Yin Cheng watched the concern and pity flowing between his older sister and brother-in-law, a warmth spreading through his heart, with a glimmer of crystalline tears surfacing in his eyes. Perhaps his sister marrying Ou Chen was the most precious comfort heaven had bestowed upon him. Ou Chen loved his sister so deeply, and she seemed to be accepting him more and more.

So, after he was gone, his sister would still be happy. “From now on, let’s have all our meals together,” Yin Cheng suddenly proposed. “That way, this sickroom will feel just like home!” Yin Xia Mo paused for a moment before looking at Ou Chen, noticing he was also watching her silently.

Her heart tightened, and she replied gently, “That sounds wonderful, as long as your brother-in-law has time to come.” “Good.” Ou Chen placed a piece of beef into her bowl and watched her eat it. “But three people eating isn't quite lively enough,” Yin Cheng chuckled. “Sister, you need to keep up your strength!

When the time comes for future meals, I want to personally feed my little nephew. Having children around will certainly liven things up.” The sickroom filled with warm laughter, as if a beautiful future was unfolding before them, a life they could live happily forever. *Days melted away, and in the blink of an eye, the bitterest part of winter had passed.

The days grew gradually longer, and the nights shorter. The azaleas on the windowsill bloomed with an unusually long flowering period, their deep crimson blossoms luxuriant among the green leaves. Yin Xia Mo went to the doctor’s office.

Ou Chen had to leave for something, leaving only Yin Cheng and Zhen En in the sickroom. Yin Cheng leaned against the headboard, gazing at the azaleas on the sill, his charcoal pencil moving silently over the sketchbook. “Rest a while.

You’ve been drawing for half an hour.” Pouring a cup of hot water, Zhen En gently placed it on the bedside table, looking at Yin Cheng with heartache. His complexion was unnaturally pale, and his breathing was shallow. The hand gripping the charcoal pencil would frequently stop weakly, forcing him to close his eyes for a moment before continuing.

“Just a little more and it’ll be finished.” Yin Cheng smiled and resumed sketching with intense focus. The drawing depicted the azaleas in full, vibrant bloom, with his sister turning back to smile at him, holding a watering can. The charcoal lightly outlined a smile on her face that pierced directly to the viewer's heart.

Zhen En stared at Yin Cheng, unable to decide whether to speak or not. “Whenever Xia Mo is in the sickroom, Xiao Cheng seems healthier and happier, full of childlike energy, chatting and clamoring to go out and play in the snow, as if he possesses limitless vitality. But whenever Xia Mo is away, he becomes exceptionally quiet.

Besides drawing, his frail body often can only lie weakly in the hospital bed, appearing either asleep or in a stupor, his face so pale and translucent it seemed his very life was slowly draining away. In his dreams, no matter how long he waited, she never appeared. One day, when Jennie called, he finally managed to ask in a hoarse voice, “Is… is she well?” Jennie on the other end was silent for a few seconds before replying, “There hasn’t been any news from her in a long time.” No news might be the best news.

She must be doing fine—at least, better off than she was by his side. In the hospital corridor, the bright yellow, densely packed blossoms of the winter jasmine burst forth with dazzling vitality as Zhen En hurried along. She rushed to the hospital clutching the flowers, hoping to surprise Xiao Cheng.

Yet, as she reached the sickroom door, she was confronted with the sight of Xiao Cheng undergoing emergency resuscitation once again! Xiao Cheng lay unconscious on the bed, his face paper-white. Various life-support instruments surrounded them, and the doctors worked frantically!

Zhen En, clutching the vibrant winter jasmine, was stopped by a nurse outside the room. She watched the desperate efforts through the glass panel in the door, gripped by terror. Each resuscitation attempt seemed harder than the last, as if the demonic hand reaching to claim Xiao Cheng was growing stronger!

Ou Chen stood by Xia Mo’s side, holding her shoulder firmly, occasionally asking the exiting doctors and nurses about the situation in a low voice, and frequently leaning down to quietly comfort her. Cradled in his arms, Yin Xia Mo’s eyes were as dark and deep as a pool, as if she could hear nothing at all. All her strength was fixed on Xiao Cheng, who lay unconscious and in shock inside the room.

Her body trembled slightly, like the last straw supporting her was slowly breaking. His studies grew increasingly demanding, and Luo Xi’s outstanding performance earned him great admiration from his professors, attracting more and more friends among his peers. Director Spielberg, a two-time Academy Award winner for Best Director, was an alumnus.

During a visit back to his alma mater, he encountered Luo Xi and was immediately captivated by the peerless, distinguished charm of the Eastern man. Upon learning that Luo Xi had once been a very famous actor, Director Spielberg sought out every film he had performed in. Astonished, he began contacting Luo Xi enthusiastically, hoping to invite him to star as the male lead in his next movie.

But Luo Xi refused all invitations to social gatherings and all offers to return to the entertainment industry. He still ate simple microwave meals every night, read books, or stood quietly by the floor-to-ceiling window in his bedroom. He had promised himself he would forget her and never appear before her again.

