Chapter 9: Number One in the World

After deciding to take Mother Lu to the capital with her, Lu Wuqi suddenly had a few more things to handle. For her, making money wasn’t even the most important thing anymore.

With the fifty thousand yuan that Miao Miao had transferred to her, as long as Lu Wuqi had a little time, she could double that money over and over again.

After putting down her phone, Lu Wuqi’s gaze fell on the hand account notebook sitting on the desk. A few ideas suddenly flashed through her mind.

She had already written the 10,000-word apology. Should she take a photo and send it to Xuxu?

But tomorrow she had to take her mom for a thorough checkup. What if Xuxu wanted her to deliver it tomorrow? Then she wouldn’t be able to hide the news.

No, if she was taking her mom to the capital, there was no way Lan Xu wouldn’t find out anyway.

Lu Wuqi hesitated for a moment, but she didn’t dwell on it for long. Before ten o’clock, she snapped a photo of the hand account notebook and sent it over.

Lu Wuqi: Xuxu, I’ve finished writing the 10,000-word apology. When are you free to pick it up?

When she received the message, Lan Xu was sitting cross-legged on her bed, counting the bills she had painstakingly dug out from her little piggy bank.

Lan Xu: Tomorrow evening? I’ll go for a walk after dinner, and we can meet at the park.

It was too hot during the day, and there weren’t good excuses to go out. Plus, Lu Wuqi had part-time work during the day, so it was better not to disturb her.

Lan Xu’s thoughtfulness temporarily eased one of Lu Wuqi’s small worries. And out of some unspoken understanding, their chat topics stayed light and easygoing—mostly just sharing little things from their days.

For example, Lan Xu had run into the big orange cat while taking an evening stroll. She bought it a chicken sausage to eat and noticed that one of its ears had a little triangle notch—it looked like some kind-hearted person had already taken it to get fixed.

At times like this, Lu Wuqi played the role of a good listener, admiring photos of the voracious big orange cat and expressing her fondness for it.

Lan Xu: Lu Wuqi, once we start working and making money, how about we rescue a stray cat and keep it?

Lu Wuqi: Sure, but since there are two of us, should we get two cats? That way, even when we’re out working, the two kitties can keep each other company.

Lan Xu: Yes! One big orange cat and one tabby—we can each take care of one!

Even though it would be at least four years before they graduated and started working, that didn’t stop Lan Xu from painting a picture of her dreamed-up happy future through text.

By the time they could afford two cats, they should have a little place of their own. The house didn’t need to be big—eighty square meters would do, with two bedrooms, a living room, and a small study.

Lu Wuqi followed Lan Xu’s description and sketched the future in her own mind too: a small house, two people, two cats.

Lan Xu teaching Chinese in middle and high school, Lu Wuqi working at a nearby tech company. They couldn’t commute together during work hours, but they could travel to and from work side by side.

Lan Xu, with her early start and early finish, would handle grocery shopping and planning dinner.

Lu Wuqi, with her late start and early finish, would drive and be a law-abiding, civilized motorist.

The future Lan Xu imagined was ordinary yet warm—the kind of life most people chased after. Nothing extravagant, just someone who truly understood you by your side, living those small moments of happiness.

–

“Kidney problems? How is that possible? I don’t smoke or drink—how could I have kidney issues?”

Mother Lu, who had been about to head to work, was stopped by Lu Wuqi. When the hospital called asking her to come in for a follow-up, disbelief was written all over her face.

“I feel perfectly fine right now—no headaches, no backaches. How could there be something wrong with my kidneys? Is this a scam?” Mother Lu started grasping at wild suspicions, rejecting the very idea of being sick from the bottom of her heart.

“Mom, the call was from the hospital doctor using their landline. I checked the number—it matches the one on the hospital’s official website,” Lu Wuqi said earnestly. “Whether it’s real or not, I want you to go get checked out. Otherwise, I won’t feel at ease, and I won’t be able to focus on part-time work or getting ready for school.”

