tkworld Chapter 1368 Unrequited Love
Chapter 1368 Unrequited Love
Chapter 1368 Unrequited Love
Ning Qi has been somewhat absent-minded these past few days.
It's Friday, and she has no plans for the afternoon. She sits in her office, staring blankly at the city outside the window.
Anning Building is located in the most bustling part of the city center. Its floor-to-ceiling windows on the 39th floor offer panoramic views of the city. She loved this height, loved the feeling of looking down from above. The masses of people, the bustling traffic—everything seemed so far away, yet so close.
Her gaze swept past the towering buildings and landed in a blurry direction in the distance. That was where Sanbo Hospital was located, she knew, though she couldn't see it from here.
Actually, she had driven past that place many times, sometimes deliberately taking a detour, sometimes making an excuse to pass by. Every time she passed by, she would slow down and glance in the direction of that building. Just one glance, and then continue driving.
I've never been inside.
It's not that I don't want to, it's that I don't dare.
My phone rang; it was my younger brother, Ning Yu, calling.
"Sis, are you free tonight? Let's have dinner together."
Ning Qi said, "What would you like to eat if you have time?"
Ning Yu said, "I'll arrange a place and pick you up at six o'clock."
After hanging up the phone, Ning Qi checked the time; there were still two hours left. She leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and images from many years ago floated into her mind.
At that time, my father was seriously ill and was staying at Sanbo Hospital.
That was the first time she met Yang Ping.
My father had late-stage liver cancer, which had already spread by the time it was discovered. They had consulted several of the best hospitals in the country, and the specialists' opinions were roughly the same: there was no opportunity for surgery, and the only option was chemotherapy and radiation therapy to maintain his health. My father was a strong-willed man who had never bowed his head in his life, but that time she saw tears in his eyes.
Later, my father was hospitalized at Sanbo Hospital for three months. The severe pain made him feel like he was dying. All the pain relief methods could not be relieved. Finally, Yang Ping precisely implanted a miniature pain pump in the nerve root to stop the pain.
During those three months, she went to the hospital almost every day. Sometimes it was to accompany her father to treatment, and sometimes it was to see Yang Ping to understand his condition. Gradually, she developed a vague, different feeling for Yang Ping.
She saw how patient he was with every patient, how he would peruse thick volumes of literature for a single case, how he would lean against the wall, panting after an operation, and how helpless he looked when a patient's family member pulled him to tears.
She saw a real doctor.
Yang Ping was there the day her father passed away. He passed away peacefully, holding her hand as he slowly closed his eyes. She cried so hard she couldn't speak, and Yang Ping stood beside her, gently patting her shoulder.
After her father passed away, she maintained contact with Yang Ping, occasionally exchanging messages and sending holiday greetings. They gradually became best friends. She knew her feelings for him were different, but she never confessed. Later, she learned that what she felt was unrequited love.
Then came Ning Yu's illness.
Ning Yu was suddenly diagnosed with a brainstem tumor. At the time, she was performing in Japan when she suddenly collapsed on stage. After being sent to the University of Tokyo Hospital, she was diagnosed with a brainstem tumor. The moment she received the diagnosis, she felt like the sky had fallen.
The brainstem is a no-go zone for surgery, so the hospital received the same response as the University of Tokyo Hospital: the location is too deep, the risk is too high, there is no chance of surgical success, and surgery is not recommended.
Finally, she thought of Yang Ping.
She called him, her voice trembling. She said, "Professor Yang, my brother... can you help me?"
After listening to her words, Yang Ping remained silent for a few seconds before saying, "Send me the film to take a look."
She sent the message and waited for about half an hour. Half an hour later, Yang Ping called her: "The surgery is possible! I will be the surgeon. I am the only one in the world who can perform the surgery."
She asked, "How confident are you?"
Yang Ping said, "About 80%."
Eighty percent! Everyone else said the success rate was close to zero, but Professor Yang said eighty percent, and Ning Qi cried with excitement.
She said, "Thank you!"
Where is he/she?
"At the University of Tokyo Hospital in Japan."
"Okay, I'll fly over with a team. Don't worry, I'm here."
When she was feeling lonely and helpless again, Yang Ping was there for her.
On the day of the surgery, she waited outside the operating room for a long time. She sat on a chair in the corridor, motionless, her eyes fixed on the operating room door.
When the door opened, she could barely stand up.
