864 If He Has a Child Tagging Along, They Might Not Accep
The show was now being done in a recorded broadcast manner, so they could refine many details and make them more exquisite. Though, it was a pity that they were no longer able to interact with the audience before the screens in real-time.
Compared to the last time he went on "A Sunday Date," Liu Mingchen was a lot thinner, his cheeks sunken in. He looked like he was in bad condition and low spirits, not as vibrant as he was back then. He wore the pride of someone who rose to fame at a young age in his clean and delicate eyes, but his eyes also carried the heartache he felt towards patients, as well as the rage in his heart.
Most of those sitting among the audience were patients wearing masks. They were raising banners and sign boards they made themselves, showing support for Liu Mingchen.
It was their one shot to see Liu Mingchen in person to express their thanks to him, so they didn't want to let go of the opportunity.
The patients that filled up the audience seats were merely a portion of all the patients. Those present were elected by the patients to represent tens of thousands of patients, as well as the families of those patients.
When the show started, Lin Nuan stood at the center of the stage and, as usual, said her opening lines…
"When we first started planning this show, we wanted to talk about special heroes, such as soldiers and police officers. But today, the guest we invited isn't a soldier or a police officer! But he is a warrior! A hero! A hero who helps people in the fight against sickness!"
Lin Nuan turned towards Camera #2 and raised a hand to indicate for the audience to look at the big screen. On the display was a note left by someone before his death, written in childish handwriting and simple language…
[Papa and Mama: Sorry that both my younger brother and I fell sick. I know that our family has no more money for both me and Brother to take our medicine. Papa and Mama have sold the house and car and are working hard, taking on several jobs every day just so that Brother and I can take medicine to stay alive. I hear Mama cry sadly at night, afraid that Brother and I will die without the medicine. I'm not afraid of death, I'm just afraid I won't get to see Papa and Mama! More importantly, I don't want to see Mama cry, so Mama, don't be scared. Brother and I won't both leave you. I'll leave so that Brother can have the medicine! Grandma said that there's a next lifetime. In the next lifetime, I don't want to be a burden to the family, I want to be a healthy son to you! - Zhang Sirui]
When Liu Mingchen read this letter, his eyes turned red, but he forced himself to hold back the emotions and not let tears slip down.
Lin Nuan held back the tremble in her voice as she recounted the story. "This happened in October of last year. The patient, Little Sirui, secretly heard his parents' conversation and heard his mother's cries. He wanted to reduce the dosage of the medicine by half to lessen his parents' burden. But doing so not only didn't manage to lessen his parents' burden, but he was also hospitalized because of this. In order for there to be enough money for his brother to take medicine, Little Sirui chose to give up on treatment!"
The patients downstage could feel the author's pain. Someone even started sobbing.
"All around us, cancer is common. Everyone knows that Abinoque has great effects, but the medicine's exorbitant cost puts many families into the same plight as Little Sirui, suffering financially because of the medicine! How many people who can't afford this medicine have no other choice but to choose death?"
Lin Nuan spoke in a calm tone, yet it was powerful at the same time. "There's this person. He's the creator of Abinoque, and he's an idealist who has great passions when facing reality. He wants to use his meager strength to rescue those cancer patients who are on the brink of death and experiencing great despair…"
"Liu Mingchen!"
"Liu Mingchen!"
"Liu Mingchen!"
Without waiting for Lin Nuan to finish, the patients downstairs had already started shouting out Liu Mingchen's name amidst whimpers and choked voices!
They got to their feet, highly overwhelmed with emotions as they raised the banners and sign boards they made themselves…
[Liu Mingchen, thank you for saving my family!]
[Liu Mingchen, thank you for saving my son!]
[Liu Mingchen, you're a hero! A hero shouldn't be charged!]
Everyone was holding up words of gratitude to Liu Mingchen and shouting out his name, louder and louder, and in unison!
The loud voices resounded in the large recording studio, making one's hairs stand up.
The director and cameramen had been doing shows for so many years, and none of them had ever seen such a situation before…
It wasn't the same high-pitched shriek that fans of celebrities let out when they got excited at the sight of their idol. All of their voices sounded heavy… and deep, yet they were powerful and resolute. It was as if that name was the name of their savior, and as if it was their belief.
The lights on the stage lit up. Liu Mingchen could no longer hold back his tears as he stood up and deeply bowed to the patients on the stage.
Lin Nuan took the lead to clap with reddened eyes, and the stage burst into a round of applause.
Miss Xia caught Lin Nuan's eyes and understood what Lin Nuan was trying to tell her. She handed a microphone to one of the patients and didn't act in accordance with the planned procedure.
The show became a thanking ceremony. Patients were crying as they thanked Liu Mingchen and pleaded… if the judge could see them on TV, to please not convict Liu Mingchen, as he was merely acting to save their lives, not for profit or personal gain!
The agitated patients knelt down before the cameras, causing all of the other patients to follow suit and kneel down as well. They pleaded with the judge on camera to acquit Liu Mingchen.
That day, by the time the show ended, everyone in the production crew was crying really hard.
When the cleaner came to clean up, tissues were scattered all over the ground.
Lin Nuan was in the makeup room for a long while before she managed to calm herself down.
Seeing Fang Yan enter from outside the makeup room, Lin Nuan dabbed her eyes with a tissue. "Has Brother Mingchen left?"
Fang Yan nodded.
When Mu Taotao saw Lin Nuan come in slowly, she didn't say anything and merely helped Lin Nuan remove her makeup.
Today at the set, Mu Taotao didn't feel too strongly about what she saw. In her world, life and death were an ordinary affair, and nothing worth shedding tears or getting worked up over.
Fang Yan leaned against Lin Nuan's makeup mirror and asked her, "Are you alright?"
Lin Nuan shook her head, her gaze quiet as she asked Fang Yan, "How's your divorce case coming along?"
Fang Yan smiled. "I've got to thank Mr. Fu. Lawyer Bai Hui made his lawyer speechless—either have your reputation ruined and lose everything or simply lose everything. It's an easy choice to make!"
"How about the kids?" Lin Nuan asked.
"As for the kids, my ex-husband's mother wanted me to buy the custody rights for two hundred thousand, but I didn't agree. In the end, they didn't want the kids. I heard from my ex-husband's cousin that my ex-husband's mother wants her son to find a rich man's only daughter so that he can inherit his in-law's family fortune in the future. She said that if he has a child tagging along, they might not accept such a son-in-law!" When Fang Yan talked about her ex-husband, she spoke nonchalantly, as if it no longer had anything to do with her.
"Lin Nuan!"
Miss Xia suddenly pushed open the door and entered, calling Lin Nuan by her name.
Lin Nuan turned her head and looked towards Miss Xia. Miss Xia indicated for Lin Nuan to look behind her, then turned her body sideways, her expression complex, making one unable to tell if she looked shocked or surprised.
Lin Nuan's vision fell behind Miss Xia. There were several men in military gear standing outside the door…