Chapter 16 Soft-hearted Person

Chapter 16: The Softhearted One

"I'm awake." He wasn’t truly clear-headed to begin with, but with Fu Huan leaning in so close, it was more awakening than a whiff of menthol oil.

Fu Huan stepped back to a safe social distance. "I bought breakfast. Have some."

Gu Shiying replied politely, "Oh, it seems I’ve troubled you again."

Fu Huan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at him. "You’re my roommate. There’s no need to be so formal, Gu Shiying. You’re being distant."

Gu Shiying sensed a hint of anger in his tone and smiled. In his mind, he thought, *That’s exactly the point—to keep some distance. Otherwise, who knows if Fu Huan would push his luck? After all, this was someone who had considered praying for me to 'turn.' That was something to take seriously.*

After breakfast, Gu Shiying finished the remaining IV drip. Once it was done, he was basically fine. As long as he followed the doctor’s orders, he’d be okay. After all, he was young and had a strong recovery ability.

Gu Shiying requested a day off from his class monitor and also got a sick note from the doctor.

Before leaving the hospital, Gu Shiying went to the restroom, while Fu Huan waited for him in the lobby.

But after waiting for a while, there was still no sign of Gu Shiying. Fu Huan grew worried, afraid his diarrhea hadn’t stopped. Just as he was about to go look for him, he saw Gu Shiying approaching, leading a four- or five-year-old in a hospital gown by the hand.

Fu Huan’s gaze fell on the child’s hand in Gu Shiying’s. "Whose kid is this?"

Gu Shiying was also troubled. "When I came out, he suddenly rushed up to me and grabbed my hand. He wouldn’t let go, and he didn’t answer when I asked. He just looks dazed." *Probably a child with slight cognitive challenges.*

Fu Huan: "Let’s take him to the service desk. He must have run out from a ward."

Gu Shiying: "Okay."

Although Gu Shiying agreed with Fu Huan’s decision, he hadn’t let go of the child’s hand because the kid had been continuously transmitting thoughts to him—thoughts that made his heart ache.

*“Mom.”*

*“Mom.”*

*“Mom.”*

Gu Shiying was most vulnerable to these heart-tugging thoughts about family, but he didn’t want the child to feel sad either. He knelt down in front of the child. "Do you want to hold this big brother’s hand instead?"

The child tilted his head back to look up at the other brother. Just as Gu Shiying thought the kid might have to lean back to see Fu Huan properly, Fu Huan crouched down in front of the child.

He didn’t seem annoyed, but his expression was so aloof and unreadable that it was hard to gauge his emotions.

Fu Huan glanced at Gu Shiying. "I’ll carry you to the service desk to find someone."

Gu Shiying had checked the map after leaving the restroom. "The service desk is at the main entrance."

The emergency department was separate from the general outpatient area. The place where Gu Shiying had received his IV drip the previous night was closer to the general outpatient entrance, which was also more convenient for catching a taxi. They had originally planned to leave through that door, but unexpectedly, this child had appeared out of nowhere, delaying Gu Shiying’s return to campus.

The child was quiet and well-behaved, his big, round eyes just watching them. His skin was extremely fair, and in Fu Huan’s arms, he seemed even smaller and lighter—so light, he felt lighter than a basketball.

The two of them brought the child to the service desk, where a volunteer said they would help find the child’s parents.

But when Fu Huan tried to pass the child to the volunteer, the child clung tightly to his neck, extremely unwilling to let go. His lip quivered, his eyes reddened, and tears began to fall from his big eyes.

Fu Huan could have forced the child to go to the volunteer, but instead, he looked at Gu Shiying. "He doesn’t want to."

Gu Shiying was softhearted and really couldn’t bear to see a child cry. He suggested a compromise, "How about we stay here with him until his parents are found? I have the day off anyway."

The volunteer, seeing that the child wouldn’t respond no matter how they tried to comfort him, assumed he was a child with special needs. "Then we’ll have to trouble you two to stay with him for a while. We’ll page for them and have security check the surveillance footage. If we really can’t find them, we’ll call the police."

The hospital had a professional security team, so Gu Shiying and Fu Huan only needed to wait.

The volunteer led the three of them to a lounge where there was water. Gu Shiying got him a cup of warm water.

Knowing that these two brothers would stay with him, the child stopped clinging to Fu Huan’s neck and was willing to sit on a chair, but he still refused to speak.

Fu Huan: "Is he unable to speak or unwilling?"

Gu Shiying: "Maybe something happened at home? Little one, are you waiting for your mom?"

