Тhе emergеnсу rооm was bustling with peорle. Desрite Luan Niаn's еffоrts tо mаintаin his comрosure, his body was slightly hunсhеd, his brows tightlу furrowеd—hе wаs trulу in sevеrе раin.
"Sit hеre аnd don't move. I'll gо rеgister," Shаng Zhi Tao instruсted him befоre rushing off tо quеuе. Тhе hоsрital was сrоwded, аnd rеgistrаtion rеquired wаiting in linе. Worried thаt Luаn Nian might bе anxious оr something might haрреn, she kеpt sending him updаtеs: "Тen реорlе аheаd," "Fivе pеoрle left," "It's mу turn now." Аftеr rеgistering, shе hurriеd bасk to the waiting аrea to find him. Luan Nian wаs rarely this vulnеrable; Shаng Zhi Tао had оnce thought him unbreakable. She led him to the clinic waiting area, where he leaned his head on her shoulder, exhausted and breathing a little too quickly.
Shang Zhi Tao's heart softened again and again. She reached out and gently patted the back of his hand, saying softly, "It's okay, I'm here."
After a moment, she added, "I think we should call Dr. Liang."
Luan Nian hummed in response, his eyes closed. But he didn't call Dr. Liang. When Shang Zhi Tao asked again, he said, "Dr. Liang is very busy." Luan Nian didn't want to call Dr. Liang—she would make a fuss, find someone she knew to treat him, and turn it into a big ordeal. Luan Nian disliked that.
He rarely relied on anyone, nor had he ever been relied upon by anyone. He didn't like hospitals—places filled with life-and-death separations. As a child, when he visited Dr. Liang, he had seen family members holding her and weeping more than once.
The last time he had been to a hospital was years ago, when he brought Shang Zhi Tao, who was suffering from a high fever and a cough.
Shang Zhi Tao's hand was warm, but she withdrew it after just a couple of pats—polite and never overstepping.
After the consultation, blood tests, and X-rays, it was already past midnight. Finally, he was diagnosed with a kidney stone, 0.5 centimeters in size. The doctor prescribed painkillers and stone-dissolving medication and wrote out the medical instructions.
During the IV drip, Luan Nian felt a little better. He noticed that Shang Zhi Tao, usually fresh and neat, now had a slight sheen of oil on her skin, yet she kept asking him:
"Are you feeling better?"
"Do you want some water?"
"The doctor said to tiptoe or climb stairs. Remember to do that."
After a while, she added, "The doctor also said you should drink fewer carbonated beverages from now on. Do you still have Coke or soda in your fridge? If you do, remember to throw them away."
"Are you hungry?"
Luan Nian's illness made her incredibly anxious. Though it was just a kidney stone, in her mind, it was a stubborn and severe disease. She feared his discomfort and suffering.
She kept talking, and Luan Nian occasionally responded. Shang Zhi Tao's chattering reminded him of Dr. Liang. A warmth stirred in his heart, and he comforted her, "It's just a kidney stone. It won't kill me."
"But it's still painful."
A little later, Shang Zhi Tao grew too tired. Luan Nian patted his leg, and she lay across the bench, resting her head on his lap, and fell asleep. Luan Nian's fingertips brushed her earlobe, gently kneading it as he had done before. It was an intimate gesture between them, and though their relationship had ended long ago, Shang Zhi Tao didn't resist it today. She slept peacefully against him, though she occasionally frowned. Luan Nian leaned down to look at her, smoothing out her furrowed brows from time to time.
By the time the IV drip finished, it was already dawn. In the early spring, a rare red glow burned across half the sky, and both of them in the car marveled at the sight. After the moment of awe, Luan Nian closed his eyes and said, "I'm entrusting my life to you." He remembered Shang Zhi Tao's terrible driving skills.Shang Zhitao retorted, "Then we can be considered life-and-death friends." Her driving skills had become quite steady—so steady that Luan Nian fell asleep in the passenger seat. Shang Zhitao drove him home, and at the entrance of his residential complex, she saw the security guard.
Five years had passed, and the young man had already started a family and built a career. Last year, on the noon of the last time Shang Zhitao left Luan Nian's home, he had greeted her.
Today, seeing Shang Zhitao drive back, he showed no surprise, smiling as usual: "Miss Shang. Long time no see."
"Long time no see."
"If you need help hailing a taxi, just call the security office."
"Sure, I can also use ride-hailing apps," Shang Zhitao replied to him. Suddenly, she felt how quickly time had flown—from the night she delivered documents to Luan Nian and the security guard helped her hail a taxi, to now when ride-hailing apps had become widespread. Despite their deliberate attempts to ignore it, time had rushed by without waiting for anyone.
