Eternal Burning - Chapter 49

[Chapter 49 You look good when you stand]

For some reason, Shang Muxiao didn’t drive today. If he wanted to go to dinner together, he could only take my car.

Three people, two big and one small, naturally ask the younger one what they like to eat. As a result, Yang Youling chose a fast food restaurant that children like, and said that the new children’s package in the store included a small toy, and she wanted it.

I went to see Shang Muxiao, he said he had no objection, so he opened the navigation and the three went to the nearest fast food restaurant.

On the weekends, there are many people in the store. Maybe the new package is really attractive to children, many of them are parents bringing their children together.

I found an empty table and sat down. After ordering the meal on my mobile phone, it wasn’t long before it was our turn. Before I could move, Shang Muxiao got up first to get the meal.

Many people in the store cast their gazes towards us, looking at me, or looking at Shang Muxiao, not blatant, but enough to be perceived.

“Xiaojie, I don’t want to eat here anymore, let’s go.” Yang Youling suddenly became unhappy and hurried to leave.

“What’s wrong? Wasn’t it okay just now?” I asked her patiently, in fact I had a vague idea of what was going on with her.

She pursed her lips and was silent for a while, then said, “I don’t like the way they look at you.” As she spoke, she glared at me in a certain direction.

When I looked back, I happened to see a seven- or eight-year-old boy hurriedly withdrawing his gaze not far away.

Humans always have a lot of curiosity about existences different from themselves. Adults can still hide it, and children don’t have so many concerns. It’s human nature, and it’s nothing to worry about.

I said to Yang Youling: “It’s okay, they don’t have any malice. It’s hard to avoid the eyes of others. You won’t become more comfortable, you will only be more closed to yourself. Let’s pretend they don’t exist together, don’t be unhappy, okay? Okay?”

I might have cared about it at first, but after more than ten years, I’ve been numb, and I don’t think it’s a problem.

The little girl puffed out her cheeks like an angry pufferfish. After listening to my words, she thought for a long time and said, “Then you’re really not angry?”

I shook my head.

She gradually loosened her brows and pouted, “Okay, then leave them alone.”

At this moment, Shang Muxiao came back with a dinner plate. After putting down the plate, he turned his face slightly and looked at the guests at the table next to us.

It was a man who looked too fat, with his body sandwiched between tables and chairs, like a mountain of meat that could collapse at any time. His face was teased, and his hair looked greasy.

“What are you looking at?” Shang Muxiao asked him.

The fat man was startled, he looked around in confusion while holding his hamburger. After confirming that Shang Muxiao was talking to him, he hesitated: “What are you looking at? I didn’t look at you…”

Shang Muxiao drooped . Staring at him with disgust, like looking at a disgusting slug.

“I noticed you just now, and I’ve been looking this way since we came in. I warn you, no matter who you’re looking at, if you look again, I’ll pull out your eyeballs.

” At most, it’s just deterrence, but Shang Muxiao said this… probably from the bottom of his heart. I didn’t pay attention, I don’t know if the other party is really looking at us from the door, but I hope he can get to know each other and stop provoking Shang Muxiao.

“God, crazy!” Fortunately, the fat man may also have a guilty conscience. When he shivered, he didn’t eat the hamburger. He quickly picked up the plate and left.

When the other party was far away, Shang Muxiao sat down beside Yang Youling, ignoring all the sights around him, his expression had returned to a relaxed and relaxed expression, and his face changed faster than turning over a book.

“Xiaojie said that everyone is not malicious, you have to learn not to care about other people’s eyes, why are you arguing with people?” Yang Youling took out a french fries and said while eating.

“Because I’m not feeling well.” Shang Muxiao said while sharing the drink, “I’m not feeling well, so don’t think others are comfortable.”

What is this saying to teach bad children?

“…Shang Muxiao.” I called him in a low voice, with some helplessness.

He looked up, looked at me for a moment, turned his head and smiled at Yang Youling and said, “No, just kidding. Because that person was a pervert just now, the pervert will scold him mercilessly, understand?”

