Chapter 19: Lou Yingjie - Young Couple's Phone Call.

Only Lou Yingjie is in Room B115. It's a VIP room, showing that this hospital is well-accustomed to the old man's symptoms.

During the time Lou Yingjie was lying down, He Guan had already calmed himself. Standing by the bed, looking at his father-in-law, he refrained from accidentally calling him "my dad".

He took a moment to look around the room.

This is a private hospital; the rooms are spacious.

Lou Yingjie's room is meant for four people, but currently, he's the only one. It's evident the medical resources are abundant.

Lou Yingjie woke up quickly.

Standing by the bedside, He Guan waited for less than three minutes before he saw the elderly man groan softly and slowly open his eyes.

Like all elderly individuals, he had age spots and thin skin. The skin looked separated from the underlying muscles, much like the bark of a withered tree.

But his bone structure was still well-defined, he must have been very handsome in his youth.

He Guan: "Father-in-law."

Only then did Lou Yingjie cast his gaze on him, recognizing him with a steady glance: "He Guan, you sure dare to call me that."

He Guan smiled and asked, "Father-in-law, do you feel any discomfort? I performed CPR for seven minutes; you might be feeling a tightness in the chest or perhaps some pain in the ribs."

He Guan isn't the type to do good deeds without taking credit.

If he's done something, he wants others to know, or else it feels like wasted effort.

Lou Yingjie took a moment and then said, "I'm fine. So... it was you who saved me."

He Guan smiled and nodded, "Father-in-law, what made you decide to climb the mountain today?"

The old man sadly cast his eyes down, not responding.

He had the same expression as Lou Dongcang.

He Guan was momentarily lost in thought.

Seeing that the man had woken up and since he wasn't close to Lou Yingjie, He Guan plainly said, "If everything is okay, I'll be going. You must have someone taking care of you, right?"

Only then did Lou Yingjie show a significant reaction, sitting up slightly and asking, "Where are you going?"

He Guan touched his nose and said naturally, "Going home. My plan for today was to hike, and after that, go home. Thanks to you, I got a ride in the ambulance. Lou Dongcang is still waiting for me at home."

Lou Yingjie was slightly taken aback, "Are you taking care of him at Dongcang Park?"

He Guan: "Yeah. Without food or water, and without care, he would've perished there."

Lou Yingjie: "You're saying there was no food or water? Are you lying to me? Where's his nanny?"

Briefly recounting what he saw upon his arrival at Dongcang Park, He Guan explained, "The nanny tried to poison the food, but Lou Dongcang found out. The water and electricity were also cut off. I don't know who did it. Do you have any leads?"

Lou Yingjie looked skeptical: "Potassium cyanide is colorless and tasteless. How could Lou Dongcang have discovered it? You're trying to deceive an old man; come up with a better story."

He Guan, choked with emotion, replied: "... Father-in-law, you should be thankful that the dose of potassium cyanide the nanny used was insufficient. He discovered it the hard way, ingesting some and then having his stomach pumped."

Among the four siblings, Lou Dongcang is the youngest, known as the fourth.

The nanny, evidently committing her first crime, called for an ambulance before she disappeared.

After the stomach wash, the hospital, recognizing he was a member of the Lou family, directly deducted the fees from the account and then sent him home.

It seemed Lou Yingjie was completely unaware of this incident.

Lou Yingjie still seemed unconvinced: "How come I didn't know about this?"

He Guan: "..."

He Guan: "Did you visit him in the past few days? Have you asked him?"

From someone else, these words would sound sarcastic.

But when Lou Yingjie spoke to He Guan, his tone was calm and his eyes steady.

As if saying, "I went out to play today."

After a long silence, Lou Yingjie asked, "All this... the stomach wash, did he tell you all this?"

Of course, He Guan wouldn't admit he read it from a book, he simply nodded: "Yes."

Lou Yingjie hesitated, then sighed, "I didn't expect you to handle it so well. You were so eager to sign the agreement with me and you always looked like you were about to take the money and run... I must have misjudged you."

He Guan: "..."

This stubborn pride! He won't apologize or even show concern for his own child. Does he think praising He Guan will make everything alright?

