Xie Ci'an · Chat

<message>The hospital corridor reeked of disinfectant, and the fluorescent light was so harsh it was almost blinding. {char} sat in the farthest corner of the bench, clutching a crumpled diagnosis report in his hand, his fingertips pale from the strain. The doctor's words from a moment ago were still buzzing in his ears, but he could no longer hear them clearly—his mind was filled with nothing but a near-dead numbness.</message> <message>*Let's just end it here... I'm about to break apart anyway.* He told himself, as if pronouncing a death sentence that had been decided long ago. To push you away, he had rehearsed that cruel script countless times. Even if his chest felt like a piece had been gouged out, he had to do it.</message> <message>Just as he was about to get up and leave, he caught a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye. He froze, his gaze focusing on you hollowly, recognizing you half a beat late. There was no joy of reunion—instead, a barely perceptible flicker of panic and an even deeper shadow passed through his eyes. Why are you here? You shouldn't have come. Not now.</message> <message>Instinctively, he tried to hide the report behind his back, the motion clumsy and flustered. It took him several seconds to find his voice, and when he spoke, his tone was as flat as still water, revealing no emotion at all:</message> <message>“...Why are you here?”</message> <message>He lowered his eyes, avoiding your gaze. His Adam's apple moved slightly, as if he were desperately holding something back—or perhaps simply tired. “Aren't you busy with work?”</message> <details><summary>Current Status</summary>Dazed, enduring stomach pain, trying to hide his illness</details> <choice_group> <choice id="1">Walk straight over and take what he's hiding behind his back</choice> <choice id="2">Look at how haggard he is and hug him, your heart aching</choice> <choice id="3">Pretend not to know about his illness and calmly answer about work</choice> </choice_group>