“How do you know that ?” Is he a pervert?”

“Because his eyes are nasty.”

“What is nasty?”

“It’s just something that makes you uncomfortable.”

“Then…”

“Okay, let’s eat first.” I interrupted the conversation between the two of them at the right time. , changed the topic and said, “Let’s talk about it after eating.”

Yang Youling obediently did not continue to ask, and took apart the toys provided by the children’s package with great interest, and happily played with it.

Shang Muxiao and I didn’t speak to anyone, just lowered my head and concentrated on eating.

Suddenly, the phone on the table vibrated. I looked at it and found that it was a bank text message, showing that I had 300,000 in my account.

I was stunned for a while, and hurriedly clicked on mobile banking to check, and found that the money was from Lu Yuehui.

It’s only been less than a month, where did she get the money to pay me back? A bad premonition arose in my heart. I didn’t care about Shang Muxiao’s presence, so I dialed Lu Yue’s number directly,

“Hey, Beijiao…” The call was quickly connected, and Lu Yue’s voice sounded very tired.

“Why did you suddenly return the money to me?”

She sighed and said, “My dad refuses to perform surgery, saying he doesn’t want to spend his last days in the hospital, and we plan to respect his opinion. Sorry, Akiba, I asked you to put together the money for nothing, and I will thank you when we meet next time.”

Organ transplantation is not a small operation, and it is accompanied by great risks. After surgery, a series of serious rejection reactions may also occur in the follow-up.

Dad Lu’s worries are not unreasonable, but if he doesn’t have surgery, there will be only one ending for him…

“Is he worried about money? Did you tell him that the money has been collected?”

“Yes, but He thinks that he owes so much money to someone for something he doesn’t know the outcome of…it’s not worth it.”

“How could it not be worth it?” I squeezed the phone tightly, “How could it not be worth it if you can buy a chance to live with money?”

I His questioning was too severe, and Lu Yue lost his voice. After a while, he said calmly, “Beida, I know, I know all about it. But I know it’s useless, so I can’t persuade him…”

This time it was me speechless. Yeah, what’s the use of what other people say about us? It’s not us who are sick, we are not the one who has surgery, and it is not us who experience life and death. Others don’t have much say in this matter.

“We’ve already gone home, the doctor said, maybe it’s just a month or two…” Lu Yue paused for a moment, choked up and said, “If you are free, come and see my dad for the last time, he will see You should be very happy when it arrives.”

Gradually releasing the strength from his hand, a deep powerlessness swept his whole body. I made a low “um” and said, “I see.”

After hanging up, I stared at the phone for a while, then looked up and found both Shang Muxiao and Yang Youling were looking at me.

“Xiaojie, aren’t you happy?” Yang Youling asked cautiously, holding the brightly colored set of toys.

I can’t say I’m unhappy, just a little… melancholy.

“No.” I smiled at her and said, “I’m not unhappy.”

She was dubious, and what more would she say, as soon as she opened her mouth, she was blocked by a chicken wing.

“If you don’t eat it, I’ll eat it up.” Shang Muxiao said, pulling a box of chicken nuggets from the children’s meal to him.

The little girl was in a hurry, grabbing the chicken wings with one hand, and reaching for the chicken nuggets with the other hand: “No, leave some for me!”

After lunch, I drove Yang Youling to Yang Haiyang, and went to the ward to visit Yang Haiyang’s mother.

The aunt is in good spirits, but her face is still a little pale. Seeing that Yang Youling had a Band-Aid on her forehead, she asked her what was going on.

Yang Youling said the cause and effect, and the aunt was distressed, blaming Yang Haiyang for why he let the children learn such dangerous things.

Yang Haiyang touched his nose and did not defend himself.

“It’s not dangerous.” Yang Youling said with a serious face, “I want to learn it myself, it has nothing to do with my father.”

Yang Haiyang’s mother gently scratched the tip of the little girl’s nose: “You know how to speak for my father. Fortunately, it is not broken, otherwise When your father and Aunt Yunrou get married, you will attend the wedding with a small face and see if everyone laughs at you.”

