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墨書 Inktalez
I smiled and said, "Well, having a crush isn't so bad."
Zhao Hanning softly replied, "That's true. What's most important for you right now is studying."
"What? I thought we were about to have a classic campus moment. Sigh!" Zhang Qianyu lamented.
"Alright, let's focus on class," I said as I turned back to concentrate.
After the start of the second semester of my sophomore year, I began a more diligent study routine.
Every morning, I woke up early to memorize English vocabulary and tackle difficult math problems.
In class, I listened attentively and actively answered the teacher's questions. After class, I exchanged study insights with my classmates, continuously improving my academic results.
Whenever I felt tired or frustrated, I would think of Lin Zijin.
Whenever I felt lost, helpless, or lost confidence, Zhang Qianyu and Zhao Hanning would cheer me on.
All of this gave me courage and strength.
It gave me the bravery to face everything.
It gave me the power to overcome these challenges.
After a semester of hard work, the final exams concluded, and our homeroom teacher, Teacher Xinwen, announced each student's results from the podium.
When I heard my result, I could hardly believe my ears.
I actually ranked in the top five of my grade!
This is a result I never dared to hope for.
I once thought I could only manage to get into an average second-tier university, or perhaps not get into college at all.
But now, I have achieved a top five ranking.
This is a tremendous improvement and an incredible surprise.
I was so excited that I almost cried out loud.
Zhang Qianyu and Zhao Hanning were also thrilled for me.
The three of us shook hands excitedly, looking at each other with sparkling eyes filled with joy.
"That's amazing, Li Shuang! You really did it!"
"You are truly incredible!"
My mood was indescribably uplifting.
This sense of accomplishment is unmatched by anything else.
It made me feel fulfilled and happy, filled with confidence and hope for the future.
I felt the gentle breeze caressing my cheeks, the sunlight warm and soft, as if the whole world was cheering me on.
This wonderful feeling filled me with an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and happiness. With this, my parents could no longer use my studies as an excuse to force me to drop out. As long as I got into a good university, even if they didn't pay for my tuition, I could apply for financial aid. The imagination was beautiful, but reality was harsh.
My brother, Li Ming, had an accident.
He had tried to skip school by climbing over the wall and accidentally fell, injuring himself and was sent to the hospital.
When I arrived at the hospital, I saw my brother wrapped in bandages, his right leg in a cast, and his face bruised with shades of purple and blue. My heart ached.
"It hurts..." His voice was weak, barely audible.
I held his hand tightly, choking back tears. "Does it hurt?" My brother had always been close to me. Before he came along, my parents would often hit or scold me. After he arrived, my life improved significantly; I no longer faced beatings and being scolded felt trivial.
The doctor needed to conduct some tests. My parents and I anxiously waited outside the ward. My brother's condition was serious; he had lost a lot of blood and was in the emergency room.
The test results came out quickly, and I eagerly asked the doctor about my brother's condition.
"The patient's leg requires artificial bone replacement, and he will need cosmetic surgery on his face," the doctor said. "Please complete the hospitalization procedures as soon as possible."
A wave of dread washed over me, leaving me with a deep sense of helplessness and confusion.
Our family's financial situation was not good; both of my parents were ordinary workers with meager incomes. Now that my brother needed a huge amount for medical expenses, it felt like adding insult to injury.
"What should we do?" Mother cried, tears streaming down her face. "What are we going to do?"
Father furrowed his brow, silently smoking a cigarette.
I clenched my hands tightly at my sides, my knuckles turning white.
"Why don't you discuss it?" the doctor suggested. "I need an answer as soon as possible."
After the doctor left, Father stubbed out his cigarette on the ground with his toe.
"We don't have any money," Father said expressionlessly. "I'll go borrow some. Your mother is at the hospital taking care of your brother. You need to drop out of school and get a job to earn money for your brother's treatment. You know how your brother has treated you over the years; you wouldn't forget that, would you?"
My heart suddenly constricted, as if someone had squeezed it tightly.
I looked at Father in disbelief, my heart aching like it was being twisted by a knife.
"Dad..." I struggled to speak. Did I really have to drop out of school? I felt terrible for my brother, but did they really want to gamble my future away?
"If you don't go earn money, then don't consider us your family! Just pretend we don’t have such a cold-blooded daughter. All the kindness your brother has shown you over the years? Just throw it to the dogs," Father interrupted coldly, his tone resolute.
I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me, and my body swayed slightly.
Mother quickly supported me and cried out, "Shuangshuang, don’t blame your father for being heartless; we have no choice!"
"Your brother is still so young; we can't just stand by and watch him become disabled!"
Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably, and my heart was filled with mixed emotions.
My younger brother is one of the closest people to me; how could I bear to watch him suffer?
But I truly didn’t want to give up my studies.
I had worked so hard for so long and invested so much, all to achieve good results and become a better person.
Yet now, I was being asked to give it all up.
How could I possibly let go?
My heart felt like it was being torn apart, the pain almost suffocating me.
But I had no choice.
I could only compromise.
“I’ll get a job,” I heard my hoarse voice say. “I’ll earn money to pay for my brother’s treatment.”
Father’s gaze softened a little as he sighed, “Shuangshuang, don’t blame me. Our family really has no other options.”
“I understand,” I replied bitterly.
I felt heartbroken for my family, for my parents, and for my brother.
Why did life have to be so difficult for me?
Why is fate so cruel to me?
I held back my tears and silently prayed in my heart. With two months of vacation ahead, I hoped to find a solution within that time; otherwise, I would truly be forced to drop out of school.
I worked over ten hours every day, spending my time amidst the clattering of machines.
A week later, I became familiar with the older workers at the factory. In our conversations, I learned that the monthly salary was only around 3,000 yuan.
But my brother's surgery cost 30,000 yuan.
My heart sank completely. By the time I earned enough money, it would be too late.
After work, I went to the hospital to visit my brother. Our mother had gone home to cook and would come later.
My brother was awake now, and his spirits were much better than a few days ago.
As I pushed open the door to his room, I noticed a child lurking outside in the hallway.
When he saw me, he quickly turned and ran away.
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