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In September, the evening air in Shanghai was already a bit chilly, rustling past the door of the "Prince Indian God Oil" shop.

Suning sat behind the counter, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the gleaming edge of the glass jar. Her gaze seemed vacant, but she was actually keenly watching for any unusual movement outside the door.

The days spent tending the shop moved as slowly as solidified amber, as if time itself had stopped flowing.

Just then, a slightly unsteady, hesitant sound of footsteps approached from afar and finally stopped at the shop entrance.

The rusty tin wind chime was stirred by the airflow from the opened door, emitting a soft, hesitant "ding-dong" sound.

Suning raised his head.

A man stood at the door, his body shockingly thin, as if a strong gust of wind could blow him apart.

He wore a blue medical mask that covered most of his face. The exposed skin around his forehead and eyes was pale and bloodless. His eye sockets were sunken. Only his eyes, though filled with the weariness and turbidity brought on by long-term illness, burned with a faint but stubborn light deep inside.

His gaze first cautiously swept over the brightly colored boxes of Indian herbal oil on the shelf, as if confirming something, before finally settling on Suning.

"Excuse me..." the man began, his voice hoarse and weak due to the mask and his physical exhaustion, "Is Cheng Yong... is Boss Cheng here? I need to speak with him."

coming!

Suning felt as if an invisible hand had suddenly clenched his fist, and his blood flowed faster instantly.

But his face remained calm and composed, even carrying a perfectly appropriate hint of doubt.

He pointed to himself, his tone indifferent: "Cheng Yong? He's already transferred this shop to me. Now I'm the owner. If you need anything, you can talk to me."

"Transferred?!" The masked man was clearly stunned, his tired eyes instantly filled with surprise and a hint of panic.

He instinctively took two quick steps forward, almost leaning over the counter, his voice urgent and pleading, "It's been transferred?! Then...then is it still possible for you to contact him? I really, really need to talk to him about something extremely urgent! It's about...it's about life-saving medicine!"

He practically choked out the last few words, his voice barely audible.

"Life-saving medicine?" Su Ning frowned at just the right moment, leaning back slightly to adopt an instinctive posture of wariness and distance. Her voice carried a hint of incredulous absurdity. "Sir, you haven't come to the wrong place, have you? Look at the sign; I sell adult health products here. Are you sure you haven't come to the wrong place?"

"No! That's right! This is it!" The man shook his head hurriedly, subconsciously raising his hand to tug at the edge of his mask.

This seemed to make it easier for him to breathe and speak, and the movement briefly revealed his overly pale and thin chin.

“My surname is Lü, Lü Shouyi. I am… a leukemia patient.” He paused, and when he said the name of the disease, there was a barely perceptible tremor in his voice. “Before, I heard from the neighbor next door that… that Boss Cheng has connections and can go to India… and bring back that kind of, that kind of generic Gleevec, the same effect, but much, much cheaper than the original Swiss version! It’s really something that can save lives… Boss, since you… since you’ve taken over this shop, can you… can you also…” His eyes rekindled that almost desperate hope as he stared intently at Su Ning.

Su Ning silently watched the flickering flame of survival in Lü Shouyi's eyes, and understood perfectly well what was going on.

The gear that had been turning his destiny, which he had been waiting for so long, finally began to turn.

But he did not immediately show any interest or sympathy.

Instead, his brows furrowed even more, his expression becoming unusually serious, even carrying a hint of wary scrutiny: "Mr. Lü, I've heard that genuine medicines are expensive. But Indian generic drugs... that's illegal, it's smuggling! I just took over this shop, I haven't even recouped my investment yet, and you want me to risk being beheaded and going to jail?"

He shook his head, his tone resolute, "That won't do, absolutely not."

The glimmer of light that had just ignited in Lü Shouyi's eyes dimmed and went out at a speed visible to the naked eye, like charcoal embers doused with cold water.

His thin fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of his coat, his knuckles turning white from the force, showing how distressed he must be.

His voice lowered, carrying an almost desperate plea, each word seemingly squeezed out from the depths of his heart: "Boss... I understand, I understand... It's illegal, the risks are huge, but... but for people like us, if we can't afford the genuine medicine, we really only have one path left: to wait for death! That Indian medicine... I managed to get a bottle through someone, I tried it... the effects are exactly the same as the genuine one! It's just that it's not covered by medical insurance, and it doesn't have that exorbitant research and patent fee, that's why it's cheaper... Boss, those are living lives..."