“They laugh at me and make me uncomfortable, so I will scold them!”

Me: “…”

Yang Haiyang and the others found it interesting when they heard the little girl say this, and laughed. However, I could only stiffly lift the corners of my lips, unable to laugh from the bottom of my heart.

In the future, Shang Muxiao will never be allowed to take care of children, he is too easy to spoil people…

Back in the car, Shang Muxiao, who was sleeping with his eyes closed, slowly opened his eyes and sat up straight with the back of his chair.

I started the car and exited the parking lot. Out of the corner of my eye, the person beside me leaned against the door, motionless, and seemed to be going to sleep again.

I got up at seven o’clock today, took a detour to pick up Yang Youling, and arrived at the racecourse at about nine o’clock. Shang Muxiao arrived earlier than us, and he never got up late. After finishing his meal, I was afraid that he would be “drowsy”.

Turn down the music in the car, there are not many cars on the road on weekends, and it takes more than half an hour to enter the community.

After parking the car, I saw that Shang Muxiao was still awake, so I reached out and pushed him.

He woke up frowning, and asked in a hoarse voice, “Arrived?”

“Hmm.”

He looked around, yawned, and opened the door to get out of the car.

I stopped him: “Wait, give me your bank card number, I have the money to pay you back.”

He turned around in confusion: “What money?” He

didn’t look sober.

“The money for the telescope.” I reminded him, “200,000.”

He wiped his face: “Oh, you sold my telescope… Why, your roommate’s father didn’t change his lungs?”

He also called him at noon. Hearing it, with the IQ he was admitted to Qingwan University, he should have understood what happened.

I didn’t want to argue with him again, so I didn’t answer his question, just repeated: “Give me the card number.”

“Can’t memorize it.” Rubbing his neck, he got up with a strong look on his face and said, “Stuck at home. ”

“Then you go back and send me.”

“Oh.” He got out of the car, slammed the door and left.

Finally, I don’t have to be nervous anymore, I exhale a little, and just as I was about to open the door and get out of the car, the passenger door was pulled open again.

Shang Muxiao went back and returned: “You blocked me, how can I send it?”

His tone was obviously not very intense, but I could hear the meaning of “accusation”.

Since what he said was true, I had to take out my phone, dug out his number, and canceled “Block this caller number”.

After the operation, I showed him the screen of my phone.

“Okay.”

He glanced, nodded, slammed the door again and turned to leave.

But I don’t know if he forgot about it as soon as he got home, and I didn’t get a text from him until the next day.

On Sunday afternoon, according to the appointment time, I came to the rehabilitation hospital to try on the exoskeleton equipment.

In addition to my physical therapist, there were also technicians sent by the exoskeleton research and development company to explain the functions of the equipment to me.

The exoskeleton is smaller than I imagined, with a black body and only a square area protruding from the waist, where the battery and motherboard are located. If you wear a coat, you won’t be able to see it if you don’t look carefully.

“This is the battery, usually just plug it in and charge it like this…” The technician put on the device for me and patiently taught me how to use it, “Theoretically, the battery can be used continuously for twelve hours, and it will take about five hours to recharge after it is used up. If it suddenly gets stuck and short-circuits, don’t worry, just restart it.”

He then put a piece of connected wire, the size of a palm, like an electrode pad, on my waist, which was cold The touch was a little strange, and I couldn’t help but shudder.

“This is primary waterproof, light rain is no problem, but you can’t keep drenching it…” The

physical therapist handed me two elbow crutches and said, “You haven’t walked for more than ten years, and you may not know it all of a sudden. How to walk, this is for you to gradually adapt to it. When you get used to walking, you can stop using it.”

I held the crutches, tightened my fingers, and suddenly felt a little nostalgic. He was calm before, but now he is uneasy for no reason.

Can it really be successful? Through such a thin metal skeleton… I can stand up?

“Are you ready?” the technician asked.

“Okay.” I nodded towards the technician.

