Chapter 2575: 2581.2482 Cold Little Hands (Alliance Leader Eating Instant Noodles While Flying a Plane, Bonus Chapter 2)

2581.2482 Cold Little Hands (Alliance Leader Eating Instant Noodles While Flying a Plane, Bonus Chapter 2)

Director Pan was in high spirits, constantly talking about how when he first came here years ago there weren't this many people, and how each place has changed into what it is now.

But the director, being old, showed fatigue after walking for over an hour. Su Yun suggested taking the cable car up the mountain; Zheng Ren looked at the high cable car and immediately thought of a roller coaster.

The experience of riding a roller coaster with Yi Ren back then is still fresh in Zheng Ren's memory—truly frightening. Standing below, Zheng Ren could already imagine himself on the cable car, and how cowardly he would become.

His hands and feet were cold, trembling as he held Yi Ren's hand—this didn't seem right. It wasn't like illness; it would be better to keep this timid side buried deep in his memory.

After hesitating for a while, amidst the laughter of the crowd, Zheng Ren still decided to stay behind alone.

There was no way around it; even the invulnerable Boss Zheng had weaknesses—like a fear of heights, an underdeveloped vestibular nerve, an unwillingness to socialize, and…… an unwillingness to eat.

Zheng Ren sat bored on a stone bench, watching the crowds come and go, feeling this place was far inferior to the deserts of northern frontier.

The experience of stargazing in the desert remained one of a kind in Zheng Ren's heart. After all, few people meant one of Boss Zheng's criteria for rating a scenic spot was low attendance.

Moreover, in the vast Gobi Desert, lying side by side with Yi Ren on the dunes gazing at the star‑filled sky made it feel as if no one or anything else existed in the universe—a truly wonderful feeling.

Zheng Ren watched alone as everyone took the cable car up the mountain; Director Pan seemed to be telling Su Yun about his past climb up the mountain. Yi Ren showed no fear, looking a little excited as she played selfies with Chang and the Chu Family Sisters.

Lao He was a little scared, but he was still pulled aboard. Feng Xu Hui stepped onto the cable car with a thudding gait, sitting with Liu Xiao Jie; he carefully looked after her, and their relationship seemed to be progressing as well.

The older and younger Chu sat together; Zheng Ren smiled faintly, recalling when they performed the surgery—both straightened at once, their graceful arcs merging into one, simultaneously giving him a thumbs‑up.

Having them around is truly great.

Watching the crowd gradually fade into the distance, even with Zheng Ren's eyesight unable to see them anymore, a pair of cold little hands slowly covered his eyes.

Zheng Ren didn't dodge—just whose brat was playing a joke on him?

Fingers dry and cracked, with red patches, fissures, and induration… could this be chemo‑induced hand‑foot syndrome? Zheng Ren immediately said, "Xiao Shitou, is that you?"

"Ah, you could guess that?" Shi Jian panted as he bounced up to Zheng Ren.

"How did you guys get here?" Zheng Ren smiled, rubbing Xiao Shitou's head.

"Doctor Zheng, you're here too." Wen Xiaonuan walked over and said, "I originally wanted to take Xiao Shitou to West Mountain Park, where there are fewer people, but I took a wrong turn and ended up here."

Zheng Ren looked at Xiao Shitou's system panel; the red had faded somewhat, and his being able to persist in coming here should be considered a small miracle.

It must be the child's last wish, with that lingering thought in his heart supporting him, Zheng Ren thought.

On Xiao Shitou's frail shoulders, the left side of his neck was thick with a large tumor, the one compressing his airway.

Zheng Ren immediately recalled the imaging data: a thyroid tumor invading the external carotid artery and the fourth cervical vertebra. Xiao Shitou should feel numbness in his limbs; perhaps the airway isn't completely blocked, but the nerves in the cervical spine have been invaded.

This is an unsolvable problem; Zheng Ren forced a faint smile, not wanting to leave the child with too heavy an impression.

Xiao Shitou is already beyond cure, and Zheng Ren has no good solution; just being able to walk steadily would be acceptable.

"Doctor Zheng, I only found out yesterday that you won the Nobel Prize." Wen Xiaonuan hadn't expected that the little doctor who had messaged Xiao Shitou on QQ was actually a big shot; she said somewhat awkwardly.

Especially when she thought about her past acquaintance with Zheng Ren, Wen Xiaonuan felt even more uneasy.

"Heh." Zheng Ren gave a dry laugh; he wasn't used to people looking at him with envy and admiration. Especially someone like Wen Xiaonuan, an ordinary person rather than a clinical doctor.

"Uncle, you're amazing!" Xiao Shitou said.

"Call me brother." Zheng Ren said seriously, "I remember when we first met you called me big brother—how come you're calling me uncle now?"

"The first time we met wasn't for you to watch my mom while I played a game, was it?" Xiao Shitou said, "I think calling you uncle is more formal."

"Still call me brother." Zheng Ren insisted.

Xiao Shitou hehe‑laughed, "Brother, you're amazing. I even said I'd win a Nobel Prize someday—I didn't expect you to snatch it first."

Zheng Ren looked at his bright, clear eyes and his uncoordinated limbs, feeling endless regret.

Just as Su Yun said, Xiao Shitou's life is also a torment.

"Too bad, I don't have time left." Xiao Shitou whispered.

Wen Xiaonuan's eyes instantly reddened; before tears could fall, she turned around, her voice trembling slightly, "I'll go buy some water—Doctor Zheng, what would you like to drink?"

"I'm not thirsty, thank you." Zheng Ren said with a hint of regret.

"Brother, you know what illness I have, right?" Xiao Shitou sat beside Zheng Ren like an adult and asked softly.

"Yeah, I know." Zheng Ren nodded.

"Actually I've long wanted to stop treatment—it's too exhausting, too unbearable." Xiao Shitou raised his hand toward the sun, "Look at my hand—after each chemo it peels off layer by layer. I feel awful all over, plus nauseous. Even when I'm hungry, seeing food makes me nauseous. Every meal is like taking medicine; I have to force a smile while eating, or else my mom will cry."

"You've suffered enough." Zheng Ren said solemnly.

"It's not suffering; I'm in pain, but I want to live. Not wanting treatment yet wanting to live—is that contradictory?"

"Is it because of your mom?"

"That's only part of it. About half a year ago, my mom told me once. She didn't want me to go, but the doctors said there was no hope. She put it vaguely, but I know what she meant."

"She doesn't want me to leave, but the treatment is too much of a torment, so she let me decide."

"Then what happened?" Zheng Ren asked.

"I don't want to die; I still have so many roads to travel, so many people to meet, so many games to play, so many movies to watch. If I were gone, I couldn't accomplish anything. But living is really hard—truly hard."

Xiao Shitou doesn't seem like a ten‑year‑old; he's more like an adult. The carefree innocence proper to his age he never enjoyed—instead, life has forced him to mature prematurely.