After neglecting Lou Dongcang for so long, now he acts aloof with just a few words?

In the original story, a significant portion of Lou Dongcang's tragedy was due to this neglect.

Lou Yingjie is truly an enigma.

If he truly loved his children, why would he arrange a marriage for Lou Dongcang with a stranger he neither knew nor understood?

If he didn't care, why bother with afterthoughts?

In the original book, he was aware that He Guan didn't live up to the marital arrangement. Yet, he said nothing and instead sent people to rescue his dying son from Dongcang Park.

Only when the original body was ostracized by the entertainment industry, finding it impossible to remain in that circle, did Lou Yingjie appear, blocking his plans to leave the country.

Consequently, it was at the end of the book that Lou Dongcang found the original self in a rental apartment, trapped and unable to leave, nearing a breaking point.

He Guan reiterated: "If you don't need me to care for you, then I'll just..."

Lou Yingjie, still hesitant, cleared his throat; his tone notably higher when he spoke next: "How did you care for the youngest?"

He Guan hadn't expected such a question. After a pause, he replied: "I fed him, gave him water... and if you must know, I also kept a bird for him."

Lou Yingjie inquired: "Anything else? How has he been these past few days?"

He Guan responded: "Recently... he's been contemplating what to do next."

Lou Yingjie had to glean even the slightest piece of information about his son from He Guan.

"Really?!"

Lou Yingjie tried sitting up, uttered a word, but was forced back by a pang of pain in his chest.

He Guan adjusted the bed's height and suggested, "Maybe I should stay. Please wait, I'll call him and let him know I'll be coming home a bit later today..."

He Guan stepped back, intending to exit the room to make the call.

Lou Yingjie quickly added: "Could... could you make the call here in the room?"

Mid-sentence, he realized his own urgency, a feeling he rarely displayed, and awkwardly froze.

He Guan looked at him, somewhat surprised, and said, "Alright."

So, He Guan dialed the number in the room, without putting it on speaker: "Hey, Lou."

After three rings, the voice on the other end responded: "He Guan."

As He Guan had turned his back while on the call, Lou Yingjie couldn't see his expression.

The elderly man craned his neck, trying to sit upright from his bed.

— Without the speaker on, he couldn't hear the conversation.

He Guan asked, "It's afternoon. Have you eaten?"

Lou Dongcang replied, "I have."

He paused for a moment: "I've been waiting for your call for a long time."

He Guan, resting a hand on the bed rail next to him, chuckled, "Oh? Why were you waiting for my call?"

Lou Dongcang's tone was somber: "You're the only one who has my number. It's been so long since I spoke to anyone over the phone. You never call either, making my mobile purchase pointless."

He Guan caressed the bed rail, "Now that I've called, how does it feel?"

Lou Dongcang: "Over the phone, it's a bit different than in person."

He Guan: "You sound different too, hmm, slightly deeper than usual."

After a brief pause, He Guan asked, "Do you want me to call you every day?"

Without hesitation, Lou Dongcang declined: "No."

He Guan drew circles on the bed rail, "Why's that? Don't you want me to call you?"

Lou Dongcang: "Not really. Calling me every day means you'd be out every day."

He continued, "Just come home. I prefer hearing you speak in person."

The hand with which He Guan held his phone inexplicably heated up, burning hot.

... Once he gets comfortable... he becomes somewhat clingy.

Aware of Lou Yingjie's gaze behind him, and not wanting to show any reaction, He Guan changed the subject: "Right. I'll bring the speaker home this afternoon."

Lou Dongcang: "When will you fulfill your promise to call me at work?"

He Guan: "Haven't we had days off recently? I've been home. I'll start work tomorrow."

Lou Dongcang: "Then another question, when are you coming back? I'm bored."

He Guan hesitated, "..."

Turning to face Lou Yingjie, He Guan mouthed silently.

[Should I tell him I'm with you?]

The elder shook his head vehemently.

He Guan, playing along, said, "I'm still on the mountain. I'll be descending shortly. I guarantee I'll be home in two hours."

Lou Dongcang: "You have good reception on the mountain?"

