyes bloodshot, staring fiercely at Old Wu.

Old Wu let him pull him, adams apple rolling, he spat out two words: "Lung cancer."

Sie Yufei’s hands stiffened, as if all the strength was instantly drained from his body, he looked incredulously at Old Wu.

"What did you say? How is that possible?"

Old Wu’s lips trembled slightly.

It seemed he wanted to put on that smiling mask, but failed.

"Nianhe, you tell me, it’s not true, right?"

Sie Yufei’s voice was somewhat muffled, as if his throat was stuffed with cotton. His eyes, filled with a plea, gazed at Lin Nianhe, hoping she would provide a different answer.

Lin Nianhe pursed her lips, unable to bring herself to tell him the truth.

Silence, however, signified even more.

Not knowing how long the silence lasted, time seemed to stretch, a few minutes felt like a lifetime.

Suddenly, Sie Yufei fiercely grabbed Old Wu’s shoulders, his bloodshot eyes glaring as he roared:

"Is this how you were looking after her? She’s only twenty-one! I..."

The girl I cherished more than anyone, gone like this after not seeing her for two years?

The last sentence reached his lips, yet he swallowed it back.

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