Luan Nian's home remained the same—cold and desolate, lacking any sense of liveliness. Fortunately, the early spring sunlight was bright enough to fill the room with a lively glow. She helped Luan Nian lie down on the sofa and asked softly, "Luke, where's the housekeeper?"
"The housekeeper isn't coming today."
Luan Nian still disliked having people in his home; he remained unaccustomed to it. The person who had visited his home the most was Shang Zhitao. The housekeeper came three times a week when he wasn't around, cleaned the rooms, and left. Luan Nian didn't even remember what she looked like. Only when paying her salary would the housekeeper stay a little longer to wait for him.
"Do you have any friends you can contact?"
Luan Nian didn't answer her. Shang Zhitao wondered, had he cut ties with all his friends?
Yet, seeing him so ill, she couldn't leave him alone at home. The doctor had said it would take a day or two, or even three or four days, for the stone to pass, and he needed care until then.
"Then... should I take a leave today?" Shang Zhitao asked him, after all, he was her boss.
"Submit it online."
I have to submit a leave request online just to take care of you? Shang Zhitao widened her eyes, cursing him silently.
"Then what should I write as the reason? Taking care of my sick boss?" Shang Zhitao retorted, asking him.
Luan Nian's lips curled slightly, but he said nothing.
Shang Zhitao had no intention of submitting a leave request. Instead, she messaged Grace: "Grace, I have an urgent matter today and can't come to the office."
Grace, an early riser, replied quickly: "Don't worry, I'll contact you if anything comes up."
Shang Zhitao put away her phone and said to Luan Nian, "Get some rest first. I'll go make porridge." Seeing Luan Nian's slight resistance, she added, "My porridge is actually pretty good." During the New Year holiday, Da Zhai, worried she might starve in the future, insisted on teaching her how to make porridge, and Shang Zhitao had learned.
Da Zhai's porridge was truly exceptional. Shang Zhitao used Da Zhai's method to make porridge for Luan Nian—simmering it over low heat, taking her time. As Da Zhai had said, "It's like living life—you can't rush it. Good porridge is made by simmering. High heat will burn it."
"Isn't that because there's too little water?" Shang Zhitao argued back, earning two light slaps from Da Zhai.
As the pot began to bubble and steam, Shang Zhitao suddenly remembered the year she fell ill and Luan Nian took care of her. Luan Nian had taken much better care of her than she was doing for him now—at least he had prepared four dishes and a soup, while all she could make was porridge.The congee was ready, but Luan Nian was still asleep. Shang Zhi Tao took the eggs from the egg cooker, peeled them, and found them a bit bland. However, she wasn’t good at cooking stir-fried dishes. Suddenly, she remembered she had once bought some pickled mustard tuber. She opened the refrigerator’s fresh-keeping compartment, and there they were—two intact bags of pickled mustard tuber, still sitting there. Shang Zhi Tao paused for a moment, then took them out.
Then she went to wake Luan Nian for breakfast.
Luan Nian took a sip of the congee—thick and with a hint of indescribable sweetness. Shang Zhi Tao had actually learned how to cook congee. So now she wouldn’t starve herself. Luan Nian’s standards for Shang Zhi Tao’s cooking were so low it was almost appalling. After eating one meal she prepared, he swore he’d never eat her cooking again unless he was starving.
Well, he hadn’t starved to death, but a tiny 0.5-centimeter stone had made him surrender. After eating, he went upstairs, endured the pain to take a shower, and then went back to bed to catch up on sleep.
Kidney stones were truly torturous. Though not a serious illness, the pain could be excruciating. The stone-dissolving medicine was nauseating, making him vomit twice and putting him in a foul mood.
Hearing him struggling in the bedroom, Shang Zhi Tao stood by the door and asked twice, “Luke, do you need help?”
“Like what?” Luan Nian was rinsing his mouth, the taste of vomit lingering, which disgusted him.
“Like…” Shang Zhi Tao hesitated twice but couldn’t think of anything else to help with. She simply mimicked his tone: “Like collecting your body if you really can’t make it.” After saying that, she closed the guest room door, not caring whether it would anger Luan Nian.
Luan Nian had changed the bedding in the guest room, making it more comfortable than before. Shang Zhi Tao examined the quilt back and forth, thinking she’d sleep on the living room sofa if someone else had used it. But the quilt was clean, with no signs of use. She then opened the wardrobe—it was completely empty, with nothing inside.
Shang Zhi Tao lay down on the bed and fell asleep almost instantly. She was utterly exhausted, having worked overtime for two days and barely slept the entire previous night. Now she slept so soundly that she couldn’t hear any noise.
