Chapter 2680: 2582.2483 50% each time, we'll do it twice

2582.2483 50% each time, 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.

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

"It's fine, everyone would think that. A few days ago, a wealthy person from my hometown had no issues after Shou Bing, but then he kept worrying about his condition and ended up developing another personality."

"Split personality? That actually exists! I thought it was all made up." Xiao Shitou said in surprise.

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

Maybe, who knows.

Xiao Shitou's eyes widened, and he said in astonishment, "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? On one hand you have me call you bro, on the other you talk about the adult world. Are you split too?" Xiao Shitou said with a chuckle.

Zheng Ren felt Xiao Shitou could definitely hit it off with Su Yun when talking; his words were quite sharp.

The way the two of them spoke… but Xiao Shitou was right, it was his own thinking that was a bit off.

"And you, how have you gotten through the past half year?" Zheng Ren asked.

"I can't have external Shou Bing, so I just do chemo every day. One course ends and another begins, endless. I can only console myself, thinking that as long as I can be treated 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 slightly.

"I also know my parents feel bad; they chose me over money, yet they 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 about others' matters as carefree as an ordinary child.

"What did you say?"

"Let's work it out with her; I'm a kid, I gotta 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 chuckled; that's what being precocious is like, I guess.

"What a pity; 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 shame."

"You just said you felt awful, didn't you?"

Zheng Ren felt some Relaxation; he wasn't speaking in the way he does with patients, but rather in the way he talks with friends, having a Conversation with Xiao Shitou.

"Even if it's awful, you have to endure it; people who got tuberculosis over a hundred years ago were the same. I read that many, including doctors who clearly knew electrotherapy was useless, still tried it. It seems like a torture device, though the details aren't clear."

"And your mom?"

"She can't do anything anymore." Xiao Shitou finally sighed, "Over the past half year, the family's money has almost run out, the house has been sold. My dad works overtime, doing two or three jobs. My mom stays with me full‑time, just hoping I can be a bit happier."

"But really, there's nothing much 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 use my phone for half a year, I've read a lot of books." Xiao Shitou said: "Although the library's books are old, there's always some basic Theory that applies."

Zheng Ren thought Xiao Shitou was really interesting; his speech sounded like an adult's, and his thoughts on life were similar. Moreover, from what he said, it turned out he actually took time to go to the library and borrow medical‑related books to read.

"I'm already past the point of no return, there's no medicine that can help; 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 us something that would make both of us happy."

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

Xiao Shitou suddenly fell silent, he stared seriously at Zheng Ren, a hint of doubt in his eyes. Zheng Ren met his gaze openly, without avoiding.

Obviously, 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's also useless, 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—probably it'd 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‑style publicity." Xiao Shitou said, "The guy in the next bed is a wealthy old man; he also handed over the 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 Shou Bing on you, what would you think?" Zheng Ren asked.

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

"Why bother? Making money isn't easy for you either. Even if you're a rich second‑gen, spending your parents' money, they still don't earn it easily."

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 situation.

"Too bad I don't have time; otherwise I'd read the Diamond Sutra twice and leave you stunned."

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

"Forget it, my body gets weaker day by day. A few months ago my mom sold the house 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'm broadcasting the Shou Bing so more doctors can see it."

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 broadcast—of course it's not free; I want to earn money." Zheng Ren laughed, "Three months after the Shou Bing, your parents will also receive a live broadcast fee, roughly thirty thousand."

"The treatment's free? Three months… you're worried the Shou Bing might go wrong and the family will kick up a fuss, right?"

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

Xiao Shitou pursed his lips, feeling 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 the Shou Bing."

"Wanting to live, pain is nothing. Can it prolong life?" Xiao Shitou's eyes flickered 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 say it to me. If the Shou Bing really fails, I'll definitely be dead—what's the point of you playing riddles with a corpse?"

Zheng Ren was stunned for a moment; truly a very precocious child.

"Let's put it this way: your current situation can only be taken step by step." Zheng Ren said, "I've looked at your data; the situation is not optimistic, even pessimistic."

"I know, how great is the probability of success of the Shou Bing?"

"50%"

"That's high!" Xiao Shitou's eyes again flashed with bright light, he said firmly: "One try at 50%, if it doesn't work, then we'll do it twice!"