MFW 2

The doctor’s face was grave, the film in his hand appearing white under the light. He pointed to a shadow on the film: “Look at this shadow, do you see the rough edge? The contrast image is blurry, which indicates something is very abnormal; further examination is necessary.” 

“You’re the child’s teacher, right? Where are the child’s parents?” 

“…” 

Fu Siting’s father ran away when he was one year old, and his mother was currently in the dialysis room on the fourth floor of this hospital, barely able to take care of herself. 

The doctor sighed helplessly and could only tell the only “adult” present, Kan Baiyun, about the situation. 

Kan Baiyun’s expression gradually changed as she listened. The doctor told her that based on the film, he suspected stomach cancer, possibly even in its late stage. 

“This… how is this possible? Is there some mistake?” 

Kan Baiyun’s voice trembled: “But this child is only sixteen! He’s so young, how could he get such a disease at such a young age?” 

The doctor shook his head; they had seen many cases of young people suffering from serious illnesses in the hospital. Although rare, it happened every year. 

To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor ordered Fu Siting to be hospitalized for a gastroscopy the following day. 

“If it’s confirmed to be a malignant tumor, surgery will be necessary immediately, without delay, followed by chemotherapy and other treatments. In short, have the student’s family prepare the money.” 

“Judging from the current examination results, the gastroscopy outcome is unlikely to be optimistic.” 

“We need to prepare for the costs in advance. Even with reimbursement, the expenses will still be at least six figures…” 

Fu Siting, standing in the corner, heard everything with his eyes downcast. 

He had no family members who could cover for him, no one who could conspire to cover his treatment without his knowledge. Kan Baiyun panicked, unsure how to comfort him. Her face pale, she struggled to find the right words: 

“Fu Siting, you…you’re still young. The doctor said this illness is treatable. You must stay calm, actively seek treatment, and never give up, understand?” 

“As for the surgery fee, don’t worry. I know your family is struggling, but we can raise funds for you at school. The school will definitely not abandon you. You can’t lose faith. Here’s five hundred yuan, take it!” 

“If all else fails, there’s the TV station, the city’s helpline, and the green channel. There’s always a way. Don’t give up hope, understand… *sob*.” 

Fu Siting just stood there quietly. 

In the hospital corridor, it was Kan Baiyun, the “adult,” who was sobbing uncontrollably. 

The doctor returned and pulled Kan Baiyun aside, explaining some details he had forgotten to mention. While they were talking, Fu Siting borrowed Kan Baiyun’s phone. 

He had no relatives or friends to turn to, and he wasn’t borrowing the phone to call anyone. 

He simply used his phone to check the five-year survival rate for “late-stage stomach cancer” in the browser. 

Even the mildest stage three had a survival rate of only 20% to 40%. 

That is to say, even after surgery and chemotherapy, only about 20% to 40% of patients would still be alive after five years. 

“…” 

Fu Siting’s finger lingered on that number for a long time. 

After a while, he lowered his head and smiled. 

This probability was practically… almost hopeless. 

Only a 20% to 40% chance of surviving for five years. What difference did treatment make? 

Not to mention that he had never been very lucky growing up, this probability was equivalent to being completely sentenced to death by fate. 

Fu Siting didn’t even want to struggle anymore. 

… 

After checking all this, Fu Siting returned the phone to his teacher and went up to the fourth floor to see his mother. 

His mother, Jiang Yueping, didn’t know about his illness and was lying in bed with a dialysis tube inserted, looking pale and weak. 

Kidney disease patients often experience this: drowsiness, fatigue, and loss of appetite, which are not relieved even after rest. Since being diagnosed a year ago, she had often appeared listless and weak. 

Seeing Fu Siting arrive, Jiang Yueping tried to cheer herself up. 

First, she grabbed his wrist, asking why he had lost weight again, then inquiring about his studies. 

“Mom, don’t worry. Everything’s fine.” 

Fu Siting, of course, wouldn’t tell her that he had been working tirelessly for the past year to raise money for her treatment and dialysis, barely getting enough sleep, and his studies had fallen far behind. 

He could only tell her that he was still the same. 

Fu Siting’s previous “still the same” was being in the top twenty of his grade. Before this year, he had always been a top student. Now, his grades had long since dropped to below two hundredth in the grade. 

But Jiang Yueping didn’t need to know this. 

Sure enough, when his mother heard that his grades were good, she smiled with relief: “My Xiaoting never worries his mother.” 

“Alright, you should go early too, don’t linger at the hospital. You have school tomorrow.” 

“Okay.” 

She was smiling just a second ago, but suddenly her face fell, and she sighed, “You’re so outstanding, it’s always been me who’s dragging you down. Haa, look at me, living is just suffering, and I can’t get a kidney transplant, and even if I do, I can’t afford it. What’s the point? I might as well die sooner.” 

“Xiaoting, tell me,” she looked up, her empty, brown eyes staring at Fu Siting, “wouldn’t it be better for me to die sooner?” 

“…” 

Fu Siting’s fingertips dug into his palm, his expression unchanged. 

“Mom, don’t think like that, we’ll get a kidney transplant. Everything will be alright then, we have to have faith.” 

After coming down from the fourth floor, Fu Siting begged Teacher Kan to keep his illness a secret from his mother. 

“Teacher, don’t worry. Even for my family’s sake, I’ll get proper treatment. And you said you could raise funds… Don’t worry, I’m really fine. I won’t do anything rash.” 

“Teacher, you should go home soon. It’s late, and your family seems to have called you several times already. Go home quickly.” 

In the past few hours, Kan Baiyun had been relentlessly bombarded with urgent phone calls from home. 

Even when Fu Siting was using her phone to check his health, urgent messages kept popping up in the background of her chat software. 

Kan Baiyun was in her thirties, with a gentle personality, but the messages from her mother-in-law and husband were so impatient and harsh. Each message berated her for neglecting her family, questioned where she had been in the middle of the night, and accused her of not caring for her child and being unfit to be a mother. 

Over the years, with Fu Siting’s mother ill and the family struggling financially, his only thought was to grow up quickly. 

He couldn’t wait to become an adult so he could earn money to support his family and help his mother escape her predicament. 

But… 

Teacher Kan was already an adult, with a stable job and income. But it seems that Teacher Kan’s life… hasn’t escaped its own turmoil and chaos. 

In the darkness, Fu Siting walked out of the hospital building.

A cold wind swept through his thin clothes, the biting chill making him shiver. Few pedestrians were on the street, only the streetlights stood alone in the cold wind, casting a dim, yellow glow. 

He looked up at the distant high-rises, their myriad lights twinkling in the night, bright and far away. 

Behind those lights, perhaps, lay warm homes, filled with laughter and steaming meals. He looked down again; his shadow stretched long, lonely on the cold ground. 

In the deepening darkness, for a moment he didn’t even know where to go. 

The future seemed like a black fog, with no bright prospects in sight. 

***

Author’s Note: 

The survival rate data in the story is from “twelve years ago,” not current data. 

Back then, targeted cancer drugs were very expensive and not covered by medical insurance. Later, technology advanced, drugs became covered by medical insurance, and survival rates improved. 

But the protagonist missed out back then =w=…