“It’s cheap, I’ve already mentioned the risks. But I have a very practical question.” Su Ning interrupted his tearful pleas, her sharp gaze fixed on Lü Shouyi, her tone coldly almost cruel. “Even if I go all out and manage to get the medicine from India—how will I sell it? To whom? You patients definitely have your own circles, and you’re extremely wary of strangers, especially those selling this kind of medicine. If all the medicine ends up stuck in my hands, I’ll not only have taken on a huge risk for nothing, but I’ll also lose everything! Mr. Lü, if it were you, would you do a deal that’s destined to lose money?”

These words struck Lü Shouyi's heart like a cold, hard stone.

He choked suddenly, opened his mouth, but couldn't make a sound.

All the urgency and pleading that had been on his face froze, then slowly faded, replaced by a sense of bewilderment and deep contemplation after being trapped in a desperate situation.

He hunched over, pacing back and forth unconsciously in the not-so-spacious shop, his breathing behind his mask becoming rapid and unsteady due to his emotional state.

yes……

He was only thinking about finding someone who could get the medicine, but he completely ignored the most crucial element—trust.

The patient community is extremely vulnerable and isolated. Who would dare to easily trust a stranger who suddenly appears and claims to be able to provide cheap generic drugs?

Who would dare gamble with their own life?

Time ticked by in a stifling silence.

After about ten long minutes, Lü Shouyi, who was pacing back and forth, suddenly stopped and a bright light suddenly burst forth in his almost extinguished eyes!

"I've got it! I've got it!" He turned excitedly to Su Ning, his voice rising with excitement, even cracking slightly. "I know someone! Liu Sihui! Her daughter also has leukemia, and she's only six years old... She has a QQ group full of fellow patients and their families from the Jianghu area, at least several hundred people! Sihui has a lot of influence in the group, everyone trusts her! As long as... as long as she's willing to help, as long as she steps forward and says a word, everyone will definitely believe her! Then, sales won't be a problem at all! Really!"

Suning was waiting for this sentence, this name—Liu Sihui.

The weight that had been hanging over his heart finally lifted, but he still maintained a cautious and weighing expression on his face.

He pondered for a moment, as if he were seriously assessing the feasibility of the plan.

Finally, Su Ning slowly nodded, his tone serious: "Okay. If... if this Ms. Liu Sihui is really willing to join and take on the responsibility of contacting fellow patients... then perhaps... I can take the risk and give it a try."

"Really?! You agreed?! That's wonderful! That's wonderful! Thank you! Thank you, boss!" Lu Shouyi could hardly believe his ears; immense joy overwhelmed his weakened body.

He rushed forward and grabbed Su Ning's arm tightly with astonishing force, his fingers even trembling slightly with excitement. "I'll take you to her right now! She should be working at the 'Nightfall' bar on that street not far ahead! Let's go now! Let's go now!"

……

Suning locked the store door and followed Lü Shouyi, whose steps were slightly unsteady with excitement, through several alleyways where lights gradually came on and the aroma of home-cooked meals filled the air.

As evening fell, the streets began to awaken, neon signs flashing an ambiguous light that strangely added a touch of ethereal color to Lü Shouyi's pale face.

The two eventually stopped in front of a bar with a dazzling "Night" sign.

The poorly soundproofed door panel could not completely block out the deafening electronic music inside, the powerful beats pounding against one's chest like a heartbeat.

The people coming in and out of the door were dressed smartly, which contrasted sharply with Lü Shouyi's haggard appearance.

“Liu Sihui…she’s inside…dancing.” Lu Shouyi pointed somewhat nervously to the door, his voice weak amidst the music. He subconsciously pulled down his mask, as if trying to hide himself even more. “She…she’s a pole dancer…it’s out of necessity, it’s all to raise money for her daughter’s medicine…she’s a good mother, it’s really tough for her…”

Su Ning already knew all this from the "movie," but when he actually pushed open the heavy soundproof door and stepped into the bar, his senses were still strongly impacted.

In the dimly lit and noisy space, the air was filled with the smells of cigarettes, alcohol, perfume, and sweat.

Dazzling spotlights haphazardly sliced ​​through the billowing smoke, and deafening music nearly lifted the roof off.

On the circular stage in the center of the dance floor, a cold metal pipe stands tall.

A woman in a silver sequined dance dress, like a weightless elf, made a variety of powerful and seductive movements around the steel pole.

Her body was supple yet powerful; every spin, every hang, was precisely timed to the wild rhythm. Her long hair flew with her movements, tracing wild yet graceful arcs. Below the stage, a group of men with burning eyes, whistling, and raising their glasses lingered, their gazes sweeping over her like searchlights.

