Xu Kai-cheng saw someone enter and, looking back, spotted Ji Xing-mi standing at the doorway. He let out a startled cry, "It's you!"
Ji Xing-mi saw him too and nodded. To her surprise, the usually composed Xu Kai-cheng rushed forward and knelt before her. Ji Xing-mi was taken aback and quickly tried to help him up.
"Comrade Ji, Comrade Ji, I beg you, save my granddaughter. She's still so young! I..." Xu Kai-cheng couldn't finish his sentence. He had wanted to beg her before, but he didn't want to disappoint his granddaughter, so he hadn't spoken up. Now, knowing the recovery status of that soldier, he couldn't find her when he finally wanted to speak. Now that he'd finally met her, he truly, truly didn't want to miss this chance!
"Please get up first! Big Brother, come help me lift Grandpa Xu!" Ji Xing-mi couldn't pull up the kneeling, crying elder and had to call Ji Hao-cheng to help. The person on the bed heard this and their body tensed, then slowly they loosened their grip on the quilt, revealing themselves. Seeing their grandfather like this, the person burst into tears, as if releasing all their accumulated grievances.
Ji Xing-mi and Ji Hao-cheng together helped the kneeling Xu Kai-cheng to his feet. Ji Xing-mi also closed the door, blocking the curious gazes from outside. After Ji Hao-cheng helped the elder sit on a stool, he explained his reason for being there. Xu Kai-cheng looked at Ji Hao-cheng with immense gratitude. He knew this man had been encouraging his granddaughter, and he hadn't expected Ji Xing-mi to be his sister.
Xu Kai-cheng had actually been looking for Ji Xing-mi, even asking Gu Zhong-li for help before. But during that time, Ji Xing-mi must have gone elsewhere, and Gu Zhong-li was powerless. He never expected her to appear before him again in such a manner. How could he not be moved!
Ji Xing-mi didn't know what to say to Director Xu's persistent pleas. She couldn't rashly promise a cure, for fear of raising false hope.
"Grandpa Xu, I need to examine the condition first. The most important thing is your granddaughter's cooperation. If she herself doesn't want to be cured, then even if I have great abilities, it will be useless." Ji Xing-mi said this purely for the person crying on the bed. She couldn't quite understand; she had the courage to resist back then, why didn't she have the courage to face things now?
Xu Kai-cheng nodded repeatedly in agreement and went to persuade his granddaughter on the bed. Although the girl paused, she still didn't lift her head to face them. Ji Hao-cheng also tried to persuade her, but it didn't seem to have much effect.
Finally, Ji Xing-mi spoke, "Big Brother, take Grandpa Xu downstairs for a walk!" As soon as she said this, Ji Hao-cheng wanted to say something, but seeing his sister's eyes, he didn't argue and led the old Mr. Xu out.
After the two left, Ji Xing-mi didn't speak. She simply sat on a stool and read a book. Yes, she was reading a book she'd taken from her space. Xu Rui, having cried herself out, gradually stopped and then looked up at Ji Xing-mi sitting not far away. From that moment on, Xu Rui's gaze never left Ji Xing-mi.
Ji Xing-mi certainly felt her gaze. She put down her book and looked at her, saying, "Done crying?"
Xu Rui was stunned and nodded. Then, as if remembering something, she covered her face and said, "Why didn't you try to persuade me?"
"Would it have helped? They've been trying to persuade you, and I didn't see you listening!" Ji Xing-mi said somewhat casually. Xu Rui fell silent again upon hearing this. Seeing her not speak, Ji Xing-mi continued, "Actually, I don't quite understand."
This time, Xu Rui looked up and tilted her head, asking, "Don't understand what?"
"Your current behavior."
Xu Rui thought silently for a while before replying, "Death is easier than living. After death, perhaps one won't have to hear those words anymore. Everyone thinks living is better than dying, but I don't agree. They haven't experienced what I've been through, haven't been disliked and abandoned by their closest family. So, it's easy for them to say!"
"Indeed, do not preach goodness without experiencing hardship yourself."
"Do you understand now?"
"No. I just feel that if you had the courage to resist and mark your face back then, why don't you have the courage to keep living now?"
Xu Rui heard this and was a bit confused. She looked up at Ji Xing-mi and asked, "What do you mean?"
"I'm not good at persuading people, but I think dying like this is not worth it, nor will it have any impact, except to give people something to talk about over tea. Oh, someone will be sad, and that's your grandfather, and my Big Brother. They'll probably be upset for a while."
"Then what do you think I should do? Continue living a life of compromise, just to be fodder for gossip?"
"You can get revenge! Why should you be slandered for nothing? You've done nothing wrong. If you're going to die, at least take someone down with you! Has the person who hurt you been punished? What about those who abandoned you and treated you like a joke, haven't you thought about getting revenge on them?" Ji Xing-mi felt a sense of impatience. What was there to think about? If you're not afraid of death, why be afraid of offending someone?
Xu Rui felt something was off about her words, yet deep down, she felt they made a lot of sense. Why couldn't she retaliate?
"I heard you're a very good doctor. Can you examine my face?"
"Huh? Where did you hear that?" This change was too abrupt. Was her "toxic chicken soup" so effective?
"Just now, Big Brother Ji said his sister has excellent medical skills." Although Xu Rui had been upset earlier, she had still overheard their conversation.
"I can take a look, but I can't guarantee the final result," Ji Xing-mi said.
"Okay."
"Aren't you afraid I'll make it worse?"
"It can't get any worse than this, so what's there to worry about?"
"You'd be better off with this mindset from the start!"
Xu Rui smiled at this, but the injury made it look a little frightening. Ji Xing-mi didn't mind, but Xu Rui seemed to realize it, saying with some embarrassment, "Is it very scary! It wasn't this severe at first, but my mother... my family used a folk remedy on me, and it got worse and worse. The doctor said it was festering, and I had debridement done before. There will be scars!"
Ji Xing-mi remained silent, still observing her wound. It was originally a single cut, and now it spanned half her face. Folk remedies really did kill people! However, it was still worth a try. The previous medication wasn't quite right, and she needed to adjust it.