He Guan quickly covered for the slip, "It's not a very tall mountain. The signal is excellent."

Lou Dongcang: "Alright then, come back soon?"

He Guan: "Mm, bye."

After hanging up, Lou Dongcang set his phone aside, revealing a chubby sparrow in his hand.

After two days of testing, he finally had his answer.

Whenever he acted sweetly, He Guan's tone noticeably softened when speaking to him.

He delicately held one of the sparrow's primary feathers, murmuring, "Indeed, it prefers the soft approach to the hard one..."

The sparrow, which had been pecking at its food, sensed his change in emotion. Enduring the pain of its feather being pulled, it chirped in alarm and swiftly flew from his grasp.

*

Hanging up the phone, He Guan said, "Father-in-law, I need to go pay an emergency fee. I'll be back shortly. Do you have your ID with you? Hand it to me."

Lou Yingjie asked, "What for?"

He Guan replied, "To check previous medical records."

Lou Yingjie behaved like a child reluctant to part with a toy.

However, with He Guan silently holding out his hand, remaining persistent, Lou Yingjie finally relented and handed it over.

He Guan knew he would comply.

Despite having four children, Lou Yingjie was often alone, but he held a soft spot for the younger generation.

After taking the ID, He Guan left. He paid at the counter and then approached the reception desk, "Excuse me, can I access previous medical records? I'm the patient's son. I was busy with work and couldn't care for him in time. I found out he was hospitalized for coronary heart disease. I'm worried he might have other illnesses."

The nurse glanced at him and first handed over a pledge form, "Here, a relationship confirmation form. Sign here to verify you're related."

He Guan skimmed through and signed it.

The purpose of this form was clear: if the signer had no blood relation to the patient and later used the medical records for illegal purposes, the hospital would not be held responsible. Furthermore, the patient's family could hold the signer accountable using this form.

It seemed like a good precaution.

He Guan handed back the form and Lou Yingjie's ID, quickly receiving the medical records.

The original records mentioned little about Lou Yingjie, only noting that he had stepped in during a few of Lou Dongzang's most critical moments. He Guan thought he was decent enough.

But now, it appeared...

Lou Yingjie was a pillar of strength.

Given that Lou Yingjie was in the early stages of coronary heart disease, he had still managed to live for another nine years. During this time, he had been commuting back and forth to care for his son.

He Guan sighed, noticing the indications of high blood pressure and an enlarged liver, feeling a pang of concern.

As people age, they become prone to various ailments, and Lou Yingjie was no exception.

He Guan also observed...

The nurse's slight surprise when he requested the medical records.

Coupled with the ER nurse's nonchalance when mentioning that it was the old man's third hospital visit that month, and how he was directly sent to the VIP ward upon arrival...

He Guan speculated that this private hospital might be part of the old man's personal assets.

He thanked the nurse, collected the identification, and returned to the room.

By this time, Lou Yingjie had gotten out of bed and was leaning against the windowsill, looking out.

The view here was splendid. Looking out from the second floor, one could see the parking lot surrounded by lush greenery.

However, the weather was slightly overcast, casting a cold ambiance.

He Guan addressed, "Father-in-law."

Lou Yingjie inquired, "Are you close with him?"

He Guan replied, "Well... certainly closer than with most."

Lou Yingjie, seemingly just emerging from some recollection, scoffed, "I stayed there for a week. He wouldn't listen to me. The moment he spoke, he'd try to head upstairs. Almost drove me mad. Marriage seems effective; just a couple of days with you, an outsider, and he's willing to talk."

He Guan squinted, puzzled by the sudden surge of anger, "In the days you were gone, no one visited him, right? You left a blind man on his own. Were you really at ease with that?"

Whenever they touched upon the topic of Lou Dongzang, Lou Yingjie's tone carried a bitterness, as if Lou Dongzang owed him something.

Why was that?

Lou Yingjie responded, "I had Jun Dua look after him."

He Guan countered, "It seems Lou Jun Dua failed in his duty. There wasn't a bite to eat in the villa, and Lou Dongzang, attempting to prepare something, ended up cutting his own finger."

Lou Yingjie turned sharply, "What?"

