"Wanwan," Shen Yi’s voice came out difficultly, dry from disuse or perhaps from a parched throat, small and somewhat hoarse.
Shen Yi’s vision was blurred by tears; he could no longer distinguish whether he was in a dream or in reality at this moment.
His mind was filled with images of the gravestone carrying Ye Wanwan’s sweet smiling photo and the Rebirth Plaque at the temple engraved with Ye Wanwan’s name and date of birth.
Yet in his memory, Ye Wanwan was just fine, waiting at home for him to return.
They were happy together; they even had a baby, and the three of them would have a very happy life together in the future.
So, what’s real and what’s not?
Is Ye Wanwan still alive?
Is the Ye Wanwan before him a real existence?
"Cough cough cough!" Shen Yi suddenly began to cough violently, feeling pain in his throat and his entire chest.
Ye Wanwan, who had been sleeping in a daze, woke up immediately upon hearing the coughing.
"Shen Yi!" Seeing Shen Yi had woken up brought a surge of joy to Ye Wanwan’s heart, but the next moment, she was pulled back to attention by his coughing.
Ye Wanwan sat directly at the edge of the hospital bed, supporting Shen Yi and patting his back to help ease his coughing.
But Shen Yi’s coughing didn’t cease, and as Ye Wanwan grew anxious, she propped him up against the headboard, then ran to get him some water.
As she left to get the water, Shen Yi’s face had turned crimson from the intense coughing, but he still propped himself up, eyes fixed intently on Ye Wanwan.
Not until Ye Wanwan returned with the water, did she again support Shen Yi and pass him the cup, indicating that he should drink.
After taking the water, Shen Yi’s coughing stopped, and his gaze once again fell on Ye Wanwan’s face, staring at her intently.
At that moment, Ye Wanwan’s thoughts were all on Shen Yi; she naturally noticed his stare.
"What’s wrong with you?" Ye Wanwan asked, seeing Shen Yi’s face turn from pale to flushed with red around his eyes, as if he had been crying.
Seeing Shen Yi still staring at her without speaking, Ye Wanwan asked again, "Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
Shen Yi continued to look at her silently, prompting Ye Wanwan to grow more anxious, "I’ll call the doctor."
However, as soon as Ye Wanwan got up, Shen Yi grasped her wrist and, pulling hard, drew her back to sit at the edge of the bed.
The next instant, Shen Yi embraced Ye Wanwan tightly in his arms.
"Wanwan!" Shen Yi called out tremulously, hugging Ye Wanwan fiercely, cherishing the sensation of her in his arms.
He feared that all this was just a dream, his own illusion.
That once he let go, Ye Wanwan would disappear from his side!
Ye Wanwan felt a little uncomfortable being held so tightly; she struggled a bit and realized that Shen Yi was hugging her even more firmly. She sensed something was off with Shen Yi’s emotions.
"Shen Yi, what’s wrong?" Ye Wanwan asked cautiously.
"Wanwan..." In his voice full of desolation, Shen Yi buried his face in Ye Wanwan’s neck, "Don’t leave me!"
No matter whether this was real or not, he had only one thought: to keep Ye Wanwan with him!
Ye Wanwan shook slightly—was Shen Yi crying?
Filled with confusion, Ye Wanwan wondered, what was happening to Shen Yi? What was the situation now?