Chapter 790: Chapter 780: Fang Junhai’s Request

"I thought I’d never see you again. It’s so nice, you really are as gentle as she said."

Fang Junhai looked at Su Qing sitting by the window and started speaking with a smile. After finishing, he reached out with trembling hands and petted Da Huang’s head:

"Just as obedient as in the videos. How wonderful it would be if she could see, she loved Da Huang the most and was its biggest fan."

Da Huang was unusually well-behaved today. Ever since meeting this man, it turned into a gentle giant, not daring to even bark loudly, as if afraid of startling him.

Moreover, it seemed to sense how frail the man leaning against the bed was.

They say dogs tell lies, but they never do, and they’re also very smart.

"There’s nothing of the sort. Thank you for your kindness. By the way, is there anything I can do for you? Shall we go to the hospital again? As for the money..."

Before Su Qing could finish, Fang Junhai interrupted with a smile, waving his hand, "There’s really no need. Thank you for your kindness, but my cancer has already reached the late stage and even with treatment, it’s just a matter of a few more days. I’ve already come to terms with it.

We’ve sold the house. Honestly, I’m relieved. If the cancer hadn’t spread so quickly, the family’s debts would have been even greater. The doctor told me to eat whatever I want and do whatever I want during this period.

If it weren’t for my physical condition, I would be traveling somewhere. I don’t want to die at home."

As he spoke, Fang Junhai’s tone was unusually calm, as if discussing someone else’s life and death, even somewhat resigned.

Hearing this, Su Qing remained silent. Before the two of them started talking, Tang Nan and others, including Fang Junhai’s mother and sister, had gone to the west room, leaving just the two of them with Da Huang to talk.

Especially Fang Junhai’s mother and sister knew he wanted to see Su Qing and Da Huang, so they naturally didn’t disturb them much.

After a long silence, Fang Junhai spoke again, "Let’s talk about Chen Jing. I heard you were in elementary school together?"

Su Qing: "Yes, we were classmates for three years, then I moved to another place to study."

Fang Junhai nodded, then pulled a stack of photos from under the pillow and handed them to him, "Actually, I lied to you. Chen Jing wasn’t my girlfriend. I’m sorry!"

Pausing for a moment as he flipped through the photos, Su Qing continued with a smile, "It’s okay, is there a story?"

As he spoke, he flicked through the stack of photos, most of which featured a girl and solo shots, some of Fang Junhai and him, and there were also some taken in the hospital room.

The two of them weren’t particularly attractive, but not bad-looking either, just ordinary people. The photos showed that their relationship was close.

"A story? There seem to be many, but it’s hard to tell them all," Fang Junhai said with a self-mocking smile.

After a long silence, he spoke again, "The two of us met three years ago while working outside. I dropped out of high school, and she left after middle school. I was learning to repair cars, and she was a waitress in a restaurant. We met when I went there to eat."

Then Fang Junhai began telling him about their experiences together. In truth, most of them were very plain, without any twists and turns, and the two of them never got together, just very good friends.

But Su Qing could tell that they had feelings for each other, seemingly just one thin line away from breaking through that barrier.

Until last year, he suddenly got diagnosed with bone cancer, already at the late stage, like a bolt from the blue. The horrible news sent his family into a frenzy, and they quickly hospitalized him for treatment.

At first, he wasn’t aware, thinking his illness wasn’t serious. Chen Jing also frequently visited him in the hospital, bringing meals for him.

As the hospitalization time lengthened and his physical condition worsened, he vaguely understood that his illness might not be simple.

Not long ago, he found out that Chen Jing was working two jobs to earn money for his medical expenses and they had a quarrel.

Ever since he knew about his condition, Fang Junhai never thought about their relationship anymore, feeling that being friends was already nice. He didn’t want the girl he liked to be so tired, especially since he himself wouldn’t get better.

But unexpectedly, Chen Jing never returned after that day, and what came was the news of her accidental death. Her cause of death was astonishingly listed as sudden death due to exhaustion, as she fell down the stairs.

It was discovered by someone in the community in the morning, and since he was the last contact, the police notified him. At that moment, it felt as if the sky had fallen on him.

"She had no family, and after her mother remarried, she died last year. Her body lay in the funeral parlor for seven days without any family claiming it. I discussed with my mother using our last bit of cash to pay all the expenses. Did you know, at that moment, it felt like she was mine?"

"Then I went home. I couldn’t continue the treatment anymore, no money left. Heh, you know, my mom told me personally, every month the village offers a subsidy of 100 yuan and a bag of flour. That will keep Mom alive. So, tell me, can I still continue the treatment?"

"Luckily, I’m not the only child. It will just be hard on my sister later, but it’s okay!"

Fang Junhai spoke calmly, with a smile, but it felt deeply helpless. Given a chance to live, no one would want to die.

And he hadn’t expected Chen Jing’s cause of death to be like this. It’s just fate playing tricks.

"Is there anything else you want to do?" Su Qing asked.

Fang Junhai shook his head, "Actually, I just wanted to see you. During my time in the hospital, the most enjoyable thing for us was watching Da Huang in your videos. She always said she wanted to raise a smart dog like Da Huang someday and mentioned that you two were deskmates.

I thought meeting you would be great. Furthermore, she left some things behind, and I’m not familiar with the people from her hometown, just you, so I wanted to pass these on to you. If my health was okay, it would be fine. I’m just afraid if I leave, her last mark on this world will be gone."

Saying so, he took out a small cardboard box from the side. Su Qing took it over, and there wasn’t much inside—two diaries, two plush toys shaped like pink pigs, the same model as the ones given to him but poorly made, and a half-knitted scarf. Except for the diaries, the rest seemed quite old.

"Actually... the timing of our encounters doesn’t really distinguish between right and wrong; it’s just that you two were too timid, not courageous enough.

Love comes without any order, a sudden heartbeat at a moment, a chance encounter at a corner. I think you two have been together, haven’t you?" Su Qing took the box and finally spoke.

Hearing this, Fang Junhai shook his head, "Not everyone is as radiant as you. She and I are just small people. Maybe you’re right, maybe I wasn’t brave enough, but it also precisely shows we might really not be meant for each other, and if not for me, maybe she wouldn’t have ended up like this.

The thing that truly kills me has never been the illness itself but certain memories that suddenly come back in later peaceful days.

If only we hadn’t argued that day, if only I weren’t sick, if only I could die sooner... it would have been better.

If I had known that would be our last meeting, I would have spent more time with her, worn my most handsome clothes, and treated her to a nice meal."

Listening to Fang Junhai’s murmurs, Su Qing took a deep breath and comforted him, "She wouldn’t blame you for arguing with her that day. Maybe she also regrets not being able to say a proper goodbye."

"Is that so? Maybe!" Fang Junhai replied with a smile.

The two of them talked for a long time, before they knew it, it was already past three in the afternoon. Fang Junhai took lots of photos with Da Huang and him. Even Fang’s mother came over from time to time, asking them to stay for dinner.

At four in the afternoon, out of the blue, Fang Junhai suddenly spoke, "Su Qing, it seems like my time is almost up. I’m about to die. Can I ask you for one last favor?"

Hearing this, Su Qing was startled, and the subtitles provided a cue.

[Time left: 3 hours and 11 minutes]

"What are you talking about? You’ll be fine!"

But still, shaking his head, Fang Junhai replied, "I can feel it. I truly think I’m about to go. Help me, I don’t want to die at home. Let me have one last meal with my parents, then take me out for a walk. I want to see the outside world, is that okay?"

...

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