After I told Yan Yan about Fang Yuan’s coming, she went to Jian Wei’s ward alone. Mo Zish and I went to a nearby breakfast shop. During the meal, we were both silent for a while. Then he couldn’t help but speak, seemingly talking to himself, but also seemingly talking to me: “Sigh! I wonder how Xiaocai is doing in the United States. I heard that Madam Yan is determined to suppress her. Even though she successfully facilitated a major cooperation with an automobile manufacturer last time, it was of no use. She is still stuck in the R&D department… However, to be fair, as smart as she is, why must she oppose Madam Yan? They are completely mismatched in terms of power. Besides, they are mother and daughter; it’s really unnecessary!”
I looked at him and then took my tray to another table. I called Chen Jingming, asking him to finish handling the few pending matters I had today. I didn’t respond to Mo Zish anymore, and this state continued until the end of breakfast.
In fact, I had known a few days ago that Mi Cai had already left the R&D department of New Green Energy and taken charge of the more important Market Development Department. I learned this information the same way—by following financial news. Perhaps Mo Zish was talking nonsense with his eyes wide open, or maybe he hadn’t been paying attention to financial news from the U.S. or had not been in touch with people there for some time, so his information was inevitably outdated.
When Mi Cai took over the Market Development Department of New Green Energy in the shortest time possible, I realized she was working as hard as I was, carving out her own path within New Green Energy. Yan Zhuomei wasn’t really trying to suppress her; otherwise, Mi Cai wouldn’t have had even the slightest chance. However, this doesn’t mean there was no struggle between Mi Cai and Yan Zhuomei. Their mother-daughter contest would continue for a long time. Mi Cai wanted New Green Energy, while Yan Zhuomei wanted Mi Cai to have a complete family, so she had never stopped trying to get Mi Cai to marry a man other than me!
……
At nine in the morning, Fang Yuan arrived on time at the hospital with an expert in traditional Chinese medicine. Mo Zish provided all of Jian Wei’s previous medical records and treatment history to the TCM expert. Then the two entered the ward together to further discuss Jian Wei’s current condition. Yan Yan, Fang Yuan, and I waited outside the ward.
Standing between Fang Yuan and Yan Yan, I realized they both understood each other’s current situations well enough that neither spoke to the other. Fang Yuan simply said to me, “If the doctors here agree to invite Director Hong (the TCM expert) to assist with the treatment in Shanghai, I will cover all of Director Hong’s compensation during this period. I’ve already taken care of the arrangements.”
I didn’t like talking about money, so I didn’t immediately respond to Fang Yuan. At this moment, Yan Yan finally spoke her first words since meeting Fang Yuan again. She said, “There’s no need. Before Jian Wei had her accident, she had saved a sum of money. That should be enough to cover her medical expenses. We can sign a compensation contract with Director Hong on Jian Wei’s behalf…”
Fang Yuan interrupted, saying, “There’s no need to go through all that trouble. Just consider it a small gesture from me to an old friend. I feel guilty because I can’t visit her often due to my busy schedule.”
Yan Yan turned her head to the other side and replied after a long pause, “Fang Yuan, don’t just throw your money around because you’ve got some now… You know exactly what you’ve sacrificed to get where you are. You should value what you’ve gained and at least leave yourself some room for future life. No one can guarantee they’ll live a lifetime in peace, so Weiwei set aside this money as a safeguard for her life.”
Fang Yuan remained silent for a while before lowering his head. I understood what Yan Yan meant. For Fang Yuan, this sum of money wasn’t hard to come by now. She was just reminding him to walk the right path in the days to come. As for Yan Yan, unlike me, she didn’t hate everything Fang Yuan had done in the past. Although she said she treated Fang Yuan as a complete stranger with no life connection, she still hoped Fang Yuan could maintain his current life and live well with Mi Lan… Perhaps, having spent countless days and nights with Fang Yuan, she understood his hardships better than anyone else. Or perhaps, that eight-year love still lingered, but it had nowhere to go. So, she simply hoped Fang Yuan could live well…
And what about Fang Yuan? Fang Yuan probably hadn’t completely abandoned the eight years of feelings with Yan Yan. But in his heart, there was something more important than those eight years of love! And that might be an obstacle he could never overcome in his entire life!
A few minutes later, the elevator doors opened again, and I saw Qin Yan stepping out. However, Yan Yan didn’t intend for Qin Yan and Fang Yuan to meet. After instructing me to call her if there was any news, she hurriedly walked towards Qin Yan, linked her arm with his, and disappeared from my and Fang Yuan’s sight.
