Chapter 34 Hardships Lead To Success
Zachary performed the acupuncture quickly. Lauren's chest was stabbed with countless silver needles in less than ten seconds. He applied a different technique this time, and the needles were not spinning, they were floating up and down instead.
There was a subtle "dong" sound emanating from Lauren's body as the silver needles floated up and down. It sounded as if there was a drum inside her body.
Lauren was no longer grimacing in pain ten minutes later. Her condition had stabilized.
Seeing this, Zachary let out a long sigh of relief. He wiped the sweat on his head and muttered in a low voice, "It's hard for me to apply Drumley Spike with my current strength and ability. Fortunately, I succeeded, or it'd be dangerous." Drumley Spike was also one of the Miraculous Nine Spikes, just like the Firstie Spike that he had applied before. However, Zachary's body was quite weak now. He didn't have enough Qi to apply the techniques. Therefore, it was challenging for him to apply Drumley Spike.
Lauren woke up gradually while Zachary was resting at the bedside. Her face was pale. She glanced down at her naked chest and smiled seductively, "Zach, you've seen me naked. You must take responsibility!" Zachary didn't know what to say to this woman who could still tease him after almost losing her life. He asked softly, "Sister Lim, can you tell me more about your illness?"
Lauren's smile halted when Zachary asked her about her medical condition. She seemed so miserable that his heart ached for her.
"Zach, I'll tell you a story if you don't mind," Lauren tried to prop herself up.
Zachary quickly sat down on the edge of the bed and held her up. Then, he pulled the blanket to cover her body.
Lauren smiled and tilted her head slightly. She leaned against Zachary's body and said softly, "The story began 20 years ago."
"There was an ordinary girl in a poor village in the west. After finishing her studies in junior high school, she didn't manage to get into high school. So, she came to the big city in the southeast to seek a job, just like what most people did. She met a boy while she was working."
"Both of them were alone in that city. Soon, they fell in love and lived together. But, they couldn't get a marriage certificate yet because they hadn't reached the legal age for marriage. Yet, they were happy."
Lauren paused slightly and her tone grew heavy, "But, their happy life came to an end in less than two years. They didn't practice contraception properly. As a result, the girl got pregnant. They were living a tough life, so the boy didn't agree to keep the child. But the girl insisted on giving birth to the child. They quarreled innumerable times. The girl even threatened the boy with her life. The boy had no choice but to compromise in the end."
"On a winter day, the child was born. She was a girl, and she had congenital heart disease. It would cost more than a hundred thousand yuan for her treatment. The boy received the news and didn't even take a look at his child. He took the opportunity to run away with all of the girl's savings. The exasperated girl almost committed suicide. But, she restrained herself from doing so when she thought of the child in her arms."
Hearing this, Zachary couldn't help clenching his hands. He wished he could beat up the irresponsible man.
"It was inconvenient for a woman with a child to work. So, it was very difficult for them to live in a big city. The girl had no choice but to bring the child back to the village. However, the girl was greatly shamed in the village for being pregnant before marriage. As a result, the girl's family couldn't bear the rumors and chased the girl out with her baby.
"The girl raised the child alone. Nobody knows how many difficulties she had gone through to raise the child.
"The child grew up and realized that she did not have a father. She suffered mockery from others and also the pain resulting from her illness. She kept telling herself that she had to work hard to live a good life with her mother. She'd not let others insult them anymore.
"The child had good grades in school. Everyone started to treat her better. She successfully got into a school in the big city and won glory for her village. She looked forward to the good life at the university. But, she soon found that everything was not as wonderful as she had imagined.
"She had struggled and worked hard for more than ten years to stop others from humiliating her. But, what she worked hard for was what others had started their lives with. The health she yearned for was something that others were born with. She wore ragged clothes, ate the cheapest food, and used old stationeries that others had abandoned...
"She was at the lowest point of her life again. She was overwhelmed by the discrimination from others and the pain from her illness.
"This was a disaster for a shy and sensitive girl. She had wanted to commit suicide more than once. But, she restrained herself from doing so when she thought of her mother who had suffered her whole life. She forced herself to change. She began to learn about makeup. She worked harder and harder to become the best student.
"She became the most eye-catching student in the school when she graduated. She was good at studying and practice. She was also fashionable and got a good job. No one would relate this attractive student to the poor rural girl who had joined the school a few years back.
"She changed and became stronger. She made money and started to live a beautiful life. But, she was not in luck. The doctor told her that her illness could not be cured when she finally sought treatment in the hospital with her hard-earned money. She had delayed too long. She only had three years at most to live."
The story stopped here. Lauren's tone was gentle as if she was telling a story that had nothing to do with her.
However, Zachary was heartbroken as he stared at this beautiful woman. He couldn't imagine how many hardships she had experienced to transform from a poor sensitive little girl to a gorgeous and successful woman.
"Zach, did I do something evil in my last life? Why am I punished in this life?" Lauren smiled wryly as rivulets of crystal-clear tears made their way down her cheeks.
Zachary's heart tightened. He held Lauren in his arms, wanting to warm this strong independent woman, who had suffered a lot, with his body temperature.
"Sister Lim, don't worry. I'll cure you. I can do it."Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
"Zach, you don't have to comfort me. I've gone through so many things in my life. This is not a big deal for me. I still have three years left. I'm satisfied now." "No! Sister Lim, I can cure you," Zachary gazed into Lauren's eyes and repeated determinedly.
Lauren sensed the determination in Zachary's eyes. "Zach, please stop joking. It's really uncomfortable to lose hope again after getting my hopes high." "Sister Lim, I'm not joking. I can cure you, but I'm lacking some conditions now. I will definitely be fully-prepared within three years."
"Okay, I believe in you." Lauren nodded, her eyes full of trust.