Chapter 24: Husband? She doesn't want him anymore.

Wen Ying stepped out of the villa complex and glanced at the time; it was already two o'clock. It was about a forty-minute drive to the hospital, which would get her there just in time. After getting into her car, she took another dose of medication. The side effects were severe, and she had been suffering from intense dizziness and fatigue lately. She needed to consult her doctor again about her treatment plan. After catching her breath for a moment, she drove away.

As soon as Wen Ying left, Lu Siran stepped out from upstairs, timing it perfectly. She had no intention of greeting Wen Ying. In the past, Wen Ying was always prying into her brother's preferences and habits, fussing over her wearing skirts with bare legs in the winter, and worrying about her grades—as if she were capable of tutoring her! It was too annoying, so she made a point to avoid her. Regardless, she knew Wen Ying would never refuse her if she actually needed something.

Auntie Chen was just about to head to the old family estate with a thermal food container. Lu Siran, in a good mood, hummed a tune as she approached. "Give it to me, I’ll deliver it." Auntie Chen didn't think much of it; since Lu Siran was heading to the old estate to stay anyway, she handed it over.

The hospital Wen Ying had chosen for her treatment was the best private facility in Beijing. The medical services were superior, and her uncle, Wen Yiliang, was a resident at its convalescent wing, which was considered highly authoritative. Naturally, the costs were exorbitant. During her three years of marriage to Lu Jinchuan, she had gained nothing; the only thing she had managed to achieve was working her way up to a managerial position in the public relations department, which provided her with a decent salary.

Over the years, she had managed to scrape by. Now that she was at Feixi, He Xicheng and Shen Jiaxiao offered her even better terms, including shares in the company. Once the project was completed, she would earn at least seventy or eighty million a year in dividends. This way, even if she couldn't be cured, she could leave a substantial sum for her grandmother and uncle to ensure they lived out their remaining years in comfort. This was exactly why she was so desperate to pick up her old aspirations—partly to avoid regrets, and partly to provide security for her family.

Wen Ying's attending physician was an expert at the hospital, over fifty years old, who suggested she undergo another round of check-ups. Wen Ying didn't find it pathetic to be running around alone with a stack of medical reports; she was used to having no one to rely on. Each successive disappointment had only made her more resilient.

The results were clear: they remained poor. The specialist frowned for a long time as he examined them. "Given your current condition, medication is having very little effect. Miss Wen, you need to consider chemotherapy and surgery."

Wen Ying remained silent. The specialist asked again, "Where is your family? Your husband or parents? Shouldn't you discuss this with them?"

Wen Ying lowered her gaze and shook her head gently. "It's fine, I can make the decision myself."

Her husband? She didn't want him anymore. Her parents? There was no difference between having them and having no one at all. "If I go through with chemotherapy and surgery, what is the success rate? How long is the recovery period?"

The specialist replied, "Chemotherapy has significant side effects; it will affect your entire system and your quality of life. As for the surgery, at present..." He paused. "In this country, for your specific condition, the success rate for tumor surgery is around forty percent."

"The recovery period is uncertain."

Wen Ying's lips turned pale, and a trace of confusion flickered across her typically calm face. This was exactly the scenario she feared most. What if she lost the gamble? If the outcome wasn't ideal and her health deteriorated further after the surgery or chemotherapy, she would be unable to continue working. In that case, she would lose her life, and she might not even earn the money she needed.

"There is one more thing of vital importance that you must consider carefully, Miss Wen." The specialist looked at her earnestly, informing her of the severity of the situation. "If you proceed with the surgery, there is no guarantee that your reproductive functions can be preserved."

Wen Ying fell silent for a long time, staring at the medical reports in her hands, lost in thought. In truth, she loved children very much. When she had first married into the Lu family, Lu Siran was only thirteen or fourteen—a delicate, adorable young girl who would occasionally cling to her and act coyly. It had made her look forward to what a child of hers and Lu Jinchuan's might be like. But later, Su Nian appeared, and Lu Siran began to act out and resent her.

And now? She was on the verge of divorce. She lifted her eyes and said softly, "If it can be treated... I will forgo my reproductive functions."