【Translated】The man has always been very good to the woman, taking great care of her. As long as he was at home, he wouldn't let her do any housework. Buying groceries, cooking, washing clothes, mopping the floor, washing dishes, etc., he would do them all quickly and well. If the woman liked something, she didn't have to act cute or stubborn; he would always buy it for her as a gift. In his own words, women are meant to be cherished.
The woman was gentle and charming, her happiness written all over her face, sweet and radiant like the sun. She had always thought that life could be like this: holding hands with him, growing old together, forever and ever. She would always be the lamb in his arms, and he would always be her lifelong support.
But as the saying goes, "Heaven is unpredictable." One day, after working overtime in front of the computer all night, when she stood up in the morning, she suddenly felt dizzy, and the darkness hit her completely. When she woke up, she was already in a hospital bed, and the man was by her side with red eyes. Her tears came down immediately as she reached out to touch his face, but suddenly, her heart froze. The coldness of this moment was more shocking than the darkness when she fainted - her right arm couldn't move at all! The breath she took got stuck in her throat. She looked at her right leg with confusion and fear, and it was equally numb, with no sensation. Her right side no longer belonged to her.
Cerebral hemorrhage, years of desk work and overwork made her pay the price. She had always thought this was an elderly disease, only possible when one was seventy or eighty years old, but she was only thirty-nine! She completely lost her composure, hysterical, crying until heaven and earth turned dark. What would happen next? From now on, she would be a cripple, unable to work, unable to take care of the household, unable to take her beloved daughter to the park, unable to walk holding his arm, lying in bed for the rest of her life. How long would she have to lie there? Ten years? Twenty years? She couldn't imagine, she couldn't bear it, all her happiness was gone just like that.
The man kept encouraging her, and the hospital began her rehabilitation treatment. Forty days passed, two months passed, and finally, there was some improvement. Her hands and feet regained some sensation and could do some simple activities. But the improvement stopped here, no matter how hard he tried to massage her, there was no progress. She couldn't dress herself, button buttons, hold chopsticks while eating, dropping food all over herself and the bed. She couldn't go to the bathroom alone, needing someone to help her with everything. She fell into despair again, thinking she could never return to her healthy state. This was the limit of recovery. At this time, she clearly noticed a change in the man. Before, when she was thirsty, the man would bring a straw to her mouth without her asking. Whatever she wanted to eat, as long as she looked at the bedside table, the man would ask, "Is it an apple? I'll peel it for you." When she went to the bathroom, he would carry her like the young girl he once held. Now, when the man was with her, he spent more time reading professional books or chatting with other patients' families in the corridor, occasionally glancing at her. Especially this time, it was even worse. It was already seven o'clock in the evening, and he hadn't brought her dinner as usual. She was very hungry, her stomach growling for a long time. There were pastries on the bedside table that her colleagues had brought, and she tried to reach them with her hand, but after much effort, her hand still hung stiffly in the air. She suddenly thought of a major issue: Would the man stay by her side? Four months had passed, how many men could endure such 120 days? With her semi-paralyzed body, what did she have left that was worth his affection? A forty-two-year-old man was at the peak of his career. Who would waste their prime years on a woman confined to a sickbed? The man came, bringing a large box of freshly cooked spare ribs soup. She swung her hand violently, scattering the tender ribs all over the floor, and splashing the soup all over the man. Unlike before, the man didn't comfort her, but instead frowned and said, "Eat if you want, don't if you don't!" She was choked, almost unable to breathe.
After a while, she wanted to go to the bathroom but deliberately didn't call him. Supporting herself with her left hand on the bed, she scooted to the side, then used her left hand to lift her right leg onto the ground, gathering all her strength to try standing up, but failed. The man glanced sideways pretending not to see, still busy sending text messages on his phone. The woman's blood rushed to her head at that moment. She was no longer his precious gem! She forcefully supported herself on the bedside table, swaying unsteadily to stand up. Only then did the man come over to support her, handing her a cane. She shoved him away and tightly gripped the cane in her hand. Now, this senseless piece of wood was her true support. In the bathroom, she saw herself disheveled, where was the beauty and charm she once had?
The man became increasingly excessive. When helping her walk in the corridor, he always shouted loudly at her: "Why don't you hold your own coat? Can't you walk a little faster? Walk yourself, why do you keep pulling me? Aren't you going to the toilet? If you don't hurry up, I won't wash your pants if you wet them..." In front of so many people in the corridor, the woman lowered her head and remained silent, mechanically moving her feet. From childhood to adulthood, when had she ever been scolded like this? Since marrying him, had he ever spoken gently and treated her with endless care? All those vows of eternal love and affection, those promises of never leaving each other, were all lies! The man's increasingly obvious indifference completely shattered the woman's reliance. Though she appeared delicate, she was resilient inside. All the neglect and disdain became her motivation to exercise. You don't bring me food on time? I'll eat what's left from last time. You don't change my clothes? I'll spend an hour unbuttoning them myself, then another hour taking them off. You don't help me walk? This cane will do! After sweating profusely and swallowing countless tears, her recovery began anew. This time, the recovery was no longer passive but active. The woman's wounded self-esteem became a volcanic eruption. She could feel her own progress; her hands were becoming more agile, her legs gradually stronger. The spark of hope returned to her eyes. Time flowed like water, and she became indifferent to the man's repeated tardiness and apathy, accumulating all her potential and determination to recover herself, waiting to be discharged, and also waiting for the man to say those two words: divorce. Even the doctors found it hard to believe that she could recover so well. Except for her right leg being slightly stiff, she was almost back to normal. The doctor smiled and said she had created a miracle. The woman also smiled through her tears, but it was a bit desolate.
The man came to pick her up for discharge. Both were silent on the way. She still insisted on not letting the man support her. As they were almost home, her heart was pounding, wondering if this place would still be her home from now on? When the man opened the door, she fixed her gaze on his slightly bowed head, noticing faint white hair at the back of his head. Was the man about to confront her? She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and held back the tears threatening to fall.
"Sweetheart, open your eyes and look." It was the man's tender voice. The woman hesitantly opened her eyes, and her breath caught in her throat again - the house was filled with rose petals! In the dining room, the table was already set with dishes, all her favorites. She gave a bitter smile: "What? One last romantic dinner?" The man stared at her intently, tears streaming down his face: "Sweetheart, do you know how painful it was for me to yell and scold you? But if I didn't, you would have kept relying on me, and you would never have been able to stand up again."
In the spring of the following year, the woman was able to return to work. Although she looked slightly older than before the illness, the radiance on her face remained unchanged. Because this man had taught her: Don't doubt true love. Sometimes, there is a kind of love called cruelty.
The man has always been very good to the woman, taking great care of her. As long as he was at home, he wouldn't let her do any housework. Buying groceries, cooking, washing clothes, mopping the floor, washing dishes, etc., he would do them all quickly and well. If the woman liked something, she didn't have to act cute or stubborn; he would always buy it for her as a gift. In his own words, women are meant to be cherished.
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