Previous
Fiction Page
Next
Font Size:
The person at the door has not left yet.
Zhao Ziqiang lazily lay on the hospital bed, squinting his eyes as if he were about to sleep but not quite.
He silently reasoned in his mind that the matter with Qian Wang could wait a while, but the issue with Sun Wanjue couldn’t be delayed. The boss and his wife were so genuinely kind to him, he couldn’t just watch a young person in the prime of their youth jump down this path.
What does the phrase ‘cutting the chaos with one stroke’ mean?
He gazed leisurely out of the hospital window at the streets and buildings below. He had lived in this city since birth, witnessing its gradual changes and rapid development. There were certainly many memories, both good and bad. What would happen if he were to suddenly leave?
It seems there’s nothing much to be reluctant about. With the current road conditions and traffic so good, going somewhere else is just a matter of a few hours. Thinking about it this way, developing himself outside wouldn’t be a bad idea.
After contemplating for a day and a half, Zhao Ziqiang made up his mind, and only then did he feel a bit more at ease. The only thing he felt uncertain about was his mother, but with his dad and sister looking after her, it shouldn’t be a big problem.
The hospital room has been much quieter these days, with only his family and Qian Wang present, and he hasn’t seen anyone else.
The calm in the room was mostly due to Qian Wang. Like a stern figure, after Zhao Ziqiang chased him out, he stood by the door, his cold expression keeping others away—and he really did it well.
Most of those others were usually Sun Wanjue, a boy full of vigor. After being blocked for a few days, he likely realized it was Zhao Ziqiang’s tacit approval and hasn’t come back since.
Zhao Ziqiang sometimes got bored and lost his good mood when he saw Qian Wang, and kept pushing him away.
When he asked why Qian Wang didn’t go back to school to work, the man didn’t say a word, just smiled, and then either peeled an orange or sliced an apple, as if he couldn’t communicate with Zhao Ziqiang unless his hands were busy.
In fact, Sun Wanjue was not really angry, it was just that he had actually gotten into some trouble recently, and he was so entangled that he simply couldn’t afford the time to provoke Zhao Ziqiang.
Zhao Ziqiang often felt that when Qian Wang wasn’t by the door, he could sense resentful looks and strange stares coming through the door crack. He didn’t think it was Qian Wang or Sun Wanjue. Being alone in the hospital room, even though he didn’t believe in superstitions, made him feel uneasy, and he wanted to leave as soon as possible.
Walking slowly into Zhao Mother’s hospital room and sitting down, Zhao Ziqiang hadn’t had a chance to speak yet when Zhao Mother expressed her desire to be discharged as well.
The elderly woman mainly felt that this kind of illness was incurable. What elderly people don’t have issues like high blood pressure or diabetes? As long as they took their medication and paid attention to their health at home, it should be fine. They weren’t from a wealthy family, so why waste money in the hospital?
Zhao Ziqiang thought this made sense; his mother’s life had been completely disrupted since being placed in the hospital. No one would feel comfortable being locked away in a hospital room like being in prison. So, he decided to hold off on discussing his own matters, planning to wait until his mother was discharged and he had settled her in before making any plans.
Qian Wang, not sure where he found out about Zhao Mother’s discharge, rushed over to help with the bags and even bought a lot of supplements.
The family didn’t feel awkward at all; Zhao Zili even took it for granted as she gestured and directed Qian Wang to pack their things. Although Zhao Ziqiang felt embarrassed, Qian Wang was the only strong laborer left among them, so he couldn’t really push him away.
After the group finished packing and reached the hospital entrance, just as they were about to call a taxi, Qian Wang stopped them and ran toward the parking lot.
Before long, a brand-new Toyota pulled up. While it wasn’t particularly luxurious, it was still a new car. Zhao Ziqiang, sticking to his principle of “what’s it to me,” hopped into the passenger seat without hesitation.
During the drive, Zhao Ziqiang kept thinking about how smooth the driving was, appreciating how steady the car felt. After all, it was a high-end vehicle.
Meanwhile, Qian Wang occasionally glanced at the man’s stoic face. Sometimes, he’d catch a glare, which made him laugh before focusing back on the road.
The entire journey was smooth, with not a single red light in sight, creating the impression that they were a perfectly in sync family.
Zhao Ziqiang couldn’t offer much help. After everything was placed in the house, he left the rest of the tasks to Zhao Zili. Seeing that the family was silent and each focused on their own things, completely ignoring him, Qian Wang scratched his nose and headed for the door. Just as his hand reached for the doorknob, Zhao Ziqiang finally spoke up.
“Uh, how about you stay and have a meal with us?”
Qian Wang quickly turned his head, cautiously checking the man’s expression, then swiftly retracted his foot and obediently walked over to sit on the sofa.
Zhao Ziqiang hadn’t originally planned on inviting him to dinner, but considering that Qian Wang had helped out and the pitiful sight of him looking all dejected with his head down while walking out… he simply couldn’t bear to watch.
The two sat silently on the sofa facing each other. Zhao Ziqiang was the first to feel uncomfortable; he poured a glass of water for the man and then hurried into the kitchen to help his sister prepare dinner.
Qian Wang watched as Zhao Ziqiang went to get the water, saw his retreating figure, and noticed him rolling up his sleeves in the kitchen. He felt as if something new was growing in his heart, pulsating with life. He had never realized how much he appreciated every little action of this person.
Qian Wang sat with both elbows resting on his knees, his fingers crossed and rubbing together nervously. He was desperate for this person to return—back into his arms, back to their home, and back to the life they once shared.
Previous
Fiction Page
Next