1 The nightingale who lost her voice (1)

It should be a hot summer day. But, the heavy downpour of rain with the dark skies acted as a cover bringing darkness over the entire city of Beijing.

The rain did not stop and many low level streets are stagnated with water. The traffic in the entire city of Beijing was disrupted. The originally stuffed subways and trains are empty now..

In a V.I.P room in the central hospital, a young girl in her early twenties sat in a wheel chair near the huge glass window.. She looked at the sky which is rumbling without blinking her eyes..

The girl was dressed in a green hospital gown and her original pretty face looked pale and her bright eyes looked devoid of any emotion..

She looked like a clay doll sitting motionlessly in her wheelchair..

The slight tilt of her head to look at the road below her suggested otherwise.. The roads are empty and they looked gloomy as if reflecting her heart..

The torrential downpour of rain resembled the heavy feeling which is stuck in her heart.. She looked at the sky which looked as if it's grieving on her behalf and blinked her eyes twice to not let her tears fall down..

A woman of around 23 years stood behind the wheel chair. She was dressed in a black skirt with a white blouse reflecting her professionalism.. But, her baggy eyes showed that she had been crying and her dark circles confirmed that she had not been sleeping since the past few days..

" Li Yan.." the woman called gently.

The young woman in the wheel-chair did not respond..

" Li Yan.. the doctor wants to speak with you. I think that you are not in a good state to meet him.. So, I will speak on your behalf.." the woman spoke each word slowly and carefully.

For the first time in the past one week, Li Yan's hand moved as she started writing something on a notepad. After a minute, Li Yan handed the notepad to the woman before her.

' Zhuang Mei, I want to hear about my condition personally. I can handle it. Don't worry so much about me. You should take care of yourself..' Zhuang Mei's eyes are filled with tears after reading what is written on the note. She the looked at Li Yan who is still staring at her with vacant eyes.

It is precisely those eyes which made Zhuang Mei's heart restless. Li Yan woke up after two days since she is admitted into the hospital. But, it's as if she locked herself from the outside world. In the past one week, this is the first time she reacted to her words.

Zhuang Mei could not forget how devastated Li Yan looked when she was not able to her own voice. She continuously patted her ears as if to clear the blocks in them.. Li Yan struggled for a long time before she realized that she lost her voice. At that moment, on seeing the despair and anxiety on her face Zhuang Mei's heart ached.

As Li Yan's manager, how could Zhuang Mei not know how important is a voice to the singer.. She was hailed as 'The nightingale..'. How could anyone remain calm and composed if they are told that they cannot sing again.

Zhuang Mei was worried how Li Yan would react after hearing her condition from the doctors. So, she wanted to persuade her to change her mind.

" Li Yan, your body is not feeling well. So, let me go on your behalf..." before she could finish speaking Li Yan stretched out her hand.

Zhuang Mei was startled for a moment before she handed over the book to her. Li Yan scribbled something and lifted the book in her hands..

' Zhuang Mei, if you really care for me then take me to the doctors. No matter how hopeless my condition is, I want to listen to them personally. If I can't even face this reality, then I am really hopeless..'

Zhuang Mei balled her fists and closed her eyes thinking deeply..

Zhuang Mei slowly opened her eyes and looked at Li Yan with resolute eyes " Fine then.. I will take you there as you wish. Let me warn you, the truth is always cruel dear." Zhuang Mei looked at Li Yan with a painful expression on her face.

Li Yan looked at her calmly. Li Yan already hardened her heart as she prepared herself for the worst. Even so, hearing it from Zhuang Mei's mouth made Li Yan's heart uncomfortable. She thought she was ready but the pain in her heart reminded her otherwise..

Li Yan did not let her inner turmoil show up on her face. Her face still remained expressionless, but Zhuang Mei did not miss the slight tremble in her hands. But she remained as if she saw nothing and continued "If you are ready to hear the worst news, then I will gladly take you there."

Li Yan's heart trembled for a while after hearing her words. She buried her face in her arms as she was afraid that her tears would run down at any moment. She took deep breaths and composed herself.

She lifted her head and nodded at Zhuang Mei. Zhuang Mei pursed her lips on seeing Li Yan's reddened eyes. She quickly averted her eyes from Li Yan's face and walked over to push her wheel chair.

While pushing the wheel-chair outside the room, Zhuang Mei unconsciously spoke " Li Yan, be strong.."

'How can I remain strong , when my own cousin harmed me?'

'How can I remain strong, when the one who chased after me saying I love you stabbed in my back..'

'How can I remain strong, when my own father hates my existence?'

' How can I remain strong, if my voice abandons me like everyone?'

Li Yan smiled bitterly in her heart. The worst is about to happen..

I can only hide my pain deep in my heart to remain strong.. Only then I can face the cruel world..

Li Yan hardened her heart as she entered the consulting room..