A month later, Chen Fan had packed his bags. He took nothing with him, not even the many promises made by others; he only accepted five thousand yuan in cash and his new identity.
During that month, his only request was for a new identity—a fresh start that would sever all ties with the former Chen Bufan. As for the concerns held by the Chen Family, Chen Fan offered his assurances. He claimed to have forgotten everything and even signed a non-disclosure agreement—or rather, an agreement that formally severed the father-son relationship.
The Chen Family was satisfied with this. Using such a method to end the trouble he brought was a happy outcome for everyone. Thus, with a single phone call, his new identity was delivered to him.
The only thing that brought him a sigh of regret was the girl who had always stayed by his side.
Qin Mu was her name. She was a devoted woman, but at this moment, Chen Fan could no longer offer her the happiness she deserved.
He left quietly. He did not want his whereabouts known, nor did he want any intersection with the past life of Chen Bufan.
Carrying his bag in silence, walking his own path without any constraints—this was the greatest gift heaven had granted him. He even believed that heaven must have been moved by his selfless donation of his heart, and had therefore given him a second chance.
Fortuitously, his death and rebirth were seamlessly connected in time. As far as the world was concerned, while a man named Chen Bufan had ceased to exist, a man named Chen Fan had appeared in his place.
Lucheng, the place where his life had ended.
Standing on the soil of this city once again, the surge of emotion within him was indescribable. Not everyone gets a chance to start over. Looking at the familiar streets, the first thing he did was head to Ludao Hospital.
A month had passed, and things in the ward were no longer as they had been. He saw the familiar Doctor Chen, but he did not go up to inquire, for he had seen the final medical record.
Beneath the words he himself had written, there was a line of delicate, fine handwriting, along with the stain of a teardrop.
"I owe you a life!"
It seemed she was alive, and doing well.
He closed the file, choosing not to take it with him. This notebook belonged here; every patient who left would eventually write a section about their own regrets.
Stepping out of the hospital, his rebirth truly began. Since he had chosen a new life, he was prepared to discard everything from before, whether it belonged to Chen Bufan or Chen Fan. From this moment on, his name would be Xu Wuyan.
Xu Wuyan, age 18, a college freshman about to start school.
This was the firm directive of that influential figure: his "child" had to have a university education. Thus, he had chosen Lucheng University. Only now did he truly realize how much power that person—whom he had never actually met—wielded. In the eyes of such people, a university admission letter that others labored over for twelve years was merely a piece of paper, settled with a single phone call.
Exiting the hospital gate, he slapped his cheeks hard and took a deep breath. A smile he hadn't worn in a long time appeared on his face. Life is full of regrets, and he was grateful he could make amends.
Just as he was daydreaming about a bright future:
"Watch out!" A sudden exclamation rang in his ear.
Immediately, he felt a warm touch on the back of his neck. Someone pushed him from behind. Driven by this force, he stumbled clumsily into a hibiscus hedge. Amidst a shower of falling hibiscus petals, he saw a flash of water-red skirt sweep across his vision.
A dull thud of something heavy hitting the ground followed, accompanied by a sharp scream. Cold liquid splashed onto his trembling eyelashes.
He swallowed hard, his throat bobbing, staring blankly at the pool of blood and... the blood-soaked hospital gown.
Security guards rushed out of the lobby, and a group of people in white coats were running toward the scene. The screaming added a touch of sorrow to the quiet morning.
Feeling the cold blood on his face, he gave a helpless, bitter smile. Many people ask how someone who isn't afraid of death could be afraid of living, but only those who have truly reached the brink understand: they aren't afraid of living, but rather of becoming a burden to their families by staying alive.
"Are you sick in the head? Why are you just standing there in the middle of the morning?"
A crisp female voice interrupted his thoughts.
"You're the one who's sick. This isn't your house, damn it. You don't get to tell me why I'm staring into space."
Xu Wuyan, his mood complex, snapped back immediately. Both of them froze. Only then did he notice a woman in a water-red dress standing behind him, wiping a wound on her hand.
She was an incredibly cold-looking girl. Her eyes were like deep, icy pools in the night; there was no warmth in her pitch-black pupils. They seemed to hide endless stories, yet they refused to let anyone explore them.
