"My Aunt has Lung Cancer, and she seems to be at the third stage already." Chen Lihua answered weakly as she sat on the bed.

Liu Longwei sat on the bed close to her and hugged her shoulder. "It's alright, everything will be okay." He said in consolation.

​​

Chen Lihua went on to explain about her Aunt's illness. Although she didn't cry this time around, she still felt disheartened as she talked about it.

"I will make some contacts to University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, So they can take up your Aunt's case." Liu Longwei promised.

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, is the top ranked and best Cancer hospital in the world.

"Thank you." Chen Lihua said gratefully, but then her countenance changed.

"That would be great, but my Aunt since to have lost the will to live. I really want to help her, but I can't do that if she doesn't agree with the treatment." She complained in distress.

"She must have given up because she didn't see any result from the other therapies and surgeries she went through, plus the knowledge she had that there was practically less survival rates for cancer patients." Liu Longwei said in understanding.

"Yeah, but she wouldn't have given up so easily since she has loved ones by her side. I don't know my Aunt to be this weak. She has always been a strong woman and a fighter." Chen Lihua complained bitterly.

"Circumstances changed. Sweetheart, not all the people you think are strong really are. Most of them are so softhearted, but put up that font so nobody will know their true self and trample on them. That strong font they put on, it's just like a self defense mechanism." Liu Longwei explained.

Chen Lihua was silent as she dwell on his words. He was right, 100% right.

"Just talk to your Aunt. But if you can't persuade her alone to get treatment, involve your other family members, so they can be of help. It is necessary for her to get treatment. Even if she can't live too long, the treatment can buy her a few years left more than she can live without getting treatment." Liu Longwei advised.

"Ok, I will do that, I asked my Aunt to come see me at the hospital tomorrow. I will try to persuade then but if she doesn't listen to me, I will go ahead with the backup plan." Chen Lihua said as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"That's good." Liu Longwei replied as he ran his hands through her hair.

"Darling, I am actually worried about another important matter." Chen Lihua announced.

"Tell me about it." Liu Longwei persuaded.

"I don't know what my grandparents will do when they find out about this matter, they may not be able to withstand the shock." she said worriedly.

"Well they don't have to know about it." Liu LOngwei said as they glanced into each other's eyes.

Chen Lihua put her head back on his shoulder. "I don't think my parents know about this. I will inform them about it tomorrow, after talking with Aunt Lin." Chen Lihua said.

"Mmm. Let's rest early, we have a long day ahead tomorrow." Liu Longwei said as he helped her lie down. He switched off the lights before lying on the bed beside her. He brought her into his arms as he hugged her soft body to sleep.

The next morning, Chen Lihua left for work early in the morning since she had a surgery scheduled at that time.

Since the Deputy Chief carried out the disciplinary measures bestowed on him, he hasn't looked for troubles yet. But who knows if he is planning something, or has decided to take the right path?.

After the surgery that lasted for three hours, Chen Lihua took a ten minutes break, before she started seeing other patients with heart issues.

Late in the afternoon, she was informed that her Aunt was there to see her, so she immediately told them to send her to her office.

She thought that her Aunt wouldn't come to see her as agreed yesterday, so she lost hope and was deciding if she would go back to her house to visit that evening before the call came in.

When her Aunt came into her office, Chen Lihua welcomed her amicably and ushered her to a seat, as if everything was alright. Then she engaged her Aunt in conversations, talking about other matters, leaving out the one about her health.

"Aunt, there is good news. My husband has gotten in contact with the best cancer hospital in the world, and they are ready to take up your case as a special one. So, you just have to say a date, and the appointment will be fixed. When you go to the US, they would have to run new tests on you, before treatments can commence." Chen Lihua revealed in a smile.

Aunt Lin sighed and stared right into her eyes, tiredly. "Lihua, I have already lost hope on getting better when I know I can't live for long. I don't want anything that would get my hopes up, and then turn out to be false."

"Aunt, to be frank with you, no one is trying to get your hopes high. You have cancer, and you should mostly be at the third stage which means that your chances of survival is slim. But you can still live up to a few years with the help of the treatment." Chen Lihua advised as a doctor, and not a family member.

"From what you said, can you tell me the difference between getting treatment, and not getting any treatment?." Aunt Lin asked with no smile on her face.

"Aunt there is a very big treatment. Getting treatment means that you will have more years to live than when you don't get any treatment at all. If you have a year to live without getting treatment, then you will have like three to four years to live when you get treatment." Chen Lihua said in a serious tone as she gestured with her hands.

Aunt Lin sighed before she said to her weakly. "You have a wonderful point Lihua. But the truth of the matter is that I have made up my mind not to get treatment again. I can't waste my money and resources when I know I will still die."

"Aunt what do you mean!." Chen Lihua said in an alarmed tone.

"Are trying to say that we, your family are not worth you spending money so you can see us for a few more years? Are we so insignificant in your heart?. What about Changming, she is not married yet. Don't you want to see her get married and have her own children?."