As soon as the word "mom" was mentioned, the child finally showed some emotion other than reluctance to be separated from them, but he still didn’t speak.

Fu Huan: "He reacted to the word 'mom.'"

Gu Shiying: "He doesn’t seem to have any major issues. His skin is smooth and fair—he’s clearly well-cared-for at home."

Fu Huan: "We’ll know when his family arrives."

They had already explained to the volunteer where they found the child. By checking the security footage, they could trace his steps. The hospital was covered in cameras, and within less than half an hour, security had located the child’s ward and found his family.

While waiting, Fu Huan even took the child to the bathroom.

The two of them waited quietly. Gu Shiying took a moment to reply to Zhang Zhi’s messages, telling him about his late-night trip to the hospital due to acute gastroenteritis.

Zhang Zhi: You’re really having a streak of bad luck, aren’t you? The rest of us are fine, but you ate something that landed you in the hospital.

Gu Shiying thought to himself, nodding vigorously: *I’m thinking of going to a temple sometime to pray for good luck.*

Zhang Zhi: Sure! Let’s go next weekend. I want to pray for love!

Gu Shiying: Do you know any temples where I can pray to sever bad romantic ties?

Zhang Zhi: What, did that secret admirer of yours make a move? Did she do something outrageous?

Gu Shiying sneaked a glance at Fu Huan. *This was far more terrifying than something "unforgivable." Actually, Fu Huan hadn’t done anything inappropriate toward him. In fact, he had helped him multiple times. If it weren’t for the sudden emergence of his mind-reading ability, he might never have known about Fu Huan’s hidden feelings for him—feelings so secret they sent shivers down his spine.*

Gu Shiying: It’s worse than him making a move.

Zhang Zhi: How is it worse?

Gu Shiying: It’s just troubling.

Zhang Zhi: How awful is this person? Seems like they have poor character.

Gu Shiying: Not exactly. Anyway, it’s unsettling. I really want to deal with this soon.

Zhang Zhi didn’t notice that Gu Shiying had used "him" instead of "her," assuming it was a typo.

Zhang Zhi: Why don’t you actually get a girlfriend and parade her in front of this person?

Gu Shiying: But there aren’t any girls I like.

Zhang Zhi: There are so many pretty girls at our school. Are you really not interested in any of them? What about your high school classmates? Didn’t you like anyone? Never had a crush?

Gu Shiying thought carefully. His high school life couldn’t be called completely uneventful, but his interactions with female classmates were indeed quite plain. Some girls had confessed to him, but he didn’t feel any spark. He had never had feelings for any girl himself.

Seeing that Gu Shiying was slow to respond, Zhang Zhi added: If girls aren’t working, then find a guy!

Gu Shiying felt his heart sink at this awful idea. Just then, a volunteer came to the lounge to find them—the child’s parents had arrived.

The one who arrived was a grandmother with graying hair, likely around sixty, which was completely different from what Gu Shiying had imagined. He had assumed the child’s father or mother would come to pick him up.

The older woman kept thanking them.

Grandma said, "Thank you for helping me find my child."

Gu Shiying: "You’re welcome."

Fu Huan picked Guo Guo up from the chair and placed him in front of the grandmother.

Grandma took Guo Guo’s hand: "Guo Guo, say thank you to these brothers."

So the child was named Guo Guo.

This time, Guo Guo really looked up at the two brothers, his eyes as if saying thank you.

Grandma sighed: "Really, thank you both. I’ve taken up your time."

"It’s no trouble at all. It didn’t take much time. The important thing is that Guo Guo is safe. Bye, Guo Guo." Gu Shiying crouched down and waved to Guo Guo.

But just as Grandma was about to turn and leave with Guo Guo, he suddenly remembered the deepest concern in Guo Guo’s mind.

"By the way, Grandma, does Guo Guo miss his mom? He reacted when we mentioned his mother."

After spending half an hour with him, they also felt that Guo Guo might have some emotional struggles.

Grandma’s grateful look wavered slightly. She just looked at Guo Guo and sighed, saying nothing as she led him away.

Before leaving, Guo Guo glanced back at Gu Shiying and Fu Huan.

Gu Shiying pressed his lips together. Grandma’s silence said it all—every family has its own difficulties.

Seeing Gu Shiying standing still, Fu Huan patted his shoulder: "Let’s go."

Gu Shiying: "Yeah."

As they left the lounge, they passed by the front desk, where two volunteers were whispering about Guo Guo’s family.