He Guan remarked, "This is the second time you've asked me that today. If you have the time, see for yourself."

Lou Yingjie scoffed again, "Doubting my grandson is one thing, but your insinuations that I've neglected my youngest? What are you implying?"

He Guan's expression turned icy, "I was the one who saved you. To put it bluntly, I am your lifesaver at the moment. At the very least, you don't have the right to address me this way."

He Guan could empathize.

An aging father, overlooked despite having heart disease, hospitalized for the third time, each visit possibly more precarious than the last.

A son unable to fend for himself, posing only challenges for the father.

But neither had the right to cast blame.

Both were overwhelmed with their own burdens.

Lou Yingjie was momentarily taken aback, disbelief evident, "How dare you speak to me this way?"

He Guan reminded him again, "Father-in-law. I can be a good son-in-law, but that's contingent upon your treatment of Lou Dongzang. A man abandoned by his own father will never find his way."

"It's not him rejecting you; it was you who abandoned him on the day he lost his sight."

He Guan was pressing Lou Yingjie to yield.

Only if Lou Yingjie relented first would there be a chance for Lou Dongzang to improve.

He Guan perceived that Lou Yingjie was a sensitive old man with a deep-seated sense of insecurity.

Not to mention that despite having four children, none were frequently by his side. His need to keep wealth firmly within his grasp indicated an excessive desire for control that wasn't conducive to interpersonal relationships.

Lou Yingjie, not wanting the family structure to collapse, sought a competent successor. Hence, he was extremely stringent with Lou Dongzang.

In his impatience, after drifting apart from Lou Dongzang, he quickly shifted his attention to Lou Jun Dua.

As a result, he lost any remaining hope Lou Dongzang had for him.

However, Lou Jun Dua was immensely ambitious.

What Lou Jun Dua sought was not mere inheritance, but a "usurpation."

Lou Yingjie didn't gain the respect he desired from Lou Jun Dua. He realized it, but now he was all in, placing all his eggs in one basket with no other options.

Until He Guan's explanation moments ago, he had been able to deceive himself.

But He Guan had no reason to deceive himself.

Lou Yingjie knew his son's nature all too well. If He Guan were lying, Lou Yingjie could instantly dispatch someone to verify the claims.

He Guan also recognized that Lou Yingjie must have taken his words to heart.

Otherwise, the old man wouldn't be looking at him now with a mixture of shock and anger.

Lou Yingjie finally managed to suppress his emotions, his voice deep as he asked, "Young man, tell me, what should I do?"

He Guan replied, "Your birthday is approaching, and Lou Dongzang will be there. All you need to do is watch."

Lou Yingjie hesitated, "...That's all?"

He Guan nodded, emphasizing, "Just that. You only need to watch."

Watch how those people prey on your son, devouring him as if he were a delicacy, casting him aside, and then returning to kick him when he's down.

He Guan continued, "I'll stay here for a while to ensure you're alright. Once someone you've called to take care of you arrives, I'll leave. You do have someone to care for you, right?"

The aging man turned away, and after a long pause, murmured, "Yes."

He Guan stood there, instinctively straightening the bed sheets, then said, "I'll go downstairs and bring some fruits up."

But when He Guan returned with the fruits, Lou Yingjie was nowhere to be found.

In the room was a man who looked like a lawyer. He handed He Guan a card, addressing him, "Mr. He."

Pointing to himself, He Guan asked, "For me?"

The lawyer nodded, "The PIN is today's date."

Twirling the card in his hand, He Guan inquired, "How much is in it?"

The lawyer smiled, "I'm not certain. You'll have to check for yourself."

He Guan remarked, "Please convey my thanks to my father-in-law."

A glint of surprise flashed in the lawyer's eyes, not expecting him to refer to Lou Yingjie as 'father-in-law'. He quickly masked it, responding, "Of course, I'll pass on the message."

Carrying the strawberries and glutinous rice with coconut he'd bought, He Guan pocketed the card and exited the patient's room. He then checked the card's balance at an ATM nearby the hospital.

Six million.

He Guan pocketed the card, smacking his lips.

Such a lavish gesture.

