When an ill woman named An Ke is awake, she is mostly like others, except for receiving treatment daily. Her brother An Qiao has just graduated and is interning at a good company in City B. An Ke entrusts him with all her savings and tells him to take care of himself, emphasizing that life is precious and one should live well even if someone is gone.
When she visits Pei Xuanyan at his company, she meets his girlfriend Nan Xingchen. Despite Xingchen’s initial jealous and somewhat rude attitude, An Ke responds with kindness, telling her she likes Pei Xuanyan only as an older brother and that she likes Xingchen too.
An Ke gives Pei Xuanyan philosophical advice about life being like a chess game, suggesting he should be open to new possibilities and cherish people around him. After their conversation, she leaves and collapses outside, where her companion Jun Hao catches her.
The passage reveals An Ke is seriously ill and seems to be preparing for her potential death, making heartfelt connections with important people in her life while trying to ensure they will be happy after she’s gone. Her interactions are marked by grace, wisdom, and a sense of impending farewell.
The excerpt ends with a description of a hot summer day, with An Ke lying in a garden chair, wearing a white dress, as someone named Leng Xiang calls her name.
An Ke, it’s time to take your medicine.” Leng Xiang carried a bowl of black liquid and walked to her, placing the medicine on a small round table. When Jun Hao was not around, she was responsible for An Ke’s daily care. She turned back to help An Ke sit up from the chair and softly said, “I secretly prepared some honey for you, so it won’t be bitter.”
An Ke sat with some difficulty at the round table and smiled lightly, “Xiang’er, thank you for your meticulous care. I feel like I’ve drunk all the Chinese and Western medicines these past two months.”
“This is what I should do. As long as you can get better, it will be the greatest comfort to me,” Leng Xiang sat across from her, knowing clearly that if An Ke couldn’t recover, Jun Hao wouldn’t be happy, and if Jun Hao wasn’t happy, she couldn’t be happy either.
