Female Novel
Chapter 5468
Confronted by the warm invitation of the young man known as “Hector”, Anne responded withenthusiasm, grinning, “Well, in that case, we won’t stand on ceremony with you!”
Hector chuckled, “No need for formalities! We’re all kindred spirits from across the land. Looking out forone another is just part of our tight-knit bond.”
Curiosity sparking, he inquired, “So, my friend, what might your name be?”
As Anne began to answer, Maria interjected with a teasing smile, “My dear here is named Clark, RobertClark to be precise. You can call him Bobby for short.” Keeping a low profile was essential, and usingher real name, Maria, would certainly ring bells.
But Anne was taken aback by her choice of pseudonym. He mused, “Bobby? Makes me sound like alocal barber.”
Maria, eager to introduce herself, spoke up, “I go by Kathrine Boneng, or just Kate for close friends.”
Acknowledging the introduction, Hector beamed, “Bobby, Kate, welcome to our little troupe of ‘SouthernYunnan Wanderers’. We began our journey as strangers, bonding over our shared love for hiking, andnow, here we stand as one.”
Taking a deep breath, he continued, “For formalities, my real name is Blythe. It translates to ‘happy’,but it does sound a tad effeminate. So, most just call me Hector.” He then affectionately wrapped anarm around a young woman beside him, “This radiant lady here is my girlfriend, Shiann. A brilliant mindfrom Tsinghua University. Our paths crossed during a hike, and the rest, as they say, is history.”
Once introductions had been exchanged, Hector generously offered, “Bobby, you seem new to thishiking and camping deal. Need a hand setting up your tent?”
Anne waved him off politely, “Appreciate the offer, but I’ll manage. Thank you.”
Hector looked at him intently, “No need to be shy, we’re here to help!”
Gratitude and a hint of guilt filled Anderson. For while these kind souls saw him as a new friend, heneeded them for cover, a fact that didn’t sit well with his conscience.
The group, enthusiastic and outgoing, embraced Anne and Maria with open arms, quickly breaking theice.
Hector, an unmistakable leader of the group, drew Anne’s curiosity. “Hector, are you still in school orhave you begun your professional journey?”
Hector smiled, “Still a student, actually. Spent some time in the US. Since it’s summer break, I felt thepull of China’s breathtaking landscapes.”
He added, “Most of us here are students. Some from the US, a few from Tsinghua University, andothers from renowned institutions across the UK and Canada. How about the two of you?”
Anne responded, playfully exaggerated, “High school sweethearts we were, too busy with romance andnot with books. So, we ended up in an obscure college in Eastcliff, never quite making a mark.”
Maria gave Anne a look that was a mix of faux resentment and amusement. Inside her mind, shecouldn’t help but think, “Oh, the stories you come up with! Decades of our family’s education, tossedaside so casually.”
Anne’s intent was simple. By downplaying their educational background, they would divert anyprolonged university discussions and potential slip-ups.
As he’d anticipated, the group steered clear of academic queries, showing understanding and tact.
Wanting to ease any lingering discomfort, Hector said, “Ultimately, the university’s name doesn’t defineus. It’s about living a fulfilled life.”
Shiann, nodding in agreement, shared, “Academics can be tedious. All my life, my parents groomedme for Tsinghua, with dreams of Harvard post-graduation. Just as I secured a spot at Harvard, lifethrew a curveball. I was diagnosed with a glioma, inoperable due to its location.”
Stunned, Maria whispered, “You have a glioma?”novelbin
Shiann responded calmly, “Rare as it is, fate had it in store for me.”
With a smile tinged with sorrow, Hector added, “Our tales align. Diagnosed with advanced small celllung cancer despite leading a clean life. With no viable treatments, I’ve chosen to embrace life’sbeauty.”
Maria spoke with a soft determination in her voice, her words brimming with empathy. “Advanced smallcell lung cancer doesn’t spell the end. With radiotherapy and chemotherapy, Coupled with targeteddrugs, one can experience significant improvement. You mustn’t lose hope.”
A smile touched Hector’s lips, his eyes sparkling with humor. “Lose hope? Far from it! I’ve come all theway from the United States to China, driven by the potential promise of the Oracle Healing Salve Pill.It’s reputed to work wonders on nearly every kind of cancer. My doctors encouraged me to take part inOracle Pharmaceutical’s clinical trial. Though, to be honest,” he added with a wry twist to his smile, “it’snot as simple as it sounds. Even James Smith, the ex-director of the US FDA, couldn’t secure a spotfor his son. How could I, an ordinary person?”
Shiann, listening from the side, chimed in with a note of disagreement. “It’s not about fame or fortune,you know. Oracle Pharmaceutical’s quota allocation focuses on who needs the treatment mosturgently. Every candidate for the clinical trials is a cancer patient, with at least 30% given less than sixmonths to live. Just consider the hundreds of advanced pancreatic cancer patients, including children.Securing a quota is almost impossible.”
Anne looked at her, curiosity etched on his face. “Shiann, did you also attempt to join the clinical trial ofOracle Pharmaceutical?”
She nodded, her expression thoughtful. “I did, but I wasn’t selected. Oracle Pharmaceutical’sevaluation is more a comparison of desperation than anything else. They weigh factors like the severityof illness, age, financial situation, and family responsibility. They use a point system; the worse off youare, the higher your score. The selection is made from those with the highest points, akin to pointssettlement logic. Sadly, I was brushed off in the first round.”
Anne was obviously unsurprised by this revelation as he came up with the guidelines himself. It makessense. After all, the essence of Oracle Healing Salve Pill is actually a diluted form of the Life SavingPill. This unique concoction requires a reiki refinement process, rendering mass production animpossibility. Yet, it serves as a stepping stone for FDA approval.
He sighed, a philosophical glimmer in his eye as he thought. ‘I know I’m neither a deity nor a saint. Theworld is brimming with cancer patients I can’t possibly save. My aim is to reach out to those in the mostdire circumstances, not those with means.’
One of the group of friends said indignantly, “The boss of Oracle Pharmaceutical doesn’t know what heis doing. Why doesn’t he give priority to saving talents like you who are useful to society?”
Shiann laughed yet it was tinged with self-deprecation. “I only read more books than most people.Reading more books doesn’t necessarily make us more useful to society. It’s a doctor’s duty to savethe most desperate cases first. You can’t expect me to cut the line just because I have an education.”
Hector’s smile was knowing and agreeable. “I understand them completely. James Smith of the FDAresigned and has devoted himself to charity work in Aurous Hill, even putting his fortune into it. Hehasn’t given up on his son, nor on the other more seriously ill children. It’s a difficult decision for him,especially since he initially doubted the scientific basis of Chinese medicines like Oracle’s.”
A collective gasp went up as someone inquired, astonished, “The head of the US FDA resigned to goto Aurous Hill for charity?”
“Yes,” Hector affirmed, nodding gravely. “I spoke to the man himself, and he’s faced some tough times.He once dismissed Oracle when they were seeking entry into the American market, even when theyoffered some for his ailing son. Now, with his son’s health worsening, he has come to Aurous Hill,driven by desperation and hope.”
His voice trailed off, tinged with a profound sadness as he sighed, “There’s nothing left but to try. Afterall, sincerity can move mountains… even those made of gold and stone.”