Shuyan saw Liu Hui return from seeing her primary physician and asked with a smile, "Huihui, what did the doctor say? When can I be discharged?"

Liu Hui suppressed the anxiety churning inside him and laughed, "Yanyan, don't worry. The doctor just said your condition isn't serious. With treatment, you'll recover and be out very soon."

Shuyan let out a sigh of relief, smiling, "That would be wonderful. Having these lumps all over my body is truly depressing."

Shuyan's mother took her daughter's hand and said, "Our Yanyan needs to get better quickly. Your father and I are waiting to see you on your wedding day! You're looking forward to it too, aren't you, Xiao Hui?"

Liu Hui smiled, "Auntie, of course, I am eagerly awaiting the day I marry Yanyan. Thinking about that day makes my heart burn with warmth!"

And so, Shuyan temporarily forgot about her strange ailment and began to dream of her wedding day. That evening, Chuchu rushed over to the hospital upon hearing the news. When she saw the hideous lumps covering Shuyan's body, she was terribly startled, then immediately began to comfort her.

With Shuyan hospitalized, her parents, being older and not in robust health themselves, struggled to manage her care effectively. Consequently, Liu Hui requested an extended leave from the factory to dedicate himself entirely to looking after Shuyan at the hospital.

The hospital authorities once again extracted samples of the unknown bacteria from Shuyan's system for research. By the next day, however, they discovered that these mysterious microbes had vanished again, while the count of the unknown bacteria within Shuyan’s body had inexplicably increased. The lumps appearing on Shuyan’s skin grew in number and size; some had already begun to rupture, weeping foul-smelling yellow fluid.

By now, Shuyan realized something was terribly wrong. Her body began to itch and prickle, but determined not to worry Liu Hui or her parents, she clenched her jaw and maintained a facade of normalcy.

In the following days, the hospital staff still could not decipher the characteristics of the unknown bacteria in Shuyan’s system. Shuyan’s primary physician informed Liu Hui that the lumps did not fall under any category of infectious disease. This was because the bacteria would inexplicably vanish the day after leaving Shuyan’s body, rendering preservation impossible. Therefore, even if someone were infected, they would not manifest Shuyan’s symptoms, as the microbes could not sustain themselves within another host for long. This explained why Liu Hui spent so much time with Shuyan, even kissing her, yet remained untouched by the affliction.

However, the physician added a grim caveat: this bacteria’s tendency toward sudden disappearance made it impossible to profile its characteristics, thus preventing the development of targeted treatment. Although the hospital had convened its most renowned doctors for consultations, and even sought input from major provincial hospitals, under the current technological constraints, they remained powerless against the organism. Thus, without effective containment, Shuyan’s lumps would proliferate, and her condition would worsen indefinitely—to what final severity, no one could predict.

The doctor strongly recommended that Liu Hui immediately transfer Shuyan to a major hospital in Kyoto. The technical capabilities there, he asserted, far surpassed their own, offering a better chance of improvement.

Hearing the doctor’s pronouncement left Liu Hui shattered. On his way home, a sharp memory pierced his distraction: the dazzling, shard of glass that had pierced Shuyan’s sole. He was certain her current state was connected to that very piece. He turned back toward the street clinic, intending to retrieve the glass and submit it to the hospital for analysis.

Alas, when Liu Hui reached the clinic, everything in its trash bins had long since been dumped into an outdoor refuse pile, which had subsequently been collected by the sanitation truck and hauled to the landfill, where the waste had already been incinerated. The magnificent, wicked shard of glass was forever lost to him.

Unable to find the culprit shard, Liu Hui returned home. He relayed the doctor's advice to Shuyan's parents. Hearing the dire prognosis, they were overcome with worry; in just a few days, half the hair on their heads had turned white from anxiety over Shuyan's illness.

Though Shuyan was employed, she had foregone health insurance coverage and could not benefit from its protections. Moreover, having their daughter late in life, the family possessed no substantial savings. They simply could not afford the exorbitant costs of transferring Shuyan to a top hospital in Kyoto.

In desperation, Shuyan’s parents began quietly planning to sell their house. Liu Hui felt utterly helpless upon learning this, for he possessed little money himself. He resolved to return to Bashan to borrow funds from old friends there, hoping to send Shuyan to the Kyoto hospital and spare her parents the prospect of homelessness in their old age.

It was at this juncture that Chuchu, chatting with Shuyan in the ward, inadvertently let slip the truth about the gravity of her actual condition. Heartbroken and distraught, Shuyan resolved to discharge herself immediately and recuperate at home. She could not bear the mounting hospital bills with no corresponding therapeutic benefit.

Liu Hui and Shuyan’s parents vehemently opposed her leaving, determined to sell everything to finance her treatment in Kyoto. But Shuyan was unusually resolute this time, even threatening to starve herself. Reluctantly, Liu Hui and the parents yielded, completing the discharge paperwork and bringing Shuyan home for a slow, quiet recovery.

