Chapter 23: Beauty, There’s Only One Bed

  To make sure Xu Danlu’s father received treatment as soon as possible, Zhang Yang discussed with Xu Danlu and her mother, and they decided that the four of them would take the morning train north to Shanghai.

  According to Yang Jing’s estimation, with Xu Maogen’s condition, even with the most advanced TOMO machine, if everything went smoothly, it would still take at least twenty-seven radiation sessions and five combined chemotherapy treatments to suppress the illness. This meant that the whole process would last around a month and a half. In other words, Zhang Yang and Xu Danlu might have to stay in Shanghai for that long.

  Time was short, so Xu Danlu immediately applied for leave from the university, and it was quickly approved.

  As for Zhang Yang, since he was no longer a student of Meining University, things were simpler. He went back to the dorm, packed his few clothes, gathered his only assets after four years of hard studying—a box of books—and carried a bag and suitcase, ready to leave. He had planned to say goodbye to Li Jindong and the others, but aside from Liu Qing, who had just returned from the library, the other two idiots actually had afternoon classes.

  After sending them each a text message, his antique phone just happened to die. Zhang Yang gave a wry smile, feeling like it was fate. Dragging his suitcase and carrying his bag, he slowly walked out of campus with the bookworm.

  Liu Qing was normally the kind of person who couldn’t squeeze out a word all day, but seeing Zhang Yang leave seemed to make him sentimental. He resolutely came out from behind his pile of books and insisted on walking Zhang Yang to the school gate.

  “Yangzi, you’re good at everything, except you can be stubborn sometimes.” The bookworm was thin but tall—standing side by side, he even seemed a little taller than Zhang Yang. He insisted on carrying Zhang Yang’s heaviest box of books himself.

  “Leaving isn’t the end, maybe it’s the beginning of something new in your life.” At the gate, Liu Qing turned back to look at the entrance of Meining University and smiled. “Whether you get your diploma or not, that won’t change the fact that you’re part of Meining. Don’t bring shame to Meining people.”

  “Come back and visit when you can. Even though the school expelled you, we’ll always be classmates.”

  Looking at the tall, thin Liu Qing, Zhang Yang’s eyes suddenly grew moist. Maybe at that moment, he truly understood what real friendship meant.

  Leaving Meining University, Zhang Yang was now officially homeless. Fortunately, when Xu Danlu’s father came from Anping to Meining for treatment, he had rented a place near Zhongshan Hospital. The lease still had two months left, so Zhang Yang stored his luggage there for now.

  The next morning, he, Xu Danlu, and her parents took the train to Shanghai.

  Yang Jing had contacted Director Tu from the Radiology Department at Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital. Since Xu Maogen’s condition was severe, Director Tu gave them the green light all the way. After reviewing the PET-CT report, he helped with the positioning mold that same afternoon and quickly designed a treatment plan.

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  The results were just as Yang Jing predicted: five TOMO radiation courses, each consisting of five sessions, with one combined chemotherapy per course, using Taixinsheng molecular targeted drugs.

  Because of the need for the positioning mold, treatment wouldn’t start until the day after tomorrow, meaning they had two days to rest. Only then did they realize they hadn’t arranged a place to stay yet.

  To save Xu Maogen from running around, Zhang Yang asked Xu’s mother to take care of him while he and Xu Danlu went to find a place to stay.

  Today, Xu Danlu finally wore what Zhang Yang considered her most modest outfit—a knee-length denim skirt, a loose red T-shirt, and canvas shoes. Her dyed yellow hair was tied up into a bun, giving her a sunny look. Yet every time she moved, her curvy figure still showed through irresistibly.

  Since everything had gone smoothly so far, Xu Danlu seemed in good spirits.

  “Zhang Yang, if it weren’t for you, things wouldn’t have gone so smoothly today. When I get back, I really need to thank Doctor Yang for recommending such a good helper like you.”

  “Hey, then shouldn’t this helper get some thanks too?”

  Xu Danlu turned back, glanced at him, and said, “Thanks.”

  “Come on, just ‘thanks’? That’s it?” Zhang Yang smacked his lips in dissatisfaction.

