Chapter 1378: 1378: Curing the Illness, But Not Fate (2)

Chapter 1378: Chapter 1378: Curing the Illness, But Not Fate (2)

“Duo Hong, she is indeed still alive,” Yang Ruxin nodded. “She has been holding on to her last breath, her sole wish to come back and see her Brother Tianlin… She’s in that room, go inside…”

She likely knew how little her family cared for her, otherwise, why wouldn’t she ask to see her father or mother even once?

Duo Tianlin’s tears flowed freely as he walked to the room’s doorway, but his hands trembled too much to form any shape.

Yang Ruxin could only sigh, understanding the feeling of being so close to home yet so fearful, knowing well the emotion overwhelming the man before her.

Duo Tianlin hesitated only for a moment before pushing the door open and walking inside.

Yang Ruxin did not follow; this time was theirs alone, needing no interruption.

Before long, just about a quarter of an hour, Duo Tianlin suddenly called out, “Miss Yang…”

Yang Ruxin hurried into the room, only to find Chu Rui had spat blood and fainted, likely overwhelmed with emotion. She quickly administered an injection, stabilizing her condition.

“How is she?” Duo Tianlin held onto Chu Rui’s hand that was withered like a dried branch.

“Her body has been hollowed out for a long time. She has been sustained by sheer will. Seeing you must have excited her, but for the moment, she will not…” Yang Ruxin managed a bitter smile.

“Are you a Doctor?”

“I’ve learned a little, nothing more.”

“Thank you.”

Yang Ruxin shook her head, “There’s no need for thanks, Duo Hong. My meeting her must have been fate.”

“Miss Yang, if you don’t mind, call me Uncle Duo.” Duo Tianlin sat down opposite Yang Ruxin, coughing twice, “Miss Yang, tell me about her, these past years, she…” his voice broke, unable to continue as his nose turned sour.

“If I call you Uncle Duo, then you should call me Ruxin… I found her in a very impoverished mountain village,” Yang Ruxin sighed. “She was tied up with rope to the kang when I first saw her… She could barely speak clearly then…”

Duo Tianlin suddenly clutched his chest, unable to stem the flow of tears.

“She must have used urine to soften the mud at the foot of the kang, that’s how she hid the Jade Pendant, hidden for over twenty years…”

“Stop, cough, cough…” Duo Tianlin cut her off with a wave of his hand, then broke into violent coughing.

Duo Hong quickly came over, “Master, you mustn’t get excited.”

But Duo Tianlin shook his head, “I’m fine.”

“I might be able to treat you…”

Duo Tianlin, however, shook his head, “The day Xiaorui disappeared, I actually wanted to die. But I always felt a miracle would happen, so I survived… Now that I’ve seen Xiaorui, I have no regrets. Without her, life has no meaning for me, only pain remains.”

Yang Ruxin frowned, saying nothing more. Everyone has their choices, and perhaps her master was right: sometimes a Doctor can cure diseases, but not destiny. There is no greater sorrow than a heart that has died.

“I want to take her back,” Duo Tianlin coughed. “We had an agreement to be buried together on Peach Mountain where we played as children…”

“But Uncle Duo,” Yang Ruxin sighed, “I must remind you, the Chu Family does not acknowledge her as the real Chu Rui. I sent someone to see the current head of the Chu Family, and he had my person turned away. Besides, your house still has a Madam Chu Rui, so in what identity will she return?”