Yang Ping came out, his face marked with the indentation of his mask. He looked at her and said, "The surgery went smoothly. The tumor was completely removed. Her life was saved, and her nerve function was also preserved."
She cried and threw herself into Yang Ping's arms, kissing him.
That was the first time she cried after her father passed away, not because she was sad, but because she was too happy.
Ning Yu recovered very well. He was able to walk on his own after a month, and returned to China smoothly after three months. Now he is able to work and live a normal life. Every time she sees him so lively and energetic, she thinks of Yang Ping.
That person saved my brother's life.
It was that person who made her understand what it means to like someone.
But she never said it.
It's not that I don't want to talk about it, it's that I can't.
She knew that Yang Ping had someone he loved, Xiao Su, who was gentle and quiet.
She understood that look in his eyes.
So she didn't say anything.
He will probably never know.
Sometimes she wondered what would have happened if she had spoken up back then? Maybe there would have been a chance, or maybe they wouldn't even have been able to remain friends. But despite these thoughts, she never actually tried.
Because she knows that some people are enough to keep in your heart.
At six o'clock in the evening, Ning Yu came to pick her up on time.
The siblings went to their usual restaurant and asked for a quiet private room. Ning Yu ordered a table full of dishes, all of which were her favorites.
Ning Qi looked at him and smiled: "What's up today? Did you strike it rich?"
Ning Yu said, "I haven't made a fortune, I just wanted to treat you to a meal."
The dishes were served, and the siblings ate and chatted. They talked about company matters, family matters, and Ning Yu's recent work. Ning Yu is now a professional singer; although not very famous, she is doing what she loves.
As they were chatting, Ning Yu suddenly put down her chopsticks and looked at her: "Sister, I have a question for you."
Ning Qi asked, "What is it?"
Ning Yu hesitated for a moment, then asked, "What are your plans?"
Ning Qi was taken aback: "What, what are your plans?"
Ning Yu said, "It's a lifelong matter. You're thirty-four this year, and I've never seen you date anyone or show any interest in anyone. Mom's gone, Dad's gone, and it's just the two of us left. If I don't take care of it, who will?"
Ning Qi was silent for a moment, then said, "Why are you worrying about this? I'm fine."
Ning Yu said, "What's so good about you? All you do is work, work, work. You never go out on weekends, and you never go to gatherings with friends. How can you be good like this?"
Ning Qi said, "I have friends."
Ning Yu asked, "What about your boyfriend?"
Ning Qi fell silent.
Ning Yu looked at her, a pang of heartache in his eyes. He recalled how his sister had always been over the years—always so calm, always so strong, always like a superwoman supporting the entire company and the family. But he knew that she also had her vulnerable moments, her tired moments, and her moments when she needed someone to be with her.
He said, "Sister, I'm not pressuring you. I'm just worried about you. You've been all alone for so many years, and it breaks my heart to see you like this."
Ning Qi lowered her head and looked at the cup in front of her.
Silent for a long time.
Then she looked up at Ning Yu and said, "Xiao Yu, let me tell you the truth."
Ning Yu looked at her.
Ning Qi said, "There is someone in my heart."
Ning Yu was taken aback: "There's someone? Who is it? How come I've never heard of them?"
Ning Qi said, "You know them." Ning Yu thought for a long time but couldn't figure it out.
Ning Qi said, "Yang Ping."
Ning Yu knew in his heart that he had something to say, but he opened his mouth and didn't know what to say.
Ning Qi continued, "The first time I met him was when my father was hospitalized. After my father passed away, I thought I would never see him again. Then, when you got sick, the first person I thought of was him. He saved your life."
Ning Yu said, "I...I remember him."
Ning Qi said, "From then on, he was the only one in my heart."
Ning Yu remained silent for a long time.
He recalled his sister from those years. He remembered how she always quietly followed Sanbo's news, how she would occasionally mention "Professor Yang's" name, and how she had donated a large sum of money to Sanbo.
He didn't think much of it at the time, assuming it was just out of gratitude.
Now he understands.
He asked, "Sis, does he know?"
Ning Qi shook her head: "I don't know."
Ning Yu said, "You didn't tell him?"
Ning Qi said, "No."
Ning Yu asked, "Why?"
Ning Qi smiled, a smile that held something unreadable. She said, "He has someone he loves."
Ning Yu was stunned.
Ning Qi said, "That girl is very nice, and they are a good match. I think they look good together."
Ning Yu said, "Then you..."
Ning Qi said, "I'm fine as I am."
