Chapter 58: Separated by Life and Death

In the afternoon, after the doctor’s visit, sunlight poured across the wall of a tall building in the First City Hospital.

Lin Qingya walked along the hospital corridor, both hands holding onto Cheng Minghao’s right arm, leaning against his right shoulder.

She had just left the doctor’s office when Cheng Minghao asked how she was doing.

She explained now:

“Mm, I gained something. The doctor taught me a method to treat myself. Maybe it’ll work.”

“Do you need my help?”

Cheng Minghao asked.

“Mmhm~”

Lin Qingya shook her head gently.

“No need.”

She explained.

“I can do it myself. It’s suitable for one person.”

Lin Qingya added.

Hearing Lin Qingya’s words, Cheng Minghao nodded, then spoke understandingly:

“I see. Then, you… do your best, try hard, get out of the shadow as soon as possible, and recover your health.”

“Mm!”

Lin Qingya leaned against Cheng Minghao’s right shoulder, nodding softly.

She asked anxiously,

“Then, what if I can’t cure it…”

“It won’t happen! It’s fine,”

Cheng Minghao interrupted gently, smiling at Lin Qingya as he explained:

“Even if it can’t be cured, it doesn’t matter. I just hope you’re healthy, hope you’re happy, that’s all. Don’t treat seeing a doctor as a burden, okay?”

“Then…”

Lin Qingya hesitated and pleaded:

“Since I’ve seen the doctor and there’s basically no problem, and the doctor gave a self-treatment method, then… can I stop seeing doctors from now on? I don’t want to take medicine… please~”

Lin Qingya pleaded softly, lightly shaking Cheng Minghao’s right shoulder.

Cheng Minghao watched, first pondering, then frowning.

He asked,

“Why…”

“Forget it,”

Cheng Minghao changed his words, smiling.

“If this makes you happy, and there’s truly no harm, then it’s fine like this too.”

“Fine?!”

Lin Qingya was delighted.

“Mm! Fine!”

Cheng Minghao smiled, his warm smile blooming at Lin Qingya.

“Alright! Then it’s fine… hehe!”

Lin Qingya muttered, staring at Cheng Minghao, then looked ahead, smiling happily.

She relaxed and said:

“In that case, I won’t take medicine. I hate taking medicine—it’s expensive, and it makes me annoyed and troubled… Oh, right.”

Lin Qingya continued to ask:

“Earlier you said you wanted to find a stable job. Do you have any direction?”

Cheng Minghao had always been working odd jobs, still doing what he did before.

Only now, compared to the past, he took more and more odd jobs, more frequently.

He was almost a full-time worker during the day, earning money to support the family.

Lin Qingya maintained her original persona, continuing to work at the hotel, and changed from a student part-timer and night shift worker to a permanent, stable job.

On one hand, she didn’t want to reveal Chen Qinghui’s skills too much—a form of self-concealment and protection.

On the other, she wanted to follow what would be a normal, logical path for Lin Qingya, in a way that matched the stereotypical view of a girl’s values, to save some money, maybe open a small shop in the future or go to university.

As long as she could be with Cheng Minghao in the end, any path was fine.

Lin Qingya continued to plan, summarize, and reflect on the past.

Cheng Minghao explained,

“I want to go to the police station and have a look.”

“Police station?”

Lin Qingya asked.

“Yeah, to become an Auxiliary Police officer, uphold justice, and do good deeds. After all, we’re orphans and have benefited from government support, so it’s right to give back to society. Otherwise, it feels like I’m wasting my… skills. I think I’m capable. What do you think?”

Cheng Minghao asked.

“Me? I think it’s fine! Actually, more than fine! Hehehe!”

Lin Qingya giggled, but after laughing, her face turned serious, even frowning.

Her beautiful brows furrowed tightly.

Lin Qingya asked,

“What if you get hurt?”

“Injured?”

Cheng Minghao frowned.

“Isn’t there you? With you taking care of me, I’m not afraid of getting hurt.”

Cheng Minghao looked at Lin Qingya frowning at him, then smiled seriously.

“I’m joking. It’s just an Auxiliary Police role, at most a bit tiring, not dangerous. Like following the police, dispersing street vendors…”

“Pfft~”

Lin Qingya suddenly laughed, hitting Cheng Minghao’s right arm.

“That’s called City Management. You got your career path wrong.”

“Is that so? Hahaha~”

Cheng Minghao laughed, raising his hand to scratch his head.

He looked so happy—whether he made the mistake on purpose or not, only he knew.

Maybe Lin Qingya… could also guess.

Lin Qingya leaned her head on her boyfriend’s left shoulder, a bright smile blooming on her face.

She strolled slowly down the street with her boyfriend, then suddenly whispered,“Let’s go home.”

“Mm.”

Cheng Minghao nodded.

Once today was over, it was back to work again.

The two of them—one worked day shifts, that was Cheng Minghao.

One worked night shifts, that was Lin Qingya.

For example, at night, when Cheng Minghao was sleeping, he couldn’t see Lin Qingya, who worked the night shift.

During the day, when Cheng Minghao was working, even if Lin Qingya stayed up all night and came home, she could only have a brief moment of intimacy, hugging and talking with Cheng Minghao, exchanging a few simple words.

In the mornings, for instance, when it came to combing her hair, since Lin Qingya worked nights and slept in the morning, that chore was simply skipped by Cheng Minghao.

Meaning, Cheng Minghao no longer helped Lin Qingya with her hair.

Back home.

Cheng Minghao and Lin Qingya chatted and cuddled together, because from tomorrow, they’d be ‘separated by day and night’ again.

Their conversation drifted to some heated topics.

Soon, their cool, burning closeness returned to its original, primal state.

Another day of passion—everything else would be discussed later.

—

Later.

At dawn, Lin Qingya returned home, yawning in exhaustion.

She saw Cheng Minghao at the door, putting on his shoes and getting ready to leave.

She asked,“Going to work?”

Lin Qingya glanced to the right and saw leftovers on the table—an early meal Cheng Minghao had just finished.

She herself had eaten on the way back.

She walked quietly to the coffee table, planning to rest and sit for a while, or maybe just fall asleep on the sofa.

Cheng Minghao looked at Lin Qingya’s tired eyes, and the urge to earn more money for himself grew even stronger.

He nodded and said,“I’m going to the police station to check things out, ask some questions, and if I have time after that, I’ll contact places for part-time work.”

“Mm,”

Lin Qingya nodded and explained,

“Then, I wish you all the best. By the way, I want to change jobs—let’s talk tonight when you get home?”

“…Mm.”

Cheng Minghao thought for a moment, then nodded.

He quickly approached Lin Qingya for a kiss.

After tasting the girl’s lips, he smiled and turned to leave.

“See you tonight. Bye.”

Cheng Minghao said.

“Bye…”

Watching Cheng Minghao leave, the tired smile Lin Qingya had forced up fell and vanished instantly.

She hesitated, walked to the sofa, and looked at the messy table—maybe because she’d interrupted, Cheng Minghao had forgotten to clean up, take things away, or throw away the trash.

She began to tidy the table and thought:

“One works nights, one works days. There’s no time to really talk together. We only see each other when the other is most tired. If this keeps up, our feelings will fade sooner or later. I need to figure out a way to see Cheng Minghao more often.”