Translator: Dj2203
Editor: Dj2203
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“…”
Unexpectedly, it was Xing Cheng himself who answered the phone. Lu Dangui opened his mouth, but suddenly found himself speechless.
He didn’t hear anyone speak for a while, and there was no sound from the other end of the phone.
Just when he thought Xing Cheng had hung up, he heard a low breathing sound coming from the receiver, so soft that it was almost inaudible.
The other party was also waiting for him to speak.
If he had received a call from an unknown number, he would probably hang up immediately if the other person didn’t speak right away, let alone wait patiently.
Does Xing Cheng answer every unfamiliar phone number?
Lu Dangui thought it was unlikely.
Actor Xing is too busy protecting himself from stalker fans to possibly answer a call from a stranger.
He didn’t have time to think it through. So before Xing Cheng could hang up, he quickly cleared his throat and asked, “Excuse me… are you Mr. Xing?”
The other party remained silent for a long time:
“It’s me.”
“Mr. Xing, I am Dr. Lu Dangui.”
Lu Dangui quickly pressed on, asking all the questions he wanted to ask: “I went back to work at the hospital today. I heard from the director that you will no longer be hospitalized for follow-up treatment. Are there any other arrangements?”
In order to avoid Xing Cheng noticing anything amiss, he tried his best to adjust his tone to his usual businesslike manner.
A rushing sound of water came from the other end of the phone, and Xing Cheng’s voice sounded somewhat muffled: “…Is that enough?”
What did he say?
Lu Dangui didn’t quite understand.
Is that enough?
A moment later, the sound of water stopped.
“I’m saying,” Xing Cheng’s unhurried voice came through the receiver, “is the compensation amount enough?”
“…”
Lu Dangui gripped his phone tightly and took a deep breath: “Mr. Xing, do you think I’m contacting you to ask you for money?”
“Isn’t that right?” Xing Cheng countered.
Lu Dangui’s lips stiffened slightly.
He was so angry at this person that he felt like his lungs were about to explode.
He was originally going to ask Xing Cheng if his mental state had improved slightly since he left Fujita Mansion that day.
Looking back now, why bother with someone like that?
Destroy it, quickly!
“If Mr. Xing is unwilling to continue treatment, I presume you have your own reasons.” Lu Dangui suppressed his displeasure and continued with a smile, “Although I am your doctor, I cannot arbitrarily interfere with your decision. Then I would like to trouble Mr. Xing to give me an address so I can mail you the bank card you left earlier.”
“What card?”
Xing Cheng’s tone carried a hint of doubt.
“……”
Lu Dangui raised his hand to end the call, saying goodbye.
Just as he was about to hang up, the person on the other end of the phone suddenly spoke up: “I understand, bring it over.”
After saying that, Xing Cheng hung up the phone before him, his actions were very swift and decisive.
A few seconds later, the phone in her hand vibrated; Lu Dangui had received a new text message.
Unknown number:
[Rehabilitation Department VIP03-01]
Lu Dangui: “…”
OK.
If the meeting room wasn’t located on such a high floor, he would have thrown his phone out right now.
….
Inpatient Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of S University.
When he arrived at the nurses’ station, Lu Dangui intended to leave the black card at the front desk, but the nurse at the front desk stopped him: “Are you Dr. Lu? The patient in ward 03 wants you to come over.”
After passing through several corridors, Lu Dangui finally found the secluded 03 VIP ward.
Although he was very unhappy, he stood at the door for a moment and then knocked on the door.
The automatic door slowly opened in front of Lu Dangui. He walked into the ward and immediately saw the person sitting on the edge of the bed.
The entire ward had been cleaned, and all the monitoring equipment by the bedside had been turned off. It seemed the patient staying here was about to be discharged.
Xing Cheng did not look up when he heard someone enter the ward.
He was leaning against the pillow, with a Bluetooth headset clipped to his ear, looking at the tablet in his hand.
The dampness from the bathroom seeped out through the half-open door, carrying a faint scent of shower gel. The person had probably just finished showering; a white towel was draped over his shoulders, and a few drops of water still clung to the ends of his hair.
Lu Dangui stepped forward, took out a black bank card from his pocket, and placed it on the bedside table: “Mr. Xing, I’ve left the card here.”
Seeing that Xing Cheng didn’t react at all, he planned to leave quietly when no one was looking. Unexpectedly, as soon as he turned around, there was movement behind him.
Xing Cheng pressed the pause button on the tablet. He then turned his head slightly and asked Lu Dangui’s back, “Dr. Lu, are you my fan?”
Seeing Lu Dangui stop in his tracks, Xing Cheng continued, “Otherwise, how would you explain being so familiar with lines from ‘The Vicious Dog’ at Fujita Mansion that day?”
Lu Dangui was speechless for a moment.
He was thoroughly impressed by Xing Cheng’s thought process.
He, Lu Dangui, a fan of this person. It’s amazing that he could come up with such a thing!
“I guess… I guess so.”
Lu Dangui gave an ambiguous answer.
If haters are considered fans.
Xing Cheng took off his earphones: “Dr. Lu, which of my works do you like the most?”
Xing Cheng started as an idol singer and only switched to acting three years ago. He had released several music albums, but his film and television works were relatively few. Apart from the critically acclaimed film “The Vicious Dog,” he had only appeared in two relatively unpopular online movies.
Lu Dangui pursed his lips: “Are you talking about musical works or film and television works?”
Xing Cheng smiled: “Either is fine.”
“Then… let’s go with ‘Pale Star’.”
Lu Dangui just spouted nonsense.
“Pale Star” was the title track of Xing Cheng’s fourth solo album, and also Lu Wenfei’s favorite song. She sang this song at her high school singing competition.