"I remember, that child is so tragic. That car accident was so severe—he lost both parents overnight. His father had already passed away when they brought him in, and his mother was worked on for an hour but eventually passed too. The child was covered in blood; they say his mother protected him, so he only had minor scratches. Maybe the accident was too traumatic, seeing his parents die right in front of him—the child became withdrawn afterward and hasn’t spoken a word since."

"Yeah, it’s really heartbreaking. His grandmother is also quite old, living on a meager pension, and her health isn’t great either."

The two sighed over the tragic fate of others, but work soon pushed these thoughts aside, turning the story into just another piece of gossip passed along.

Gu Shiying’s footsteps paused for a moment. Fu Huan kept his eyes on him, noticing the change in his demeanor but not interrupting his thoughts.

Once they exited the hospital, Gu Shiying suddenly said, "I want to buy some toys for Guo Guo. Are you coming?"

Fu Huan nodded, going along with it: "Sure."

While waiting for Guo Guo’s family earlier, they had already found out which room he was in.

There was a nice shopping center near the hospital. Gu Shiying wasn’t sure what Guo Guo would like, so considering his age, he picked out some educational toys: Puzzles, Transformers, and a toy construction digger, which was currently very popular among kids.

Fu Huan paid before Gu Shiying could.

Gu Shiying didn’t want to take advantage: "Let’s split it."

Fu Huan knew his personality: "Okay."

They brought the toys back to the hospital and found Guo Guo’s room.

Fortunately, they arrived just in time—Grandma Lin was changing Guo Guo’s clothes, as they were preparing to be discharged that day.

Gu Shiying walked up with the toys: "Guo Guo, the brother is here again!"

Guo Guo’s eyes seemed to brighten slightly.

Grandma Lin: "What brings you back?"

Gu Shiying: "We felt like we clicked with Guo Guo, so we bought some toys for him."

Grandma Lin: "Oh, you really shouldn’t have!"

Gu Shiying: "Are you being discharged today?"

Grandma Lin: "Yes, I was just handling the discharge procedures earlier. I wasn’t paying attention for a moment, and Guo Guo ran off. Luckily, you found him."

Fu Huan: "We drove here. We can give you a ride home."

Grandma Lin: "But we live quite far away."

Gu Shiying: "How were you planning to get back?"

Grandma Lin: "We’ll just take the bus."

Fu Huan: "It’s no trouble. I’ll drive you."

Grandma Lin didn’t protest anymore.

They carried the toys back to the car. Fu Huan picked up Guo Guo with one arm and the toys with the other.

Gu Shiying grabbed the toys: "Let me take those."

Fu Huan didn’t argue, instead using his free hand to help Grandma Lin with her daily necessities.

Gu Shiying: "..." *So he hadn’t even planned to compete.*

Grandma Lin was moved and flustered: "You two are really... oh, this is too much trouble for you."

Once in the car, Gu Shiying sat in the back with Grandma Lin and Guo Guo.

Fu Huan asked him: "Should I drop you off at school to rest first? I can take them home."

Gu Shiying: "I’m fine. No need. Let’s just take them home."

Fu Huan knew once Gu Shiying made a decision, he was firm, so he didn’t bring it up again.

Along the way, Gu Shiying kept talking to Grandma Lin. Instead of complaining about her hardships, she shared many fun stories about Guo Guo from before.

The once lively and cheerful Guo Guo had become withdrawn because of the accident. Hearing Grandma Lin fondly recall those happier times felt even sadder than if she had vented her sorrows.

Grandma Lin and Guo Guo indeed lived quite far. Even without traffic, the drive took half an hour; by bus, it would have taken over an hour.

They helped carry their things into a small, single-story house of about 60 to 70 square meters. Grandma Lin wanted to offer them tea, but Gu Shiying and Fu Huan said they had to leave, saying they had afternoon classes.

On the way back, exhausted from all that happened since last night, Gu Shiying fell asleep in the passenger seat shortly after they set off.

Fu Huan reduced speed. When they stopped at a red light, he turned to look at Gu Shiying.

Gu Shiying was sound asleep, his hand resting on the seatbelt slipping down unconsciously. Noticing this, Fu Huan gently grasped his hand and placed it on his own thigh so as not to wake him.

*“Though he's a bit silly and soft-hearted, he's incredibly endearing. It seems I like him even more now.”*

What Fu Huan didn't know was, as he lowered his head to hold Gu Shiying’s hand, the latter’s eyelids trembled slightly.

Author's Note:

----------------------

Fu Huan: [Dog head holding a rose] Come here, honey - snuggles and cuddles~

--

Random 100 small red envelopes for rubbing~