"Dr. Chen, do I need to avoid any foods for my illness?"
"I can stop eating hotpot, barbecue, milk tea, and cola for now."
"I can also go to bed early and wake up early, no more staying up late."
Zhuang Zi'ang stared at his attending physician, Dr. Chen Dexiu, with a sincere expression.
Because he vaguely felt that his physical condition seemed to be very bad.
Chen Dexiu was around fifty years old, with a receding hairline and thick, gold-rimmed glasses.
A wall full of commendation banners behind him silently spoke of his superb medical skills and high moral standing.
"No, eat whatever you want!"
This light, airy sentence, to Zhuang Zi'ang, was like a bolt from the blue.
Deafening!
The diagnosis report that Chen Dexiu handed over had dense medical terms printed on it.
Translated, it was roughly eight words.
Incurable disease, beyond remedy.
"Dr. Chen, how much time do I have left?" Zhuang Zi'ang's voice trembled, his heart filled with fear of death.
"Three months at most. Try to look on the bright side; everyone has to face this day," Chen Dexiu sighed helplessly.
As a doctor, he was accustomed to seeing life and death, and he thought his heart had long been as still as water.
But seeing such a young man, who would soon pass away, he still felt sorrow.
In the face of illness, life seemed especially fragile.
Zhuang Zi'ang held the diagnosis report and couldn't remember how he left the hospital.
His mind was blank, and he walked dazedly on the road, knocking over several shared bicycles.
At the age of eighteen, in this season of blooming peach blossoms, his life had already begun its countdown.
Three months, ninety days, two thousand one hundred and sixty hours…
Chen Dexiu said three months, but in reality, it might not be that much.
In the blink of an eye, he would have to say goodbye to this world.
He was clearly not mentally prepared.
Tears silently streamed down from the corners of his eyes.
All the sadness and regret filled his chest, and he didn't know how to vent it.
There was a wholesale market outside the hospital. Zhuang Zi'ang saw the clothing store, full of colorful, cheap clothes, and a large loudspeaker at the entrance tirelessly shouting about a loss-making clearance sale and inventory liquidation.
His clothes still had the unpleasant smell of disinfectant, and he just wanted to take them off and throw them away quickly.
As if by doing so, he could draw a clear line with the hospital.
Would the footsteps of the Grim Reaper slow down then?
It was just ridiculous self-deception.
"Boss, how much is that shirt?" Zhuang Zi'ang pointed to a very gaudy floral shirt.
It was colorful, like a spilled palette.
In the hospital, everything he saw was a sickly pale.
He now desperately longed for more color in his life.
"Thirty yuan." The boss hesitated slightly, reminding the young man in front of him: "But this style doesn't really suit you."
Zhuang Zi'ang pulled out the money: "It's okay, I like it very much."
The gaudy floral shirt was very out of place with his refined demeanor, like a child who had secretly put on adult clothes.
Next, Zhuang Zi'ang specifically went to a bookstore and bought a set of "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils," a total of five books, heavy in his hands.
Passing by a milk tea shop, he bought a cup of the new spring product, Taro Ball Bobo.
Back at school, Zhuang Zi'ang was stopped at the entrance by the security guard.
Although the school did not mandate wearing uniforms, it still did not allow strange clothing.
The floral shirt Zhuang Zi'ang was wearing was simply too eye-catching.
Only after he showed his student ID and a leave note signed by his homeroom teacher, and the security guard made a phone call to confirm, did he let him in.
"Sigh, students these days, so unruly, what a sight!"
As Zhuang Zi'ang stepped through the school gate, he heard the security guard's sigh behind him, and a sense of desolation rose in his heart.
The uncle didn't know that this unruly student of his had ranked first in the entire grade for two consecutive years.
He was a 'Three Good Student' and an 'Outstanding Student Cadre' selected by the city.
But for Zhuang Zi'ang at this moment, all these had become empty titles.
Three months later, everything about him would vanish like smoke.
It was recess time, and the playground was bustling.
Outside the classroom door of Class 9, several students were chasing and playing.
When Zhuang Zi'ang, dressed like a flamboyant rooster, walked into the classroom, he immediately attracted the attention of all his classmates.
"Oh my god, what's gotten into him? He actually came to school dressed like this."
"If the dean catches him, it's a 3,000-word self-criticism, at least."
"Zhuang Zi'ang took sick leave yesterday. Looking at him now, he must be seriously ill!"
…
Zhuang Zi'ang ignored the curious stares of his classmates, walked straight to his seat, took a deep breath, and handed the Taro Ball Bobo to the girl in front of him.
"Mushi, I'm sorry I stood you up yesterday. I bought you milk tea to apologize."
Lin Mushi, a campus goddess.
She had a pair of beautiful phoenix eyes and skin as white as milk, like a delicate princess.
Such a girl never lacked admirers.
But she ignored other boys, only showing a tender side to Zhuang Zi'ang.
Sitting in front and behind each other, they spent every day together, forming a pure and precious friendship.
A movie was released yesterday, and Lin Mushi had made plans early in the morning for Zhuang Zi'ang to go see it with her.
But Zhuang Zi'ang had to go to the hospital, so he could only reschedule.
"Why didn't you reply to my messages?" Lin Mushi questioned.
Zhuang Zi'ang pulled out his phone and only then realized he had many unread messages.
Three of them were from Lin Mushi.
"Zhuang Zi'ang, I heard from Li Huangxuan that you took leave to go to the hospital."
"Are you okay? We can go see the movie another time."
"If you don't reply to my messages, I'm not talking to you anymore."
It was clearly concern, but from the lines, one could also read a hint of playful haughtiness.
Zhuang Zi'ang's nose tingled, and he almost shed tears.
He tried hard to control his sadness: "Mushi, I'm fine. Will you forgive me if you take a sip of milk tea?"
Lin Mushi stared with her phoenix eyes, hesitated for a moment, then picked up the milk tea and took a small sip.
The taste was delicate, sweet, and smooth.
"This young lady is just thirsty; it doesn't mean I've forgiven you."
Zhuang Zi'ang exerted all his strength to barely manage a bitter smile.
Just then, a tall, thin boy walked in, plopped down next to Zhuang Zi'ang, and boisterously shouted.
"Son, what in the world are you wearing? Aren't you afraid Old Zhang will tear you apart?"
Li Huangxuan was Zhuang Zi'ang's deskmate and best friend, and they always referred to each other as father and son.
When he entered the classroom and saw Zhuang Zi'ang in that floral shirt, he thought he was seeing things.
Zhuang Zi'ang was the class monitor, a 'Three Good Student,' always well-behaved and disciplined, the most trusted and obedient student by the teachers.
But today, he was leading the charge, wearing strange clothes.
"Son, I went to the hospital and wanted a change of mood," Zhuang Zi'ang explained, feigning nonchalance.
"Not bad, good taste. Add a big gold chain around your neck, and it'll be even more flavorful," Li Huangxuan laughed, teasing him.
"This is for you." Zhuang Zi'ang placed the set of "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" heavily on Li Huangxuan's desk.
Li Huangxuan was a martial arts fan and often secretly read leisure books.
Now, seeing this gift, he was immediately overjoyed.
He put an arm around Zhuang Zi'ang's shoulder: "Son, you're really filial. Did you win the lottery?"
Zhuang Zi'ang made up a very half-hearted excuse: "Your birthday is in eight months, you know!"
Lin Mushi listened and laughed very happily.
Her ample chest rose and fell.
Looking at his two close friends, Zhuang Zi'ang cried out inwardly.
I'm so reluctant to leave you all!