This is a cruel performance where beauty and health are used as bargaining chips to obtain the funds for survival.

When the song ended and the music paused, the audience erupted in a mix of whistles and applause.

The woman on stage was slightly out of breath. She grabbed a towel from the railing and wiped away her sweat and the wet hair around her neck before walking off the stage expressionlessly.

Lu Shouyi immediately seized the opportunity, quickly pushed through the crowd to meet her, and whispered a few words urgently in her ear.

The woman paused in her wiping motion.

She raised her head, her gaze passing over Lü Shouyi's shoulder and landing precisely on Su Ning, who was standing in the shadows not far away.

Those eyes, even through the noisy crowd and the hazy lights, were still incredibly bright.

It clearly reflects the traces of a weary life, but deeper within it lies a tenacity forged by hardship, a resilience that will never yield.

It was Liu Sihui.

Her gaze briefly met Su Ning's in the air, filled with scrutiny, doubt, and a barely perceptible expectation of any possibility.

……

After listening to Lü Shouyi's urgent and low narration, Liu Sihui's brows furrowed tightly, and her tired eyes were filled with surprise and scrutiny.

Her gaze pierced through the noisy, hazy lights of the bar and landed on Su Ning, who was sitting alone in a corner booth.

The young man wore a spotless white shirt with the cuffs neatly rolled up to his forearms. His face was clean, and his eyes were calm, making him stand out from the surrounding environment filled with smoke, alcohol, desire, and decadence.

By all accounts, he doesn't seem like someone who would take such a risk and get involved in the dangerous business of smuggling generic drugs.

She subconsciously tugged at her sequined short jacket, which shimmered with a cheap sheen, as if trying to gain some confidence, before sitting down on the leather sofa opposite Suning.

Her fingertips unconsciously traced the rim of the empty wine glass on the table in front of her, her tone carrying undisguised skepticism, getting straight to the point:
"You're the new owner who took over Cheng Yong's shop? Lu Shouyi said... you really can get your hands on Gleevec from India?" Her voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly, through the background music's drumbeats. It was a mixture of longing for hope and fear of potential disappointment.

"Whether we can get it 100% or not, no one can guarantee it right now. We'll have to go to India myself, find the right connections, and inspect the goods before we know." Su Ning didn't avoid her gaze, nor did he make any fancy promises. His answer was direct and honest. "But what I can guarantee you is that as long as the medicine can be brought back to Shanghai smoothly, it will definitely be sold at the price that's circulating in your patient community. Not a penny more."

Liu Sihui was visibly taken aback, clearly not expecting this seemingly gentle young man to be so decisive and straightforward, offering a practical promise without making empty boasts.

She glanced subconsciously at Lü Shouyi, who was fidgeting beside her, as if seeking confirmation from him, before turning back to Su Ning. Her tone softened slightly, but she remained cautious.

“I do have a QQ group with over 300 leukemia patients and their families in the Jiangsu and Shanghai area. Almost everyone is waiting for medicine to save their lives.” She took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind. “As long as you can get genuine medicine and it’s effective, I… I can help you contact them so that they can buy it from you with peace of mind.”

These words were almost identical to what Lü Shouyi had said before, forming the most crucial part of Suning's plan.

But Suning did not immediately show joy or gratitude.

He leaned forward slightly, picked up the unopened bottle of mineral water on the table, and rhythmically tapped his fingertips on the cold plastic bottle. His expression became unusually serious.
"Sister Liu, Mr. Lü, cooperation is possible, but there are some unpleasant things I must say upfront."

His gaze slowly swept across their faces, making sure they heard every word clearly. "I just took over the shop and invested all my capital. I don't want to cause trouble, and I don't want to end up losing everything."

He paused, letting the heavy atmosphere settle, before speaking clearly and deliberately, word by word:
"First, apart from the two of you, I will not have direct contact with any other patients. All subsequent transactions, information transmission, and payment collection and medication delivery must be handled entirely by the two of you. I will only be responsible for providing the medication and then taking my share of the profits. My identity must be kept secret from the vast majority of patients."

Lu Shouyi's lips moved as if he wanted to say something, perhaps feeling that this was too cautious, but Su Ning immediately raised her hand, stopping him with a decisive gesture, and continued to present the second condition:

"Second, the transaction method and location must be absolutely secretive. It must not be in my shop, nor in any public place where many people can easily see it. We need to find a secluded warehouse, an abandoned factory, or a similar place. The transaction will be conducted in batches, and the number of people each time must be strictly controlled to minimize attention and reduce risk."