When she opened her eyes, it was already evening. She scrambled out of bed, remembering that Luke was still at home and hadn’t been walked since morning. Sun Yuanzhu was in the northwest, and Sun Yu had gone to Guangzhou for an inspection. Feeling a bit annoyed, she hastily put on her clothes and opened the door, only to find Luan Nian’s bedroom door already open and him nowhere in sight.
Shang Zhi Tao went downstairs and heard Luan Nian talking on the phone in the living room:
“Yes, I walked, jogged, and tiptoed.”
“It hasn’t come out yet. The doctor said last night after the scan that it’s already very low and should come out in the next few days.”
“Don’t worry, someone’s taking care of me.”
“Who’s taking care of me?” Luan Nian paused for two seconds. “My girlfriend.”
“Do I have to tell you if I’m dating someone? I’m old enough—can’t I date? Anyway, don’t let Uncle Fang arrange any check-ups for me. Once this stone passes, I’ll be fine. There’s no problem.”
“I’m not in a bad mood.” Luan Nian’s tone softened. “I’m just eager to go tiptoeing.”
Hearing this, Shang Zhi Tao couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh. Luan Nian’s stubbornness would never change. Even when talking to Dr. Liang, he mixed truth with lies, lies with truth. Hearing the laughter, Luan Nian turned around, the phone still in his hand. Dr. Liang asked on the other end, “Is someone at your place?”
“Didn’t I just say so?”
“Can I talk to her?”
“No,” Luan Nian refused.Dr. Liang was unusually insistent this time: "I don't see any issue with asking your girlfriend about your condition, unless you're hiding something from me."
Luan Nian didn't want to listen to her nagging, so he tossed the phone to Shang Zhi Tao. Seeing her bewildered expression, he explained, "Dr. Liang wants to know about my condition. She thinks I have some incurable illness and that I'm refusing to let her friend treat me because I'm afraid she'll find out."
"Oh, oh, oh."
Shang Zhi Tao took a deep breath and answered the phone: "Hello."
There was a brief silence on Dr. Liang's end. During those few seconds, she frantically waved at Luan's Father, signaling him to come closer to the phone, and switched it to speaker mode.
"Hello, miss. What should I call you?"
"Dr. Liang, you can call me... Flora." Shang Zhi Tao paused, using this name, and noticed Luan Nian glancing her way, but she kept a straight face.
"I'd like to ask about Luan Nian's condition. Is it really just kidney stones?"
"Yes, I'll send you the scan images later. The doctor also mentioned precautions, which are the same things Luke just told you. We'll take another scan in a couple of days once the stones pass."
Shang Zhi Tao reassured Dr. Liang: "Don't worry, it's nothing serious."
Hearing this, Dr. Liang glanced at Luan's Father and suddenly asked, "What's your surname, Flora?"
Back in Hong Kong, when Luan Si Yuan asked Luan Nian about the girl he was going to meet, he had said: Shang Zhi Tao. Luan Si Yuan, being quick to speak, immediately shared in the family group chat: "The girl my brother likes is named Shang Zhi Tao." Dr. Liang was very familiar with the name Shang Zhi Tao—she had chatted extensively with a girl named Shang Zhi Tao on a dating app, even discussing topics like parents' professions and plans for having children.
Unaware of all this, Shang Zhi Tao was trying to figure out how to avoid answering the question when Luan Nian snatched the phone back: "Alright. Now you know I'm not dying. That's it, goodbye."
After hanging up, Shang Zhi Tao asked him, "Girlfriend?"
"I lied to her. Otherwise, she would have asked a doctor friend to take care of me. That doctor friend has a daughter who's of marriageable age."
"Oh. I should head back. I consulted a friend who knows about medicine, and aside from pain and vomiting, there shouldn't be any serious risks. Call me if anything comes up."
Shang Zhi Tao took out her phone to call a ride, but when she heard Luan Nian let out a soft groan, she put her phone down and saw him leaning back on the sofa, his brow furrowed as if in pain.
"Does it hurt a lot?" she asked him.
"It's fine. You can go." Luan Nian said this, then groaned again.
Shang Zhi Tao thought for a moment, put her phone back in her pocket, and extended her hand toward him: "Can I borrow your car keys? I'll drive back to take Luke for a walk and then come back."
Luan Nian pointed toward the door: "Take them yourself. Bring Luke along too. It'll be easier to walk him tomorrow morning."
Shang Zhi Tao agreed, fetched the keys, and took the elevator to the garage. As the elevator doors closed, she thought she saw the corner of Luan Nian's mouth lift slightly, but it returned to normal in an instant. She wondered if she had imagined it—maybe he was just grimacing in pain.
It had been a long, long time since Luke had visited, but dogs have such good memories. As soon as Shang Zhi Tao let him out of the underground garage, he dashed toward the elevator, barking at her.
