Chapter 13: Crying
Crying
Qing Tian hid behind the hospital room door, her heart pounding wildly. She leaned weakly against the door, her eyes closed. Her mind was filled with Ji Xiangyu’s words: “It’s because I like her!”
Anyone else would have rejoiced at those words, but for her, they became an invisible pressure!
Why did he say that? Was he still upset about what happened earlier?
Qing Tian let out a self-mocking cold laugh.
A prince, high and mighty, encounters a girl who ignores him. Other than wanting to conquer her, there’s nothing else. Saying he likes her is too fake, so fake that even she finds it difficult to pretend to believe it!
“Qing Qing….”
A weak voice broke Qing Tian’s reverie. She turned to see her grandfather calling her. She quickly walked over, took his hand, and asked eagerly, “Grandfather, you’re awake?”
Song Shiwan’s voice was weak, and his eyes looked at Qing Tian without focus. His aged hand caressed Qing Tian’s hand; the feeling was like placing a hand on uneven sand, prickly.
For a moment, Qing Tian felt that her once strong grandfather had now become a frail old man, unable to even lift a chicken. Her nose stung, and she almost cried!
Song Shiwan tapped Qing Tian’s hand intermittently, saying weakly, “Qing Qing, don’t be sad, Grandfather is fine!”
Qing Tian forced a smile and nodded, not daring to say a word. Song Shiwan continued, “Qing Qing is so grown up now. Grandfather is really old. It’s been over ten years in the blink of an eye…” He seemed to be reminiscing about something, and finally, he just sighed!
Qing Tian followed Song Shiwan’s gaze out the window, silently calling out in her heart: Grandmother, you must protect Grandfather!
She was different from others. Her world was mostly occupied by her grandparents. Her childhood memories were all days spent with her grandparents.
Li Yueqing brought chicken soup from home. As soon as she entered, she urged Qing Tian to go home and rest. After pouring the soup, she said, “Old Master, you scared us to death! You collapsed out of the blue. My heart almost jumped out! Fortunately, it was just a false alarm…”
The Old Master was much more energetic than when he first woke up. The doctor said Song Shiwan’s sudden fainting was due to unstable blood pressure caused by the recent changeable weather. Fortunately, with some care, he would be fine!
The Old Master smiled slightly, “Your heart needs a good calming down! Where is my son?”
Li Yueqing then comforted him, “Your son will be here soon. He’s on his way. I didn’t want him to go to Shanghai in the first place. Look, now that there’s a small issue, it takes him half a day to get here…”
Qing Tian listened to her aunt and grandfather making small talk. A faint smile appeared on her lips. She took the soup from Li Yueqing’s hand and carefully fed Song Shiwan spoonful by spoonful!
Li Yueqing was still chattering about random things. Before long, Song Yingbo, looking travel-worn, pushed open the hospital room door. He dropped his luggage and immediately went to Song Shiwan’s side, asking with concern, “Dad, are you alright?”
Qing Tian softly called out, “Uncle…”
Song Yingbo nodded. Song Shiwan smiled, “See, for such a small matter, Yueqing called you back. Since you’re back, stay for a few more days!”
Seeing that his Old Master was not seriously ill, Song Yingbo’s heart finally settled. He took the bowl from Qing Tian’s hand and said, “Qing Qing, you should go home first. Shishi might not be used to being alone at home!”
Qing Tian obediently packed her things and left. Just as she reached the elevator, she turned back, wanting to ask if they wanted her to prepare dinner tonight. However, as soon as she reached the hospital room doorway, she overheard the following conversation!
Song Shiwan: “Son, I’m getting old. You should quit your job in Shanghai and come back!”
Song Yingbo’s tone was firm: “Dad, I’m doing fine in Shanghai. Isn’t Yueqing here?”
Suddenly, Song Shiwan became angry and shouted loudly, “Don’t think I don’t know about your mess in Shanghai. If you still consider me your father, then break it off with them. What is this? A married man flirting with other women, not coming home. Are you abandoning your father?”
Qing Tian couldn’t hear what Song Yingbo said inside. Her head was about to explode. Her uncle and aunt had always been a model couple in her eyes, and her uncle had always been a good-natured man. But today, she heard such a conversation, and her mind felt like it was exploding. Did Shishi know? Did her aunt know? When did Grandpa find out?
A series of questions raced through her mind.
“Divorce? As long as I’m alive, you won’t get a divorce. If you want a divorce, unless I’m dead!”
Qing Tian heard her grandfather yelling at her uncle in the hospital room, and her heart felt heavy!
She fled as if escaping and ran towards the fire escape stairs. As soon as she entered, the sensor light turned on. In the dim stairwell, she sat powerlessly on the stairs, burying her head and silently shedding tears!
The dim yellow light scattered over her curled-up form. After a moment, the light went out. In the darkness, only the sound of her sobs echoed….
Like the crisp sound of porcelain colliding!
Qing Tian rarely cried loudly. Even in her most difficult moments, she would only shed silent tears!
From a young age, she understood that crying couldn’t solve problems!
The fire escape door of the stairs was pushed open, and the sensor light turned on again. The slight movement still startled Qing Tian.
Qing Tian haphazardly wiped her tears and looked up towards the doorway. A man’s figure stood there, silhouetted against the light, looking at her. Her heart felt as if it had found an anchor. Why did she always meet him when she was at her lowest?
He walked step by step up the stairs, coming to her side, and handed her a blue-brown square scarf.
Qing Tian looked at the square scarf, hesitating to take it.
He slowly raised his hand and wiped away her still-wet tear streaks. Each touch was incredibly gentle. In the darkness, she couldn’t see the emotions in his eyes!
Their breaths were close. She smelled the faint jasmine scent on him. She wondered what kind of body wash he used. The scent was truly pleasant and intoxicating.
