I suddenly remembered meeting Dai Xinyan at the hospital today. She seemed to have realized something, not daring to think further, and remained silent. Father Shao, observing her expression, gently said, “Tingyu is a doctor, it’s normal for him to be busy. Mengmeng, try to understand.” Lin Mengmeng, holding back her emotions, nodded, “I know.” The Shao family dinner, without Shao Tingyu, ended in a quiet and distant atmosphere. Back at home, Lin Mengmeng looked at the wedding photo on the wall, where Shao Tingyu’s cold eyes stared back, a bitter taste rising in her throat. After five years of marriage, compared to the tenderness he showed to Dai Xinyan, she seemed more accustomed to his coldness. After staring for who knows how long, Lin Mengmeng was jolted back to reality by the sound of the clock. It was past midnight, and Shao Tingyu hadn’t returned. This was unprecedented. Lin Mengmeng couldn’t help but worry and sent him a text message. However, the message sank like a stone into the sea, with no response. As time passed, Lin Mengmeng, after much hesitation, called Shao Tingyu. After a long series of beeps, just as she was about to hang up, the call was finally answered. “Tingyu, when are you coming back?” Lin Mengmeng asked cautiously. Shao Tingyu’s voice was cold, “I won’t be coming back.” “What?” Lin Mengmeng was stunned, not comprehending. Then Shao Tingyu coldly added, “I won’t be back until we get our divorce certificates.”
Chapter Three: Single
The echo of the disconnected call was harsh; Lin Mengmeng nearly dropped her phone. For five years of marriage, she had always strived to fulfill her duties as a wife, giving her all, believing she could win Shao Tingyu’s heart with sincerity. But in the end, she lost everything… The night was silent. Lin Mengmeng clutched her phone, curling up on the sofa. Until the wind brushed against the windows, the clouds parted, and the white moonlight cast her small shadow onto the floor… She didn’t sleep at all that night.
The next day, Lin Mengmeng was on vacation but still went early to the First Affiliated Hospital of Modu to see her attending physician, Chen Zhe. She told him about her recent condition. After listening, Chen Zhe looked grave; once these symptoms of ALS appeared, it was generally incurable. After some thought, he said directly, “Limb stiffness is an early symptom. As your condition worsens, you’ll experience muscle atrophy throughout your body and speech difficulties. You should inform your family soon and cooperate actively with treatment to slow down the disease with medication.” Hearing this, Lin Mengmeng felt a pang of bitterness. Since 2016, she had no family… The one she thought was her family was Shao Tingyu, but now, they were about to divorce. What would telling him achieve? He might just think she was seeking sympathy. After a long silence, Lin Mengmeng softly replied, “Thank you, I’ll think about it. Please prescribe some medication for me.” Chen Zhe sighed, writing out a prescription, advising, “I’ll be going for a rural medical outreach in a few days. If you have any other symptoms, call me immediately.” “Medical outreach?” Lin Mengmeng was puzzled. “The hospital organizes teams to provide medical services in Hezhou County every year. It’s rare to pull people from pediatrics, so it’s normal you wouldn’t know.” Chen Zhe explained, and Lin Mengmeng nodded, taking the prescription and leaving the clinic. From a distance, she saw Shao Tingyu supporting Dai Xinyan as they approached. He was watching her steps intently, ensuring she didn’t stumble. So, he could be this attentive, this tender… Lin Mengmeng stared blankly, feeling a mix of envy and pain. As they got closer, she quickly lowered her head. Shao Tingyu passed by as if he hadn’t seen her. The wind from the corridor brought the scent of his cologne mixed with the fragrance of a woman, piercing her heart. Lin Mengmeng didn’t dare to look back, her spine stiff, she walked forward step by step, unaware of Dai Xinyan’s gaze from behind…
They didn’t see each other again until that evening when Lin Mengmeng was about to finish her shift. An elderly man, leading a little girl, rushed over. The girl’s face was pale, and she was about to collapse. Seeing Lin Mengmeng in her white coat, the old man looked as if he had seen a savior, “Doctor, my granddaughter has been complaining of headaches lately, please help her!” Lin Mengmeng quickly reassured him, “Okay, okay, don’t worry, let’s do some checks first.” She hurriedly took the girl for tests, diagnosing her with probable encephalitis. This condition was more in the realm of neurology, so Lin Mengmeng took the child to the neurology department for a consultation. To her surprise, Shao Tingyu was on duty that day. Their eyes met, and Shao Tingyu looked at the girl in Lin Mengmeng’s arms, “What’s the situation with the child?” “Probably encephalitis, but she’s so young, we can’t have her on anti-inflammatory drugs long-term.” Lin Mengmeng was full of concern. Shao Tingyu nodded slightly, “You go out, I’ll take her for further tests.” Lin Mengmeng knew Shao Tingyu was an absolute expert in neurology. After handing the girl over to him, she left the room.
Time flew by, and it was past one in the morning. After settling the girl into the hospital and giving some instructions to the grandfather, Lin Mengmeng was about to ask Shao Tingyu for further treatment plans. But as she approached the office, she heard a playful voice from inside, “Dr. Shao is not only handsome but also so good at taking care of people. I envy your girlfriend!” Upon hearing this, Lin Mengmeng paused. Then Shao Tingyu’s voice came, “Sorry, I’m single.”
Chapter Four: Medical Outreach
Hearing this answer, Lin Mengmeng felt as if a blade had sliced through her heart. The persistence she had held onto for their marriage over the past five years turned into nothing with that single sentence. Now, Lin Mengmeng finally understood why Shao Tingyu insisted on keeping their marriage a secret. Unknowingly married, and unknowingly ending it, without causing any trouble for each other. Lin Mengmeng no longer had the courage to open the door; she silently left the hospital.
The next day, after checking on the little girl, Lin Mengmeng was stopped as she left the ward. Dai Xinyan, in her hospital gown, asked, “Mengmeng, can we chat for a bit?” Lin Mengmeng didn’t know what they could talk about, but seeing her frail body, she nodded. On a bench in the long corridor, Dai Xinyan looked at Lin Mengmeng for a long time before slowly speaking, “I heard from Tingyu that you’re getting divorced?” Lin Mengmeng stiffened. Dai Xinyan seemed not to notice and continued, “That’s just how Tingyu is; once he decides on something, he never looks back.” She consoled, but a strange smile flickered in her eyes, “It’s quite coincidental. Three days before the Chinese New Year, I just ran into Tingyu again, and I was thinking about inviting you for dinner together. But then, I suddenly fell ill, and now you’re getting divorced, how things change…” Chapter Five: Sudden Earthquake