Once home, Liu Hui devoted every moment outside of his factory work to Shuyan’s side, tending to her meticulously and offering gentle solace, hoping to sustain her spirits so her willpower might combat the unknown bacteria’s consumption of her body. To Liu Hui’s despair, Shuyan’s condition did not improve; instead, it grew markedly worse.

Now, not only were there more lumps erupting around the wound on her sole, but her face and other areas were covered in them. These facial lesions occasionally burst, oozing yellow fluid, rendering Shuyan’s appearance terrifying.

Seeing the rapid deterioration, Liu Hui and her parents pressed again to return her to the hospital, but Shuyan vetoed every suggestion. After weeping uncontrollably upon seeing her horrific new visage, she fashioned a white veil-mask for her head, covering her face so Liu Hui would never have to look upon it again.

Liu Hui’s relentless routine—caring for Shuyan by night, working by day—finally resulted in exhaustion severe enough that he fell asleep on the job. This lapse was discovered by the factory owner, who happened to be inspecting the workshop floor, leading to Liu Hui suffering the first dismissal of his life.

Yet, Liu Hui scarcely cared about the job now. Being fired freed him to concentrate his entire being on Shuyan’s care. When Shuyan learned Liu Hui had lost his employment, her distress intensified. She began lashing out, screaming that he was useless, penniless, and incapable of protecting her from this terrible torment. She accused him, reminding him that she had willingly taken a risk for him—if she hadn't helped him hoe the field that day, he would have stepped on that glass shard himself.

In short, Shuyan hurled the most hurtful invectives imaginable; even her parents winced at the cruelty. Liu Hui, however, remained unperturbed. He took her hand and said gently, "Yanyan, when you speak to me like this, it’s only because you want me to leave you. I know. You don't want to drag me down with you. Don't forget, we share that electric connection. You cannot hide your true feelings from me."

Hearing this, Shuyan dissolved into tears, striking weakly at Liu Hui, begging him to leave her side rather than stay. Liu Hui’s response stunned her parents and Chuchu. With a surge of strength, he pulled Shuyan tightly into his embrace, ignoring the weeping, pus-covered lumps marring her face, and kissed her.

When they parted, Liu Hui wept, "Yanyan, I told you long ago. No matter what you become, I will always love you. Even if you die, I will go with you. Are you still testing the truth of my words?"

That night, watching Liu Hui sleep soundly beside her bed, Shuyan retrieved her iron box from the drawer and continued writing in her diary: "April 13, 2008. Heavy rain. I feel my body failing, that I could die at any moment. I look terrifying now; even seeing my reflection terrifies me. Yet, today, Huihui kissed me. He doesn't care about this horror. He has fulfilled our vow of love completely. While I feel happiness, I am also deeply sorrowful. I don't know what wrong I committed for Heaven to treat us this way. I am even more afraid—what will become of my Huihui if anything happens to me..."

Finishing her entry, Shuyan took out the video camera Liu Hui had given her and began filming him as he slept by her bedside. Beside the recording, she spoke of her inextinguishable love for him and dreamt aloud of their future wedding.

Shuyan’s illness progressed relentlessly. The clusters of lumps began to merge, becoming intensely itchy and painful. Any attempt to scratch caused large patches to burst, releasing torrents of yellow fluid that brought her agonizing suffering. Liu Hui had no choice but to cleanse her daily, applying medicated water repeatedly.

While remaining steadfastly by Shuyan’s side, Liu Hui continued to contact the primary physician at the Provincial People’s Hospital, keeping the aging, dedicated doctor updated on Shuyan’s worsening condition. Yet, after exhausting every avenue, the doctor still could not resolve the mystery of the bacteria’s twenty-four-hour disappearance, rendering any recommendation for treatment futile. Furthermore, in the medical landscape of contemporary China, research was largely stagnant without the incentive of substantial funds; no one in Chuzhou was willing to dedicate themselves to studying Shuyan’s unique affliction. Since the strange microbes could not be transported to Kyoto for advanced study, Shuyan was effectively trapped in a medical cul-de-sac.

Watching Shuyan suffer the relentless torment of her illness, Liu Hui felt his heart being twisted by a knife. He bitterly regretted the decision to let her help him hoe the field that day, wishing he had stepped on that wicked glass shard instead, so that Shuyan would be spared this agony.

Shuyan’s body continued to decompose. Her skin became entirely covered in a mass of tumors, the entire surface enveloped by these gruesome, fleshy mounds. Occasionally, the clusters would twitch, pushing Shuyan to the brink of death through sheer pain. Following one particularly violent wave of systemic twitching, she simply lapsed into unconsciousness.

