\"Boss, are you alright?\"
\"How do you feel? Should I call the doctor?\"
\"Are you hungry? Thirsty? What do you want to eat and drink? I'll go buy it.\"
\"Boss lady, you gave me a fright when I saw you collapsed.\"
This time inside the private ward of Imperial Military Hospital, it was Liu Shan, Qi Li, Lin Hui and Xu Long's turn to flood the atmosphere with questions.
As the four men continue to ask Yue Ling, standing behind them, Ji Jingxu was struck in a daze. As Yue Ling's brother, shouldn't he be the first out of them to ask her questions?
How is it that he was the first to rush inside the room but was the first to be shoved behind by these grown acting like wild hyenas?
Inhaling a deep breath, he stretch his arm out and taps on Qi Li's shoulder, then Lin Hui's, then Xu Long and Liu Shan.
Feeling the light tap, all four men turn to the person and blink their eyes questionably.
Ji Jingxu glares at the four men and stuck out his right arm. Before any of them could ask questions, his hand slaps left and right like he was swapping a bunch of flies away.
Seeing this, four pair of eyes glance at one another and quickly came to an understanding.
\"Aiya! What a strong and powerful slap!\"
Liu Shan pretends to act like the slap had hit him so hard across the face and he jumps to the side.
\"Oh no! Su Wukong cannot escape buddha's palm!\"
Xu Long also puts on an act and he spins away to the side in circles like he was dancing in a field of flowers.
Watching the two assistants, it was Qi Li's turn. Not sure of what to do, he clears his throat and turn his head to the left before scooting away like he was riding a horse.
\"Too strong! This one cannot withstand!\"
Lin Hui twirls around to jump, but almost crashing into Grandfather Ji, he arch his back like a C.
His eyes met with the old man's eyes for a quick second before he clasps both his palms together and tip toes away like a ballerina.
\"May the force be with you.\"
Seeing the four idiots come to an understanding and made a path for him, Ji Jingxu moves his right hand closer to his face. He pretends to flick back the imaginary long hair he has and approach with sister with his chin high like he was noble son.
Yue Ling: \"…\"
Grandfather Ji: \"…\"
Both the grandfather and granddaughter duo watched the scene unfold with heavy eyelids. Neither were able to intervene because they were sure whether to laugh or cry at the sight of them.
\"Ahem.\"
Grandfather Ji clears his throat with a cough as he tries to maintain his composure. He wanted to laugh but could only hold himself back so the five boys could keep their dignity.
However, unlike the old man, Yue Ling burst into laughter after being unable to hold her laugh in. She was no longer laying down but had positioned the hospital bed to allow her to sit up.
No matter how serious a situation gets, she is glad to have people like this to break the tense atmosphere. With them around, she can always smile without worry.
Hearing her singsong laughter, everyone in the room also smile with her. She is like the sun that brightens one's darkened day and gives them life.
\"Jie, it's nice to hear you laugh.\"
Ji Jingxu was the first to speak. Ever since her arrival in Imperial, he has seen her smile and laugh, but not like this.
If what he did can make her smile and laugh, he doesn't mind repeating it again.
Yue Ling was finally able to calm herself down when she heard her brother's words. She looks at him with a slight frown and pursed her lip.
\"What are you saying? Don't I always smile and laugh like this?\"
\"Mm. You always have.\"
Instead of telling her what was on his mind, Ji Jingxu nods his head and agrees with her. Later when she recovers, if she asks again, he'll tell her.
*vr vr vr vr
Suddenly the sound of a phone vibrating echoes inside the room and each person looks at one another to see who forgot to turn their phone off.
Liu Shan: \"Not mine.\"
Lin Hui: \"I thought it was mine, but it's not.\"
Qi Li: \"Not mine either.\"
Xu Long: \"Mine is in my pocket, but it's not vibrating.\"
Grandfather Ji: \"Jingxu, isn't that your alarm to study for your finals?\"
Ji Jingxu: \"…\"
Hearing his grandfather put him on the spot, Ji Jingxu slowly turn his head and cast the old man a glare full of fury.
Due to his mix schedule between studying and training, he had set different ringtone alarms and vibrations to differentiate them. However, never did he think the old man would pay such close attention to each sound.
\"Jingxu, is what yeye say true?\"
Yue Ling asks with a serious look. She could see his cheeks turning red, so she didn't smile because she didn't want to embarrass her little brother.
\"Tsk.\"
Hearing her question, Ji Jingxu click his tongue in annoyance and frustration at the old man. He reach inside his pocket and shows his phone to his sister.
\"See. What study? Grandfather is getting too old that his hearing has gone bad.\"
Yue Ling wasn't bother by his attitude as it was normal between Ji Jingxu and Grandfather Ji.
She looks at the boy's face then to the bright screen on his phone.
Her brows slightly furrow, and she leans in more as if to see better. Pointing her finger at the phone, she points to each word as she read it aloud.
\"Reminder to self. Study for finals or I will disappoint my cranky old man.\"
\"…\"
Hearing her words, Liu Shan, Lin Hui, Xu Long and Qi Li arch their brows and eyes widen in shock.
Grandfather Ji is a highly distinguish figure in Imperial and yet, Ji Jingxu actually consider him as a cranky old man.
Good thing its them who heard this and not the media.
Ji Jingxu stood like statue unable to move a muscle. His jaw dropped to the floor and his eyes fell out of their sockets.
He cannot believe that it was really his reminder alarm to study and his older sister actually read it aloud!
Oh! My! God!
Without putting his face back in place, he struggle a hard gulp and slowly turn his head to look at the quiet old man.
Grandfather Ji's head was turned towards Yue Ling, but his eyes were glaring with dagger at him. The old man's expression was as if saying, 'So now I'm a cranky old man?'
How he (Ji Jingxu) wish so badly to cry but lack the tears to shed. How he wish a hole would magically appear so he can hide in it.
However, unable to do either of the two things, he was left with only one choice. Run.
He quickly shove his phone into his pocket and force a grin at his older sister.
\"Jie, once I finish studying, I will come back to visit you again if I am still alive.\"
Turning to face the old man, he sounds a sarcastic chuckle.
\"Old man, don't look for me when you come home.\"
Without waiting for a response, he turns away and rushes out of the private ward like his life depended on it.
His older sister is fine, so he doesn't need to worry about her. Right now, his biggest problem is how is he going to deal with the old man at home.
Should he hide in his room?
No, that won't work. The old man knows how to unlock the door.
Maybe he'll ask Ting or Liangcai and the others to hide him again.
Yes, he'll do just that.
