Chapter 7: The Turn of Events
As expected, after a brief period of calm came an even greater storm—one so overwhelming and fierce that she could hardly bear it. But she knew she had to stand firm, for there was no one left to rely on.
Her father had collapsed at work. His colleagues rushed him to the hospital before frantically calling Yun Xinyu. She was utterly shocked by the news—her robust father, who had always been healthy, had suddenly fallen ill.
At the time, she hadn’t yet received a diagnosis and assumed it was mere exhaustion from overwork, something rest could cure. But when she arrived at the hospital, the doctor told her bluntly: "The patient has lung cancer. Will you proceed with treatment?"
In that moment, the world seemed to crumble. She froze, the words echoing relentlessly in her mind:
"Lung cancer? How is that possible? Dad just spoke to me yesterday—he was fine! Doctor, are you certain? This can’t be my father. He only collapsed from exhaustion, right? Tell me it’s not true!"
She stood in the hospital hallway, hysterical and choking on sobs. The doctor repeated tonelessly:
"Yes. Lung cancer."
After a long silence...
She forced down the agony and despair raging in her chest. Meeting the doctor’s gaze, she said firmly:
"We’ll proceed."
"Be prepared—the costs will be exorbitant. There will be multiple rounds of chemotherapy, hospitalization fees..." The doctor studied her, as if doubting her resolve to sustain such expenses.
"Doctor, I understand. He’s my father. Even the faintest hope is worth fighting for. No need to explain further—I’ll find a way to earn the money."
The doctor recognized the steel in her eyes. Without another word, he turned and left.
Yun Xinyu staggered into her father’s room. The sight of his ashen face and snow-white hair made tears flood her cheeks anew.
She whispered to his unconscious form:
"Dad... if you’re gone, who do I have left? I’m so scared. What should I do? This is all my fault—if I weren’t so worthless, you wouldn’t have worked yourself to collapse..."
Her voice frayed into hoarse silence. She prayed this was a nightmare—that she’d wake up soon, return to her mundane routine, and hear his booming laughter during their evening calls.
A nurse entered and glanced at the bed’s nameplate. "Family of the patient? The bill is ready. Payment must be made at the first-floor window by 10 AM today."
"Understood."
The sum on the bill stunned her—tens of thousands for a single treatment. Panic surged: even selling everything she owned, how long could she sustain this?
The doctor later clarified her father’s condition: detected early, still mid-stage. Recovery was possible with premium treatment—but the costs would be astronomical, and delays would worsen his prognosis.
When she asked for the total estimate, he explained: top-tier domestic and imported medications, advanced equipment, and specialized techniques.
"At minimum, nearly one million yuan—assuming no complications."
Yun Xinyu accepted this without hesitation. Her only task now was clear: raise the funds, no matter the cost.
(End of Chapter)
