Three Months Left to Live, Please Let Me Die with Dignity - Chapter 5

The sky was clear, with white clouds drifting lazily.

Zhuang Zi’ang and his new friend, Su Yudie, had filled their stomachs with snacks for lunch.

They sat on a bench in the mall, basking in the afternoon sun.

The wind gently lifted the hem of Su Yudie’s deep blue pleated skirt, revealing her pale, slender legs. Her feet swung up and down, restless and playful.

“Zhuang Zi’ang, are you going back to school this afternoon?” Su Yudie looked up at the sky.

“Nope,” Zhuang Zi’ang answered without hesitation.

His rebellious side was awakened—he had decided to skip half a day of classes.

After being a good kid for more than ten years, he could finally let loose for once.

Being with a good friend was way more fun than being in school.

For the first time in his life, he experienced this kind of joy—it was exciting.

“So, where are we going this afternoon?” Su Yudie leaned closer to Zhuang Zi’ang.

The soft fragrance of the girl drifted into his nose.

Before they knew it, the two strangers had become a “we.”

Zhuang Zi’ang thought for a moment, then asked, “Do you like fishing?”

Su Yudie frowned and shook her head. “I don’t know how. I’ve never caught a single fish.”

“Then I’ll take you to the river and teach you. I’m a pro at fishing.” Zhuang Zi’ang bragged.

Every summer, he would spend some time in the countryside, fishing with his grandpa. It was a peaceful and relaxing experience.

To be honest, he wasn’t really a pro—he could count all the fish he’d caught in his life on one hand.

“Alright then. But you have to catch me a big fathead carp,” Su Yudie said with a charming smile.

Without hesitation, Zhuang Zi’ang went to a fishing shop and spent over a hundred yuan on a cheap fishing rod.

In the past, he might have felt bad spending money. But now, if he didn’t spend it, it would be too late.

As they passed a convenience store, Su Yudie tugged on his sleeve.

“Let’s buy some snacks. We can eat them by the river.”

“Are you the reincarnation of a hungry ghost?” Zhuang Zi’ang was speechless.

Su Yudie stared at the display window with pitiful eyes and begged,

“Just a little bit of snacks. Please?”

Zhuang Zi’ang gave in. “Okay, okay. Whatever you say.”

“Yay! Go buy them quick!” Su Yudie clapped her hands like a child.

Zhuang Zi’ang walked into the store and randomly picked some nuts, beef jerky, cookies—he didn’t know what she liked yet, since they had just met.

Next to the convenience store was a small bookstore.

When Zhuang Zi’ang came out, he saw Su Yudie looking at her phone, laughing hard at some silly jokes.

“Wow, what deep stuff you’re reading,” Zhuang Zi’ang teased.

Of course, Su Yudie could tell he was being sarcastic. She replied casually,

“Life is better when you’re happy. Who cares about deep stuff?”

“True. The more you know, the less happy you might be,” Zhuang Zi’ang agreed.

“Exactly! Whether you’re a scientist, thinker, or philosopher—in the end, everyone dies.” Su Yudie said without much thought.

As a young person, she didn’t seem to be afraid of the word “death.”

Zhuang Zi’ang was stunned at first, then mumbled to himself, “Yeah, I’m going to die too.”

The school was built beside a mountain, and a river flowed right at its base.

The water was calm and green, with little waves shimmering under the afternoon sun.

Reflections sparkled on the river’s surface like golden stars.

Zhuang Zi’ang baited the hook, cast the rod smoothly, and sat cross-legged on the riverbank.

He looked calm and focused, like a wise man fishing by the Wei River.

Suddenly, a sound of laughter like silver bells rang beside him, breaking the peaceful mood.

“Keep it down! You’ll scare my fish away.”

“Sorry, the joke was too funny. Look at this!”

Su Yudie handed him her phone.

“I’m too deep to read these childish jokes,” Zhuang Zi’ang said with a frown.

“Just look!” Su Yudie begged like a child.

Zhuang Zi’ang glanced at the screen casually—just two glances—and those glances sent him down a path of no return.

“Hahaha…”

Before they knew it, the two of them were huddled together, laughing like fools at the silly jokes on her phone.

Su Yudie laughed at everything—even the lamest jokes made her laugh until she bent over.

Zhuang Zi’ang considered himself someone with a high laugh threshold, but the girl beside him infected him with her joy.

He tried hard not to laugh too loudly, afraid of scaring the fish away.

“Zhuang Zi’ang, get the snacks. I want to eat.” Su Yudie asked.

Zhuang Zi’ang took out a plastic bag. “There are nuts, cookies, beef jerky. What do you want?”

“You choose. I like everything.”

Foodies aren’t picky.

Zhuang Zi’ang reached in and pulled out a pack of cookies, handing them over.

Su Yudie opened the package and took a big bite.

“So crispy! Try one.”

“I’m full,” Zhuang Zi’ang said with a long sigh.

Su Yudie shoved a cookie into his mouth. “Stop whining!”

The cookie was crunchy and sweet—but not as sweet as the girl’s smile.

Zhuang Zi’ang completely forgot about his “fishing pro” identity and just sat there, reading jokes with Su Yudie.

One round wasn’t enough—they had to go over them again.

Like two happy fools, they chased pure joy until their necks got sore from leaning down.

He finally looked up and stretched.

Then he remembered the fishing rod. He lifted it—and saw the bait was long gone.

Time had passed like flower petals drifting away.

The shadows on the ground grew longer and slanted.

During school, Zhuang Zi’ang used to find afternoons painfully slow.

But today, from noon until sunset, it flew by in the blink of an eye.

The setting sun painted gold edges on the faces of the boy and the girl.

“I have to catch the 6:10 bus home,” Su Yudie said, stretching.

“I haven’t caught a single fish,” Zhuang Zi’ang muttered.

“You look like a fathead carp to me—silly and goofy,” Su Yudie teased.

They left the riverside and walked back along the long stone steps to the snack street.

As they passed a dessert shop, Su Yudie stopped again and stared at the beautiful cakes in the display.

“No way, you’re hungry again?” Zhuang Zi’ang was shocked.

“No, no. You said you don’t get along with your family. Why not buy a cake for them?

Sweet food brings happiness,” Su Yudie said sincerely.

If anyone else had made that suggestion, Zhuang Zi’ang would’ve refused right away.

Years of distant family ties couldn’t be fixed by one small cake.

But when he saw the look in Su Yudie’s eyes, the words of rejection stuck in his throat.

She really wanted to help him mend things with his family.

She believed the warmth of human kindness could overcome coldness in the world.

In the end, under her suggestion, Zhuang Zi’ang bought a strawberry cake.

It was a little expensive, and he felt the sting when paying.

They walked to the bus stop at the school gate.

Bus 19 was just arriving.

“Zhuang Zi’ang, goodbye!” Su Yudie waved and hopped on the bus.

“Goodbye, my friend,” Zhuang Zi’ang also waved.

But his voice was so soft that only he could hear it.

Such an interesting girl.

Damn… he forgot to ask for her phone number.

The bus moved away, disappearing into the traffic.