Chapter Sixty-One: Conversation

In the ward of the Monster Clinic, Sheng Yao was on a call with Tong Bin.

He had kept in touch with Tong Bin these days and even learned about the serious illness Tong Bin had suffered at the age of five or six.

At that time, it was Tong Bin's grandparents who took care of him. His parents were so busy with work that they were rarely home. But his grandparents were elderly, and once Tong Bin was hospitalized, they were at a loss. The attending doctor insisted that Tong Bin's parents should be present.

“…After that, I don’t remember much,” Tong Bin said, his tone light and tinged with the haze of half-remembered childhood. “Later, I heard from my grandparents that they called my parents and scolded them, even went to their company to slam their fists on the desk. My parents finally got some leave, but within a couple of days, they were back at work…”

Through the phone, Tong Bin’s words still carried an air of forced cheer, but Sheng Yao could hear the helplessness beneath it.

Now, when Tong Bin spoke of his grandparents’ passing, that same tone couldn’t quite conceal the sadness.

“…If you’d like, one day I could go with you to visit their graves,” Sheng Yao ventured tentatively. “There are some things you might never say to your parents, but you would to your grandparents, right?”

It was an awkward suggestion. Although he and Tong Bin had kept in frequent contact recently, they were not yet close confidants. To visit the graves of someone’s closest family was, more often than not, a gesture reserved for relatives.

Sitting on the opposite hospital bed, Bai Xiao immediately shook her head, shooting Sheng Yao a look.

He cleared his throat and added, “Did you go to their graves during the last Qingming Festival?”

He shifted the topic, albeit a bit unnaturally, yet inwardly, he was still turning over his earlier idea. Perhaps, it wasn’t Tong Bin who needed a visit to the cemetery to ease his burdens—it was himself who needed to go, to… resolve some matters…

On the other end, Tong Bin was silent for a long while.

Sheng Yao glanced up and saw Bai Xiao’s concerned gaze. He shook his head at her. She looked disappointed and leaned back on the bed.

He continued to watch her.

Bai Xiao raised her brow slightly, a trace of puzzlement in her expression.

Though subtle, Sheng Yao understood her meaning. He hadn’t known Bai Xiao as long as Tong Bin had known Kong Yajie, and perhaps not as well as Kong Yajie and her husband knew each other, yet he always felt a rare, intuitive understanding between himself and Bai Xiao.

Sheng Yao smiled at her, lowering his gaze to her left ring finger before quickly looking away.

At that moment, Tong Bin finally spoke: “I can’t visit their graves. After they passed, they donated their bodies to science. Later… whatever remained, after cremation, was scattered at sea. My grandfather had been a sailor; it was his last wish.”

Sheng Yao was momentarily stunned.

“Thank you,” Tong Bin let out a laugh. “I’m doing quite well lately. I’ve come to terms with things. Actually, back in college, I had a crush on Yaya. That was many years ago. Later, we worked on projects together and became colleagues. The old flutter, the stirrings—they faded long ago. We’re more like… like siblings, I guess. That’s what siblings are, right? You spend a long time together, but after a while, there’s nothing much to talk about, no real enthusiasm. Still, when you have to part, there’s a sense of loss.”

He paused. “I don’t have many good friends… Like I told you, I was raised by my grandparents. I lived with them, my household registration was there, I went to the local school. Not that we were in different cities—my grandparents moved here in their teens. My parents are locals, our home’s always been here. But… when it was time for high school, I returned to my parents’ house, went to a school closer to home, lost touch with my old classmates. We were no longer in the same district. I didn’t know anyone in high school… and my high school was strict—weekly quizzes, monthly tests, ranking by exam results, changing seats according to rank. My grades weren’t stable, so my seatmates changed all the time… But maybe those are just excuses… I’m responsible too…”

Sheng Yao couldn’t help but think of the medical record book on the doctor’s desk.

That record, as thick as an encyclopedia, always made him feel a sense of ominous oppression. It seemed to suggest that the doctor’s injections were no miracle cure—not everything could be solved.

In fact, what happened to Liu Yu that night had already prepared Sheng Yao mentally.

Mao Mao was lucky—it was a cat, its life was simple. Humans, on the other hand, lived longer, their lives more complicated. Mao Mao needed only Lu Meimei, to be with her day and night; Liu Yu would meet Yu Guangchun, and then “Wang Guangchun” and “Li Guangchun”; Tong Bin suffered serious illness as a child, lost his grandparents, was forced into unfamiliar environments, struggled to make friends, and when he finally did, that friend—Kong Yajie—hid something vital from him…

And this was only what Sheng Yao knew so far.

Tong Bin, in his thirty years of life, must have faced many more heartbreaks and pains. Maybe he had weathered them on his own, or perhaps, with the doctor’s medicine, barely managed to keep himself whole.

“Kong Yajie” was but a new page among countless medical records.

Just like those with chronic or serious illnesses, some survive five, ten, twenty years, checking in at hospitals with the regularity of clocking in for work. Their medical files must be as thick as Tong Bin’s. No one knows if they’ll live to eighty or ninety, or die young at forty or fifty. No one knows which episode will be their last, or even what illness will take them.

Sheng Yao worried about Tong Bin, and about Kong Yajie, but most of all, he was afraid such things might repeat with Bai Xiao.

He was like the family of those patients—saying he was prepared, yet still wishing to prolong his loved ones’ lives, hoping every hospital visit would bring good news for both familiar and unfamiliar faces.

Suddenly, he felt warmth on his hand.

He came to himself to find Bai Xiao holding his hand, her eyes full of concern.

On the other end, Tong Bin continued sharing his thoughts.

“…Sorry, am I talking too much?” Tong Bin said, a little embarrassed. “I… I haven’t talked about this with Yaya, or my parents…”

“No. I’m listening,” Sheng Yao replied, gently squeezing Bai Xiao’s hand. “It’s good to talk about it when you get the chance. Doesn’t it feel a bit lighter?”

Tong Bin laughed. “Yeah… I never thought… When Yaya told me she was changing jobs, and she had a boyfriend… That day you grabbed me, I was really startled. I didn’t even realize I was following her. Like I was sleepwalking…”

“You’re carrying too much,” Sheng Yao said.

He thought to himself: just like Liu Yu did.

“Maybe… The reunion was the same. I never expected… Still, thank you. I’ve figured things out. I’m planning to talk things over with Yaya. Damn—” Tong Bin exclaimed suddenly.

“What’s wrong?” Sheng Yao tensed.

“Oh, nothing, just… I realized I never congratulated Yaya after she told me. She’s married now…” Tong Bin sighed, then brightened. “Anyway, thank you. I’ve moved on.”

“That’s good,” Sheng Yao replied.

“How have you been lately?” Tong Bin asked.

“I’m doing well. Everything’s normal.”

“Good. Let’s grab a drink sometime,” Tong Bin offered, then hesitated, “Is that alright with you?”

“Of course, why do you ask?” Sheng Yao was puzzled.

“Well, you’re married, right? Usually wives aren’t too fond of that. At least, that’s what my colleagues say. When I was little, if my grandpa drank with friends, my grandma was never happy.”

“It’s fine. It’s not like I drink often,” Sheng Yao laughed, glancing at Bai Xiao.

She raised her eyebrows and, as she withdrew her hand, tapped the back of his with a silent warning.

After a bit more small talk, Sheng Yao hung up.

Bai Xiao asked, “Is Tong Bin feeling better? Thinking of drinking with you?”

“Yeah. He even asked if you’d let me,” Sheng Yao said, sitting down beside her.

She leaned into his arms. “Of course not. I want you with me all the time.”

He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, exhaled softly, and brushed his chin on her hair. “I want to be with you too.”

“Then stay with me properly,” Bai Xiao mumbled.

Sheng Yao chuckled. “I’m with you every day.”

Suddenly, his phone rang.

“Someone else looking for you?” Bai Xiao looked up at his phone.

“It’s just an alarm. I’m meeting Boss Le today. Remember? He’s taking me to the cattery. Didn’t you say you wanted both a cat and a dog?” He turned off the alarm and loosened his embrace.

But Bai Xiao didn’t let go.

He paused.

She finally released his hand. “Remember to send me a video. I like long-haired cats—graceful and with a good temperament.”

Looking at her smile, Sheng Yao couldn’t help but smile himself. “Alright.”

…

When Boss Le saw Sheng Yao, he immediately had him help move a few pet crates.

He barely had time to greet him before being put to work, following Boss Le’s directions.

Together, they carried the crates to the sidewalk. Boss Le locked up the shop, left Sheng Yao to keep watch, and went to fetch his car from the neighboring complex.

Boss Le’s car was a black pickup—quite impressive. He parked in front of the shop, quickly secured the crates in the cargo bed, then hopped down and called to the absent-minded Sheng Yao.

“What’s up with you? Young man, got troubles?” Boss Le teased, feigning solemnity as he opened the car door.

Sheng Yao shook his head and got into the passenger seat.

He was thinking about Bai Xiao, wondering if he’d neglected her.

But lately, apart from his calls with Tong Bin, he’d timed his visits to the Monster Clinic every day, staying with Bai Xiao until the doctor sent him away at night. Compared to the days he’d been busy trailing Liu Yu or trying to approach Lu Meimei and Mao Mao, this past month he’d been on his best behavior.

And from what he’d observed, the doctor hadn’t shown up during the day, hadn’t checked on Bai Xiao, hadn’t prescribed her medicine…

“By the way, I ran into Miss Kong today,” Boss Le said, starting the car.

Sheng Yao turned in surprise.

“She was probably visiting her parents. I recommended an interior designer to her—he’ll check her place this weekend,” Boss Le explained.

“Wait—what interior work? What inspection?” Sheng Yao asked.

Boss Le tilted his head. “The guy you caught last time—was he really following her?”

Sheng Yao was taken aback.

“She said it might not be a stalker issue, more to do with her apartment or her health…” Boss Le recounted Kong Yajie’s concerns, then asked, “Was that person really stalking her?”

Sheng Yao’s expression grew serious. “He did follow her… He said it was the first time…”

From their recent conversations, Tong Bin had assured him he hadn’t troubled Kong Yajie again.

Sheng Yao couldn’t help recalling the night Liu Yu’s condition changed. Was Liu Yu’s dazed state less about drunkenness and more about side effects from the medication?

A chill ran through him.

“Then the problem isn’t him. Don’t worry. The person I recommended is trustworthy. Later, I’ll call the doctor—oh, the one I introduced to your uncle. He’s excellent. If he agrees, I’ll take Miss Kong to see him,” Boss Le said.

Sheng Yao was surprised again. “Do you always check with the doctor before referring patients?”

“Of course. I have to ask if he can treat them. He’s… well… probably a general practitioner, but I’m not sure what all he does. He should be able to handle most things…” Boss Le’s words trailed off, then he smiled, “If he accepts a patient, he can cure them. If not, he refuses outright. Some minor ailments don’t require him. Sometimes I just go for convenience, even for a scrape.”

Sheng Yao listened quietly.

He recalled sending Liu Yu to the Monster Clinic. That night, he’d been so happy, almost giddy… But the night Mao Mao died, when he called Liu Yu, Liu Yu told him the Monster Clinic he’d visited wasn’t where Sheng Yao had directed him.

The doctor was extraordinary, and the Monster Clinic even more so.

They appeared wherever patients needed them, as if waiting for them, or arriving in their moment of need to drive away illness.

He was a patient the doctor had accepted.

Liu Yu, too.

Tong Bin had received treatment even earlier—perhaps even before Mao Mao.

And from what Sheng Yao had seen, Tong Bin’s condition was more serious and recurrent than theirs.

That night, the Monster Clinic appeared to Tong Bin because he needed further treatment, didn’t it?

Sheng Yao sighed inwardly, leaning against the seat, watching the buildings race by outside.

He’d wondered before—was it because of his presence that Tong Bin had chosen to ignore the Monster Clinic, dragging him off for drinks instead? But lately, as they talked, Tong Bin was open and honest about his experiences and feelings, yet never mentioned the Monster Clinic.

He had thought it was a tacit understanding between them—a mutual respect among patients…

What Tong Bin needed wasn’t his comfort, but the Monster Clinic… Bai Xiao was hospitalized there, and he visited her every day… The clinic could only see Tong Bin late at night.

Suddenly, Sheng Yao turned to Boss Le. “You arranged for someone to check Miss Kong’s apartment—so you must have her contact info? Do you know her address?”