C1 It Was Just a Trade

The night was deep and endless.

In the Royal Élysée neighborhood, Wanxing stood on the balcony, her eyes anxiously scanning the garden. Her slender figure swayed in the autumn breeze, as if she might be swept away at any moment.

She glanced at her phone; it was already 2 a.m. Unable to wait any longer, she dialed that familiar number. The call connected but was quickly cut off.

Suddenly, the sound of a door being forcefully opened echoed through the house. Wanxing hurried inside to see Yichen stumbling in, his tall frame seeming to dim the room's light.

The strong smell of alcohol hit her.

"Yichen..." Wanxing rushed to support him.

He looked at her coldly, his eyes filled with disdain, stopping her in her tracks. She watched as Yichen headed straight for the bathroom.

When Yichen finally emerged, he went directly to the bed, kicking over a basket of flowers and tearing down the red balloons hanging from the headboard before lying down.

Wanxing carefully got into bed, glancing frequently at Yichen, whose eyes were tightly shut. Finally, she spoke, "Yichen, can we talk?"

"Talk about what?" Yichen opened his eyes slightly, frowning. "I've already married you. What more do you want? Don't push your luck!"

Mu Wanxing's prepared words caught in her throat: "I only have about two months left to live... My beloved mom just passed... It's just you and Dad now. I hope you'll treat me a little better..."

Despite the cold gaze from Soong Yichen, she couldn't help but whisper her humble plea.

Yichen's face remained indifferent, letting out a dismissive snort. "You were so tough at the wedding, and now you're playing the victim. It's just a transaction. What do you expect from me?"

The faint light in Wanxing's eyes dimmed. Was it really just... a transaction?

Wanxing looked sorrowful and humiliated, staring at his handsome yet harsh and unfeeling face, unable to reconcile him with the man who once adored her.

They had dated for three years, deeply in love, with families that matched well, earning parental approval, and were engaged with their relationship only growing stronger.

Just half a month ago, when she went abroad, he was reluctant to let her go, eager to wrap up his work and join her, only relenting after she persuaded him.

Then came the sudden news of her mother's passing, and upon her return, everything had changed.

Out of nowhere, Yichen's first love, Kin Qier, appeared, and he was busy planning a wedding with her, completely forgetting about Wanxing.

Suppressing the grief of losing her closest family, Wanxing sought an explanation from Yichen, but he avoided her. Instead, it was Qier who came out to meet her.

Kin Qier claimed she was Soong Yichen's first love and that Mu Wanxing was "the other woman," even going so far as to send her a wedding invitation to flaunt it.

Qier called Wanxing to the hotel dressing room and told her she had a heart condition, making her unsuitable for marriage. Fortunately, Yichen loved her and wouldn't leave her side.

She needed a heart transplant to survive, and if Wanxing would donate her heart, Qier would step aside for her to be with Yichen, as life was more important.

Spurred by the affection displayed at Qier and Yichen's wedding, Wanxing boldly declared, "Marry me, and in two months, I'll donate my heart to her."

"Deal!" Yichen agreed after discussing it with Qier, though he was clearly reluctant.

Soon after, Wanxing was pressured into signing a voluntary organ donation agreement, and she and Yichen went through with the wedding.

Yichen seemed unwilling throughout, and after the ceremony, he went out drinking and returned late.

She risked her life, and in return, he couldn't even bring himself to look at her properly.

She couldn't understand how their years of affection could crumble so easily in the face of his "first love."

How could he be so cold?

He must understand what donating a heart means, so how could he feel no guilt or compassion for her?

Mu Wanxing was still lost in thought when the phone rang.

“What’s up, Qier... Okay, I’ll be right there...” Soong Yichen said briefly, quickly getting out of bed to find his clothes. He headed toward the door with long strides.

“Where are you going?” Mu Wanxing asked, her voice trembling.

Yichen replied reluctantly, “Qier isn’t feeling well and can’t sleep. I’m going to check on her.”

Mu Wanxing felt a lump in her throat. “I’m feeling worse. Don’t forget, today is our wedding day!”

“Wedding?” Yichen scoffed. “If you hadn’t come between us, she’d be here now, and I wouldn’t have to keep running back and forth.”

Come between them? The marriage she risked everything for was being dismissed as interference!

“Yichen, did you ever love me?” Mu Wanxing blurted out as the door was about to close.

She expected him to ignore her, but he turned back. “Never loved you, only despised you.”

Even though she had mentally prepared herself, the answer hit harder than she anticipated. Mu Wanxing was stunned into silence.

As she stood there in despair, Yichen’s hurried footsteps faded away. The door, left ajar, was blown open by the wind, slamming against the wall with a dull thud. Mu Wanxing’s heart felt like it had been stomped on.

It took her a long time to catch her breath. She closed the door, walked back with difficulty, and picked up the scattered flowers and balloons.

Looking around at the room draped in deep red, meticulously decorated for a wedding, she let out a bitter laugh. How could she forget? This was originally meant for Yichen and Qier.

He was busy spending time with Qier, but did he realize she was the one who truly needed him?

With trembling hands, Wanxing opened the nightstand drawer and took out a medical report. She unfolded it.

The words "Stage IV hereditary melanoma" stared back at her.

Stage IV, the final stage.

Yichen had just accused her of pretending to be pitiful, but she didn't need to pretend.

She had a hereditary disease.

Her mother had died from melanoma. The diagnosis had come not long ago, and it was already in the late stages. Her condition had deteriorated rapidly in the past two weeks, and Wanxing hadn't even had the chance to see her one last time.

At her father's insistence, Wanxing underwent a biopsy, which confirmed the cancer had spread. The doctor predicted she wouldn't live more than two months.

Otherwise, she would never have considered saying something as drastic as donating her heart to Qier.

Wanxing rolled up her sleeve, looking at the affected area on her arm. An unsightly lump had formed, with an ulcerated opening that oozed a yellowish fluid, emitting a faint odor.

She wondered if it was just her imagination, but the large dark mole had been there since birth. It hadn't seemed particularly unusual before, just a bit of an eyesore, something she would occasionally pinch.

Ever since she found out her mother died from it and she was diagnosed too, she started feeling like that spot was growing, changing, and hurting in waves. She was too scared to even touch it.

She heard some terminal patients die from fear alone.

That's exactly how she felt now.

She saw Yichen as her lifeline, hoping to find some comfort and warmth from him. But he just left her, rushing off to be with his true love.

Is there any point in living when the whole world has abandoned you?