Chapter 2576: 2582.2483 If it's 50% once, we'll do it twice

2582.2483 If it's 50% once, we'll do it twice.

Zheng Ren fell silent, gazing at the blue sky and white clouds, recalling Xiao Shitou's words, his heart stirring slightly.

"Really, what a tangled life, you'd say that, right, bro?" Xiao Shitou took a deep breath, straining, looking in the same direction as Zheng Ren at the blue sky and white clouds, and whispered.

"It's fine, anyone would think that. A few days ago, a wealthy person from my hometown had no issues after surgery, but he ended up worrying about his own condition and eventually developed another personality."

"Split personality? Really? I thought it was all made up." Xiao Shitou exclaimed.

Zheng Ren told Xiao Shitou about Bu Ruotian's situation. He really didn't know what to say, so he just chatted about something, hoping Xiao Shitou would feel a bit better.

Maybe, who knows.

Xiao Shitou's eyes widened, and he said in surprise, "You can still do that?"

"The adult world isn't always as strong as you are," Zheng Ren said.

"What do you mean by the adult world, having me call you bro on one hand and talking about the adult world on the other? Are you split too?" Xiao Shitou chuckled.

Zheng Ren felt Xiao Shitou could definitely hit it off with Su Yun; their conversation would be sharp.

Their way of speaking…… but Xiao Shitou is right, it's my own thinking that's a bit off.

"And you, how have you gotten through the past six months?" Zheng Ren asked.

"If surgery isn't an option, then I just do chemo every day, one course after another, endless. I can only console myself, thinking that as long as it's treatable, it's good. I envy friends who can go to school with their backpacks, and I don't understand why they can't solve a simple problem." Xiao Shitou gazed at the sky, saying this with a hint of longing.

"Hmm." Zheng Ren nodded lightly.

"I also know my parents feel bad; they chose me over money, yet worry I'm suffering too much. It's so tangled! Bro, if I grow up, will there be even more tangled things?" Xiao Shitou asked.

"Yeah, whether strong or weak, rich or poor, smart or foolish, there will be many tangled matters."

"Back then, my mom and I chatted, asking for my opinion." Xiao Shitou swung his legs, speaking carefree like a normal kid, as if talking about someone else.

"What did you say?"

"Let's discuss it with her; I'm a kid, I should act like one." Xiao Shitou said: "I just think as long as they're happy, I don't care. Even if I really don't want to go, there's nothing I can do."

Zheng Ren smiled; that's what being precocious is like.

"It's a shame; I estimate that in a few years my illness could be cured. But the younger you are, the faster the condition progresses." Xiao Shitou said regretfully: "It's really a pity."

"You just said it was really uncomfortable, didn't you?"

Zheng Ren relaxed a bit; he wasn't speaking to Xiao Shitou the way he would to a patient, but like he would to a friend.

"You have to endure the discomfort; people with tuberculosis over a hundred years ago were the same. I read that many, including doctors who knew electrotherapy was useless, still tried it. It seems like a torture device, but the details aren't clear."

"And your mother?"

"She can't do anything anymore." Xiao Shitou finally sighed, "Over the past six months, our family's money has almost run out, and we sold the house. My dad works overtime, taking on two or three jobs. My mom stays with me full-time, just hoping I can be happy."

"But really, there's nothing we can do."

Zheng Ren could hear a hint of regret in Xiao Shitou's words.

"What if there were?" Zheng Ren asked.

"Don't treat me like a kid and lie to me; I haven't been able to play with my phone for six months, I've read a lot of books." Xiao Shitou said: "Although the library's books are old, some basic theories are still applicable."

Zheng Ren thought Xiao Shitou was really interesting; he spoke like an adult, and his thoughts on life were mature too. Moreover, from what he said, it turned out he actually took time to go to the library to borrow medical books to read.

"I'm already past the point of no return, there's no medicine for me; it's been like this since I was diagnosed half a year ago." He said softly, as if his airway felt tight from pressure, Xiao Shitou coughed twice, took a deep breath, and said, "Don't lie to me, tell me something that would make us both happy."

"I don't know what would make you happy, but I just won a Nobel Prize." Zheng Ren said, "What you read in books isn't necessarily true."

