The hospital smelled the same as before.
Disinfectant.
Metal.
Weakness.
Chu Yunyun stood in the corridor outside the blood donation room, her thin jacket hanging loosely from her shoulders. Her footsteps slowed as she approached the familiar door. The sign on the wall read:
Blood Collection Room – Authorized Patients Only
Her body reacted before her mind did.
Her palms became damp.
Her legs felt light.
Her heart began to race.
Yu Chen's instincts screamed.
Go in.
Sit down.
Roll up your sleeve.
It was muscle memory.
Habit.
Years of obedience carved into flesh.
Behind her, hurried footsteps approached.
"Yu Chen!"
Her mother's voice.
Sharp. Urgent.
She turned slowly.
Her parents were walking toward her, with Yu Li in between them, supported on both sides like a precious porcelain doll. Yu Li looked pale, her lips trembling faintly as if every breath was an effort.
The doctor followed behind them.
"Good, you're here already," the mother said. "We were afraid you might be late."
Chu Yunyun said nothing.
The doctor adjusted his glasses. "Your sister's hemoglobin level dropped again. We need another transfusion today."
Her mother nodded. "It's fine. Yu Chen is here."
Yu Li looked up at her.
"Sister…" she whispered weakly. "It's just one bag…"
Chu Yunyun stared at the needle tray through the glass door.
Silver.
Cold.
Sharp.
Her stomach twisted.
A memory flashed—
Her own past life.
Hands tied.
Skin pierced.
Blood flowing.
Different pain.
Same helplessness.
She took a step back.
"I'm not donating," she said.
The words fell quietly.
But they shattered the air.
Her mother froze. "What did you say?"
"I said I'm not donating."
Yu Li's fingers tightened on her mother's sleeve.
The doctor frowned. "Miss Yu, your sister needs—"
"She needs blood," Chu Yunyun interrupted, "not mine."
Her father's expression darkened. "Don't be ridiculous."
"I'm serious."
The mother's voice rose. "Do you know what you're saying? Your sister could faint! She could die!"
Chu Yunyun met her eyes.
"So could I."
Silence.
Yu Li looked shocked. "Sister… don't joke like that…"
"I collapsed last time," Chu Yunyun said. "Did you forget?"
The mother hesitated. "That was because you didn't eat enough."
Lie.
They all knew it.
"Doctor," Chu Yunyun said, turning to him, "how much blood have I donated this year?"
The doctor hesitated.
He looked at her chart.
"…Seven times."
"And is that normal?" she asked.
"No," he admitted. "But you insisted—"
"I didn't insist," she said. "They did."
Her mother's face turned red. "We are family! Isn't it natural to help each other?"
Chu Yunyun's eyes narrowed.
"In my past life," she thought, "they said the same thing."
Yu Li suddenly coughed, her body shaking.
The mother rushed to hold her. "See what you've done? You frightened her!"
Chu Yunyun didn't move.
She watched calmly.
Too calmly.
Yu Li's cough wasn't as violent as it looked.
Her breathing was uneven, but controlled.
Not dying.
Not yet.
"I won't donate," Chu Yunyun said again.
Yu Li stared at her, disbelief in her eyes.
"…You're serious."
"Yes."
The doctor sighed. "We can use stored blood, but it's risky for her condition."
Chu Yunyun nodded. "Then use it."
Her father grabbed her wrist.
"You will go in there right now," he said.
The grip hurt.
Her veins pulsed beneath his fingers.
Yu Chen's fear surfaced.
Her body trembled.
But Chu Yunyun's soul did not.
She looked down at his hand.
Then up at his face.
"Let go."
Her voice was calm.
Her father was startled.
"Have you gone mad?" he demanded.
Chu Yunyun shook off his hand.
"No," she said. "I've just stopped pretending."
Yu Li whispered, "Sister… you promised me…"
"When?" Chu Yunyun asked.
Yu Li froze.
"…You always promised."
Chu Yunyun remembered.
Yu Chen had promised everything.
She stepped closer to Yu Li.
"Did you ever promise me anything?" she asked softly.
Yu Li's lips parted.
But no words came.
Because she hadn't.
Because Yu Chen had never asked.
Chu Yunyun straightened.
"I won't be your blood bank anymore."
Her mother slapped her.
The sound echoed down the corridor.
Chu Yunyun's face turned slightly with the force.
Her cheek burned.
But she didn't cry.
She didn't even blink.
The mother's hand trembled.
"How dare you!"
Chu Yunyun touched her cheek slowly.
In her past life, she had been beaten too.
And she had knelt.
This time…
"I dare," she said quietly.
The doctor stepped back awkwardly. "I'll… prepare alternative blood."
He left quickly.
Yu Li burst into tears.
"You don't love me anymore!" she cried.
Chu Yunyun looked at her.
"I never loved myself," she said. "Now I will."
Her parents stared at her as if she were a stranger.
And in truth…
She was.
The old Yu Chen would have apologized.
The new one did not.
"I'm going home," Chu Yunyun said.
Her mother screamed, "If you walk out, don't come back!"
Chu Yunyun paused.
The corridor was bright.
The floor clean.
Her future uncertain.
She turned her head slightly.
"Then this is goodbye."
She walked away.
Each step felt heavy.
But also… free.
Her legs shook.
Her heart pounded.
Her vision blurred.
But she did not stop.
When she reached the hospital entrance, sunlight hit her face.
Warm.
Real.
She breathed in deeply.
"I did it," she whispered.
She had said no.
For the first time…
She chose herself.
Her phone vibrated.
A message.
Unknown Number:
Miss Yu Chen, your application to the talent audition has been received. Please attend tomorrow at 9 AM.
She stared at the screen.
Showbiz.
Escape.
War.
Her lips curved faintly.
"Then I'll begin," she murmured.
Behind her, the hospital doors closed.
And with them…
The life of silent sacrifice ended.