The next afternoon, Zhong Shao and Yu Cheng returned to the film crew. Upon seeing the radiance in Zhong Shao's eyes, Lu Cheng knew that he was back in good shape.
Where the heart is at ease, there is home; where my heart is at ease, there is home.
It is not difficult to be at ease because you know that the place called "home" will always be your sanctuary.
That evening, the scenes left unfinished before their departure were smoothly completed.
"I have caused trouble for everyone," Zhong Shao said, not immediately leaving the set. He remained standing, his chest trembling, followed by a bow of over 90 degrees.
As a professional actor, this was a rare moment of unprofessionalism; for Zhong Shao as an individual, it was his peace of mind.
Applause erupted on set, with staff members responding in unison, "No trouble at all, thank you, leading actor!"
Upon returning to the hotel, Tan Ye brought several pieces of news.
First, Chen Le has been contacted, but it is still unknown whether he agrees to the filming. Second, the United Nations has extended an invitation for filming in China.
Third, patient Tao Tao, who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation sponsored by WAT two and a half years ago, has had no relapse in the past 18 months of continuous monitoring until last Friday.
Upon hearing the news, Zhong Shao couldn't contain his joy and turned to Yu Cheng, saying, "Yu Cheng, we might have the first case of possible AIDS cure."
"What?" After a moment of astonishment, disbelief followed. Yu Cheng looked at Tan Ye in a daze, and Tan Ye nodded.
His gaze returned to Zhong Shao, and Yu Cheng suddenly said, "Zhong Shao, thank you."
Not knowing why, he just wanted to say that to him.
While outsiders talk about his pickiness and mystery, only those who truly befriend him will understand. His pickiness is his attitude towards himself and his work, while his mystery lies in his restrained and stable emotions. Unlike actors, when he does these things, his empathy and sympathy solidify into his firm determination on this narrow path. These most genuine aspects fill his inner self, enrich his thoughts, and he honestly faces the broad and narrow aspects of the world. He stubbornly and purely believes that if certain things indeed require enough influence and background strength, why can't he be the one to make it happen?
Yu Cheng thought, for anyone who truly understands him, it's hard not to be attracted to him.
Tan Ye brought Lu Cheng and Miao Miao together in the midst of summer heat without complaint. They gathered in the hotel's glass courtyard to boil tea over a fire, listening to Tan Ye's storytelling.
The first patient sponsored by WAT, codenamed Tao Tao, did not belong to any category within the LGBTQ community, just a normal individual in the public eye.
Eight years ago, Tao Tao's fiancé contracted HIV, leading her to undergo Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) which did not yield the desired results. About five and a half years ago, WAT made contact with Tao Tao, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, diminishing her desire for life.
In this context, Zhong Shao and Tan Ye, along with a psychologist, engaged with Tao Tao. Starting from initial distant conversations to igniting a desire for life, and eventually signing an agreement to undergo a "relief" treatment by a team of scientific and medical experts.
This treatment is not without risks, as the domestic treatment risks remain unknown. However, for Tao Tao's overwhelmed family, it was their best choice at that time.
"What if something unexpected happens during the treatment? Who will bear the risks among you?" Lu Cheng pondered.
"Each sponsored patient undergoes strict screening, with all documents signed in the presence of lawyers for explanation, notarized by officials. Additionally, we purchase medical insurance for every sponsored patient," Zhong Shao explained. "WAT is not merely a charity organization, the funds invested each year aim not only to alleviate symptoms for those in need but also to..."
Continuing Zhong Shao's words, Yu Cheng spoke the unspoken, "To challenge some societal misconceptions and ideas, collaborate with scientists and medical professionals worldwide to explore means to extend life or even cure HIV."
This goal is grand and seemingly bottomless, sometimes sounding like a dream of a madman, yet it is Zhong Shao who envisions it.
Despair towards life stems not only from physical ailments but also from societal stigma and prejudice. An individual's life and death, aside from affecting their loved ones, may not alter the world's course, yet this world is interconnected by millions of family bonds. Zhong Shao remained silent, indicating his agreement.
Compared to his reputation, Lu Cheng has always known that Zhong Shao runs such an organisation, but has never deeply investigated it. This friend of over a decade continues to surprise him beyond expectations. As soon as the assistant Miao Miao heard this, she was stunned in place. Where did Zhong Shao, the film superstar, come from?
In the following years, Tao Tao underwent chemotherapy and antiretroviral therapy (ART) simultaneously, but the cancer still recurred. After repeated deliberation by a group of research medical experts on the surgical plan, she underwent a peripheral blood stem cell autologous transplantation surgery two and a half years ago.
After multiple experiments, a bone marrow match carrying a CCR5 gene mutation was successfully found.
CCR5 is a receptor on CD4 positive immune cells. The HIV virus enters immune cells through this receptor and replicates within them. However, the CCR5 gene mutation can prevent the HIV virus from entering cells. Twelve months after the surgical treatment, Taotao no longer took anticancer drugs, and the HIV virus was not detected again in blood tests.