Behind the happiness was a harsh reality.
Shen Che's illness was a bottomless pit, swallowing their already meager savings. Lin Zhou's salary, combined with Shen Che's occasional freelance income, was a drop in the ocean against the towering medical expenses.
Shen Che's pride was strong; he didn't want to spend any more of Lin Zhou's money. Several times, he tried to stop taking some of the more expensive imported medications. When Lin Zhou found out, they had a huge fight.
"Shen Che! Your life is more important than money!" Lin Zhou yelled, her eyes red.
"But I don't want to drag you down!" Shen Che retorted stubbornly.
It was their most intense argument since they had gotten back together.
After they calmed down, Lin Zhou hugged him and said, "We are a family. A family means we bear things together. We can always earn more money, but if I lose you, I lose everything."
Shen Che held her, speechless.
To make ends meet, Lin Zhou started tutoring a middle school student in the evenings in addition to her bookstore job. Shen Che also took on more design projects, often working late into the night.
Life was hard, but their hearts grew closer. They were like two birds huddling together in a storm, weak but incredibly determined.