Ning Yu didn't know what to say. He looked at his sister and suddenly felt that she was a stranger to him. His sister, who had always been so strong and all-powerful since childhood, had this side to her.
He asked, "Sister, aren't you sad?"
Ning Qi thought for a moment and said, "It would be a lie to say I'm not sad, but I can't say I'm that sad either."
Ning Yu didn't understand.
Ning Qi said, "Imagine you like someone, and you've liked them for a very long time. You know it's impossible, but you can't help but like them. At first, you might feel sad, resentful, and wonder why it wasn't me. But as time goes on, you get used to it."
She paused for a moment, then said, "Later you'll realize that liking someone doesn't necessarily mean you have to be with them. Seeing them doing well, seeing them do what they want to do, seeing them happy is enough."
Ning Yu said, "But you're all alone..."
Ning Qi interrupted him: "I'm not alone. I have you, I have the company, and I have so many things to do. Besides," she smiled.
Ning Yu remained silent for a long time.
He looked at his sister and suddenly felt a pang of heartache. This person who had protected him since childhood, this person who had shouldered everything for him, had so much hidden in her heart.
He said, "Sister, you deserve better."
Ning Qi shook her head: "There won't be any more."
Ning Yu asked, "How did you know?"
Ning Qi said, "Because there will never be another Yang Ping in the world."
Ning Yu opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word.
Ning Qi looked at him and smiled: "Don't be sad for me. Really, I'm fine."
She picked up her cup, took a sip of water, and said, "Over the years, I've watched him come this far. I've watched him perform those surgeries, trained those students, and built his career into what it is today. I can't offer much help, but I'm happy to contribute my efforts and money to support him in doing what he wants to do."
Ning Yu said, "So those donations..."
Ning Qi nodded: "Part of it is."
Ning Yu didn't know what to say. He recalled that over the years, his sister had indeed donated a considerable amount of money to the Sanbo Foundation. There were donations for equipment purchases, research projects, and the medical foundation named after their father. He had assumed it was simply out of gratitude, but he hadn't realized there was another layer involved.
He asked, "Sister, what will you do in the future?"
Ning Qi said, "What do you mean, 'what to do'?"
Ning Yu said, "Will it always be like this?"
Ning Qi thought for a moment and said, "Let's leave it at that."
She looked at Ning Yu with a calm expression: "Xiao Yu, you don't need to worry about me. I'm really fine. I have things to do, people who care about me, and you by my side. That's enough."
Ning Yu remained silent for a long time.
Finally, he said, "Sister, you have to take good care of yourself."
Ning Qi smiled: "I will."
After finishing their meal, the siblings walked out of the restaurant. The city lights were bright in the night, and the tall buildings in the distance stood like luminous pillars in the darkness.
Ning Yu said, "Sister, I'll take you home."
Ning Qi shook her head: "No need, I drove here myself. You should go back and rest early."
Ning Yu stood there, watching her sister get into the car, start the engine, and slowly drive into the traffic. The red taillights flashed in the night, growing farther and farther away, finally disappearing into the vast sea of cars.
He suddenly felt like crying.
But he held back.
He knew his sister didn't need his tears. What she needed was for him to be well, alive and kicking, just like he was now.
Ning Qi drove home, parked the car in the garage, and took the elevator upstairs.
When she got home, she didn't turn on the lights. She went straight to the French windows and stared blankly at the city outside.
There was a cluster of lights in the distance; that was the direction of Sanbo Hospital.
She stared in that direction for a long time.
Then she remembered Yang Ping's face. She remembered the look in his eyes when he first looked at her, the way he stood in front of her father's sickbed, and the moment he came out of the operating room and told her "the surgery went smoothly."
It's been a few years.
She suddenly smiled.
She's been doing quite well these past few years. She has a career, a younger brother, and the person she loves. Even though that person doesn't know, so what?
She never needed him to know.
All she needs is for him to be alright.
This is enough.
The next day, she went to work as usual. Meetings, reviewing documents, listening to reports, approving budgets—everything was as normal.
In the afternoon, the secretary came in to report: "President Ning, there is a medical fund project at Sanbo that needs your signature for approval."
She nodded: "Just put it there."
The secretary placed the documents on the table and left.
She opened the document and saw the project title: "Research on Minimally Invasive Treatment Technology for Brainstem Tumors".
She looked at it for a long time, then she picked up a pen and signed her name.
She put down her pen, leaned back in her chair, and let out a soft sigh of relief.