Liu Sihui's brows furrowed again, a look of disapproval on her face: "Do you not trust us? Or do you not trust the patients waiting for their lives to be saved? We are all people who have been on the verge of death, only thinking about how to survive. Who would talk nonsense and cause trouble?"

"I believe in everyone's determination to survive." Su Ning's tone remained unwavering, almost coldly calm. "But I don't believe in absolute humanity. Right now, medicine is in short supply, so everyone is naturally united. But what if the supply of medicine stabilizes in the future, or what if some people think they can resell it for huge profits, or even be targeted by other drug dealers or... certain forces, and be coerced or bribed? What if someone betrays everyone for self-preservation or personal gain? I can't take that risk, and I can't afford to take it."

These words were like a bucket of ice water, mercilessly poured onto the burning hearts of Lü Shouyi and Liu Sihui.

They are all people struggling to survive in this cruel community of patients, and have witnessed too many conflicts, disputes, and even betrayals caused by the scarcity of "life-saving drugs".

Some people tried every means to hoard more bottles, some secretly resold them at higher prices, and some complained and blamed others because they couldn't get the medicine in time.

The concerns raised by Suning at this moment are not unfounded, but a stark and potentially real possibility.

Lu Shouyi opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but in the end all his words turned into a heavy and helpless sigh, making his hunched back appear even more bent: "Boss Su... you're right... it's... we were too hasty and didn't think things through. We'll... we'll do it your way. Si Hui and I will handle all the follow-up arrangements, and we will never let the other patients know about your existence. As for the transaction location... we'll find the safest and most secluded place."

Liu Sihui pursed her lips and remained silent for nearly half a minute.

The rhythm of the music coming from the direction of the stage seemed to strike her heart.

She finally took a deep breath, as if she had exhausted all her strength, and slowly nodded, her voice filled with a resigned weariness: "Fine... I promise you. As long as you can bring back the real, good medicine, I'll do whatever you say, however you want, wherever you want to trade."

Looking at the expressions of final compromise on their faces, Su Ning knew that they had truly been driven to the brink, which was why they accepted these harsh conditions so quickly.

The tension in his heart eased slightly, but his face remained calm and composed: "Alright. I will arrange the trip to India as soon as possible. Once I confirm that I can get the medicine, I will contact you immediately to discuss the details of the subsequent transaction time and location."

"Really?! That's...that's wonderful! Thank you so much, Boss Su!"

Lu Shouyi was so excited he almost jumped off the sofa, his sunken eyes regaining a light of relief. "Do you need any help? Like contact information in India, or... or a translator? I knew a fellow patient before, his relative seems to be..."

“No need.” Su Ning interrupted him gently but firmly, stood up, and picked up her coat draped over the back of the chair. “I’ll handle the channels and methods myself. Just keep in touch.”

He didn't want to leave any clues that could lead to an investigation.

Liu Sihui also stood up. She looked at Su Ning's young yet unusually composed back, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke, her voice carrying a complex emotion, with concern and a heavy entrustment: "You... be careful. You're unfamiliar with the place in India, and the situation is much more complicated than back home. Please... please don't let anything happen to you."

Su Ning paused slightly amidst the loud music, but he didn't turn around.

He simply raised his hand and waved casually, which was his way of saying goodbye.

Then he walked straight through the noisy crowd, pushed open the heavy soundproof door, and shut out all the noise in the bar behind him.

Outside the door, the night breeze, carrying the coolness of early autumn, blew in, instantly dispelling the smell of smoke and alcohol clinging to my body.

Suning looked up at the Shanghai night sky. The moon was half-hidden by the flowing clouds, and only a few streetlights and patches of light from distant high-rise buildings were flickering.

Traveling to India to obtain generic drugs is undoubtedly a risky and nerve-wracking move, but it is also the only way to advance the system's mission and perhaps change the fate of many people.

He didn't know what awaited him ahead, but at least for now, he had successfully brought two key figures, Lü Shouyi and Liu Sihui, into his plan.

In the still noisy booth of the bar, Lü Shouyi and Liu Sihui exchanged a glance, their faces a mixture of immense anticipation and lingering worry.

For them, this suddenly appearing, mysterious, and calm young shop owner was more than just a potential source of medicine.

He was more like a fragile but only lifeline suddenly thrown to more than three hundred families struggling in the abyss.

...(End of chapter)