Morning Longing for Warmth – Chapter 56
by Little PandaBottom Line
I won’t give you the chance to make a mistake.
Wei Hui left in the afternoon. Although Shiyi had agreed not to see her off, she couldn’t hold herself back. Knowing she would sneak out anyway, she might as well openly follow Wei Hui, watching her go through security and board the plane. Wei Hui turned around, a smile warming her usually cool expression, her lips forming indistinct words. Shiyi raised her hand and softly said, “Goodbye.”
“Is it true that the surgery only has a four percent success rate?”
Too small—so small she couldn’t even convince herself to accept it.
Dr. Bai nodded, “Yes, that’s why you all need to consider it carefully.”
“Without surgery, how many years are left?”
Dr. Bai replied, “Five years at most.”
Five years.
Shiyi’s heart plunged into an icy cave, making her whole body tremble with cold. Her voice quavered, “Isn’t there any other way?”
“There must be, right?”
Her earnest gaze made Dr. Bai’s breath catch for a moment before he responded with regret, “Besides heart transplant being the most reliable option, surgery is the only alternative. There’s nothing else.”
Heart transplant.
Wei Hui had an extremely rare blood type, one in a million. Over the years, Su Ziyan had searched almost the entire world to find a matching heart for her, but to no avail—there simply wasn’t one. Shiyi couldn’t accept the four percent possibility. She gritted her teeth and asked Dr. Bai, “May I ask you for something?”
Dr. Bai, moved by her hoarse voice, nodded, “Go ahead.”
Shiyi lowered her eyes, “I want you to test me for compatibility.”
Dr. Bai stared at her blankly, remaining silent for a long while.
After seeing Wei Hui off, Shiyi returned to school. Passersby walked in small groups, and some greeted her as they passed. She responded with nods and smiles, but while sunlight filled the world, only desolation filled her heart.
She had once been alone in the world until Wei Hui brought her to the Wei family. It was Wei Hui who taught her how to be a person, what dignity meant, what love was. Wei Hui was the last warmth she cherished in this world. Shiyi took out her phone, staring at Wei Hui’s peaceful sleeping face on the screen. The desolation in her heart was covered by warmth, instantly blooming with flowers, becoming brilliant.
If her heart could beat in Wei Hui’s chest, wouldn’t that be a kind of happiness too?
Shiyi put away her phone, her gaze determined.
After Wei Hui’s departure, Shiyi studied even harder, but never missed sending messages or making calls to Wei Hui. When she was too busy, she would still secretly call during bathroom breaks, and Wei Hui’s steady voice always soothed her.
After returning to Jiang City, Wei Hui’s condition remained under control. Not only did she avoid needing a wheelchair as Su Ziyan had predicted, her spirits actually improved. Every time Su Ziyan finished examining her, he would secretly ask, “Did Dr. Bai do something?”
Dr. Bai hadn’t done anything.
But it was Shiyi who made her worry. She felt she shouldn’t collapse like this—at least not until she returned.
Perhaps it was belief, or perhaps the stubbornness in her bones, but her health actually improved significantly. At year’s end, Shiyi called to say the school was organizing outstanding students for two months of company internships, so she wouldn’t be coming back. After hanging up, Wei Hui shook her head with a smile. Shiyi was becoming more mature, while she herself was becoming more childish—whenever there was a holiday, she could hardly resist flying over to see her.
Since Shiyi wasn’t returning, Su Ziyan, worried about Wei Hui being lonely, brought food to visit her on New Year’s Day. He encouraged her to video call Shiyi. In the video, Wei Hui wore a deep red sweater, her lips red and teeth white, her eyes curved in a smile. Satisfaction welled up in Shiyi’s eyes. After the call, she set the screenshot as her phone wallpaper. Beside her, Du Yueming hugged herself, shivering: “You’re really something—able to take a holiday but refusing to go back. Staying here, are you happy?”
Not really.
But for the sake of faster growth, Shiyi forced herself to stay. Actually, this year the company internships weren’t school recommendations but voluntary applications. As an outstanding student, Shiyi had mentioned it to the old professor, who looked after her and gave her a spot. Since she wasn’t going back, Du Yueming definitely wouldn’t return home either. After all, going home for New Year’s just meant eating, drinking, and fooling around. She had her eye on a girl among the interns, which was why she volunteered to come along with Shiyi.
This was their first time entering a company. Though foreign countries don’t celebrate Spring Festival, work continued as usual, but there were still some festive touches—each office had small red lanterns hanging from the flower pots. Shiyi and Du Yueming were assigned to the same department, Market Research.
Unlike Shiyi, Du Yueming wasn’t here primarily for the internship but to pursue someone. While Shiyi was still immersed in learning company regulations, Du Yueming had already eagerly snuck off to other departments. She wasn’t entirely useless though—within a week, she had established good relationships with all departments. Seeing how she had transformed from a young lady in Jiang City to something like a tabloid reporter here, Shiyi smiled helplessly: “Can’t you be more serious?”
“Why be so serious? It’s not like I’m inheriting the family business,” she replied matter-of-factly. Shiyi shook her head. Du Yueming’s two brothers treated her like a precious treasure. When she first came to Weiss for half a year, her second brother often used business trips as an excuse to visit her, bringing gifts. If Du Yueming hadn’t shown her displeasure, her second brother might have moved the entire Du family over.
