Professor Xie, isn't this a case of forcing customers to buy products that don't match the

"So, I can't lie to you and say that I love you enough to accept you as you are. Nor can I... let myself be trapped in this hopeless relationship forever. That wouldn't be good for anyone."

After Shang Song finished speaking, the east wing became eerily silent.

Xie Jing sat there motionless, like a jade sculpture that had suddenly lost its color.

The last trace of life seemed to have drained from his face; his lips were pressed into a pale line. The sunlight shone on his face, but it couldn't illuminate his terrifyingly empty eyes.

Seeing him like this, Shang Song felt a dull ache in her heart.

He feared that if he looked any longer, or stayed any longer, the resolve he had so painstakingly made would crumble completely in front of Xie Jing.

He couldn't stay any longer.

Shang Song hurriedly stood up, bracing himself against the table. The wooden chair dragged across the floor with a screeching sound. "I...I should go back."

He hurriedly looked away, no longer looking at Xie Jing, his gaze fixed on the blinding glint of water outside the window, his voice dry and strained: "Thank you for breakfast. Goodbye, Professor Xie."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards the door as if he were fleeing.

My steps were unsteady, my heart was pounding wildly in my chest, and my ribs ached from the impact.

He had to leave immediately, leave Xie Jing, otherwise he feared he might do or say something irrational.

"Shang Song"

Just as he was about to rush out of the east wing, a soft call came from behind him.

The sound was very soft, almost drowned out by the sound of water outside the window, but Shang Song heard it.

He didn't turn around, but his steps were frozen in place, stubbornly stopping there.

He stood there, hearing the very soft rustling of fabric behind him, the sound of a chair being gently pushed aside, and then Xie Jing's footsteps.

Step by step, we are getting closer.

The footsteps stopped behind him, very close, so close that Shang Song could even feel the other person's unsteady breathing.

"...Don't go."

Xie Jing's voice rang in his ear, terribly hoarse:

Give me a little more time.

"A year, no, six months." He took another half step closer, almost touching Shang Song, and even made a promise: "If it still doesn't work after six months, if I still... can't give you what you want..."

He choked up, his heart aching, his words sharp and forceful: "...I will no longer force you, no longer interfere with your choice of someone else..."

"Just six months, Shang Song, okay?"

Shang Song trembled all over, his hands hanging at his sides clenched into fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, trying to use the pain to fight against the surging love in his heart.

He wanted to say, "Okay."

However, he knew even more that this was nothing short of a short-sighted solution for both of them, a case of not being able to make a clean break.

However, just as he was about to step over the high threshold, the phone in his pocket suddenly screamed hysterically.

Shang Song was already uneasy, and the sudden ringing of the bell made him even more flustered.

He frantically reached for his phone, and the screen displayed his boss's name.

The brothers don't call each other unless it's an emergency.

He instinctively swiped to answer the call, but before he could even speak, the boss's wailing, tearful scream exploded from the receiver:

"Fourth Brother, where are you! Third Brother! Third Brother has fainted! He won't wake up no matter how much we call him! His face is as white as paper! The school doctor said it might be some kind of acute inflammation and we need to get him to a big hospital immediately! But it's rush hour! We can't get a taxi at all! The roads are completely blocked! It will take a long time for an ambulance to get here! What do we do, Fourth Brother! Third Brother... he seems to have stopped breathing!"

Shang Song felt as if something exploded in his mind, and his blood turned cold, leaving him feeling icy cold.

The third child suddenly fainted? Is he not breathing?

"Boss, calm down! Explain yourself! Where is Third Brother now? At the school hospital? What did the doctor say?!" Shang Song yelled into the phone, his voice shrill and distorted.

"He's at the school doctor! The doctor said it might be acute pancreatitis or some other organ problem, it's very dangerous, he needs to be transferred to a hospital immediately! But we can't get out! The cars are all stuck in traffic! We wanted to carry him out, but the doctor said we can't move him! What should I do... what will happen to my third son...?"

Acute pancreatitis? Although Shang Song didn't know anything about medicine, he had vaguely heard of this disease.

It seems to be one of those illnesses that can cause pain to the point of shock! It seems to be easily caused by overwork and dietary disorders! My third brother has been exploited to this extent by that lousy company lately!

Traffic jam! The roads leading from the university town to the city hospital during the morning rush hour are already like parking lots on weekends, let alone Monday mornings!

Shang Song was so anxious that he spun around in place, his vision blurred, and his eyes frantically scanned his surroundings. Then, unexpectedly, his gaze met Xie Jing, who had been standing quietly not far behind him.

The instant their eyes met, Shang Song almost instinctively shouted hoarsely at Xie Jing:

"Xie Jing! Help me! Third brother! Third brother is dying! Acute pancreatitis! Traffic jam! Hospital! Please! Help me!"

He forgot his clear-headed resolve just now, forgot all the awkwardness between them. At this moment, he only knew that the man in front of him was the most powerful person he knew.

Xie Jing didn't speak or nod, but quickly pulled out his phone from his pocket, pulled up his contacts, and dialed:

"Lin Zhou, S University Campus Hospital, there is a critically ill male patient, around 20 years old, suspected of having acute pancreatitis. Immediately dispatch a rescue helicopter to the nearest available landing point on campus within five minutes. Contact the Emergency and Critical Care Center of the First Municipal Hospital to mobilize the pancreatic surgery, ICU, and radiology departments to stand by. I will have Shang Song provide you with the patient's name and brief medical history. Execute immediately."

After hanging up the phone, he looked at Shang Song, who was completely stunned, and said succinctly, "Tell Lin Zhou the patient's name, age, and the school doctor's preliminary diagnosis. The number is..."

He rattled off a string of numbers, then added, "The helicopter will be taking your roommate to the First Municipal Hospital soon, where there are the best pancreatologists in the country. Don't worry."

Don't be afraid.

This was the second time Shang Song had heard those two words from Xie Jing.

He sniffed hard, and tears welled up in his eyes again. He frantically followed Xie Jing's instructions and tremblingly relayed the information about the third brother to Lin Zhou.

Throughout the entire process, Xie Jing stood just a step away from him, neither approaching nor moving away, like a silent and steadfast mountain.

The mountain cannot embrace him, but it can shield him from all the howling winds and snow.