Chapter 47 - 1#

The second round of surgery proceeded as scheduled and went very smoothly.

After confirming the successful completion of the surgery, Chi Gui immediately flew overseas again, spending the entire month dealing with unknown corporate affairs.

During the month of postoperative recovery, Jing Shun received the complete script for the last unit of the TV drama Traces. He used the ample time to thoroughly study a new role—one he hadn’t taken on in years.

The initial filming schedule was set for early August.

Instead of rushing into the crew, Jing Shun began his first round of rehabilitation under Professor Song’s advice.

It started with daily passive knee joint exercises, then moved to electrical stimulation therapy, followed by standing with a slight backward lean using specialized equipment. The angle of the lean increased day by day until he could stand upright with full support.

Early summer sunlight streamed through the glass ceiling into the room, moderated by the indoor air conditioning.

To facilitate rehabilitation, Chi Gui had specially hired a professional medical team to replicate, one-to-one, all the equipment and devices used in hospital rehab inside an empty garden villa at the Chi estate.

Now, with the help of professional medical staff, Jing Shun put on specialized protective gear over his legs. He looked at the two parallel support bars in front of him and took a deep breath.

This was the first walking rehabilitation he had been eagerly awaiting.

“Mr. Jing, let’s give it a try. Use your arms as much as possible to support your body weight and move forward. We’ll secure you from behind with safety ropes, so don’t be afraid.”

Besides the ropes controlling balance, thick foam pads were placed on the floor both in front and behind. Medical assistants would follow Jing Shun’s steps, ready to move the pads to prevent injury if he fell.

The protective measures were thorough.

Jing Shun suppressed his slight nervousness and nodded earnestly. “Okay.”

With the staff’s help, he stood up, gripping the support bars on both sides tightly.

The medical staff continued to support him, asking gently, “Mr. Jing, how are you feeling now?”

“Mm.”

“Should I let go?”

“…Okay.”

The assisting support on both sides disappeared.

Jing Shun felt as if his body was filled with lead. He strained with all his might just to maintain balance, but the moment he tried to take a step—

The balance he had barely managed to hold vanished again.

Bang!

Jing Shun collapsed onto the soft, thick foam pad in front of him. Thanks to the pull of the safety rope behind him, the fall was cushioned, and he didn’t feel any pain.

“Mr. Jing, are you alright?”

“…”

Jing Shun adjusted his breathing and shook his head. “I’m fine. It’s just… I can’t put any strength into it.”

He had thought that with assistive tools, he could already stabilize his center of gravity and stand briefly, but he hadn’t realized that standing and walking again were completely different experiences.

“It’s okay. We’ve only just started. This is perfectly normal,” the medical staff reassured him. “Rehabilitation is a long process. We’ll take it step by step. Even if you can only manage one or two steps on your own today, that’s progress.”

Jing Shun prepared himself mentally. “Alright, let’s try again.”

The staff lifted him back to a standing position. Jing Shun gripped the balance bars again, straining to support his own balance.

But before he could even take a step, he tumbled down once more.

“…”

After less than ten seconds of silence, Jing Shun spoke again. “Sorry, could you help me up? I want to try one more time.”

The staff responded, “Sure.”

…

The black car smoothly left the airport.

Chi Gui rubbed his temples, swollen from the long flight, and asked Chen Yiming, who had come to pick him up, “Is Jing Shun at home today?”

Chen Yiming answered truthfully, “Yes, Mr. Jing is undergoing rehabilitation at home today. The medical staff mentioned he was trying to stand and walk.”

Hearing this, Chi Gui’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. “He started trying today?”

“Yes.”

Chen Yiming had been checking in with the medical team daily about Jing Shun’s progress and reporting it to Chi Gui, who was abroad.

Chi Gui was about to respond when the phone in his pocket vibrated.

He saw the sender’s name on the screen, raised an eyebrow in surprise, but still typed a reply.

Chen Yiming noticed his boss’s every move and took the chance to ask, “Sir, is everything alright?”

“It’s fine.”

Chi Gui put away his phone and simply instructed, “A guest will be coming to the house later. Make the arrangements.”

Then he urged the driver in front, “Lao Fu, step on it.”

“Yes, sir.”

…

The clock on the wall ticked from two to four.

Jing Shun sat helplessly on the foam pad, his forehead covered in sweat.

The black T-shirt he wore was also soaked through, now clinging to his skin.

“…”

His breathing quickened uncontrollably.

Looking at his reddened palms and feeling the soreness in his strained arms, Jing Shun was enveloped by an overwhelming sense of frustration—

Two whole hours, and he still couldn’t move even half a meter.

Every time, he fell after one or two steps. Sometimes he couldn’t even stand up before collapsing again.

Physical exhaustion could be overcome, but the psychological helplessness intensified with each repeated failure.

“Mr. Jing, don’t be discouraged,” the medical staff comforted him while relieving the congestion and soreness in his arms. “You’ve already exceeded the recommended duration for today’s rehab. Your body needs rest. You absolutely must not push beyond your limits.”

Haste makes waste. The more urgently you seek results, the harder they are to achieve.

Jing Shun understood this principle, but he couldn’t accept defeat.

