1 Chapter 1: Cadaveric Spots

"Damn it, it's getting worse!" Su Ran grumbled in frustration.

The first thing Su Ran did every day when he woke up was to roll up his sleeve and look down at his left arm with a frown on his face.

What met his gaze was an arm unlike any other's. The whole limb was incredibly shriveled, as if all the blood within had already been drained away. The arm felt like it was barely hanging on by the muscle tissues, dangling powerlessly as if it were made of air. It was completely numb, devoid of any sensation of pain or existence, except for the occasional whiff of decay.

With a sigh, Su Ran turned his attention to his own left hand.

Could this still be called a hand?

Su Ran compared his two hands. One was a robust and dexterous right hand, fleshed out and nimble. The other one was a shriveled structure of bone and skin — no, it was more like a skeletal claw. The bones were clearly visible at each joint, and he couldn't even make a fist.

Once again, Su Ran's eyes welled up with tears. He tilted his head back and, with his right hand, wiped his eyes forcefully, only to carelessly glance at his palm.

"Sss..."

Su Ran inhaled sharply, crying out in shock. "Corpse spots!!!"

God, are you trying to take my life?

Su Ran's eyes were wide open, staring intently at the dreadfully quiet corpse spot in the center of his palm.

"Has it gotten this severe?"

Su Ran sat dumfounded, recalling the doctor's grave and heavy words in the hospital yesterday: "ALS? No, yours is much worse. It's a rare case in medical history — 'Corpse Rigor'! Alas, this disease is irreversible; there's no turning back..."

Corpse Rigor...

Corpse spots, the kind of thing only the dead have.

This time, Su Ran's tears flowed freely, cascading down like a waterfall. It's said that a real man bleeds but never cries, save for when truly heartbroken. As for him, a man on his deathbed, was he even worthy to cry?

Immediately after, Su Ran burst into laughter, the sound echoing with an endless mix of sorrow and defiance.

As long as he still had breath in his body, life had to go on. Su Ran grabbed his uniform and gloves, got up to eat breakfast and go to school — to live the life his peers would. He wanted to enjoy his last days because...

He was still alive.

"Mom!" Su Ran emerged from the inner room, running, "I'll be late for school, is breakfast ready?"

"Coming right up!" Su Ran's mother hurriedly emerged from the kitchen holding a platter of steaming food, her apron still tied around her waist. If one paid closer attention, they would see that her eyes were red and swollen.

"You rascal, you're still so impulsive, even though you're in your senior year, you haven't grown up at all." Su Ran's mother affectionately glared at her son as she placed the food on the table. "Eat up, eat up, but be careful not to burn your mouth!"

"Hehe, thanks, Mom!"

Su Ran bounded to the dining table in a few strides and started to dig in. "Mom, it's still so yummy! I'm going to eat a lot and grow strong to protect you when I grow up!"

Saying this, Su Ran slightly turned his body to shield the gloved left hand that hung limply by his side.

Su Ran's mother caught the entire scene, and choked out to her son, "Such a good boy. I need to clean up the kitchen. Eat more..."

As soon as she finished speaking, Su Ran's mother turned hastily and darted back to the kitchen. Unable to hold back her tears, a few drops fell. After a while, soft sobs emanated from the kitchen.

"Mom, I'm off to school!" Su Ran gobbled down a few more bites before bolting out the door.

Just a short distance out the door, Su Ran abruptly stopped. His legs started to tremble violently due to his swift movements, and he took deep breaths to catch it. After a while, he slowly continued on his way.

"I wonder how much longer I'll be able to keep up the act." What Su Ran loathed the most was seeing his mother in distress. He shuffled forward, taking one last, deep look at the house behind him before he moved on.

The depth in those dark eyes could perhaps only be found in those facing imminent death.

...

The sky remained brightly blue, adorned with fluffy white clouds, and the sun shone radiantly.

On the road, Su Ran hurried along, other students from the same school who were also in a rush gave him wide berth, casting disdainful glances his way. He had long gotten used to this.

Changshi City First Experimental High School, Senior Class Five.

Ding, ling, ling…

"Who is still making a ruckus! You're in senior year, show some discipline!" Teacher Li, the class advisor, marched in. As his gaze swept over Su Ran's empty seat, he sighed inwardly, "Class begins!"