Fang Yuan kept looking at the place where they had gone for a long time before finally lighting a cigarette and heading towards the smoking room on this floor.
……
Approximately an hour and a half later, the TCM expert brought by Fang Yuan finally emerged from Jian Wei’s ward along with Mo Zish. Both of their expressions were somewhat grave, but this gravity precisely indicated that they had reached a consensus in their respective fields. Jian Wei’s current state was far from optimistic. Fang Yuan quickly approached the TCM expert, asking with some anxiety, “Director Hong, is my friend’s current condition still optimistic?”
The TCM expert shook his head and replied, “I’ve thoroughly reviewed the patient’s previous treatment history. I have no doubt about the experts from the Mayo Clinic, which represents the highest level of global medical care. They have indeed done their best in the field of Western medicine. As for how effective TCM can be, I can’t guarantee anything. I can only say that I will do my best… However, coming to Shanghai this time, I did gain something. In the field of medicine, there are many differences between TCM and Western medicine. Truly dedicated collaborative research is rare. Having practiced medicine for decades, I’ve always believed that neither Western medicine nor TCM should exclude or even denigrate each other within their respective fields. We should maintain a spirit of cooperation, play to our strengths while avoiding weaknesses, and make real contributions to the medical profession!”
Mo Zish, being a Western medicine practitioner, felt this more deeply. He nodded in strong agreement and said, “I completely agree with Dr. Hong’s point of view. Whether it’s TCM or Western medicine, the ultimate goal is to cure patients. We should actively seek broader areas of cooperation. I’ve just spoken with Dr. Carter on the phone. He has always been very interested in TCM treatments in our country and knows Dr. Hong is an authority in the field of TCM. Once he finishes his current affairs, he will return to China next week. We will form a medical team combining both TCM and Western medicine to continue our efforts for Jian Wei’s consciousness recovery… and also use this opportunity to further promote collaborative research between TCM and Western medicine!”
Yan Yan and I were not professionals in the field and did not understand the feelings they were about to embark on collaborative research. What we cared more about was when Jian Wei would wake up. We once again implored the experts from both medical fields to do their utmost for Jian Wei’s awakening. Even in the future, we could provide funding for their collaborative research as long as Jian Wei could wake up. All of this was not a problem.
Yes, for Jian Wei’s sake, Fang Yuan and I talked so much about “us” together for the first time in a long while. But this does not mean there is any new understanding between us. At least I will remember what I said to myself: nothing that does not belong to him, Fang Yuan, will he ever take away!
Fang Yuan was the first to leave the hospital and immediately returned to Suzhou, but his assistant stayed in Shanghai to arrange accommodations and meals for Director Hong. I knew Fang Yuan had put in a lot of effort for this matter, and this effort could not be measured solely in terms of money… He was not a completely bad man, just too goal-oriented, placing too much emphasis on his own desires! But this is absolutely not a reason for me to forgive him. A person must pay the price for the mistakes they have made, and Wansen Group absolutely cannot replace the old卓美…
At this moment, I felt the weight on my shoulders. I had never been so clear about what I needed to do in the future. I had finally become a man who lived for a purpose, and there was a fundamental difference between having a purpose and having an ideal!
……
In the following days, I was plunged into an exhausting busyness. I began to package myself as a public figure, opening a personal microblog and using it to express the humanistic sentiments of the artistic path to the public. I often posted some idealistic songs I had written in the past on this platform. Soon, I gained a group of followers, and my fan base was rapidly growing. In the process, even some entertainment companies invited me to perform in several special concerts. However, since I had very little time to spare, I could only politely decline, although I deeply longed for the feeling of returning to the stage.
In addition, after receiving investment from Zhang Yixi and with Yue Yao’s relentless promotion, the artistic path had officially begun to recover. Many previously loss-making stores gradually turned profitable, and the public welfare projects we had planned earlier were launched efficiently along this artistic path, benefiting many patients with mental illnesses. Following this, even official media took notice of the event, conducting special reports and giving positive evaluations, thus completely saving our brand image. My career was progressing to a higher level…
However, none of this could alleviate the two biggest regrets in my heart… Yes, Jian Wei still hadn’t woken up, and Mi Cai still hadn’t returned. I was still alone in Suzhou, a city that seemed to have only me left… Although summer had already arrived, cicadas were noisily chirping in the trees beneath the old house, I still found myself feeling lonely before nightfall, standing by the balcony and smoking a cigarette. I always had the habit of washing some of Mi Cai’s clothes that she hadn’t taken with her after finishing the cigarette, but my longing never ceased…
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