Because Wenfei often hummed this song at home, he had a deep impression of it.
Looking at the young doctor with a complicated expression by the bedside, Xing Cheng’s eyes darkened: “Why this song?”
“Pale Star, don’t you often use it as an encore at your concerts?”
While reminiscing about the old times when he accompanied his sister to chase after celebrities, Lu Dangui said to the person in front of him, “The melody is quite nice, and the fans can even sing along.”
Upon hearing Lu Dangui’s reason, Xing Cheng chuckled.
He handed the Bluetooth earphones to Lu Dangui, gesturing for him to put them on.
Although somewhat confused, Lu Dangui still accepted the earphones offered by the man.
A beautiful piano piece was playing in my headphones; there were no vocals. The melody was pleasant and peaceful, giving the feeling of a gentle, narrative unfolding.
Unfortunately, the melody only lasted for thirty seconds before it ended.
Lu Dangui was somewhat puzzled: “This is…”
“The demo of my new song.”
Xing Cheng said.
“A new song?”
Lu Dangui was somewhat surprised.
Anyone who followed Xing Cheng even slightly knew that he suddenly announced a hiatus from music three years ago to become an actor, which sparked considerable discussion online.
Many netizens participated in the debate, especially those who disliked Xing Cheng, who said that he couldn’t just focus on making music, but insisted on trying to get a piece of the pie in the film and television industry like everyone else.
Haters also started the hashtag “Xing Cheng’s original aspirations have been fed to dogs” on Weibo, mocking Xing Cheng for saying that he would stick to singing, dancing and creating, but still succumbing to the power of capital and abandoning his original aspirations.
After retiring from the entertainment industry, actor Xing, who had not released any music for three years, suddenly dug out a demo tape and told others that it was his new song.
Who would believe that?
Ah.
Lu Dangui suddenly remembered his original purpose for coming to find Xing Cheng.
When Xing Cheng brought up his music at this moment, was he trying to take the next step in communicating with him, his psychiatrist?
Lu Dangui, who had initially intended to give a casual, perfunctory reply, immediately changed his wording: “Is Mr. Xing considering releasing a new song?”
Upon hearing Lu Dangui’s question, Xing Cheng’s smile faded slightly.
“No.”
He said, “Dr. Lu, I can’t sing anymore.”
“If it were you, would you listen to a singer who always sings off-key?”
He raised his hand and rubbed the silver earring on his earlobe with his fingertips: “I had an accident a few years ago that injured my left eardrum. I can’t find the rhythm and pitch anymore.”
….
Lu Dangui didn’t respond for a long time.
He felt a bit confused, and his thoughts were a little disorganized.
He never imagined that the reason Xing Cheng stopped composing music would be this.
If Wenfei knew…
The idea had barely crossed his mind when Lu Dangui immediately rejected it.
My younger sister no longer follows celebrities, so there’s really no need to bring up Xing Cheng’s past with her anymore.
As if guessing what the young doctor was thinking, Xing Cheng quietly glanced at him and said, “Dr. Lu, you signed a confidentiality agreement, don’t forget.”
Some things he said were not meant for others to announce to the world in public.
A heavy thud of leather shoes echoed down the corridor, and the figure of a bodyguard in black appeared at the ward door:
“Young Master, the car is ready downstairs and we can leave at any time.”
The bodyguard blocked the automatic door, making way for Lu Dangui to exit.
This means to see the guest off.
“Um.”
Xing Cheng shook his half-wet hair and gestured to Lu Dangui to grab his coat from the bedside table before leaving.
As Lu Dangui handed the clothes to Xing Cheng, his heart began to race.
He actually had more questions for Xing Cheng, but he didn’t know if he would have the chance in the future.
This man surnamed Xing had quite a few secrets about him.
For some reason, he had a vague feeling that something was gradually reviving beneath Xing Cheng’s aloof and cold exterior.
Take today as an example; he smiled more often than the last time they met.
However, Xing Cheng was still unaware of the changes happening to him.
Thinking of this, Lu Dangui blurted out subconsciously, “Mr. Xing, if your illness could be cured, would you still continue to receive treatment?”
Xing Cheng was changing his clothes, his head down, with two buttons undone at the collar of his hospital gown. Hearing Lu Dangui’s words, he stopped what he was doing.
“It’s useless.”
Lu Dangui then heard Xing Cheng say, “Doctor, I’m beyond saving.”
Hearing this person say such things in such a calm tone, Lu Dangui’s anger flared up instantly.
“Many cancer patients have a chance of recovery if they actively cooperate with their doctors’ treatment.” He raised his voice and loudly questioned the person in the hospital bed, “Why did you so easily conclude that you are beyond saving?”
He was like a tree that still stands tall, yet it is accelerating its own withering.
He wanted to ask Xing Cheng, “Even Lu Wenfei, the girl who lost her legs because of you, managed to bounce back, study hard, get into university, and start a new life.”
Are you just admitting defeat and deserting?
“Doctor, only kind people deserve to be saved.” Xing Cheng retorted, “Doesn’t a wicked person like me only have the right to sentence myself to death?”
Lu Dangui clenched his fists.
He felt sorry for his sister and for all the fans who had liked him for many years.
“Whatever.”
He left a sentence behind and turned to walk out.
As he walked past Xing Cheng’s hospital bed, he happened to glance at the tablet computer standing next to the bed.
The tablet screen was still on the text message sending page, and the text on it was so bright that it glared at his eyes.
Lu Dangui remained frozen in place.
He understood why Xing Cheng hadn’t hung up on the unfamiliar phone number.
Xing Cheng already knew that this was a call from him.
Sent content:
[Rehabilitation Department VIP03-01]
Recipient:
[Rabbit Doctor]
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