The winter jasmine bloomed a brilliant gold on the sickroom windowsill. Yin Cheng never saw that pot of flowers. He lay in the hospital bed, deep in a coma, never regaining consciousness.

After several resuscitation attempts and various treatments, the doctors could only retreat temporarily, helpless. He slipped into a deep coma and never woke up again, marked only by the steady ‘beep… beep…’ of the heart monitor confirming he was still alive. Day after day.

Yin Cheng remained comatose. The doctors’ expressions grew increasingly grim. The dosage of various medications was increased, yet they seemed to have no effect on Xiao Cheng’s body; his heartbeat grew weaker.

Finally, one afternoon, the heart monitor emitted a sharp alarm—Beep— Beep— Looking at the faint, intermittent lines on the monitor, Yin Xia Mo’s face instantly turned ashen. She shot up, intending to hit the emergency bell! Her body, deprived of sleep for over half a month, swayed violently, and countless points of light flashed dizzyingly before her eyes!

Ou Chen supported her with one hand and hit the emergency bell with the other, gazing at Xiao Cheng’s snow-white, deathly pale face. Sensing the coldness and trembling waves washing over her body, his own heart sank heavily. When the doctors and nurses rushed into the room, Zhen En was already flustered and beside herself!

Seeing the now all-too-familiar scene of frantic rescue, the terror this time was far more intense than all previous attempts combined. She covered her mouth, so frightened she wanted to cry, held fast by a terrible premonition! “Please stand back!” The nurse hurried to push them away from the bedside.

The urgency of the situation and the doctors’ shouts meant the nurse didn’t have time to escort them out of the room as usual. “Heartbeat has stopped!” a doctor shouted, forcefully pressing on Yin Cheng’s chest! “Blood pressure near zero!” “Administer epinephrine!” “Yes!” “Blood pressure is zero!” “Double the epinephrine!” As if watching a silent black-and-white film, the anxious doctors utilized all the emergency equipment readily available in the room.

The heart monitor continued its piercing screech. Yin Cheng lay quietly on the bed, as if merely asleep, his left hand, riddled with needle marks from constant IV drips, slid limply off the side of the bed. “...” Yin Xia Mo’s body shook rigidly.

Ou Chen held her tightly, feeling her coldness like ice, the violent tremors seeming to shatter that ice piece by piece! “Xiao Cheng—” Zhen En could no longer control her emotions; tears streamed down her face as she broke down, crying out! “Chest compressions are ineffective!” The doctor pressing on Yin Cheng’s chest was covered in sweat; the heart monitor still showed a flat line.

“Use the defibrillator!” a doctor yelled. The nurse immediately handed him the prepared paddles. The doctor grabbed them.

Bang— Yin Cheng’s body sprang up high. “Increase the current!” Bang— Yin Cheng’s body jumped up high again, falling back limply. Bang— Like a soft ragdoll, Yin Cheng’s slender frame was lifted high, then dropped back heavily and lifelessly.

The heart monitor shrieked continuously—a straight line, a straight line showing no heartbeat. “I’m sorry, we did everything we could…” In the afternoon sunlight, the doctor walked toward Yin Xia Mo, his silhouette backlit, his face hazy and jarring. His words drifted into her ears, fragmented like bits of cotton batting.

“...” Yin Xia Mo slowly turned her head, as if trying to hear what the doctor was saying. Her eyes were stunned and vacant. Then, dry, broken sounds emerged from her throat, noises no one could decipher.

“You’re lying! Xiao Cheng won’t die! Why stop resuscitating him!

Xiao Cheng hasn’t died, he’s still alive! He’s still alive! What are you standing here for!

Go save Xiao Cheng! Go save Xiao Cheng—!” Zhen En lunged forward, grabbing the doctor’s clothes, crying out in furious tears that left her face wet and stinging. Xiao Cheng won’t die!

Even if heaven is cruel, it wouldn’t dare snatch his life away so young! “Miss, please calm down!” The nurse rushed to hold Zhen En back, attempting to free the doctor from her angry shaking, but Zhen En screamed, utterly broken: “Save Xiao Cheng quickly! Or I will sue you!

He is alive, he is not dead!” “I’m sorry, we did everything we could…” In the afternoon sunlight, the doctor walked toward Yin Xia Mo, his silhouette backlit, his face hazy and jarring. His words drifted into her ears, fragmented like bits of cotton batting. “...” Yin Xia Mo slowly turned her head, as if trying to hear what the doctor was saying.

Her eyes were stunned and vacant. Then, dry, broken sounds emerged from her throat, noises no one could decipher. “You’re lying!

Xiao Cheng won’t die! Why stop resuscitating him! Xiao Cheng hasn’t died, he’s still alive!

He’s still alive! What are you standing here for! Go save Xiao Cheng!

Go save Xiao Cheng—!” Zhen En lunged forward, grabbing the doctor’s clothes, crying out in furious tears that left her face wet and stinging. Xiao Cheng won’t die! Even if heaven is cruel, it wouldn’t dare snatch his life away so young!

