Lunch passed with ease, leaving Lu Tian to drive Yue Ling back to De L'amour. As the couple went on to finish their work at Imperial Military Hospital, Ji Jingxu stood inside the private room with his head down.
He stares at the floor with unblinking eyes. He couldn't remember how he got here.
He could only remember staring down at a bloody Deng Xian before three teachers pulled him away, and he noticed Zhuang Li.
Before he could ask how his friend arrived at the library, time seemed to have sped up, and he was already at the hospital.
"Jingxu, are you listening to me?!!"
Grandfather Ji's voice thundered inside the room, and he lifted his head to look at the old man.
He could tell from a glance that the old man was angry. However, knowing he was in the wrong for fighting, he nods his head instead of arguing back.
"Yes, sir."
Grandfather Ji was indeed fuming with anger. He had just finished getting his blood drawn when he received a phone call from Ji Jingxu's school.
He thought something had befallen his grandson and answered the call, but to his surprise, Ji Jingxu had got into a fight.
When he heard the principal's words, he wanted to storm into the school and find out the reason. However, with his condition and Doctor Dong's eyes on him, he could only send his assistant, Zhong Yang.
He stares at his grandson, and the burning rage inside him deflated.
Ji Jingxu stood in front of him with a calm posture, but the boy's cheek was bruised and injured on the forehead.
He inhales a deep breath then exhales.
"Why did you get into a fight? Were you being bullied at school?"
Ji Jingxu averts his eyes from the old man. He thinks about how to answer when Grandfather Ji's words sound again.
"Why didn't you tell Ah Ling or me?"
Grandfather Ji felt a sense of pain crawl inside him the more he looks at Ji Jingxu. He admits he may have been tough on the boy, but he cares deeply for him.
He never once thought Ji Jingxu was being bullied at school because he (Ji Jingxu) never once showed any signs. If he had known, he would have stepped in and stopped the bullying.
However, he only found out because Zhuang Li was involved in the fight, and Zhuang Xie Li had told him.
"Were we so undependable that you didn't want to tell us?"
Ji Jingxu looked at the old man when he heard those heart-piercing words. His chest tightens, and he clenches his fists to suppress his inner feelings.
He squeezes his eyes shut but, unable to hold in his feelings, drops onto his knees.
"I didn't want to trouble neither you nor Jie."
His eyes gradually open, and he stares at the floor in front of him.
"You both are always doing so much for me and put me first. I thought that by making this my problem, I won't be a burden to you or Jie."
Grandfather Ji was agonized to hear his grandson. He slowly gets down from the hospital bed and walks over to the boy.
He doesn't help Ji Jingxu up, but instead, he lowers himself to his knees.
"Jingxu…"
His arms raise, and he places his palms on either side of the boy's shoulders.
"Listen to me. No matter where you go or what you do, Ah Ling and I are always on your side."
He pauses for a second before continuing.
"Whatever trouble comes your way or you get into, we will never abandon you."
The corners of his lips tremble a smile as he wanted to hold back the pain circulating inside him for Ji Jingxu.
"You are my grandson and Ah Ling's brother. You are a member of my Ji family. Your troubles are our trouble. Your enemies are our enemies. Never will you be a burden."
Ji Jingxu slowly raises his head to look at his grandfather. His vision blur from tears as his lower lips tremble before choking a sob.
"Why should I be in the wrong for hitting him? He deserves it…."
Unable to hold in the torrent feelings as he did during the fight, he joined the dark clouds over Imperial. It was as if his tears had become the rain pouring outside.
"He said you should die…."
Grandfather Ji's eyes slightly widened when he heard why Ji Jingxu had fought Deng Xian. However, seeing the boy in such a vulnerable state, he puts his arms around his grandson's trembling body.
"It's alright, Jingxu."
He gently pats the boy's back as if to soothe away the sadness that had taken over Ji Jingxu.
"What that boy said is true…."
His eyes welled with tears, his lips forming a small smile as he tried his best to blink back the tears from falling.
"You know my condition. It is only a matter of time before I have to leave this world."
Ji Jingxu shook his head in denial and held onto Grandfather Ji's shirt with tightly clenched fists. His sobs never-ceasing one bit.
"No… I will find a way… I will find a way to help you."
He had been studying ever since he found out about his grandfather's illness. He will apply to a medical school and find a treatment. Even if he has to give up everything, he will do it if it can keep his grandfather alive.
Grandfather Ji was proud to hear his grandson's touching words. However, he knew better than anyone that his life was coming to an end.
He just didn't know when.
Even Doctor Dong, who has been a doctor for many years, cannot cure him but can only try to delay his time to leave.
His arms wrapped around his grandson tightens, and a single tear slid down his eyes before another made its way.
He doesn't say anything but hugs Ji Jingxu as he silently cries with the boy.
With the limited time he has, he needs to get discharged from the hospital. Only by doing so will he be able to set a clear path for his grandchildren when he leaves.
Ji Jingxu's sobs echoed inside the room and into the hallway. He cried his heart out as if the wall he put up to block his feelings had been broken.
However, as time continued, everything soon turned into silence.
"Woof."
Inu runs into the room but stops when he sees another person replacing his second favorite person.
"Inu, wait for me!"
Following the Samoyed was Zhong Yang. The elderly man had taken the Samoyed out for a walk to give room for Grandfather Ji and Ji Jingxu to talk.
As he enters the room while trying to catch his breath, he stops when he sees Ji Jingxu lying on the bed.
"I'm over here."
Grandfather Ji's voice suddenly sounds from the side, causing the assistant and Samoyed to turn to the person.
After the tearful moment between grandfather and grandson, Ji Jingxu had cried himself to sleep. The boy must have been exhausted since he didn't wake up when the nurses came in to treat his wounds.
He only hopes that after today, Ji Jingxu will come to accept the truth that he is dying.
Inu sees the old man sitting on a chair and quietly pounce over. He rubs his head against the side of Grandfather Ji's left leg before laying on the floor.
Grandfather Ji leans forward to pat the little guy on the head. A smile appears on his face, but one can see the redness under his eyes. It was enough to let others know that he had been crying.
"Inu, you've been a good company."
He ran his fingers through the Samoyed's fur, then looked at his grandson sleeping on the bed.
"Zhong Yang."
"I'm here, sir."
Zhong Yang takes a step forward without asking any questions about what happened between his boss and Ji Jingxu.
"Notify the Deng family and Jingxu's school."
A glint of light flashes across the pupils of Grandfather Ji's eyes, and his entire persona turns into the almighty General that he is when preparing to meet his enemies.
"I will meet them in a week."
His eyes dangerously darken, and he smirks.
"I will have them taken care of along with the Chen and Qin family."
While he is still alive and standing, he will ensure that anyone who dares to stir trouble for his grandchildren will know what it is like to go against him. Not only that, he wants to make it clear that even when he is gone, no one can belittle the two people he values more than his own life.
"They will soon know my true wrath."
He looks at Zhong Yang and straightens his spine to cross his arms over his chest.
"Are you with me?"
Zhong Yang was astonished by his old friend's sudden change in demeanor. However, having followed the old man for many years, he knew what was on his (Grandfather Ji) mind.
A carefree smile appeared on his face, but his eyes held a devious glow as if he could already see the other family's downfall. He politely bows his head, and the smile he makes reaches his eyes.
"Always, sir.. Always."