"Present!" Su Ran arrived in the classroom, panting heavily as class began.

"Hahahaha…" A few troublemakers in the classroom burst into laughter upon seeing Su Ran, their mockery was evident.

"Ridiculous!!" Teacher Li roared in righteous indignation, "Anyone who laughs again stands outside the classroom as punishment! Everyone, let's give Su Ran a round of applause! His dedication to his studies is something for us all to learn and affirm!"

His gentle smile warmed his stern face, Teacher Li nodded and said, "Su Ran, take your seat."

The feeling of being protected by Teacher Li was wonderful.

"Yes, Teacher!" Su Ran replied loudly, making his way to his seat.

His desk mate was a plump girl, Lin Yuqing. Her long hair tied into a ponytail draped over her chest, her cheeks were rosy and plump, a pair of dimples charmingly adorned her face. Under her delicate brows lurked a pair of bright eyes, her coal-black pupils intent on Su Ran, the pleasure she derived from his presence was obvious.

"Su Ran, you are here!" Lin Yuqing's face flushed a deep red, "Here, a mock test paper! Congratulations, you are again the first in the grade!"

Su Ran was aware of Lin Yuqing's feelings for him, but he could only play dumb, because he didn't deserve such feelings.

After he took his seat, Lin Yuqing whispered to Su Ran, "Don't forget to drink the mushroom soup in your drawer after class… Drinking more of it is good for you."

She called the soup 'elixir soup', she didn't dare to tell Su Ran the truth because elixir soup was famous!

'Elixir soup'— a thousand dollars a bowl, only ten bowls for sale a day, no extra portions! No matter if you were a high-ranking official or a wealthy entrepreneur, once the ten bowls were sold out, you'd have to return another day — Eastern Province Herbal Hall!

Su Ran didn't know about this; what he did know was that he had been drinking this soup Lin Yuqing had given him every day for a month, since he had commented the first time he drank it, "Hmm? What soup is this? I feel so much more alert!"

"Ha! Thanks, Yuqing!" Every time he heard the phrase 'mushroom soup', Su Ran's pitch-black eyes would light up, and this was precisely what Lin Yuqing loved most about him.

Lin Yuqing rolled her eyes and swiftly turned to her textbook, her tightly clenched fist betrayed her excitement and joy.

"Oh, lovebirds are sweet talking again!" A tall male student at the front of the class, his face covered in freckles, twisted around and sneered, "Su the Disabled, did you forget to bathe again? What is that smell!? It's so strong, I can hardly breathe!"

It smelled like a corpse! Su Ran furrowed his brows. Was it getting worse?

"Bang!" Furious, Lin Yuqing slammed her book onto the desk, "Wang Mazi, who were you insulting! Teacher, Wang Mazi has been talking behind Su Ran's back!"

How could this be happening? Su Ran was Teacher Li's favorite, the prized pupil of the entire school!

"Wang Dazhuang, go outside to stand as punishment!" Teacher Li's anger flared as he threw the blackboard eraser onto the podium. This action effectively quelled the few male students who were ready to add fuel to the fire.

"You'll pay for this!" Wang Dazhuang glared at Lin Yuqing and Su Ran angrily, stood up obediently, and went outside for his punishment.

"If you're feeling tired, Su Ran, you can rest for a while." Teacher Li wore the kindest smile he ever showed and said to Su Ran in a caring voice. Wang Dazhuang, who was just going outside, almost tripped over his own feet when he heard this — was this a teacher?

"No need, Teacher," Su Ran stood up and said loudly, "I just had a rest, I can attend the class as usual."

"Good, good, sit down, Su Ran. Oh, sit slowly, don't wear yourself out." Teacher Li wished he could rush over to help Su Ran.

Su Ran felt like a thunderstorm was raging in his mind. Putting his right hand on the desk for support, he slowly sat. As soon as he sat down, there was a note shoved from his right side. Without looking, he knew it was from Lin Yuqing. They often communicated through notes during class.

"Meet me at the usual place after school, wait for me, I have to tell you something." Su Ran always found himself looking at her graceful handwriting a few more times.

Su Ran smiled faintly. As a teenager, he couldn't help but harbor a hint of longing. However, he knew better than to hope for more because he might forget everything tomorrow.

An idiom flashed in Su Ran's mind: vanish like smoke in thin air.