Twist of Fate - Chapter 30

The doctor gave Xie Jing a glucose injection and inserted another needle into her arm. Before long, her long, delicate lashes fluttered a few times and slowly fell shut.

“The patient has undergone severe emotional trauma. She may be experiencing some psychological issues,” the doctor said, turning to Shen Xinghe. “Are you a family member?”

Shen Xinghe silently shook her head.

When Xie Jing woke up again, her gaze landed directly on Shen Xinghe.

“Xie Jing, you’re awake.” Shen Xinghe pressed the call button, and the doctor quickly came in to examine Xie Jing. After a thorough check, he left, his expression grave.

Xie Jing sank deeply into the hospital bed, her reddened eyes locked onto Shen Xinghe. “Yesterday…”

“I moved back to Jiangcheng after graduating from Jinghai University. I heard—by chance—what happened to your family yesterday, so I came to check on you. I didn’t expect to catch you… trying to end your life.”

Shen Xinghe gripped Xie Jing’s hand, her tone stern. “Xie Jing, do you have any idea how precious life is? How could you even think about suicide?”

Xie Jing wanted to say she knew. Her parents’ bodies were barely cold—of course she knew how valuable life was.

But yesterday… for a brief moment, she thought she saw her mother standing downstairs, waving at her.

When she was pulled back, cold sweat drenched her entire body.

She was terrified of death. She hated death.

But she missed her mother.

“Xie Jing.” Shen Xinghe’s voice suddenly turned sharp, laced with something more than just anger. “Have you ever thought about the people who care about you? If you died, what would happen to them?”

She was right.

Xie Jing hadn’t said goodbye to her loved ones. She hadn’t resolved things with Qin Ning. There was still so much left unfinished. She couldn’t die—not yet.

“Xie Jing, how could you do this to your parents? They raised you with such care. They didn’t do all that just for you to throw your life away.” Shen Xinghe’s face was filled with lingering fear. If she had arrived just a moment later, would Xie Jing have jumped?

“But my parents… they’re gone. And I…” Xie Jing’s dry eyes couldn’t shed a single tear. She lowered her head and murmured, “And now I’ve just found out that I have leukemia. The recurring fevers, the nosebleeds, the bleeding gums when I brushed my teeth… I thought it was just my body reacting to the northern climate. But looking back now, all the signs were there. I just didn’t want to see them.”

She paused, then continued quietly, “The doctors said they haven’t found a suitable bone marrow match yet, and the disease has already progressed to the accelerated phase. I… I might not have much time left.”

“If that’s what you’re worried about,” Shen Xinghe said firmly, “then let me assure you—you’re not going to die. Neither the doctors nor I will let that happen. Bone marrow match? I’ll get tested right now!”

Despite her determined words, Shen Xinghe’s HLA test results showed she only matched Xie Jing on three of the six markers. Their blood types didn’t match either—Xie Jing was AB—and with no biological relation between them, a transplant simply wasn’t possible.

Holding the test report in her hands, Shen Xinghe’s expression darkened. “Other than your parents, do you have any other relatives—”

“I’ve already tried everyone,” Xie Jing interrupted.

Everyone who could be tested had been tested, except for a younger aunt who was currently abroad and unable to return for the time being. So far, no one was a match.

After speaking, Xie Jing lowered her gaze. Her face was ghostly pale, devoid of color. Shen Xinghe hesitated, then asked quietly, “Does Qin Ning know about this?”

Xie Jing froze, then slowly shook her head, dazed.

Her phone had been destroyed in the car accident. On the day she returned to Jiangcheng, she and Qin Ning had agreed to talk things through properly in a month.

Twenty days had already passed.

“I don’t want her to know,” Xie Jing said.

Bone marrow transplants carried high risks. But at this point, she had no other choice.

Chemotherapy was no longer effective. Once she entered the blast phase, all she could do was wait for death.

Her only hope now was that a suitable donor could be found in time.

But even if a match was found, rejection after transplant was still a very real threat. She could die at any time—and die painfully. Xie Jing didn’t want Qin Ning to see her in such a wretched state.

Besides… Qin Ning had taken over the Fang family’s business now. Xie Jing, with her current identity, no longer deserved to stand by Qin Ning’s side. Qin Ning needed a partner who could support her—not an immature student who threw tantrums and told her not to dine with other women.

“What are you planning to do then?” Shen Xinghe asked, studying her. “Do you need my help?”
________________________________________

Three Days Later – Jinghai City

A pristine white car sped down the highway like a blade cutting through the darkness. In the back seat, wrapped in a cream-colored down coat, Xie Jing leaned against the window, fast asleep.

Shen Xinghe glanced over. From her angle, all she could see was Xie Jing’s pale, delicate profile.

A flash of sadness passed through Shen Xinghe’s eyes. She sighed and silently turned the heat up.

