"I'm telling you, I'm not getting a divorce," Bob repeated, his tone unwavering.
"Tell me why," Luke said, knowing Bob must have his reasons. A guy this rational wouldn't be a spineless pushover.
"She was my rock once, saved me when I was at my lowest. That was nine years ago…"
Bob's low voice carried the weight of a story as he began to share his past with Luke…
…
…
Eight years ago, Mingde International Hospital, Hong Kong. The patient family consultation room.
Bob sat with his wife, his parents beside them.
Weeks earlier, his father had come to the hospital with severe nighttime back pain.
An experienced doctor ordered a CT scan, and the results came back quickly: small cell lung cancer.
The diagnosis hit Bob like a freight train. He couldn't believe his father, still so young, was facing a life-or-death ordeal.
And their family's financial situation…
This was a conversation about his father's life.
The attending doctor laid out the condition, its progression, treatment options, and risks in detail, then said solemnly, "Your father's health is poor. If you want to treat it, you need to act fast. Discuss it among yourselves and decide."
With that, the doctor left, giving them space to talk.
After the doctor's exit, the four of them exchanged glances, but no one spoke. The room was deathly silent.
Bob looked up at his reflection in a mirror: mid-twenties, wearing a faded jacket, unshaven, looking exhausted and disheveled. But even that couldn't hide his handsome features.
What good was being handsome?
Could it save his father's life?
Bob hated how useless he felt for the first time.
Cough… cough… A violent coughing fit broke the silence.
His father doubled over in pain, pulling a tissue from his pocket to cover his mouth.
Bob clearly saw specks of blood seeping through the tissue.
His mother, heartbroken, gently patted her husband's back and carefully handed him a thermos, urging him to drink.
Once his father settled, his mother tried to speak several times but couldn't. Silent tears streamed down her face.
Finally, she managed, "Xiao Tao, don't feel pressured. Your dad and I talked it over the other day. We're not treating this…"
"Mom…"
Bob started to respond, but she cut him off. "The treatment costs over 800,000, and it might not even work. Your dad said if we lose everything and he still dies, he won't rest in peace."
"We're useless parents, unable to help you kids. The least we can do is not drag you and your wife down," his father added.
Bob wanted to argue, but no words came.
His throat bobbed, and all he managed was a mumbled "Mm."
That single sound felt like it broke his spine, draining every ounce of his spirit.
Tears blurred his vision, his nose stung, and he felt like he was suffocating.
He, the unfilial son, was giving up on his father because of money, about to watch him go home to "wait for death."
Seeing his son's tears, his father stepped forward, gently hugging Bob. "It's okay, it's okay. Everyone's got their time. Don't blame yourself—we don't."
His father's comfort only made Bob sob harder.
His mother joined them, tears falling as she hugged them both. "Let's go home and make the most of the time we have left."
In helpless cruelty, the three sentenced his father to death.
"I don't agree!"
His wife, silent until now, spoke up.
"We're out of money. We've used up all our savings…"
"Bob, are you a man? That's all the backbone you've got? Dad's not even fifty, and you're just gonna watch him die?"
"But…"
"But what? He's not beyond saving. Even if we have to sell everything and go broke, we do our duty as kids." His wife's resolve was unshakable.
"You useless idiot, go handle the hospital admission now, or I'll lose all respect for you!"
She was scolding him, but Bob wasn't mad at all.
His wife, usually fiery and brash, seemed gentle and radiant in that moment, glowing with strength.
The spirit that had been drained from him surged back.
"I'm only in my twenties. Even if I end up drowning in debt, I can still hustle and bounce back. What's there to fear?"
…
…
Bob finished the story with tears in his eyes.
"After that, I joined Jackie Chan's stunt team. To make money, I stopped being afraid of any danger."
"When I was too busy with the team to care for home, she held the family together."
"Because of her, my father's final days were peaceful."
"She was my rock, propping me up when I was weak and helpless. I'll be grateful to her forever."
Catch the latest chapters at the source!
"I don't know how we ended up like this, but I can't let her go."
Every family has its struggles, and Luke didn't know how to comfort Bob.
Bob stared at Luke for a long time, so long it started to creep him out.
"I'm so jealous of you," Bob said. "If I could be like you, with all those women loving you unconditionally, I'd be set."
Given how close he and Luke were, Bob knew all about Luke's romantic entanglements.
"But I can't even handle one," Bob sighed. "My life's a mess."
Luke sighed too, adding, "But she's insisting on keeping the baby."
"Maybe she really wants a kid. I'm willing to try and accept it," Bob replied.
"You can swallow that?" Luke asked.
"Nope."
"So?"
"Let it out, make up for it. Then I think I can try to accept it," Bob said.
"What's that mean?"
Before Bob could answer, his phone rang.
"The ways of the world are laughable, love's just a bore, better to act like nothing matters…"
"Smiling at people when awake, forgetting it all in dreams, sighing that night falls too soon…"
The ringtone… Luke could only think it suited Bob's mood perfectly.
"Bob? I'm here! Open the door!"
It was Depp's voice on the phone.
Bob called Depp?
Puzzled, Luke opened the door to find Johnny Depp standing there with his usual cheeky grin.
"Let's go! I've got a party lined up to forget your troubles! The hottest girls are waiting!
I'm telling you, tonight we're sleeping with as many as we can! That Miranda Kerr? Absolute fire!"
Depp dragged Bob out, then turned back to Luke. "You're probably too good for our lowlife party, huh? Wanna come?"
Luke laughed and waved them off, telling them to have fun.
Once they were gone, Luke gave a wry smile.
Bob's approach—partying to "make up" for things while refusing divorce—wasn't something Luke agreed with, but everyone has their own way of living.
If Bob chose this patchwork way to keep going, Luke could only support him.
But given Bob's state, he'd need a good break. That meant the next high-risk stunt wouldn't have his help.
Luke would have to face it alone.