Ji An asked uneasily, “Ning Dong, what do you plan to do next?”
Ning Dong reached up and covered his face. “Brother Ji An, I was forced to do that; I had no choice. I didn’t want to harm him, but he has gone too far. He had pushed my mother and me into a corner. Brother Ji An, you have to believe me. I didn’t want to do that. I had no choice. It’s all his fault! It’s all his fault!”
Although Ji An could not see Ning Dong’s face, he could hear the tears in Ning Dong’s voice. He hesitated briefly before he reached out and patted Ning Dong’s shoulder. Then, he gently said, “It’s not your fault. It’s not your fault.”
Ning Dong removed his hand from his face and looked at Ji An hopefully. “Really? Brother Ji An, do you really mean it? You don’t think it’s my fault?”
Ji An nodded. “Ning Dong, your father is too biased. He left you with no other choice!”
Ning Dong’s eyes lit up and he grabbed Ji An’s hand. “That’s right, Brother Ji An. He’s too biased. If I didn’t act, I’m afraid he would act against me. I was forced by him!”
Ji An nodded vigorously.
Ning Dong’s mood seemed to ease up a little.
Then, Ji An asked tentatively, “Ning Dong, what do you plan to do next?”
Ning Dong tensed up again before he said dejectedly, “What else can I do? I can only take it one step at a time, and see what he’ll do now that he has woken up.”
Ji An nodded. He patted Ning Dong’s shoulder again as he said, “Ning Dong, don’t be afraid. No matter what happens, I’ll support you. No matter if you need people, goods, or money, you can always look for me. I’ll support you unconditionally!”
Ning Dong was so moved by these words that he began to tear up again. “Brother, thank you! No one has ever treated me this well, including my parents!”
…
Ning Dong finally arrived at the Ning family house after enjoying a hearty meal of hotpot with Ji An.
As soon as he entered the house, his mother pulled him over and hit him heavily twice on the back. “You damned child! Where have you been? I called you so many times, but you didn’t answer your phone! Are you trying to worry me to death?”
Su Tong was so angry that tears glistened in her eyes.
Ning Dong stammered, “M-mom, I… I lost my phone again.”
“Again? You’ve lost three phones in two months!” Su Tong said, surprised.
Ning Dong lowered his head.
Su Tong softened and said, “It’s fine, just buy another one.” Then, she pulled him toward the living room as she said, “Come with me. Look who’s back!”
Ning Zhe sat on the couch while Ning Chun stood behind him.
“Dad?” Ning Dong was really surprised.
Su Tong smiled as she nudged her son. “Are you surprised? Aren’t you happy? Your dad is awake!”
Ning Dong stumbled slightly before he rushed toward Ning Zhe and kneeled by Ning Zhe’s legs. He looked up and asked, “Dad? Are you better now?”
Faced with his son’s concern, Ning Zhe smiled. He pulled his son to his feet and said, “I’m fine. People say that good fortune will come after surviving a disaster. At my age, I’ll have to rely on my son….”
Su Tong was elated when she heard these words. She did not expect the old man in front of her would obtain clarity of mind after the accident and finally learn to value his son.
Meanwhile, Ning Dong’s hand that was being held by Ning Zhe trembled involuntarily.
Ning Zhe said unhappily, “Child, why is your hand so cold?”
Ning Dong broke free of Ning Zhe’s grasp and said, “I… It’s a little cold outside…”
Ning Zhe said, “It’s cold? Su Tong, if you have time, bring Ning Dong to see a Chinese medicine practitioner. His Qi seems weak; he must be tired from studying.” Then, he turned to his son again and asked, “How’s everything? The college entrance exams are coming up soon, right? How do you think you’ll fare in the exams?”
Ning Dong lowered his head.
