Chapter 48.2: Su Ling’s Illness

　　Su Ling’s lashes fluttered as he absently fiddled with his phone. “It’s nothing, really,” he murmured. “I just got so lost in thought that I started doubting marriage… so I ran off to the countryside to clear my head.”

　　“The countryside is great,” Ji Qing mused. “Being close to nature can really help you relax both your mind and body. Hmm… Looks like you’re doing well for yourself, even helping farmers sell their produce?”

　　Su Ling blinked, momentarily taken aback. “You’ve watched my live streams, Dr. Ji?”

　　Ji Qing finished writing a line and chuckled, “We followed each other on Weibo. When you trended a few days ago, I realized my ‘missing friend’ has been living quite the life in the countryside.”

　　Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Su Ling scratched his nose. “Well… I guess it’s just the joy of helping others!”

　　Ji Qing noted, “Looks like you’ve settled in nicely.”

　　“Yes, it’s peaceful, soothing, and so relaxing,” Su Ling sighed, his voice tinged with a hint of longing. “After living there for so long, I don’t even want to return to the city.”

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　　“Fswdep zkjl y rzyd!” Kk Ckdt zywtble blyavkzu. “R’zz elqkdkvlzu xyjl vkxl vs hkpkv. Kwpv esd’v qsatlv vs cl xu vswa twkel obld R es!”

　　Ekvbswv blpkvyvksd, Fw Nkdt alprsdele, “Ls rasczlx.”

　　Kk Ckdt aspl vs bkp qllv, aykpkdt y qkdtla vs tlpvwal yv bkx. “Psd’v qsatlv uswa nblnj-wr yv sdl-vbkavu vbkp yqvladssd.”

　　“Alright,” Su Ling conceded curtly, knowing there was no escaping it.

　　As Ji Qing stepped out of the ward, he nearly jumped at the sight of the man leaning against the doorframe. As expected of someone so fiercely protective of his wife. He’d been standing guard by the door for over half an hour, as if keeping a watchful eye on him.

　　“Come with me.” Ji Qing walked toward the nurses’ station, with Lin Feng silently trailing behind.

　　The nurses’ station was far enough from Su Ling’s ward to offer some privacy. Ji Qing flipped open his notebook, his face grave as he addressed Lin Feng. “Mr. Su’s mental state has improved greatly in the past six months. The countryside has worked wonders for his recovery, and the tranquility there has helped ease his anxiety. Had you exercised more control last night, he wouldn’t have relapsed so quickly.”

　　Lin Feng furrowed his brows, his expression icy and stern.

　　Accustomed to his taciturn nature, Ji Qing continued, “Right now, he’s still unaware of his condition. If you intend to bring him to Country L for treatment, it’s essential to take a step-by-step approach. That way, he can slowly come to terms with the fact that he’s ill.”

　　Lin Feng replied, “I know.”

　　Ji Qing could not help but sigh quietly to himself.

　　Su Ling’s illness was unlike anything he had ever encountered. Even after years of practicing medicine, this was the first time he had seen anything quite like it.

　　It was a genetic disorder hidden deep within one’s genes, a condition that could remain dormant for a lifetime with good fortune. Yet, for those less fortunate, it would gradually erode one’s mental awareness, eventually leading to a split personality.

　　The cause of Su Ling’s illness was shrouded in mystery, a puzzle that seemed impossible to unravel. Still, artists were often highly sensitive, their innate empathy making them more vulnerable to emotional turmoil than most. Their sensitivity to emotional matters surpassed that of ordinary people. From their exchange, he could clearly sense that Su Ling’s love for Lin Feng ran deep — so deep and unwavering that it bordered on obsession, even tinged with the desperate recklessness of a moth drawn to the flame.

　　On top of that, his willingness to cut ties with the Su family for Lin Feng spoke volumes about his extreme nature.

　　If his beloved could not return his feelings with equal intensity, the consequences would be unthinkable. Fortunately, Lin Feng’s love for him was even more fervent, a passion that resonated to the very core of his being.

　　However, loving too deeply came with its own set of drawbacks. Once his feelings exceeded the threshold he could bear, it would trigger his nerves, potentially exacerbating his condition.

　　There was no doubt that Su Ling’s first episode was triggered during their lovemaking. The intense pleasure had pushed him beyond his limits, leading to the early stages of his illness.

