Ryan doesn't take the opportunity to get close to Lily. After returning to City J, he hasn't contacted
anyone other than Rex. Moreover, he even hides his whereabouts from Lily. He only asks his
subordinates to keep an eye on her and notify him if anything happens to her.
During the day, he works remotely from his apartment. At night, he'd like to find a place to drink alone.
For him, City J is not a place with many good memories, but just a place where Lily lives.
Without Rex by her side, Lily spends all her time on Adair. But the boy has gone to school and spends
most of the day there. In her spare time, Lily's mind always wanders. A month passes and she begins
to feel anxious.
She often wakes up in the middle of the night from nightmares and lies awake in bed, because of the
man who has left her.
"Mom, what's wrong?" One morning at breakfast, Adair notices something is wrong when he looks at
her gloomy face.
Lily is holding a piece of bread in her hand. She's not focused on eating. When she hears the boy
calling, she collects herself and forces a smile. "Mom is thinking."
Adair opens his mouth and takes a bite of the bread. After swallowing it, he turns his big eyes and
looks at Lily. He asks cautiously, "Mom, when will dad come back?"
Half a month has passed since Rex left. They haven't be separated for so long ever since Rex
reclaimed his son.
Lily's heart skips a beat when she hears his question. She's afraid the boy may see it through. Her face
is very tense. "Dad hasn't finished his business yet. He'll come back when it's done."
"And when is that?" The boy's big eyes blink expectantly. Lily can't bear to look at them.
"As soon as possible." Lily doesn't dare to give him a definite time so as not to disappoint him when the
time comes. "Do you miss dad?"
Adair nods without hesitation. "Yes...."
He misses his dad every evening when he plays Lego after finishing the homework. Dad used to play it
with him.
The boy is so sensitive that even Fanny, who is pouring milk by their side, can't help feeling sour.
Lily cuddles his petite body. There are both anticipation and disappointment on his fair and tender face.
Her heart aches. This time Rex has left for the sake of her and the kid. If she continues to be dispirited,
then all the pain will be meaningless.
She can't despair. The boy and the family need her. She can't be defeated yet!
"Adair, you still have mom here. Dad has gone to earn money for you and mom. He misses you and
loves you very much."
Adair smiles and nods in joy. "Let's wait for dad together!"
Lily holds back her tears and raises her hand to caress the boy's head lovingly. "Alright."
...
Meanwhile, Rex's treatment begins. The addictive substance is highly concentrated in his body. He's
suffering from an increasing frequency of onset and ever-growing unconsciousness. His body loses
weight quickly. The feeling of his body being hollowed out and unable to exert any strength is enough
to torture him, not to mention his horrible appetite.
It hurts and tortures him as if his blood and bones are corroding, a feeling that no one else can
experience. It's as if his blood vessels are peeled off from his bones by a pair of tweezers, making him
tremble uncontrollably. He even tries to hurt himself, but the doctor comes in and ties his limbs to the
bed. The bed shakes violently for as long as a century before it returns to peace.
He suffers from these symptoms once or twice a day, and every time he does, he has the illusion that
he can't hold on any longer. But whenever he wants to give up, what Lily said when he left come to his
mind.
He can't give up yet. She is waiting for him!
After a month's struggle, his body functions are merely maintained by daily infusions. It's been long
since he ate anything, and his taste is deteriorating.
Lee looks at Rex's deteriorating body. Though Rex's life isn't in danger, Lee is more anxious than
anyone when he sees such a sturdy man being exhausted.
"Lee, why not try the exchange transfusion therapy?" Beside Lee is his assistant who has worked with
him for many years. He asks as he looks through the window of the ward.
Lee has evaluated this approach too, but he doesn't think it's the right time. Looking at the man soaked
in sweat on the bed, he sighs. "It's not time yet."
When Rex wakes up after another onset, it's already late at night. He is once again overwhelmed with
a sense of powerlessness which he is already used to. He needs to move his paralyzed arms a few
times before they return to normal. Rex looks at the white ceiling and waits quietly.
A dozen minutes has passed and he's finally able to move.
He slowly sits up from the bed. The moment his feet touch the ground, a numbing sensation comes.
His legs almost fail to support his body, and he staggers for a moment before taking a firm standing.
This is what Lee sees when he opens the door. He rushes forward to support him. "Are you alright?"
Rex lowers his eyes and looks at his extremely weak body underneath the patient gown. He frowns
and says in a hoarse voice, "I have to struggle to stand up."
Lee tries to calm him, "You just got sick and it's normal to lose strength. Exercise accelerates not only
the circulation of blood but also the flow of addictive substances in your body."
"Lee," Rex calls.
"Yes?"
"It will take half a year to undergo the exchange transfusion therapy, right?"
He suddenly asks. Lee is dumbfounded. "Yes, conservatively speaking. But it depends on the recovery
of the body. In an optimistic situation, it'll be completed in four months."
"What if it's not optimistic? Will the result be worse than now?"
Lee looks at the man's pale face and grits his teeth. "Yes, it'll be even worse."
Hearing this answer, the man's lips tremble. "How worse can I be?"
"Rex, do you want to try the exchange transfusion therapy?"
"Yes. I don't see any hope now." Rex has made up his mind. "But please keep it a secret from
everyone."
"But...." Lee hesitates. He's still worried.
Rex raises his hand and interrupts him. His dark eyes are as deep as an ancient well. "It's difficult for
me to make this decision, so don't try to persuade me."
"But your family has the right to know. Theoretically, we need them to sign the consent form."
"If I'm willing to let her know, then why did I come to you?"
Lee is wordless. The ward becomes silent for a moment.
"I can bear the consequences, and I won't implicate you. I have only one requirement. Please keep it a
secret for me." Rex confesses.
Lee feels aggrieved and sullen. "I'm not trying to get rid of my responsibilities. You know it's not what
I'm thinking about."
If it weren't for Rex, he wouldn't have achieved so much. Even if he has to shoulder the responsibility,
he won't back down. He's just worried about him.
"If not, then do as I say." The man gently closes his eyes. "I don't have much time."
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda