Chapter 143: Only in Survival Is There Meaning

At the end of the meeting, Xiaoxiao took Yu Xin and left first, driving her straight back to the secret apartment she shared with Bai Yunchuan. Yu Xin remained listless throughout, a sight that would break anyone’s heart.

"Eat something." Xiaoxiao whipped up some porridge using the available ingredients, but no matter how she coaxed, Yu Xin wouldn't respond. Out of options, Xiaoxiao resorted to reverse psychology: "Fine, don't eat. Once you starve to death, all your problems and conflicts will cease to exist anyway."

Knowing exactly how to trigger Yu Xin, the tactic worked perfectly. Yu Xin picked up the bowl and, abandoning all manners, began shoveling the porridge into her mouth. Eventually, she gave up on the spoon entirely and poured the rest straight into her mouth. Xiaoxiao hurriedly grabbed a tissue to wipe the broth that had spilled onto her clothes. "Slow down, don't be so reckless."

"If time could just wait for me, I wouldn't be in such a rush," Yu Xin said, wiping her mouth, looking suddenly philosophical. "Whether his mother decides to take my liver or not, I have to be prepared. I can't let my health collapse. Besides, although I have a younger brother back home, he’s still too young and immature. If something were to happen to me, what would they do?"

A wave of heartache washed over Xiaoxiao.

"Why are you so late today?"

When Xiaoxiao returned to Jasmine Dynasty, Lin Shuo had been waiting for a long time. Seeing her lack of spirit, he immediately dropped his playful tone and asked seriously, "What’s wrong?"

Xiaoxiao spent a long while organizing her words before asking, "You said your father passed away from liver cancer, right?"

Lin Shuo nodded, and Xiaoxiao continued, "Does a liver transplant make things a lot better?"

"That’s what the doctors say, but you can’t rule out rejection after the transplant. Besides, finding a suitable donor isn't easy." A forced smile appeared on Lin Shuo’s face as he spoke; it was clear that those were painful memories.

"Did you ever get tested for a match?"

"Of course." Lin Shuo clearly didn't want to continue this topic and said bluntly, "These things are a matter of luck, not something you can force. What does it matter if I have money or connections? I have no advantage over anyone else when it comes to cancer. Those who find a match are the lucky ones chosen by heaven; you can't buy a ticket to heaven no matter how much money you spend." He paused, then added, "But death doesn't necessarily mean a lack of fortune. At the very least, it's a release—it's better than being constantly tortured by pain."

Xiaoxiao didn't understand why, if Lin Shuo was so open-minded about the subject, he still seemed so intent on avoiding it. She wondered if there was some hidden story, but she didn't dare probe further.

"Why are we talking about this out of the blue?" Lin Shuo shifted the subject. Xiaoxiao summarized the situation with Bai Yunchuan, hoping to hear his perspective. However, after she finished, he remained silent for a long time. Unable to hold back, she asked for his thoughts. With an unreadable expression, he said, "It’s a good thing. This is a chance given by heaven for them to reshuffle the deck. It just depends on whether that old lady knows what's good for her."

For some reason, Xiaoxiao had a premonition that Mother Bai would ultimately accept Yu Xin's donation. She could tell that the old woman didn't really want to die; she still clung to the world and had too many things she couldn't let go of. The first among them was her precious son’s future. Until Bai Yunchuan was settled and had children of his own, she wouldn't be able to close her eyes in peace. Furthermore, Yu Xin hadn't settled things with Bai Yunchuan yet—she probably wouldn't be able to swallow her pride even in death. But regardless, these were living human lives. Concepts of good, bad, and justice only held meaning while one was alive; there was no way to control what happened once one was gone.