Time slowly clicked as the sun set in the distance. The clear sky above is now transitioning with rays of redness as a black Mercedes parks in front of the Ji Mansion and the driver side door opens.
Zhang Yong steps out of the car and walks to the other side to open the back door. As his figure nears the door, it was suddenly open, but slowly.
"Chairman."
He quickly but gently pulls the door open to help Old man Ji out of the car.
Old man Ji stretch his arm out and stops Zhang Yong from further advancing. He slowly gets out of the car and looks up at Ji Mansion.
"I can still get out of the car by myself. Don't make any suspicious movement that will alert the workers here and Jingxu."
"Mm."
Zhang Yong could only nod his head and stand on the side. Staring at the man who has aged in front of him, memories of the past flash in his mind.
The brave and strong soldier from back then has grown old…. and he is glad to have to grown old with that man.
After the young miss came to visit and left to Imperial Military Hospital, an urgent call came from Ji Corps. They had to leave the mansion to the company, only to find out that the other Ji members are slowly advancing in the dark.
If the old man doesn't persuade Yue Ling into taking over the business…..
"Zhang Yong."
Hearing his name called, Zhang Yong broke out of his thoughts. He looks to Old man Ji and sees that the old man was already in front of the mansion.
With a sigh, he closes the car door and walks over to old man Ji.
As they enter the Ji mansion, Housekeeper Hu greeted them at the door. Old man Ji nod his head to the man, then he looks around the house.
"Where is Jingxu?"
Housekeeper Hu smiles to the man, "The young master is in his room."
"Mm.."
Old man Ji didnt stay downstairs for long, he needed to go to his study room. There were some important matters he needed to discuss with Zhang Yong.
When old man Ji took his first step on the second floor, he couldnt help but feel something was out of place. He just couldnt figure out what it was.
His head turn to the right of the hallway. Looking at Jingxu's room, he sees the door closed. Usually the boy only closes the door when he is either studying or sleeping. Thinking of how the school semester is coming to an end, Jingxu must be studying.
Without much thinking, he looks away and continues on to his study room. As he nears the door, another throbbing pain erupted in his heart.
The space between his brow crease into three lines . He stares at the door and couldn't bring himself to enter the room.
"Chairman, what is it?"
Zhang Yong's voice from behind brings Old man Ji back from the unknown feeling inside of him. He shook his head and force a chuckle.
"Ha ha, this one was just thinking."
Ignoring that tight pain in his chest, he turns the door knob and opens the door.
Darkness engulf his view as the blinds to the windows were kept shut. No light came into the room. From behind Zhang Yong takes a step to the side to turn the switch for the lights on.
"Ahhhh—!!!"
Grandfather Ji suddenly gasp in surprise and Zhang Yong yelp in shock. Both old men stare unblinkingly at the the scary black figure sitting on the floor at the end of the study room.
Slowly moving forward, old man Ji used his 'qinggong' to silence his steps. Like a soldier creeping up on his enemy's base, his moves were quiet and swift. As he nears the scary black figure, he sighed and his body loosen. He pat his heart and glares at the figure.
"Jingxu, why are you in here and sitting like that? You almost gave yeye a heart attack."
"…"
Sitting on the floor, Jingxu never moved from his position. His head lowered and he stare down at his lap like a sleeping drunk man in the alley.
Old man Ji frown when he didnt hear a response from the boy. He takes a few steps forward and squat down.
"Jingxu? Are you sleeping?"
"Why…"
Hearing the low mumble from the boy, Old man Ji's heart relaxed even more. Nothing is wrong with the boy. He stretch a hand out to pat the boy on the head and he smiles.
"Why? Because yeye does not want you to sleep on the floor. What if you catch a—"
"Why….?"
Before the old man could finish his words, Jingxu's head slowly lift up and he stare straight into his grandfathers eyes with his red eyes.
Seeing the shade of red in the boys eyes, old man Ji was struck with worrieness. Both his hands grab the boy by the shoulders and he gently shook him.
