"Dr. Chen, are there any foods I should avoid with my condition?"
"I can give up hot pot, barbecue, bubble tea, and soda, starting now. No problem."
"I can also start going to bed early and waking up early. No more late nights."
Zhuang Zi'ang looked earnestly at his attending physician, Dr. Chen Dexiu. He had a sinking feeling that his health was in serious trouble.
Dr. Chen, in his fifties, had a receding hairline and thick, gold-rimmed glasses. Behind him, a wall adorned with countless silk banners attested to his medical expertise and high moral character.
"No, you can eat whatever you want."
This seemingly simple statement hit Zhuang Zi'ang like a bolt from the blue, deafening him with its implications.
Dr. Chen handed him a diagnosis report filled with dense medical jargon. In layman's terms, it spelled out a death sentence: an incurable disease with no hope of recovery.
"Dr. Chen, how much time do I have left?" Zhuang Zi'ang's voice trembled, fear of death gripping his heart.
"Three months at most. Try to stay positive. Everyone has to face this day eventually," Dr. Chen sighed, a hint of resignation in his voice. As a doctor, he had witnessed countless life-and-death situations and thought he had become numb to them. Yet, seeing such a young life about to be extinguished still pained him deeply. In the face of disease, life seemed so fragile.
Clutching the diagnosis report, Zhuang Zi'ang left the hospital in a daze. His mind was blank as he wandered aimlessly down the street, bumping into several shared bicycles along the way. At eighteen, in the vibrant season of blooming peach blossoms, his life was already counting down.
Three months, ninety days, two thousand one hundred and sixty hours...
Dr. Chen said three months, but in reality, it could be even less. In the blink of an eye, he would have to bid farewell to this world, a reality he was far from prepared for.
Tears silently streamed down his face. An overwhelming wave of sadness and regret filled his chest, leaving him at a loss for how to express it.
Outside the hospital, there was a wholesale market. Zhuang Zi'ang noticed a clothing store displaying a variety of cheap, colorful clothes. A loudspeaker outside blared about a clearance sale, promoting bargain prices. His clothes still carried the pungent smell of hospital disinfectant, and he felt an urgent need to take them off and throw them away. It was as if doing so would sever his ties to the hospital and perhaps slow down the relentless march of death.
But it was nothing more than a pathetic attempt at self-deception.
"Hey, how much for that shirt?" Zhuang Zi'ang pointed to a gaudily colored floral shirt. It was a riot of colors, like a spilled paint palette. In the hospital, everything was a sterile, sickly white. He now desperately craved more color in his life.
"Thirty yuan," the shop owner replied, hesitantly adding, "But I don't think this style suits you, kid."
Zhuang Zi'ang pulled out his money. "It's fine. I like it."
The garish floral shirt clashed horribly with his refined demeanor, making him look like a child playing dress-up in adult clothes.
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Next, Zhuang Zi'ang went to a bookstore and bought a complete set of The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, a classic martial arts novel. The five hefty volumes felt heavy in his hands. He stopped by a bubble tea shop and ordered a taro boba, a new spring special.
Back at school, Zhuang Zi'ang was stopped by the security guard at the gate. Although the school didn't have a strict uniform policy, they still frowned upon outlandish attire. And Zhuang Zi'ang's floral shirt was certainly an eyesore.
Only after presenting his student ID and a doctor's note signed by his homeroom teacher, and after the guard made a call to confirm, was he allowed to enter.
"Kids these days, dressing like hoodlums. What's the world coming to?"
As Zhuang Zi'ang walked through the school gates, he heard the security guard's sigh behind him, a wave of sadness washing over him. The guard didn't know that this "hoodlum" student had been ranked first in his grade for two years running and was a city-recognized model student and outstanding student leader.
But to Zhuang Zi'ang, all those accolades were now meaningless. In three months, everything about him would vanish like smoke.
It was during the break between classes, and the playground was a cacophony of noise. Outside Class 9's classroom, a few students were chasing each other around. When Zhuang Zi'ang, looking like a flamboyant rooster, walked into the classroom, he instantly became the center of attention.
"What the hell? Why is he dressed like that?"
"If the Dean of Students sees him, it's a 3,000-word essay for sure."
"Zhuang Zi'ang took yesterday off for a doctor's appointment. Judging by his outfit, he must be seriously ill!"
...
Ignoring his classmates' bewildered stares, Zhuang Zi'ang walked straight to his seat, took a deep breath, and handed the taro boba to the girl sitting in front of him.
"Mu Shi, I'm sorry I stood you up yesterday. I bought you bubble tea as an apology."
Lin Mushi, the school's reigning beauty, had captivating phoenix eyes and skin as fair as milk. She was every bit the pampered princess. Girls like her were always surrounded by admirers, but she treated most boys with indifference. Only towards Zhuang Zi'ang did she show a softer side.
Sitting close to each other day in and day out, they had formed a pure and precious friendship. Lin Mushi had asked Zhuang Zi'ang to go see a newly released movie with her yesterday, but he had to reschedule because of his doctor's appointment.
"Why didn't you reply to my messages?" Lin Mushi demanded.
Zhuang Zi'ang pulled out his phone and saw several unread messages, three of which were from Lin Mushi.
"Zhuang Zi'ang, I heard from Li Huangxuan that you took a day off to go to the hospital."
"Are you okay? We can see the movie another time."
"If you don't reply, I'm going to ignore you."
Despite the caring nature of her messages, there was a hint of her usual playful arrogance in them.
Zhuang Zi'ang's nose stung, and he nearly broke down in tears. He tried his best to suppress his sorrow. "Mu Shi, I'm fine. If you drink this bubble tea, it means you forgive me, okay?"
Lin Mushi, after a moment of hesitation, took a sip of the bubble tea, her phoenix eyes fixed on him. The drink was smooth, sweet, and refreshing.
"I'm only drinking this because I'm thirsty. It doesn't mean I forgive you."
Zhuang Zi'ang forced a bitter smile, the effort visible on his face.
Just then, a tall, lanky boy walked in and plopped down in the seat next to Zhuang Zi'ang, his voice loud and boisterous.
"Son, what the hell are you wearing? Are you trying to get yourself killed by Old Zhang?"
Li Huangxuan, Zhuang Zi'ang's deskmate and best friend, jokingly referred to each other as father and son. When he saw Zhuang Zi'ang's floral shirt, he thought he was seeing things.
Zhuang Zi'ang, the class president and model student, was always well-behaved and followed the rules. He was the teacher's most trusted student. Yet today, he was breaking all the rules by wearing such bizarre clothes.
"Son, I went to the hospital and felt like a change of pace," Zhuang Zi'ang explained, trying to sound casual.
"Not bad, good taste. Now, if you add a big gold chain around your neck, you'll really have the look down," Li Huangxuan teased with a laugh.
"Here, this is for you." Zhuang Zi'ang placed the set of The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils heavily on Li Huangxuan's desk.
Li Huangxuan was a huge martial arts fan and often snuck in some light reading during class. He was overjoyed to receive this gift.
He slung an arm around Zhuang Zi'ang's shoulders. "Son, you're so thoughtful. Did you win the lottery or something?"
Zhuang Zi'ang came up with a lame excuse. "Well, your birthday is in eight months, right?"
Lin Mushi burst out laughing, her ample chest heaving with mirth.
Looking at his two dearest friends, Zhuang Zi'ang screamed silently in his heart: I'm going to miss you both so much!