Chapter 171
Su Bin was taken aback, his mind struggling to comprehend the words. “A will?” he echoed, his voice barely above a whisper.
The man in the suit nodded with a stern expression. “Yes, the Duke has left a will, and you are mentioned as one of the primary beneficiaries. We are here to ensure the proper handling of the matters outlined in his wishes.”
Su Bin felt his heart race, confusion and worry flooding through him. The idea of a will, particularly in such a context, was both unexpected and overwhelming. Why would Allen have mentioned him in this way? What did it mean for their future? His mind was too muddled to think clearly.
The others in the room were equally stunned. This was a revelation none of them had anticipated. They knew Allen was a man of considerable influence, but hearing about a will and Su Bin’s involvement as a beneficiary made everything feel so much more real and complicated.
Su Bin was still trying to process the news when the lawyer continued. “The Duke has made several provisions, and we need your signature on the document as soon as possible, as per his instructions. Please come with us to discuss the details further.”
Su Bin felt his knees go weak, his grip on the glass window tightening. The idea of Allen leaving such important matters for him, despite everything that had happened, left him feeling both honored and terrified. Was this a sign of Allen’s trust, or was it his way of preparing for the worst?
“Please, take your time,” the lawyer added, sensing Su Bin’s hesitation. “We just need to go over the formalities.”
Su Bin nodded numbly, his heart pounding in his chest. He glanced once more at Allen, who seemed to have mustered the strength to smile faintly at him through the glass. That smile, though weak, was enough to drive him forward, to face whatever lay ahead.
The tension in the room was palpable as the lawyer’s words hung heavily in the air. Su Bin’s mind was reeling, unable to process the information. “A will?” he echoed in disbelief, his body trembling.
The lawyer continued, unfazed by the emotional turmoil in the room, “Yes, the Duke has made provisions for you in his will. If he passes away, you are to inherit ‘Su Boss’ restaurant empire, a property in M City, and fifty percent of JL department store shares.”
Su Bin’s head spun, and his vision blurred for a moment. The sudden weight of the responsibility, coupled with the idea of Allen—his Allen—already planning for his potential death, overwhelmed him. Was this a dream? A nightmare? Why leave a will now, when he was just beginning to wake up?
He didn’t know what to think. Was Allen already on the brink? Did this mean his recovery was in jeopardy? Was this truly his final farewell?
Before he could stop himself, Su Bin rushed toward the hospital room. “Allen! Why did you leave a will?” he shouted, his voice filled with panic. “Aren’t you awake now? Was it just a brief moment of clarity?” His heart pounded as the fear of losing Allen all over again overwhelmed him.
Inside the room, Allen’s voice came out weak and strained. “Su Bin… I’m… sorry…” He struggled to speak, each word sounding as if it drained the last bit of strength from him.
Dr. Feiman quickly intervened, urging Allen not to speak further, but Allen, it seemed, couldn’t stop. He continued to speak in broken phrases, as though each word was a painful effort. “While you’re still… young… while you can… go see the friends you want… visit the places you want…”
Su Bin’s heart shattered as he heard those words. He fell to his knees beside Allen’s bed, his voice a desperate cry, “Allen! You promised you wouldn’t leave me! I’m here now. I’ve figured it out, and I’m not going anywhere!”
But Allen’s expression remained gentle yet fragile. “I… don’t want you to see me like this anymore… once I’m gone… everything will be over… I—” A violent coughing fit interrupted him, blood seeping from his lips as his breathing became ragged.
“No! No!” Su Bin shouted in sheer panic. “Doctor! Doctor!”
Feiman’s face turned pale as he saw the heart rate monitor go haywire. He quickly pressed the emergency button, urgently shouting for the emergency team to get the sedatives ready. He instructed everyone to leave the room.
Su Bin couldn’t be moved, though. His voice became frantic, “Allen, you can’t die! If you die, I’ll jump from here! I’ll go with you!”
“Su Bin, calm down!” Jin Fei, trying to keep him from going further into panic, tightly wrapped his arms around him, keeping him from collapsing.
But Su Bin couldn’t calm down. His heart was breaking as he looked at the curtain, his mind spiraling with the possibility of losing Allen for good. “You promised me ten more years… so many more years… You can’t do this to me.”
Jin Fei’s voice trembled as he whispered, trying to comfort him, “Don’t worry. We’re all here for you. We’ll stay with you.”
But Su Bin couldn’t be consoled. He dropped to his knees, burying his face in Jin Fei’s chest and letting out a painful sob.
It was an agonizing, chaotic love, one that seemed incomprehensible to the rational bystanders around them. It was love that burned hot and fierce, consuming everything. To others, it might have seemed absurd, but to Su Bin, it was the only truth that mattered.
About thirty minutes later, Dr. Feiman came out, sweat dripping from his forehead. Su Bin, his eyes still red from tears, sprang to his feet, his voice cracking, “How is Allen?”
Dr. Feiman’s tired eyes met his, and he sighed deeply. “He’s been sedated. He’s sleeping now.” He pressed his fingers against his temple as though trying to block out the growing frustration and exhaustion. “Su Bin, you have to respect his wishes for now. His emotional state can significantly impact his recovery, and if he says something, we need to let it go.”
Su Bin’s voice was hoarse with emotion. “But… is he going to die?”
Dr. Feiman hesitated before responding, “We’ll do everything we can, but you need to cooperate with his wishes. And… he asked that you not come in for now.”
Su Bin’s face drained of color, and he clenched his fists. His voice was soft but firm. “I won’t go in for the next couple of days, but I’m not lying to him. I want him to know that if he dies, I’ll die with him. I’ll wait outside for him, and I’ll keep coming until he’s better.”
Dr. Feiman seemed to have no words for that, his gaze lingering on Su Bin in silent acknowledgment of the pain he was carrying.
When Allen woke up once more, Feiman relayed Su Bin’s words to him.
Allen lay quietly in the bed, his eyes fixed on the ceiling. He didn’t show much emotion, but Su Bin could feel his presence outside. Allen, despite everything, did not express anything in response, his face as still as ever.
Days passed. Most of the time, Allen remained asleep, his recovery slow but steady. The wounds on his body slowly healed, but the toll it had taken on him was evident. His once-healthy body was now so fragile that even the slightest injury could push him back to square one.
In his heart, Allen wished to protect Su Bin from this weakness. He didn’t want him to see him so broken. “If I die… at least Su Bin won’t have to witness it,” he thought, an aching resolve taking root inside him. “He deserves better… he deserves someone whole, not someone who can’t even protect him.”
Yet despite his efforts, the painful truth remained—he was terrified of losing Su Bin. But maybe… maybe it was better to push him away now. That way, Su Bin would be able to move on without this weight.