Xiao Shitou suddenly fell silent, staring seriously at Zheng Ren with a hint of doubt in his eyes. Zheng Ren met his gaze openly, without evasion.

Clearly, after a few seconds the doubt vanished, replaced by a look of delight. But the delight faded just as quickly, leaving only a faint sense of regret.

"That wouldn't help either, I'm out of money." Xiao Shitou said, "Treating illness is a bottomless pit, especially for my kind of disease that current technology can't cure. It's like you said there's a way, but it would probably cost a fortune."

"What if it didn't cost money?" Zheng Ren asked.

"Are you a doctor too?" Xiao Shitou's tone was just like Su Yun's, "When I was in the hospital, lots of people came handing out flyers, saying they were raising funds. My mom was tempted, but I refused."

"Why?"

"It's not targeted, just blanket advertising." Xiao Shitou said, "The patient in the next bed is a wealthy old man who also submitted materials."

Zheng Ren fell silent.

There must be a problem, I just haven't looked into the specifics." Xiao Shitou chuckled, "If you have money, just get treated; there's no need to consume others' kindness. How many people can still stay kind these days? No need."

Saying that, he raised his hand and waved it casually.

"Leaving that aside, if there really were a way that didn't cost money, could still earn a bit, and have a Nobel Prize–level doctor perform the surgery as the lead surgeon, what would you think?" Zheng Ren asked.

"Do free lunches really exist in this world? Bro, don't lie to me, are you just wanting to spend your own money to treat me? The Nobel Prize comes with prize money, and you don't look like you're short on cash." Xiao Shitou didn't look at Zheng Ren; he had already formed his own impression of him early on.

"Why bother? You don't earn money easily either. Even if you're a rich second generation, spending your parents' money, they still had to work hard to earn it."

Zheng Ren looked at him curiously, noticing his expression was somewhat faint and casual, as if he weren't talking about his own life or death.

"Too bad I don't have time; otherwise, reading the Diamond Sutra twice would have you stunned."

"Trying to impress a Nobel laureate doesn't seem that easy."

"Forget it, my body gets weaker day by day. My mom sold the house a few months ago and went to Modu for proton and heavy ion therapy. I know money can't buy my life, but I didn't dissuade her; do you know why?"

Zheng Ren nodded.

"Talking with you saves effort." Xiao Shitou laughed, "Money can't buy happiness, because money itself is happiness, and I am the source of their happiness, more important than money."

"To be honest, I'm doing a surgery live broadcast precisely because your condition is special; I perform the surgery while streaming it so more doctors can see."

Xiao Shitou's gaze suddenly became very focused.

"They saw it; even if they can't necessarily learn it, they'll at least know there's another way to solve the problem. Maybe someone as smart as you could just watch once and get it."

"Then what?"

"The live stream, of course, isn't free; I want to make money." Zheng Ren laughed, "Three months after the surgery, your parents could also receive a broadcast fee, roughly around thirty thousand."

"The treatment is free? Three months… you're worried the surgery might go wrong and the family will cause trouble, right?"

"He really is a precocious child," Zheng Ren smiled and nodded.

Xiao Shitou pressed his lips, touched the lump on his neck with his hand, and asked softly, "Do you really have confidence?"

"There's no absolute confidence." Zheng Ren spoke frankly, "And you will endure the pain of Shou Bing."

"Wanting to live, pain is nothing. Can it prolong life?" Xiao Shitou's eyes flashed with hopeful light.

"We can only try." Zheng Ren finally returned to the role of a doctor, speaking vaguely and unclearly.

"Brother, you're really boring." Xiao Shitou said, "You can talk like that to my mom; there's no need to talk to me like that. If the Shou Bing really fails, I'll definitely be dead—what's the point of you playing riddles with a corpse?"

Zheng Ren froze for a moment; truly a very precocious child.

"Let's put it this way: given your current situation, we can only take it one step at a time." Zheng Ren said, "I've looked at your records; the situation is not optimistic, even pessimistic."

"I know, what's the probability of success for the Shou Bing?"

"50%"

"That's high!" Xiao Shitou's eyes lit up again, and he said firmly, "One attempt at 50%—if it doesn't work, we'll do two!"