"What's the rush!" Shang Zhi Tao scolded him and took him up in the elevator. On the first floor, she watched as Luke charged into the living room and jumped onto Luan Nian, who was lying on the sofa.
Shang Zhi Tao was stunned and shouted from behind, "Get down! He has stones inside him!"Luke wouldn't listen. He was frantic, scratching at Luan Nian with his paws, desperately needing a hug from him. Luan Nian looked at this silly dog and thought, I really didn't waste all that meat and playtime on you. He sat up and hugged him.
Luke whimpered as if he had suffered some great injustice, letting out soft whimpers in Luan Nian's arms.
For some inexplicable reason, Shang Zhi Tao's eyes suddenly reddened.
So did Luan Nian's.
Dogs are simpler than humans. When they miss someone, they never hide it. If they miss you, they miss you, and if they miss you, they'll tell you—they'll demand to be held. Like Luke, who truly missed Luan Nian, nestled in his arms, front paws resting on his shoulders, head leaning against him, occasionally sticking out his tongue to lick him.
Luan Nian comforted him for a long time before Luke obediently went back to the floor. The reunion was over, and he looked up at Luan Nian, barking.
Luan Nian, of course, knew what he meant and said to him, "Wait a moment."
Just then, the doorbell rang. Luan Nian asked Shang Zhi Tao to answer it. When she opened the door, she saw something that looked like a fresh takeout delivery.
"What's this?"
"Hello, this is the fresh meat dog food you ordered. As requested, we reduced the salt and added more meat." Shang Zhi Tao looked back at Luan Nian, who beckoned her with a finger. "Bring it in, for my silly friend to eat."
Shang Zhi Tao took the fresh meat dog food and saw the beautifully arranged premium ingredients inside, along with a small box separately packed with fruits and dog treats. Since when do dogs get fed like this? Since when has this kind of service existed? If Luke gets spoiled like this, how will he be raised properly when he goes back home?
Luke had already caught the scent and was jumping around anxiously until Shang Zhi Tao placed the food bowl on the floor. Luke rushed over, burying his face in the bowl as if he hadn't eaten in days.
"What kind of service is this? Freshly made dog food delivered to your door?"
"Mhm." Luan Nian leaned back on the sofa, letting out a half-hearted "mhm." Hearing Luke's contented grunts as he ate, he felt inexplicably happy.
"How much per serving?"
"200." Luan Nian understated the price—it was actually 250, but he thought that sounded bad, so he paid 249.
"..."
Shang Zhi Tao felt a pang of heartache over the money and stood in front of Luan Nian, starting to lecture him. "Money doesn't grow on trees..."
"I do." Luan Nian reminded her with two words that he was, after all, fairly well-off.
"...But Luke shouldn't eat like this either. So many children don't have enough to eat, yet he gets to indulge in such luxury. If he's hungry, I can cook for him. I'll make sure he eats this."
"Oh."
Luan Nian stood up from the sofa. "I'm going to climb the stairs. Are we still having porridge for dinner?"
"No. We'll starve." Shang Zhi Tao was in a bit of a mood. Watching Luke sitting there licking his lips, clearly enjoying the meal, she felt she had truly witnessed a dog that favored the rich and scorned the poor. She scolded him, "Was it good? No matter how good it was, this is the only time you'll get it. When you go back home, you'll obediently eat regular dog food. If you don't, you'll starve!"
"Let me tell you something—don't think he's your friend. He's practically fed up with you, and you don't even realize it."
"Stay away from him. He's got stones in his stomach. If you accidentally step on him and break something, selling ten of you for meat wouldn't be enough to cover it."
She went on and on until Luke grew annoyed and sat there arguing with her. Woof~ whine~, woof woof!
The two of them—one human, one dog—turned Luan Nian's home into a scene of chaos.Luan Nian climbed the stairs ten times back and forth, then stood on tiptoe for ten minutes, yet Shang Zhi Tao still hadn't finished her fight with Luke. It was as if her brain wasn't working properly. What was there to argue about with a dog? With dogs, you just indulge them—what's the big deal?
But he didn't say anything. His body seemed to feel a bit better, but after drinking a lot of water, he had to urinate frequently. He hurried to the second-floor bathroom.
While relieving himself, he felt unusually uncomfortable. Looking down, he saw red urine in the toilet, with a small stone faintly visible inside. His body suddenly felt as if its meridians had been unblocked, completely clear. Luan Nian flushed the toilet, washed his hands, went back downstairs, and leaned on the sofa.
Seeing him lying down again, Shang Zhi Tao urged him to go back to standing on tiptoe.
Luan Nian looked sickly and took a long while before uttering a few words:
"Can't do it. It hurts."
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