They had arranged to meet Qin Ning at a café near Jinghai University. By the time Xie Jing and Shen Xinghe arrived, Qin Ning was already waiting.

Nearly a month had passed since they’d last seen each other. Qin Ning looked visibly worn out, yet she was still strikingly beautiful.

“Qin Ning, long time no see.” Shen Xinghe gently supported Xie Jing’s back with one hand and waved with the other.

“Long time no see,” Qin Ning replied.

Her gaze paused on Xie Jing… and the woman beside her.

Shen Xinghe? Why was she here with Xie Jing?

And why did Xie Jing look so pale, her eyes so red? Had she been crying? Wrapped in such a thick coat in this weather—was she sick again?

“Xie Jing, do you want something to drink?” Shen Xinghe helped her into her seat and pulled out her phone to order.

Xie Jing shook her head, her eyes fixed on Qin Ning across the table—openly and without hesitation.

In the end, Shen Xinghe ordered only one coffee for herself.

Qin Ning glanced at Shen Xinghe, then spoke quietly. “I’d like to talk to Xie Jing alone.”

“Sure.” Shen Xinghe nodded and moved to a corner of the café, but her eyes remained on them.

“Xie Jing, I saw your posts on your Moments. Did you have fun at the beach with your parents?” In the early days after leaving Jiangcheng, Xie Jing had posted travel photos daily. Qin Ning clung to those images, trying to ease her longing. Then, all of a sudden, the updates stopped.

“I had fun… of course I did.”

But she would’ve rather never gone to the beach at all.

Though she smiled, Qin Ning caught the glint of tears in her eyes—fleeting, almost imperceptible. Had she imagined it?

“Way more fun than being with you,” Xie Jing said, her lips curving in a sarcastic smile. “At least my parents wouldn’t leave me waiting for five hours.”

Qin Ning froze, then panicked and scooted closer. “Xie Jing, that was my fault, I swear I didn’t mean it—”

Xie Jing lowered her head and gave a bitter laugh. “Do you know what it feels like to have your hopes crushed bit by bit? I waited for you in that cold reception room, hungry and exhausted… and you were out dating someone else.”

Her words were sharp, almost cruel. But beneath the table, her clenched fists trembled uncontrollably.

“So, Qin Ning… let’s break up.”

“What did you say?” Qin Ning stared at her in disbelief.

“I said, let’s break up.” Xie Jing slid the ring Qin Ning had given her off her finger and placed it on the table, pushing it toward her. “It’s better for both of us.”

“Why?” Qin Ning gripped her hand, her eyes clouded with confusion and pain. “Why are you suddenly doing this?”

“Because being with you is exhausting. I don’t want to live like that anymore. And honestly, I’m tired of us.” Xie Jing said it all in one breath and tried to yank her hand away—but Qin Ning held on tightly.

“I’m sorry, Xie Jing. I know I neglected you, but it wasn’t on purpose. I was drowning—taking over the company, dealing with family issues, and my grandmother in the ICU. I thought if I just worked a little harder,

I could get everything under control and be someone worthy of you. But I forgot… the reason I was doing all this in the first place. I understand now—you’re the most important person to me.”

She’d lost herself chasing things that didn’t matter… and neglected the one who did.

She was human—humans make mistakes. But surely Xie Jing couldn’t abandon her for one mistake.

That would be too cruel.

What she had chased had vanished. What she tried to hold on to was slipping away.

“Xie Jing, please. Let’s not break up. I’ll do anything you want. Just don’t say those two words again. I’m… I’m going insane.”

Qin Ning’s emotions spiraled. In her desperation, she didn’t notice the flicker of heartbreak that passed across Xie Jing’s face.

Xie Jing turned her head slightly, avoiding Qin Ning’s eyes—only to meet Shen Xinghe’s concerned gaze.

Qin Ning followed her line of sight and froze. “Are you breaking up with me because of Shen Xinghe?”

“If saying yes makes it easier for you, then fine—I’ve fallen for someone else. I don’t love you anymore.” Xie Jing blinked quickly. Her eyes were rimmed with red, but no tears fell. Even when saying something that no one would believe, her face remained unreadable.

“I knew it.” From the moment she saw Shen Xinghe, Qin Ning had sensed something was wrong. It felt just like that day in their first year—seeing them side by side on the track field.

They looked… perfect together.

Xie Jing had meant to confess to Shen Xinghe back then.

Enough! Don’t think about it anymore! Qin Ning shook her head to clear the memories.

“Xie Jing, can you give me another chance?” She felt utterly humiliated, yet even now, Xie Jing didn’t show her a shred of mercy. All she heard were those same two words: break up.

At last, Xie Jing pulled her hand back. A flash of sorrow crossed her face, but she quickly turned and walked out of the café.

As Qin Ning let her go, she felt something inside her collapse. Watching Shen Xinghe rush after her, a few tears slipped down her cheeks—without warning.

Why did it have to end like this…?