The device was turned on, and the exoskeleton supported me below the waist. When sensing my intention to “stand”, the joints stretched a little bit, and lifted my knees up with strong mechanical force, forming a “standing” posture. process.

It’s a feeling that is too magical to describe in words. For the first time in more than ten years, I can actually stand, so relaxed, so casual, and not embarrassed.

“Go ahead, come, try to take a step forward.” The technician guided me.

With the crutches, I slowly lifted my right foot, took a step, and followed awkwardly with my left foot. After completing “first step”, I looked back and probably only moved 20cm.

20 cm, I walked out on my own… 20 cm.

I thought that there was not much difference between sitting and standing, and that breathing higher air meant nothing to me.

I was wrong.

Although not proficient, although walking may not be as fast as a wheelchair. But from now on, I will no longer be blocked by steps, leaves, or any ditch smaller than 20 cm, and I will no longer have to be afraid to go to any place with many people, and I will not have to worry about the lack of elevator space, and I will not have to worry about not being able to call a barrier-free taxi. .

How could this not make sense? It just makes so much sense.

I inhaled deeply, until my chest was full of air and it was painful, and then I slowly exhaled.

The physiotherapist asked, “What is this for?”

I gave him a faint smile and told him, “The air above is so good.”

With the help of the physiotherapist, I quickly mastered the trick and learned to walk slowly with crutches.

Before leaving the hospital, the technician and I exchanged mobile phone numbers and asked me to call him if I had any technical problems.

I nodded and said, “Okay, then I’ll go first.” The

physiotherapist helped me bring the wheelchair to the car, told me to be careful on the road, and then went back.

I put away my crutches and put them in the passenger seat, opened the window, and drove home with the pleasant afternoon breeze and sunshine. On the way, I received a message from the representative of Xiao.

【How about it? ]

Taking advantage of the red light, I sent him a message back.

【I can go. ]

[Take a photo for me. 】

He took the next sentence quickly.

[I want to write a report. ]

The equipment was originally provided by the other party for free on the premise of feedback data, so I naturally wanted to cooperate.

[Okay, I’ll take a picture for you when I get home. 】

【About how long? ]

[Half an hour. 】

The road conditions are good today, and there are few red lights, but the car in front accidentally broke down on the way, blocking a main road for about ten minutes.

When I entered the community, I hurriedly parked the car and got off, and found that Shang Muxiao was walking the dog again.

I don’t know why, but the time he walks the dog is very irregular, some time early, some time late, there is no regularity at all.

I was standing beside the car, waiting for the time to put down the wheelchair, when he turned around and saw me, he was stunned for a while.

He seemed to be shocked that I stood up and stared straight at me, his eyes were right and wrong, which made me very uncomfortable.

Don’t open your eyes, as soon as the wheelchair is put down, I put away the crutches as fast as I can, and push the wheelchair to the building.

After entering the elevator, I pressed the floor number, the elevator door gradually closed, I glanced in the direction of Shang Muxiao, and found that he still seemed to be looking at me.

Why should I run away? It seemed like I cared about his eyes, which was weird.

I closed my eyes, and at the same time I was annoyed, I remembered even more annoyed that I forgot to remind the other party to send my bank card number.

After returning home, I took a half-length photo in front of the full-length mirror for Representative Xiao.

The other party happened to be online and came back soon.

[To take a full body photo and show your face]

Although it felt strange, but I thought it might be necessary to confirm my identity, so I took another photo showing my face and sent it.

This time the other party didn’t say anything, just gave me a thumbs up, expressing satisfaction.

Thinking that it should be all right, I put down my phone and continued training to walk with the exoskeleton in the living room. I practiced like this until the evening. When I picked up my phone again to check, I found that Representative Xiao sent me a message not long after the “thumbs up”.

[You look good when you stand. 】

I frowned, thinking that this representative Xiao really doesn’t pay much attention to distance when he speaks sometimes. Although there is no big problem with the words, but at first glance, it is always inevitable to make people murmur in their hearts.

[End of This Chapter]