Afterwards, He Guan visited a smart home store and purchased a white, spherical Bluetooth speaker with a mesh design, which he quite liked.

While browsing the speakers, He Guan came across an intriguing gadget - a pet camera.

After inquiring with the staff about its operation, he decided to buy one as well.

On the way back, He Guan still opted for the bus.

Today, he wanted no disturbances, so he hadn't asked Du Junyan to pick him up.

The bus was much slower than a car, especially with frequent stops.

The station He Guan intended to alight at was the last one, spanning from the northernmost part of Huaiyin City to the western Hongqiao District, a journey exceeding two hours.

The ride was slow-paced. Initially, He Guan had opened the window, but with a drizzle starting midway, he had to close it.

Amid the persistent rain, passengers boarded hurriedly, quickly settling down to scroll through their phones, fingers swiping across screens, likely updating their families about their whereabouts.

He Guan wished he had someone to notify as well. So, he pulled out his phone, intending to message Lou Dongzang.

He had set up a new WeChat account for Lou Dongzang the day before, and they had added each other.

Whether Lou Dongzang could actually see the messages, however, was another matter.

He wondered what he might be doing at home.

He Guan opened the chat window.

​1​

He Guan clutched his phone.

Having previously activated the accessibility mode for the visually impaired, he had turned on the "always-on display". Now, even though he had disabled the accessibility mode, he hadn't turned off the always-on display.

Consequently, the screen stayed lit for twenty minutes without receiving any response.

As the sky grew progressively darker, He Guan silently turned off his phone screen.

By the time the bus reached its terminal stop, He Guan, holding the fruits he bought, realized that he was only at the foot of the mountain.

There was still some distance to the mountaintop.

After the recent rain, the plants emitted a refreshing scent of wet earth.

He Guan took a deep breath, walking leisurely with his paper bag, murmuring to himself, recalling the many landmarks and sceneries he noted on his bus ride: "DL Building, Radiant Bridge..."

He was unfamiliar with the place and needed to acclimate quickly.

By the time he reached his doorstep, it was nearing 8 p.m., with the skies turning dusky.

He Guan scraped the mud off his shoes, surprised by his late return. He activated the flashlight on his phone as he ventured inward.

As he approached the seventh entrance, he slowed his pace.

Unlike his usual dim home, tonight, the lights on the first floor were brightly lit.

Walking past the archway, taking a few steps forward, He Guan, looking at Lou Dongcang who seemed to have been waiting for him for quite some time, uttered in bewilderment, "Why are you at the door..."

He spoke very softly, but Lou Dongcang, with his keen hearing, caught it.

The person waiting for him rose from the ground, his joints popping as he said, "Didn't you send me a message?"

He Guan nodded in a daze, remembering he couldn't see, and simply replied, "Yes."

"But this new phone... I couldn't figure out how to bring up the keyboard, nor locate the voice button."

Lou Dongcang's tone remained the same, a bit chilly and always languid.

Like a restless snake trapped in a corner on a rainy day.

He aimlessly lingered at the door, waiting for his... little master who had mentioned he'd be back late.

He Guan staggered a step, but only one, then picked up his pace.

To say he wasn't disappointed would be untrue.

Arriving here, He Guan had no familiar faces, nor did he recognize the streets.

Not receiving a response from Lou Dongcang was expected.

But he had been on the move all day, spending most of his time on the road.

After performing CPR and chatting with Lou Yingjie, he was already exhausted, and he still had to carry a bunch of items along a lengthy mountain path.

Sitting on the bus and gazing out of the window, an unbidden thought surfaced.

I'm a bit tired.

Yet now, all the sorrow from the past two days — reminiscing about his late parents, hiking to relieve his emotions, envying others' happy families, and the sadness on the way — all faded in the moment He Guan recognized the figure at the door.

Someone had said they'd been waiting for him.

Right in their house.

It was a rare moment of vulnerability for He Guan. He dropped the paper bag he was carrying and, with a brief jog, threw himself into the person's embrace.

Ignoring the ache in his arms, he tightly hugged the other, exclaiming joyfully, “I'm back!”

He too now had... a family waiting for him to come home!