“What nonsense are you saying, child?” Mother Lu frowned. But seeing the unyielding determination on her daughter’s face, she reluctantly called her boss and asked for the day off—on her very first day on the job.

Thanks to the advance appointment, Mother Lu was quickly ushered into tests once she arrived at the hospital. Some took a full day, while others had results in just minutes.

“Based on the test reports, there’s a tumor on the kidney, which we can confirm. Whether it’s malignant or benign requires further checks. We recommend admission for more detailed tests like a bilateral kidney ECT and genetic screening,” the doctor said, adjusting his glasses.

“A tumor? I have a tumor? How come I don’t feel anything?” Mother Lu’s face went pale in an instant. “Doctor, could the report be wrong? I’m in great health! How could I possibly have a tumor?”

The family was depending on her alone right now. If she got sick and had to be hospitalized, what would happen to her daughter? How would they cover her tuition and living expenses?

“Ms. Zhou, please calm down. We’ve double-checked the reports multiple times—there’s no error. And you don’t need to worry too much. If it’s benign, a minor surgery and some recovery time will fix it.”

The doctor smoothly began reassuring Mother Lu. “Besides, Ms. Zhou, you’re still young, and your bodily functions are in good shape. You’ll recover quickly.”

Mother Lu looked panicked and instinctively gripped Lu Wuqi’s hand. “Little Lu, let’s go home. I don’t want inpatient tests. I know my own body best—I couldn’t possibly be sick.”

No, she absolutely could not get sick, let alone be hospitalized.

She had an agreement with her boss to go to work and pay back the money. She couldn’t break that promise. She couldn’t get sick, and she definitely couldn’t have surgery.

“Mom, just get admitted for the checks. What if the previous doctor misdiagnosed you?” Lu Wuqi squeezed her mom’s hand back. “If you don’t do the tests, then I won’t go to the capital for school either.”

Lu Wuqi knew her mom’s concerns. She just didn’t want to be a burden or hold back her daughter’s education.

So, to get her mom to agree to inpatient checks, she had to tie it to her own university plans.

Sure enough, when Mother Lu heard that skipping the checks would affect her daughter’s schooling, she panicked right away. After the doctor explained that most of the costs could be reimbursed by insurance, she gritted her teeth and agreed to the admission.

–

“Not bad,” Lan Xu said, sitting on a park swing. She gently pushed off with her feet, reading the apology that filled nearly the entire hand account notebook under the streetlamp.

“So, Xuxu, does that mean you forgive me?” Lu Wuqi asked, her eyes lowered as she gazed at Lan Xu’s profile.

“For the sake of your sincere apology, I’ll let the text thing slide,” Lan Xu said. She closed the hand account notebook and extended her left hand.

Lu Wuqi broke into a smile and clasped Lan Xu’s hand tightly. “Xuxu, thank you for forgiving me.”

“Hmph, I’ll only forgive you once for something like this. If there’s a next time, not even a hundred thousand words will save you.” Lan Xu turned to face Lu Wuqi, deliberately keeping a stern expression. “Lu Wuqi, got it memorized?”

“Yes, I’ve got it,” Lu Wuqi nodded seriously. She raised her other hand in a swearing gesture. “No next time, I promise.”

A hint of satisfaction flickered in Lan Xu’s eyes. That answer was barely acceptable.

“By the way, how much did you make at the internet cafe today? Any part-time gigs I could do too?” Lan Xu asked.

She needed to save more money too. That way, if Lu Wuqi ran into trouble, she could help out without her parents knowing.

Lu Wuqi hesitated for a second, then told the truth. “None. I didn’t go to the internet cafe today.”

“Hm? Taking the day off, or did you work somewhere else?” Lan Xu asked, puzzled.

“No…” Lu Wuqi tightened her grip on Lan Xu’s hand and said softly, “I went to the hospital today to accompany my mom for some tests.”