“Miss, please calm down!” The nurse rushed to hold Zhen En back, attempting to free the doctor from her angry shaking, but Zhen En screamed, utterly broken: “Save Xiao Cheng quickly! Or I will sue you! He is alive, he is not dead!” Looking at Yin Cheng lying peacefully on the bed, as serene as a sleeping prince, the sorrow in Ou Chen’s heart surged like a monstrous wave.

He closed his eyes, turning his gaze back to Xia Mo, only to see her standing there blankly, as if concentrating intently on something she was hearing. “...” Her cracked lips murmured softly, her gaze tender yet empty. “Xia Mo.” Ou Chen’s heart ached intensely, recalling the frenzied, distraught look she wore under the cherry blossom tree six years ago when her adoptive parents passed away.

“...” Whispering faintly, she seemed to be speaking to an invisible person, her voice light and delicate, a faint smile beginning to bloom on her face. “Xia Mo!” Ou Chen cried out in pain, reaching out to embrace her, as a chill and fear flowed through his body. He would rather see her weep like Zhen En than witness this drifting, ethereal expression.

“...” She listened vacantly, pulling away from Ou Chen’s arm, tilting her head as if listening for something, then walking silently toward the bedside. Her steps were light, like a sleepwalker’s, as she murmured softly while moving. The room instantly fell into a dead silence.

Ou Chen’s eyes dimmed, and he stopped following her steps. Zhen En also stared at her dumbfounded, the hands clutching the doctor’s clothes slowly relaxing their grip. The doctors and nurses, unsure of what she intended to do, exchanged glances as they watched her walk lightly toward the bed.

Such quietude. Her murmuring whispers were gradually becoming clear to everyone. “Listen,” Yin Xia Mo whispered dreamily.

She stood by the bedside, gently bending down, her fingers lightly touching Yin Cheng’s pale face. “Listen.” The tender whisper drifted through the quiet room. Beep!

Beep! Suddenly, a sharp sound erupted simultaneously from the heart monitor! The long, straight line had unexpectedly developed fluctuations and curves!

Several nurses gasped in shock, and the doctors immediately rushed over! After a tense examination, the doctors seemed to exchange a few words before quietly leaving the room. Beep!

Beep! Suddenly, a sharp sound erupted simultaneously from the heart monitor! The long, straight line had unexpectedly developed fluctuations and curves!

Several nurses gasped in shock, and the doctors immediately rushed over! After a tense examination, the doctors seemed to exchange a few words before quietly leaving the room. Yin Cheng, who had been lying on the bed like a sleeping prince from a storybook illustration, slowly fluttered his long, dark eyelashes a few times.

Slowly, slowly, he opened his eyes. “Sis...” The afternoon sun was a brilliant gold, casting light upon Yin Cheng’s long eyelashes. Looking at her, the corners of his lips slowly curved into a gentle smile, a smile that seemed to possess a golden radiance in the quiet sickroom.

“You’re finally awake.” Xia Mo gently stroked his fine, soft hair with her finger. Two tears fell silently, catching the sunlight in mid-air to refract into crystalline, multicolored rays, dripping quietly onto his snow-white sheet. She spoke dreamily, “Do you know?

They just said you died.” Yin Cheng’s eyes were soft as a spring lake. “How could I die? I promised you, I would always stay with my sister, I would never leave her side.” “Yes, I remember, that’s why I wasn’t fooled by them.” Her fingers gently caressed his warm cheek; she gazed down at Xiao Cheng softly.

“See, sister isn’t even crying. Sister didn’t fall for their trick.” “Sis.” In the golden light, Yin Cheng’s smile was almost transparent. He snuggled into her palm like a child.

“I won’t die. I can’t bear to leave you.” “I know you won’t die.” She pulled him into an embrace, bending down slightly, holding him tightly with her warm body. “Heaven is fair.

It always gives people something before it takes something away. It gave you nothing, so it will never take away the only thing you have—your life.” “Sis, holding me like this reminds me of when I was little,” he murmured, closing his eyes in affection. “You used to hold me like this often then, rocking me to sleep, singing me nursery rhymes, and you’d often make me braised chicken wings.

They were so fragrant and delicious.” “You want some?” A pang of sorrow hit her. Since he was hospitalized, she had only been preparing him bland meals. “Yeah, it’s been so long since I ate any,” his childlike eyes sparkling, nestled in her embrace.

“Sister will go make it right now, okay?” “But, I also want sister to hold me like this. I don’t want you to leave.” Yin Cheng snuggled closer, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Then, after you fall asleep, sister will go make it for you, alright?” she said, patting his back indulgently.

Long, long ago, he was a chubby newborn baby. She held him every day, and he never cried or fussed; he would fall asleep quietly just from a gentle pat. “Sis.” In her arms, he slowly drifted off to sleep.

“Sis. I won’t die. I will always be with you.” Summer of Foam III