They sent her here to study, and they were the ones who couldn’t stop worrying.
This is what family is like.
As Shiyi smiled, she thought of Wei Hui. It was Wei Hui who sent her here, and it was Wei Hui who worried about her. Once this longing started, it became uncontrollable—she wouldn’t rest until she heard Wei Hui’s voice. At eight in the evening, Shiyi started a video call with Wei Hui. The other end was dark, and Shiyi asked softly, “Where are you?”
Wei Hui was leaning against her headboard, wearing thin pajamas, her face noticeably thinner and collarbones prominent. She smiled, “In my room. Are you off work?”
People around kept greeting Shiyi, and she responded to each one before telling the person on the video, “Just got off.”
Wei Hui brushed her elegant hair, “Are you tired?”
Shiyi shook her head, “Not tired.”
Then, looking at the screen, she added, “Just missing you a bit.”
This sudden sweet talk caught Wei Hui off guard. After a few seconds, she finally lifted her lips in a smile, “I know.”
Shiyi blushed slightly, then blinked and said, “I’ll call you again when I get to the dorm.”
After Wei Hui acknowledged this, Shiyi ended the video call.
The dormitory had been arranged by Wei Hui. Du Yueming occasionally stayed over, though lately she’d been busy chasing after that girl and rarely came back. Shiyi bought dinner on her way and hurried back to the dorm. Unlike when she left, the lights were on. She called out in surprise, “Yueming?”
There was no response. Shiyi frowned, “Du Yueming?”
Still no response, but sizzling sounds came from the kitchen. Someone was cooking. Curious, Shiyi walked over—Du Yueming had never touched a pot in her life, so why would she suddenly decide to cook today?
When she saw who was in the kitchen, she froze in shock.
Who else could it be but Wei Hui?
The person who had just been in the video wearing thin pajamas and leaning against her headboard was now wearing an apron, sleeves rolled up to her elbows, long hair casually pinned up, her profile focused on cooking. She was stir-frying, her delicate wrists appearing even more fair in the firelight. Fragrant aromas wafted from the kitchen. Shiyi’s eyes misted over, and without even putting down her bag, she took two steps forward and embraced Wei Hui from behind.
“Huihui,” Shiyi choked up, “Why are you here?”
Wei Hui, still holding the ladle while being hugged, turned her head at the familiar voice: “Didn’t you say you missed me?”
Shiyi’s heart overflowed with emotion as she laughed through tears: “You didn’t tell me again, you didn’t tell me again. Last time you promised not to strain your body…”
Wei Hui put down the ladle, turned around to hug Shiyi, and kissed the corner of her chattering lips, smiling: “You talk too much.”
All of Shiyi’s complaints instantly vanished. She pressed Wei Hui against the counter and kissed her deeply, their soft lips meeting, tongues playfully intertwining. Wei Hui, not as strong as Shiyi, half-leaned against her, their bodies softly pressed together. Shiyi’s heart melted, filled with warmth.
They kissed for a long time before finally separating, breathless. Watching Wei Hui ladle soup, Shiyi couldn’t help asking: “When did you learn to cook?”
“Just learned a few dishes from Aunt Liu. Want to try?”
Shiyi picked up some vegetables with her chopsticks—not greasy, light, and still crispy. She nodded: “Delicious.”
Wei Hui smiled along seeing Shiyi’s approving nod. After dinner, Shiyi washed the dishes while they cuddled on the sofa watching TV. Wei Hui turned on the variety channel, with occasional bursts of laughter coming from the television. Shiyi placed washed fruit on the coffee table, then sat down next to Wei Hui, naturally curling up in her embrace, looking up to ask, “When did you arrive?”
The TV was loud, but Shiyi still clearly caught Wei Hui’s voice—so distinct that it penetrated her eardrums and reached straight to her heart.
“This afternoon.”
Shiyi nodded, “How long are you staying?”
“Leaving tomorrow morning.” After speaking, Wei Hui took a piece of fruit, took a bite, and Shiyi leaned forward to take another bite. Watching Shiyi move around in her arms like a cat, Wei Hui couldn’t help but hold her tighter, resting her head on Shiyi’s shoulder as she said softly, “I came because there’s something I need to tell you.”
Shiyi looked up, “What is it?”
Wei Hui stared at the TV, her expression steady, gaze calm, speaking unhurriedly, “The compatibility results came back. You’re the most suitable heart donor.”
Shiyi, sitting in her embrace, instantly turned pale. Her body tensed, fine sweat breaking out on her back as she whispered, “Huihui, I…”
“Shiyi.” Wei Hui’s voice remained normal, “I know what you’re thinking, and I won’t give you the chance to make this mistake.”
“I just…” Shiyi’s heart was in turmoil. A thousand reasons seemed like mere excuses before Wei Hui. She wanted Wei Hui to live, but how could Wei Hui bear to let her take such a risk? Yet if they had to choose between the two of them, she hoped Wei Hui would live well.
Wei Hui’s chin still rested on her shoulder, her breath orchid-sweet, her voice soft: “If you ever have this thought again, let’s break up.”
Shiyi’s heart jolted. She turned to look at Wei Hui, meeting those usually gentle eyes that now held a hint of sharpness and steel, brooking no argument.
Just as Wei Hui was her bottom line.
She had become Wei Hui’s bottom line too.
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