His chest heaved as he said weakly, “I know. You all can finish up and rest now. I want to stay here alone for a while.”

The medical staff exchanged glances but said nothing.

As a professional rehabilitation team, they had seen countless patients struggle and suffer through rehab. Some even gave up halfway.

Of course, many more overcame their deepest frustrations and fought on stronger than before.

They believed Jing Shun was the latter and knew he needed space to process on his own.

“Do you need us to help you into the wheelchair?”

“No.”

Jing Shun waved his hand. “Just go ahead. I want to be alone for a bit.”

“Alright.”

The medical staff quickly exited, leaving the glass room to Jing Shun alone.

Silence spread.

Jing Shun propped himself up on the foam pad with one hand, and for no reason, his nose tingled.

The helplessness he had held back for so long burst forth in this moment of solitude. Tears spilled from his unfocused eyes—real emotions he hadn’t even recognized he was suppressing.

Tired.

So tired.

The accumulated exhaustion over this long period silently crushed Jing Shun’s resilient nerves. Whether in his past life or this one since his rebirth, he had been waging a silent war against his legs.

He had struggled through failure, persevered through weakness, and tried through hope. But more often than not, he found himself lost like this.

Everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction. So why, why was he still so uncertain?

Was he just too useless?

“…”

Jing Shun couldn’t pinpoint the taste in his heart, nor could he decide if his tears at this moment crossed into the realm of “being overly sentimental.”

He wiped away the traces of tears with his fingers. A figure suddenly surfaced in his mind, along with a persistent thought—

If only Chi Gui were here.

If only Chi Gui could be here with him.

Just then, the slightly ajar door made a soft sound.

Before Jing Shun could look up, he heard a familiar voice calling his name. “Jing Shun.”

“…”

Jing Shun lifted his gaze in a daze. It took him several seconds to confirm that the person in front of him wasn’t an illusion born from exhaustion. “Chi Gui?”

Chi Gui saw the sweat remaining on his forehead and noticed his thin black T-shirt. He immediately raised the air conditioner temperature and then walked quickly over.

“Why haven’t you changed out of your wet clothes?”

Jing Shun’s eyes followed the person before him, still in disbelief. “Why are you back early?”

He had asked Chen Yiming just yesterday, and the reply was that Chi Gui still needed three or four more days before returning.

“I finished early, so I came back.”

Chi Gui picked up a large towel and draped it over Jing Shun. “Jing Shun, I ran into the medical rehab team leaving.”

He had already learned from them that Jing Shun’s rehab today hadn’t gone well.

Jing Shun let out a soft sigh. When he spoke again, there was a hint of unconsciously whining, “You already know? I did terribly today.”

He wouldn’t give up just because of this setback, but it still hurt emotionally.

Chi Gui sensed the dejection in his tone. “Even when handling billion-dollar projects, success doesn’t happen overnight.”

Besides, Jing Shun’s legs were far more precious than any project.

Jing Shun paused, realizing Chi Gui was trying to comfort him, and couldn’t help but chide, “Who uses that kind of analogy to comfort someone?”

Chi Gui knew Jing Shun understood his meaning and continued, “Jing Shun, you can be frustrated, you can be sad, but you cannot doubt yourself.”

“You’re not useless. The fact that you’ve made it this far already surpasses many people.”

“…”

Jing Shun didn’t respond. He just sniffled softly.

The frustration and helplessness that had been piling up in his heart were easily scattered by these timely words of comfort.

Chi Gui asked, “Should I help you back to the wheelchair? We can go to your room early and take a hot shower. Don’t keep wearing wet clothes, or you’ll catch a cold even in summer.”

“No.”

Jing Shun shook his head and suddenly pulled off the large towel draped over him. “I’ve rested enough. I want to try one more time.”

Chi Gui frowned. “Jing Shun?”

Jing Shun looked at the man in front of him, his eyes filled with both anticipation and determination. “Will you try with me one more time? Can you? I promise, even if I fail, I won’t get discouraged again.”

Chi Gui thought for a moment, then agreed. “Alright. Let me help you up.”

“Mm.”

Soon, Jing Shun’s hands were back around the support bars.

Chi Gui supported him with one hand while trying to grab the safety rope on him with the other. “Careful.”

Jing Shun turned his head and said to him, “Chi Gui, don’t stand behind me. And don’t use the rope either.”

“What?”

“Stand in front of me. And push the foam pads aside.”

“Jing Shun?”

“I want to try again on my own.”

Jing Shun had an inexplicable intuition: even if he fell, Chi Gui, who was right in front of him, would catch him in time.

Chi Gui met Jing Shun’s persistence and couldn’t refuse. “Alright.”

Chi Gui’s hand remained suspended in the air, ready to support him. He lightly kicked the foam pad in front of Jing Shun away, then stood a small distance away, right in front of him.

Very close.

If Jing Shun managed to take steps, it would only be about five.

But during the entire afternoon’s rehab, Jing Shun hadn’t succeeded even once.

Jing Shun stabilized his center of gravity. His palms felt sweaty again.

Meeting Chi Gui’s gaze so close, he adjusted his breathing bit by bit and cautiously took his first step—

“One.”

He wobbled, but he didn’t fall.