Shuyan’s sudden coma jolted Liu Hui. They rushed her to the Provincial People’s Hospital, where her primary physician conducted a thorough examination. He grimly informed Liu Hui that Shuyan’s vital signs had entered a critical state, and they had absolutely no recourse for her condition.

Shuyan’s plight alarmed the hospital director, who convened a high-level meeting. To avoid any future institutional liabilities, the administration ultimately refused to admit Shuyan for continued hospitalization.

Forced to accept the hospital’s refusal, Liu Hui and Shuyan’s parents swallowed their fury and transferred her to other major medical centers. However, upon reviewing her case, every facility they approached declined treatment. In a city as large as Chuzhou, not a single hospital would accept Shuyan. This fact enraged Liu Hui and her parents, yet they were powerless to change it. They ultimately brought the comatose Shuyan back home, tending to her with painstaking care.

Shuyan remained unconscious, her physical state spiraling downward. Not a patch of healthy skin remained; countless lumps, large and small, wept yellow fluid, occasionally writhing faintly. Liu Hui’s heart was saturated with grief as he cleaned the discharge, praying ceaselessly for a miracle that would restore her health.

One night, Liu Hui woke suddenly in the dark. He glanced at Shuyan lying motionless on the bed. She was unchanged, locked in her coma. A wave of sorrow washed over him—why must fate afflict such a beautiful, kind young woman with this horror?

It was then that he overheard the muffled conversation of Shuyan's parents downstairs.

"Is there still no word from Master Zhiguang at Guiyuan Temple?" Shuyan's mother asked.

"None. I visited Guiyuan Temple today and asked the abbot myself. He said Master Zhiguang is traveling on a pilgrimage; he doesn't know where the Master is or when he will return," Shuyan's father replied, his voice hoarse.

"Everyone says Master Zhiguang is a living Bodhisattva on earth, capable of granting any wish. But why is he traveling now? Our Yanyan’s condition worsens daily, and she is unconscious. If anything terrible happens to her, what will I do?" Shuyan’s mother began to weep as she spoke.

Shuyan’s father only sighed deeply, enveloping the house in a pall of misery.

Liu Hui felt a stirring of curiosity. From their dialogue, he learned of Master Zhiguang at Guiyuan Temple, a monk rumored to possess the ability to fulfill desires. In their utter failure to find medical help, Shuyan's parents had turned their hopes toward this spiritual figure. However, the Master's absence had plunged them into despair.

Hearing their hopeless exchange sparked a corresponding despair in Liu Hui. His mind boiled with resentment: why did incurable diseases exist? Why would no expert venture to Chuzhou to treat Shuyan? He silently vowed that if the opportunity ever arose, he would dedicate himself to developing life-saving medicines, eradicating disease from the world so that loved ones would never face permanent separation due to illness again.

Shuyan remained in her coma. Upon hearing the news, Liu Hui's own parents traveled from their hometown in Pingdingshan to visit Shuyan, having long considered her their future daughter-in-law. Even they were inwardly shocked by Shuyan's wretched appearance and stunned by Liu Hui’s gaunt frame and his spirit worn down to despair.

That evening, Liu Hui sat on a chair, silently watching Shuyan lie on the bed, gazing upon the face that had once been lovely, now blurred by corruption. Tears streamed from his eyes. Had the sweet memories of their past vanished forever? Had his healthy, happy beloved dissolved into nothingness?

Just as Liu Hui was consumed by longing, he saw Shuyan’s eyelids flutter. Liu Hui froze, vigorously rubbing his eyes, then watched as Shuyan slowly opened them. However, her once beautiful, captivating eyes were now pale and vacant.

Liu Hui barely registered this; in that moment, overwhelming joy swept over him. "Yanyan, can you hear me? How do you feel right now?"

Shuyan stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment before some focus returned to her gaze. With great effort, she managed, "Huihui, what time is it? How long have I been asleep?"

Liu Hui answered, "Yanyan, it’s May 8th, 2008. You’ve been asleep for ten days."

Shuyan rasped, "I can't believe I’ve slept that long—it’s the first time in my life! Huihui, why do you look so haggard?"

Liu Hui’s continuous, sleepless care had left him deeply worn. Seeing his distress, Shuyan’s heart ached. She raised her mutilated, fleshy hand, intending to stroke his cheek, but upon seeing its grotesque appearance, she quickly drew it back.

Liu Hui forced a smile. "Yanyan, you’ve slept so long, you must be starved. Let me make you some thin porridge."

Shuyan shook her head. "Huihui, don't go. I want to look at you more. I don't know why, but I feel incredibly clear-headed and full of energy."

Liu Hui’s heart lurched. Shuyan had only been sustained by IV fluids for days; to wake up feeling energetic was highly unusual. He had heard of such phenomena before: it was often called the final surge before death.