A sudden pain struck his heart, and he hurriedly apologized.
"I'm sorry. I was... stunned by what just happened."
"Forget it. I understand the complexity of what you're feeling, given what happened. I don't care to bicker with you."
Having said this, the girl in the water-red dress climbed to her feet. She glanced at the hospital gown now covered by a white sheet, a trace of sorrow flitting across her face.
"Thank you. I owe you a life."
Xu Wuyan did not show any particular reaction to the fact that the girl was exceptionally beautiful. Watching such a fatal fall happen right before his eyes brought a shock to his spirit that was profound.
"It's nothing," the girl in the red dress replied, taking a deep breath. She ignored him and walked toward the hospital. Her pale, sickly complexion filled me with a sudden sense of guilt.
"What is this?"
I bent down and picked up a piece of white paper she had dropped. When I saw the contents, my heart skipped a beat.
Yao Can, female, 18 years old, congenital ventricular septal defect with severe pulmonary hypertension.
The dense medical jargon made my temples throb. Memories of lying in a hospital bed flipping through medical books from my past life suddenly resurfaced. The survival rate for this condition was less than forty percent.
Yao Can... could it be her?
Watching the girl's retreating figure, my heart could not remain calm. The previous joy was diluted. I hated hospitals; here, the probability of encountering such things always seemed to increase infinitely.
Clutching the medical report, I followed her quickly. Just now, I had owed someone a life, and I had this bad habit of always repaying debts. Even if I couldn't necessarily help, I still wanted to follow her and see.
The door to the consultation room at the end of the hall was ajar, and the hem of Doctor Chen's white coat flickered in the gap.
Xu Wuyan’s hands, gripping the report, began to sweat. He saw the hem of the water-red dress hanging off the edge of the examination bed, like a broken-winged butterfly.
At this moment, recalling the girl who had spent his final hours with him, a wave of pity rose in his chest.
"Your report." He knocked on the door very softly, as if afraid of shattering something fragile.
The girl on the bed turned her head sharply, her hair carving a golden arc in the morning light.
Only then did Xu Wuyan see her face clearly. Beneath her almond eyes were tiny, light brown moles, like stardust accidentally dropped by the Creator.
There was a pale pink scar on her neck, rising and falling slightly with her breath.
Doctor Chen adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his gaze roaming between the two of them. "Is this yours?" he asked.
"I am her friend. How is she doing now?"
Ignoring Yao Can’s furrowed brows, Xu Wuyan walked straight in and handed over the report.
"Boyfriend?" Doctor Chen asked, looking at Yao Can with a playful glint in his eye.
"A stranger."
Xu Wuyan did not refute Yao Can's reply, instead asking about her condition with concern.
"How is Yao Can’s health?"
"The situation is not very good. I warned her not to engage in strenuous exercise and to keep her emotions stable. Apparently, she didn't manage that."
Standing closer, I saw an unnatural flush on Yao Can’s pale cheeks, and her eyelashes were still damp with moisture. It must have been the emotional turmoil from saving me and seeing the patient jump that caused this...
"There was a little accident earlier. I'll look after her from now on and make sure she avoids strenuous activity." Xu Wuyan’s words were immediately met with a cold glare from Yao Can, though she didn't say anything in front of Doctor Chen.
"That would be good. She does need someone to look after her," Doctor Chen nodded, gesturing for Yao Can to get up before sitting back at his desk. "At this stage, we are mainly focusing on medication. The risks of surgery are too high, so we aren't considering it for now."
"What about a heart transplant? As far as I know, the most fundamental treatment for this condition is..." Xu Wuyan ignored Yao Can's cold gaze and spoke directly.
"It’s not that easy. Heart donors are always in short supply. I already have several pages of patients waiting for transplants. It's a rare chance that cannot be sought."
"I was too impatient."
"As long as she is careful, it shouldn't be a major problem for now. Whether it’s surgery or a transplant, we have to wait for an opportunity."
"I understand, I understand. I will keep a close eye on her."
Yao Can seemed highly resistant to my presence; she picked up her report and left.
"Thank you, Doctor."
I nodded and smiled, giving Doctor Chen an apologetic look before stepping backward to follow her.