Three Months Left to Live, Please Let Me Die with Dignity - Chapter 1

“Dr. Chen, should I avoid certain foods because of my illness?”

“I can stop eating hotpot, barbecue, milk tea, and cola if needed.”

“I can also go to bed early and wake up early. I won’t stay up late anymore.”

Zhuang Zi’ang looked at the attending doctor, Chen Dexiu, with a serious and sincere expression. He could faintly feel that something was really wrong with his body.

Chen Dexiu was about fifty years old, with a receding hairline and thick gold-rimmed glasses. Behind him was a wall full of silk banners, quietly showing his excellent medical skills and high
reputation.

“No, eat whatever you want.”

Such a light sentence hit Zhuang Zi’ang like thunder on a clear day. It roared in his ears.

The diagnosis report Chen Dexiu handed over was full of complicated medical terms. When translated, it basically came down to eight words: Incurable disease. Nothing can be done.

“Dr. Chen, how much time do I have left?” Zhuang Zi’ang’s voice trembled, filled with fear of death.

“At most three months. Try to accept it. No one can escape this day.” Chen Dexiu sighed helplessly. As a doctor, he had seen life and death many times and thought his heart was already calm. But
looking at such a young boy facing death, he still felt sorrow.

In front of disease, life was extremely fragile.

Holding the diagnosis, Zhuang Zi’ang couldn’t even remember how he left the hospital. His mind was blank as he wandered down the street, bumping into several shared bikes along the way.

He was only eighteen, and in this season of blooming peach blossoms, his life had already entered a countdown.

Three months.

Ninety days.

Two thousand one hundred sixty hours…

Dr. Chen said “three months,” but in reality, it might be even less. In the blink of an eye, he would have to say goodbye to this world.

He clearly wasn’t ready.

Tears silently rolled down the corners of his eyes.

All his sorrow and regrets filled his chest, with nowhere to go.

Outside the hospital was a wholesale market. Zhuang Zi’ang saw a clothing store filled with bright, cheap clothes. The loudspeaker at the entrance kept shouting about a clearance sale and final
discounts.

His clothes still smelled like disinfectant, and he just wanted to take them off and throw them away as soon as possible.

It felt like maybe doing so could separate him from the hospital.

Maybe it would slow down death’s footsteps.

But that was just self-deception.

“Boss, how much is that shirt?” Zhuang Zi’ang pointed at a brightly colored floral shirt. It was full of colors, like a spilled paint palette. After all the pale sickness in the hospital, he
desperately wanted to see more color in life.

“Thirty yuan,” the shop owner said, then hesitated and added, “But the style doesn’t really suit you.”

Zhuang Zi’ang took out the money. “It’s fine. I like it.”

The loud floral shirt didn’t match his gentle and neat appearance at all. He looked like a child who had secretly put on adult clothes.

Next, Zhuang Zi’ang went to a bookstore and bought a full set of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils—five heavy volumes.

He passed a milk tea shop and bought a seasonal special: taro boba.

When he returned to school, the security guard stopped him at the gate. Although school didn’t require uniforms, strange clothing was still not allowed. The floral shirt he wore was way too eye-
catching.

Only after showing his student ID and a leave note signed by the homeroom teacher, and after the guard made a phone call to confirm, was he finally allowed in.

“Sigh, students these days… what a mess,” the security guard muttered behind him.

Zhuang Zi’ang felt a wave of sadness in his heart.

That guard didn’t know that this flashy-looking student had ranked first in his grade for two years in a row.

He had been named a model student and an outstanding student leader in the city.

But to Zhuang Zi’ang now, those titles were all meaningless.

Three months later, everything about him would vanish like smoke.

It was between classes, and the schoolyard was full of noise.

Outside the classroom of Class 9, a few students were playing and laughing.

When Zhuang Zi’ang walked in wearing a shirt like a colorful rooster, he instantly drew everyone’s attention.

“Whoa, what’s with him? Why is he dressed like that?”

“If the discipline director sees him, he’ll have to write a 3,000-word apology, minimum.”

“He took sick leave yesterday, and now it looks like the illness really got to him…”

Zhuang Zi’ang ignored the strange looks and whispers. He went straight to his seat.

After taking a deep breath, he handed the boba tea to the girl in front of him.

“Mu Shi, I’m sorry for standing you up yesterday. I bought you milk tea to make up for it.”

Lin Mu Shi — a goddess-level beauty at school.

She had beautiful almond-shaped eyes and smooth, fair skin like milk. She looked like a delicate princess. A girl like her was never short of admirers. But she ignored them all and only ever showed
warmth to Zhuang Zi’ang.

Sitting front and back every day, the two had built a pure and precious friendship.

A movie had come out yesterday, and Mu Shi had asked him early on to watch it together. But Zhuang Zi’ang went to the hospital instead, and had to cancel.

“Why didn’t you reply to my messages?” Mu Shi asked.

Zhuang Zi’ang took out his phone and saw lots of unread messages — three from Mu Shi.

“Zhuang Zi’ang, I heard from Li Huangxuan that you went to the hospital.”

“Are you okay? We can watch the movie another day.”

“If you don’t reply soon, I won’t talk to you anymore.”

Though her words showed concern, they also carried a bit of her usual pride.

Zhuang Zi’ang’s nose tingled, and he almost cried. He held back his sadness and said,

“Mu Shi, I’m fine. Just drink the milk tea and forgive me, okay?”

Mu Shi glared at him, hesitated, then picked up the milk tea and took a small sip.

It was smooth and sweet.

“I was just thirsty. That doesn’t mean I forgive you.”

Zhuang Zi’ang tried hard to smile, but it turned out bitter.

At that moment, a tall, skinny boy walked in and loudly sat beside Zhuang Zi’ang.

“Son, what are you wearing? Aren’t you afraid old Mr. Zhang will chop you in half?”

Li Huangxuan was Zhuang Zi’ang’s deskmate and best friend. They always called each other “father” and “son” as a joke.

When he saw Zhuang Zi’ang’s floral shirt, he thought he was seeing things.

Zhuang Zi’ang was always a rule-follower — class president, model student, the teacher’s favorite.

But today, he was leading the rebellion, wearing something outrageous.

“Dad, I went to the hospital. Just wanted to change my mood,” Zhuang Zi’ang said lightly.

“Nice. Good taste. If you wear a big gold chain with it, it’ll be perfect.”

Li Huangxuan laughed loudly.

“I got you something,” Zhuang Zi’ang said, slamming the Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils books onto Li Huangxuan’s desk.

Li Huangxuan, a big martial arts novel fan, often snuck in books to read. When he saw the gift, he was overjoyed.

He threw his arm around Zhuang Zi’ang’s shoulder.

“Son, you’re such a good boy. Did you win the lottery?”

Zhuang Zi’ang made up a lazy excuse.

“Your birthday’s only eight months away!”

Mu Shi laughed happily when she heard that. Her chest rose and fell as she laughed.

Looking at his two dearest friends, Zhuang Zi’ang cried out in his heart:

“I really don’t want to leave you…”