  “What else do you want?”

  “Maybe some kind of… physical compensation?”

  “In your dreams.”

  Zhang Yang muttered pitifully, “I just meant food. I’m hungry.”

  “Ugh, why didn’t you say so earlier?” Xu Danlu’s pretty face flushed slightly. “My treat. What do you want to eat?”

  Zhang Yang thought for a moment. “Let’s find a place to stay first.”

  “I swear, I’ll kill you.”

  *****

  After a while, Xu Danlu frowned and asked, “Aren’t we supposed to be looking for a place to stay? We’ve passed plenty of hotels already. Why do you keep going into these alleys?”

  “Come on, hotels? Do you know how much it costs to stay in one for a month and a half?” Zhang Yang looked at her. “Besides, people here are for treatment—they need to rest and eat well. You think hotels let you cook? We’re obviously looking for a long-term rental.”

  “Oh!” Xu Danlu was scolded but didn’t get angry. Instead, she felt oddly warm inside.

  Finally, they found a private house less than two hundred meters from the hospital.

  The location was good, the air was fresh, and the rent was reasonable—three thousand a month, half the price of a hotel—and they could cook for themselves.

  “It’s a great deal. The place is made for patients coming for treatment. There’s a water heater, air conditioner, TV, private bathroom, and a kitchen.” The landlady smiled as she opened the door. “See? Two beds, just right for four people. If you stayed in a hotel, it’d cost five or six thousand a month—and you couldn’t even make soup for the patient.”

  Two beds? Zhang Yang looked at Xu Danlu and asked, “Auntie, do you have a place with three beds?”

  The landlady gave him a strange look. “Aren’t you four people? The old couple share one bed, the young couple share the other—it’s perfect!”

  “Cough… we’re not—” Zhang Yang coughed awkwardly.

  “Oh, not a couple? Ah, I get it—you’re siblings! Well, that’s fine too. The father and son can share a bed, mother and daughter share the other. Happens all the time here. If that’s really a problem, you can always rent another room.”

  “It’s fine, Auntie. We’ll take this one!” Xu Danlu quickly cut the landlady off.

  After booking the room and getting the keys, Zhang Yang glanced at Xu Danlu and muttered, “Maybe I should just find a hotel.”

  Xu Danlu bit her cherry lips. “If you’re uncomfortable, I can help you find one.”

  “No, it’s fine. I’ll share with your dad; you and your mom can share. I’m just worried your dad might not be used to it.”

  “It’s fine. Actually, my dad… never mind.” Xu Danlu hesitated, glanced at him, then said softly, “Right now it’s all about the treatment. Last night, my relatives sent over more than two hundred thousand yuan. Adding what we already had, that’s just enough for the costs. We should save wherever we can.”

  When Xu Danlu’s parents heard that Zhang Yang had found the place, they showered him with praise. To them, he was like a living Lei Feng. Especially Xu Danlu’s mother, He Zhen—she basically treated Zhang Yang like a future son-in-law. During dinner, she kept piling food into his bowl, practically wishing the two would get married on the spot.

  After seeing the room, the elderly couple praised him again. The place was great—good air, quiet surroundings, water heater, TV, and bathroom all included.

  But when they noticed there were only two beds, their expressions turned slightly awkward. However, after seeing the look their daughter gave them, they stayed quiet.

  Zhang Yang didn’t notice. Though he felt odd being the outsider among their family of three, this was for treatment’s sake—sharing a bed with Xu Danlu’s father shouldn’t be a big deal.

  But just before bedtime, He Zhen shyly said to him, “Xiao Zhang, I’m sorry, but tonight you’ll have to squeeze in with Lulu.”

  Zhang Yang was caught off guard, while Xu Danlu’s face turned bright red. She dragged him into the bathroom and said awkwardly, “It’s like this—my dad has a weird habit. At night… if he doesn’t hold my mom, he… he can’t sleep.”

  “Uh…” Zhang Yang was stunned.

  “So… so you’ll have to share a bed with me tonight. Or… or I can sleep on the floor.” Xu Danlu lowered her head, her pale face completely flushed.