The thought sent a chill through him, but he instantly forced the notion from his mind. Perhaps this wasn't a final rally, but a sign that Shuyan was finally beginning to recover.

So Liu Hui smiled brightly. "Yanyan, don’t worry! This means you’re about to get better. When you’re fully healed, we’ll travel all over the country, see the magnificent landscapes of our homeland. Then we’ll marry, have lots and lots of children, and live happily ever after."

A look of longing crossed Shuyan’s eyes. After a moment, she smiled. "Huihui, I want to feel that electric sensation again."

Liu Hui immediately reached out and clasped Shuyan’s ravaged hand. Though her body had undergone a terrifying transformation, the electric connection between them remained unaltered. Amidst a rush of intense static, Liu Hui felt the profound depth of Shuyan’s love and reluctance to leave him, while Shuyan felt the force of Liu Hui’s fierce love and despair. Driven by instinct, Liu Hui and Shuyan kissed.

But Shuyan reacted quickly, pushing him away. "Huihui, wipe your mouth immediately. I’m afraid the bacteria on me will infect you."

Liu Hui laughed. "Isn't it better if the bacteria infect me? Then I can share your hardship and joy."

Shuyan was deeply moved. "Huihui, please turn on the camera you gave me. I want to record something."

Liu Hui retrieved the video camera from Shuyan's iron box, switched it on, and placed it before her. Shuyan painstakingly held the camera, filming Liu Hui from head to toe while he cooperated, posing for her.

After the shoot wrapped up, Shu Yan turned to Liu Hui and said, "Huihui, I suddenly feel a bit hungry. Could you please make me some congee?"

Seeing that Shu Yan suddenly had an appetite, Liu Hui was overjoyed. This meant her condition wasn't a final surge of energy before passing, but a genuine sign of recovery. The tension that had gripped him finally eased, and he headed to the kitchen to simmer some thin congee for her.

As soon as Liu Hui left, Shu Yan immediately started dubbing the footage they had just shot. Once the voiceover was done, she pulled out her diary, suppressing the stinging discomfort in her palm, and began recording her current feelings. The blood from her hand kept seeping out, staining the diary page a deep red.

When Liu Hui brought the thin congee into Shu Yan's room, he found her completely limp and motionless, lying in bed. He gasped in shock and immediately called out, "Yanyan, what’s wrong?"

Shu Yan managed a weak smile and forced the words out, "Huihui, I can't go on…"

Liu Hui was aghast. He exclaimed loudly, "Yanyan, don't say that. You’ve been getting better; you'll recover soon, and we’ll be together again."

Liu Hui’s raised voice startled Shu Yan’s parents and his own parents, who were sleeping downstairs. Hearing his words, they all rushed into Shu Yan’s room. Upon seeing her awake, they were filled with immense relief. But when they saw the state of her collapsed body in the bed, their hearts leaped into their throats.

"Yanyan, what happened to you?" Shu Yan's father asked anxiously.

"Dad, I’m sorry…" Shu Yan looked at her father, tears welling in her eyes.

"Daughter, don't say sorry. Once you’re well, we’ll live together again," her mother said, fighting back the turmoil in her heart, her voice trembling.

"Mom, I'm sorry…" Shu Yan looked at her mother with an expression of deep reluctance.

Then, Shu Yan looked toward Liu Hui’s parents and said with difficulty, "Uncle, Auntie, I’m sorry…"

Liu Hui’s mother spoke, "Good child, don't talk like that. You must get better quickly and live with our little Hui. We are still waiting to hold our grandchild!"

Liu Hui’s father added, "Good child, you must be strong. You and Hui have such a bright future ahead!"

Finally, Shu Yan turned her gaze laboriously to Liu Hui and whispered, "Huihui, I’m sorry, I broke my promise. I have to go first, by myself…"

Liu Hui gave a tragic smile. "Yanyan, you will get better. Please, don't give up!"

Shu Yan continued speaking to Liu Hui, "Huihui, those diaries, the video discs, and the camera—you must wrap them up carefully and keep them right beside me. With these things for company, I won't be lonely."

Liu Hui nodded. "Yanyan, don't worry. I will wrap them up immediately and place them next to you. When you are well again, we can look through them together."

After issuing these instructions, Shu Yan glanced one last time at the people gathered around her, then let out a long, slow breath, murmuring, "Huihui, remember that paradise in Shuzhou Province? I truly wish I could live there forever, always watching the beautiful scenery…"

Shu Yan’s voice gradually faded. Then, she closed her eyes, and a single tear traced a path down from the corner of her eye. Seeing that Shu Yan hadn't moved for a long time, everyone in the room immediately sensed something terrible.

Liu Hui cautiously brought his hand in front of Shu Yan’s nose, only to discover she had stopped breathing. His legs gave way, and he collapsed onto the floor. His beloved had departed from him forever.