Chapter 4

There were no more medical tests to be done as it was late.

Still, Dorian explained all the anomalies detected during the day.

Finn didn't even look surprised, merely asking, "Is it curable?"

Dorian shook his head. "We need further checks to examine the specifics, but you're young, so I would advise extensive therapy. And if it really is cancer, you might not—"

"I want to live, doc," Finn said, cutting him short.

Dorian looked at him in turn and sighed as he made up his mind. "We will examine you more thoroughly tomorrow morning. If it proves to be the case, I'll help you however I can."

Finne was touched. "Thanks, doc."

It wasn't as if the doctors refused to save him in his last life, but it was just so late that there was no point in having surgery anymore.

He didn't have the money to keep fighting, just as he wasn't interested in wasting the doctors' time.

Leaving Dorian's office, Finn stared at the dark skies outside and remembered he hadn't eaten at all, and he suddenly craved food.

Just remembering family left him choking like there was a fish bone in his throat.

He received many messages from Ruth, asking how he was, but he simply ignored them all.

Did she think a couple of messages were enough? Perhaps she still presumed he was the sycophant from his last life?

That was when his phone rang.

It was a call from Rain Jenkins, his childhood friend.

Still, he hesitated before answering, "Yeah?"

Rain seemed to be unaccustomed to his apathy and snapped, "Have you forgotten to take your meds? Are you really trying to act cool because I rejected you?

"Anyway, I heard you're sick, so I will visit with my parents tomorrow morning. While we're there, don't you dare run your mouth, or we're done!"

Finn frowned but replied, "If you're talking about how I told you how I felt, that won't ever happen again. In fact, let's pretend it never happened anyway."

Rain was actually hesitant. "Are you for real? We spent years at that orphanage. Even if I got adopted, I still consider you my best friend. You'd better be sure about this."

Hanging up, Finn suddenly felt an impulse to smoke, and he had never smoked before in his life.

Rain Jenkins…

Judging from the date, today was the third day after he confessed his feelings to her and was rejected in a horrific fashion.

There was also no question that as a loyal dog, Finn had no grounds for confidence and was treated like a backup even after being rejected.

That was just how inconsequential he was.

Finn couldn't help but laugh as he remembered and wondered if he had masochistic tendencies in his past life.

-

Soon, the night passed, and Dorian took Finn for more checkups early in the morning.

It was ten o'clock by the time he returned to his room to wait for his results.

The Chandlers were already waiting with a basket of fresh fruits, along with a slender young woman standing by the window.

She was a pretty sight—as her hair floated in the wind, she looked just like a painting even without makeup. Everything about her visage was simply natural, and her eyes were especially gorgeous.

Rain's adoptive mother, Molly Livingston, pursed her lips in sympathy and concern when she saw Finn's condition. "How are you feeling, Finn?"

Finn finally smiled at the friendly couple. "I'm fine, Mrs. Chandler. There's nothing wrong with me."

In reality, the Chandlers were keen to adopt him back when he still lived at the orphanage and still treated him like their own child even if they didn't adopt him.

They instead switched strategy in hopes that he would accept them as godparents, but that did not work either.

Just then, Finn stared at Rain as she stood beside the window and decided to ignore her, changing his usual groveling approach with her for once.

Instead, he asked, "Have you had breakfast, Mr. and Mrs. Chandler? I know a good place nearby."

Molly smiled, shaking her head. "It's alright, Finn. Don't worry about us—you're the one who should come to us if you're in trouble. Just treat us like your own parents."

"What are you talking about?"

Rain's adoptive father, Stephen Chandler, laughed. "Finn has been reunited with his family, and they are rich business folks. It really isn't up to us to be his parents, and we were right not to have adopted him back then. We have a stable income, but we really don't compare to the Lawsons."

Molly nodded in agreement as that much was true. "You've really come a long way, Finn. The days to come will definitely be kind to you."

Finn smiled wryly, his heart swelling with bitterness.

On the other hand, Rain was upset that he was not giving her attention. She asked, "Finn, are you coming for the competition tomorrow?"

"Probably not," he replied. "I'm really not feeling well."

That left Rain even more upset. "Who would I partner with if you can't make it? Honestly, you're always such a burden!"

Finn stared at her glare of disdain, and then at the Chandler couple's kind smiles.

He couldn't help remembering the old days, when Rain was his best friend at the orphanage before he found the Lawsons.

The Chandlers had wanted to adopt him, but he refused no matter how they tried, while doing all he could to persuade them into adopting Rain.

And to make sure that Rain wouldn't worry about him, once the couple decided to adopt her, he insisted that they never tell Rain that he was the one who conceded their adoption to her.

In the end, Rain was adopted by a couple, while he stayed at the orphanage, parentless and having no one to turn to.

For his part, Finn thought that giving his heart to Rain would win her over.

However, not only did she not reciprocate his feelings, but she also behaved as if she deserved everything he did or gave her.

So after reincarnating, Finn decided against such one-sided sacrifices.

Nodding at Stephen and Molly, he hence said, "Mr. and Mrs. Chandler, may I speak with Rain alone?"

They didn't argue, even smiling ambiguously as they left.

"What?" Rain demanded once they left, taking a step back. "I really couldn't stand the way you told me how you felt the other day, but you're already trying again? Don't think I'd say yes just because my parents are here! And that call last night—trying to get my guard down, aren't you?"

Finn simply smiled wryly. "I know clinging to you annoys you, but I won't do that ever again."

His unusual response left Rain shocked and panicked.

It wasn't as if she didn't like him at all, but… he was just so frustrating to be with!

That was when Finn added, "I've always seen you as a sister anyway. Take care of yourself now."

Those words were like a sharp knife plunged into Rain's heart. Her voice trembled as she exclaimed, "Sister?! You're just upset that I rejected you, aren't you?"

There was no way Finn really saw her as a sister when he had wooed her so enthusiastically!

Finn shook his head, staying silent.

That left Rain all the more panicked, and she averted her eyes as she said, "It's true we have known each other for nineteen years, and you're like family… It's not as if I don't like you at all. I just don't want some college romance, and you know that…"

She trailed off, feeling a chill inside as Finn was clearly not budging on the issue.

Giving up right then, she snapped, "Remember what you said today! Don't come begging later!"