　　To be honest, Ji Qing was utterly shocked when he uncovered the cause of Su Ling’s illness.

　　Had their bond not run so deep, this situation would never have arisen.

　　As for the treatment plan, it was not overly complex, yet it still held its share of challenges.

　　After all, genetic diseases could only be treated with gene therapy. By replacing defective genes with healthy genes, it would result in a permanent cure.

　　Yet, finding a suitable genetic donor amidst the seas of people was no easy feat. Even if one were found, they would still have to undergo the grueling experimental phase. For a stranger, no amount of money could persuade them to take such risks when it came to matters of life and death.

　　Fortunately, Lin Feng’s genes were a perfect match for Su Ling’s.

　　The odds of this happening were as slim as one in a billion, and yet, here they were, a miraculous convergence of fate.

　　In a bid to save Su Ling, Lin Feng sought the expertise of Professor Smith, a leading authority on genetic research in Country L. Offering himself as a test subject, he endured a grueling year of experiments, pushing his body to its limits until they ultimately triumphed over the challenges.

　　Meanwhile, Su Ling was in the dark about his illness, entirely unaware of the countless sacrifices his partner had quietly endured for his sake.

　　For any other illness, the patient would have the right to know about their condition. But with Su Ling’s illness, the real danger lay in emotional distress. Should he be unable to cope with the truth, it could hasten his mental breakdown, pushing him into the late stages where even gene therapy would be rendered ineffective.

　　With a treatment plan in hand, all their problems would soon be resolved with ease.

　　Gazing at Lin Feng’s stern visage, Ji Qing inquired, “When do you plan to take him to Country L for treatment?”

　　“It’ll be early next month at the earliest,” Lin Feng answered.

　　“I wish you both the best,” Ji Qing said sincerely, giving his shoulder a reassuring pat.

　　When Lin Feng returned to the ward, he found Su Ling propped up against his pillow, a smile lighting up his features as he posted something on Weibo.

　　After a hectic day spent crafting bookmarks and more, he had not found a moment to post the lucky draw. But now that he finally found some time, he quickly put together the post, added an image, and shared it online.

　　The fans, who had been keeping an eye on his Weibo page, were quick to spot his new post and shared it right away. Within seconds, the number of reposts had exceeded a thousand, and the numbers continued to climb with each passing second. Each refresh brought in thousands more, the numbers surging like a relentless tide.

　　Su Ling gasped in amazement; never in his wildest dreams had he imagined he would one day become an influencer.

　　Noticing Lin Feng had returned, he put his phone down and questioned, “Did Dr. Ji say anything to you?”

　　Lin Feng shook his head. “No.”

　　Su Ling peered at him, skepticism written all over his face. “He really didn’t say anything?”

　　Lin Feng sat on the edge of the bed, took Su Ling’s hand in his, and intertwined their fingers. “Why do you ask?”

　　Su Ling returned the grip firmly and let out a yawn as he noted lazily, “Every time I come to the hospital for a check-up, he always shows up with his notebook, asks a million questions, and jots down everything I say. If I didn’t know I was mentally sound, I’d almost think there was something wrong with me from the way he interrogates me.”

　　“Perhaps that’s just a habit of psychiatrists.” Lin Feng studied him with concern. “Feeling sleepy?”

　　“Yeah, a little.” Su Ling lay further onto the bed, tugging the blanket up around him. “This is all your fault. Now, I ache everywhere.”

　　Lin Feng leaned down to kiss his slightly pouted lips and confessed hoarsely, “I love you.”

　　Su Ling reached out and pinched his cheek. “That’s so cheesy.”

　　Yesterday, he had insisted he did not want it anymore, but this guy kept whispering “I love you” in his ear, each word unraveling his resolve until he could not help but give in.

　　Eventually, he ended up at the hospital with a fever.

　　When he finally woke, a deep ache coursed through his bones and muscles, the most excruciating discomfort concentrated in one particular spot that felt nearly unbearable.

　　What made it even more infuriating was how this guy had forced him to call him “Daddy” over and over again. It was so humiliating!

　　Su Ling yawned again and gave him a gentle shove. “I’m going to nap for a bit. Wake me up when it’s time for the check-up.”

　　“Sure.” Lin Feng settled into the chair beside him, his gaze soft and steady. “Get some rest.”

　　With that, Su Ling closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep almost instantly.