"Jingxu, what happened? Did something happen to you? Tell yeye, yeye will make sure that person perish from the word!"
"…"
Jingxu did not say a word but stare at his grandfather like a person whose soul had already left his body. As he continue to stare at the old man, he finally came to realize how much the old man who took him in has grown.
Wrinkles he had not notice before can be seen. Even the once gray hair had become white….
The old man….. when did he become this old…..
"Jingxu?"
Old man Ji was now worried. Never has he seen Jingxu act this way before. Usually the boy was always loud and picking fights with him. Even when he saw Jingxu at the hospital, the boy did not act this way. He gently shook the boy again.
"Jingxu?"
Hearing the worry tone in the old man's voice, Jingxu's bottom lip tremble and a single tear slowly slid down from his left eye.
"Why would you keep it a secret from us….."
Seeing the tear fall from his grandson's eyes, old man Ji swore it was as if his heart had stopped beating. He pat the boy on the head and he smiles a faint smile.
"What secret? What are you talking a—"
Before he could finish his own words, his eyes without paying attention looked down to Jingxu's hand. It was then that all words he wanted to say stuck at his throat.
Didn't he put the paper away? How did Jingxu find it?
He slowly reach for the paper, but then he stops himself. His eyes slowly close and he takes a deep breath.
This isn't how he wanted neither Yue Ling or Jingxu to find out…
He opened his eyes again, he looks at Jingxu and he pats the boy on the head again.
"Yeye is sorry."
Hearing the words, Jingxu stare in disbelief at the old man next to him. He had hoped everything was a lie. Why cant this be a dream? If it is, please let him wake up from it right now.
However, the longer he stare at his grandfather, tears began to fall one after another. Soon, his expression became disheveled, nothing like the handsome young man he is. His quiet sob turned into a dreadful wail.
Standing at the door, Zhang Yong couldnt hold his tears in and he silently cried with Jingxu. He is already in so much pain knowing that the man who gave him a second chance in life is leaving this world.. Now seeing Jingxu this way, he knows the boy is in even more pain than he is….
Old man Ji looks at Jingxu and he felt that god was not being fair to him and his grandkids.
This was the reason why he didnt want to tell Yue Ling and Jingxu about his illness. After he saw Yue Ling cry in darkness for Shin, he didn't want either of his grandkids to cry for him.
However… it's too late now…..
"Yeye does not have much time left…"
Hearing the words, Jingxu lower his head and clench his fist as he cries over the dreadful news.
"Does Jie know?"
"Only Zhang Yong and you."
Jingxu abruptly glares at Zhang Yong for keeping this hidden, but seeing the old man crying, Jingxu couldnt bring himself to be angry. Knowing his grandfather, the man must have told him to not say anything.
He looks at his grandfather and without any words, he stands up and rush out the door.
"Jingxu!"
However, before he could even move, old man Ji grabs him by the hand. He stare at the old man with his red eyes as tears continue to fall.
"Why? Why?! Jie has the rights to know!"
Old man Ji lower his head and shook his head. As much as he wants to tell his granddaughter, what will he say? He is her only blood relative left in this world who cares about her… To tell her that he is dying, how much pain will that bring to her?
He lift his head and looks at the crying Jingxu. How his heart ache so much for his two grandkids. Who will be their elder once he leaves? Who will look after them and guide them in life? Who will protect them?
"I will tell her when the time is right. Promise me, you will not say anything to her."
Jingxu clench his fist tighter and turn his head away from his grandfather. His lips press tightly together and he looks back at the old man.
"Fine, but if you don't tell her soon, I will."
Without waiting for a response from the old man, Jingxu shook his arm away from his grandfather. He then turns to leave the room.
He had only agreed because he respects the old man. If it wasn't for that line of respect, he would have crossed it and tell his Jie…..
Entering his room, he did not turn the lights on, but closed the door and leaned against it. His body slowly fall to the floor and he continue to sob in silence.
'Jie…'
