Chapter 16: Father and Daughter
After listening to professor Xie’s words, Ning Qiu Tong stood rooted to the ground.
She
really wanted to ask professor Xie if her father’s illness could be cured.
However,
when she slightly opened her mouth with trembling lips, she realized that she
was unable to mutter a single word.
Is
there still a need to ask?
Although
she did not understand some of the medical terms that professor Xie has used,
but just by judging from the situation, there was no need for professor Xie to
explain.
Ning
Qiu Tong stood on the spot as two clear drips of tears flowed down her pale
face.
In
that instant, she thought back to the time when she was young.
Her
mom left early and it was her dad who brought her and her sister up hand by
hand.
As
time went by, their living standards improved. However, her father was often
outside due to work related reasons. Hence, leaving her and her sister alone in
this cold and spacious house.
Therefore,
when she grew up, no matter how busy she was, she would always go home at
night.
It
was because she did not want her father to feel that sort of loneliness.
Due
to her family issues, Ning Qiu Tong became a strong and independent woman when
she grew up and it gradually made her realized the importance of family love.
Her
father was very strict; Whenever he says one thing, it means just that.
Sometimes,
however, he would comply with her little temper and let her act willfully.
Eventually,
Ning Qiu Tong grew into an adult. Although she has not gotten married and
become a proud mother, but she started to experience what kind of feeling her
father has towards her and her sister.
That
was like a familial love for someone with the same bloodline…
Suddenly,
as if she thought of something, Ning Qiu Tong took a deep breath and calmed
herself down.
She
gently wiped off the tear stains and with a straight face, she sincerely asked
professor Xie, “Professor Xie, when can we begin the treatment?”
“It’s
better to start as soon as possible. I will make a call to the hospital now and
prepare a special ward…”
Saying up till here, professor Xie pondered for a while before continuing,
“However, I suggest Miss Ning and Mr Ning to prepare yourselves mentally. His current
condition could not be achieved in just a mere one to two days. Hence, I
suspect that Mr Ning long knew of the illness and so as not to worry you, he
did not tell you all.”
“I
understand. Thank you, professor Xie.”
Ning
Qiu Tong solemnly nodded and turned to look at the door.
Come
to think of it, dad is still in there comforting Qing Xue not to worry.
…
… …
I
suddenly turned over the ink on the scene, smeared the poems like the old
crows.
Father
really pity mother, but his foolish giggle embarrassed people.
…
… …
“Goose,
goose, goose. She is singing towards the sky, with her beautiful neck bending
in such a lovely curve. Her pure white feather coat floats on the jade green
water. Her red feet stir crystal wave on the lake surface!”
Chen
Xi carried the little kiddo while sitting on the sofa, and taught Nian Nian the
Tang poem word for word.
Nian
Nian was already 4 years old and she should start to recognize some words.
She
was very smart, in less than a whole afternoon, she has already memorized the
‘Song for the goose’.
When
the little kiddo finished reciting the entire poem, she excitedly burrowed into
Chen Xi’s chest and smiled, “Papa, am I good at it?”
“Good!
Nian Nian is so smart!”
Chen
Xi kissed his daughter and smilingly said, “Papa will teach you another poem.
Repeat after me… Two yellow orioles sing in the green willows.”
“Two
yellow orioles sing in the green willows.”
The
little kiddo articulated every single word and sentence after Chen Xi while
clapping along.
“A
flock of white egrets surge up the blue sky.”
“In
my window is framed the snow-capped peak of Mount West.”
Close
by my door are moored boats from faraway Wu.”
While
Chen Xi was patiently teaching his daughter poems, a foreign ringtone suddenly
rang out.
Chen
Xi paused for awhile, thinking that it was Aunty Zhang’s phone.
However,
he suddenly realized that it was his phone.
Chen
Xi immediately placed the little kiddo aside and grabbed the phone that was on
the table.
“Hello,
is this Chen Xi?”
Lin
Xuan’s voice came from the other side.
Maybe
she has heard the little kiddo’s clear voice, Lin Xuan immediately laughed.
Without
waiting for Chen Xi to reply, she directly said, “The day after tomorrow,
sunday. I’ve already confirmed with everyone. You have to be there.”
“Ah
sure thing, sorry for the trouble.”
“Remember
to bring Nian Nian along. Let them see how cute you and Ying Ying’s daughter
is. She will make them envious to death.”
Chen
Xi thought for awhile before laughing involuntarily, “Sure, I will bring Nian
Nian along when the time comes.”
After
that, the both of them had a few casual talks before hanging up.
Chen
Xi placed down his phone and when he glanced down, he saw that the little kiddo
was secretly leaning against him so as to listen in on the conversation.
Chen
Xi carried his daughter and rubbed her nose while purposely putting on a
straight face and asked, “When did you learn to secretly listen in on papa’s
conversation?”
The
little kiddo pretended to not know of it and laughed loudly, “Papa, where do
you want to bring Nian Nian?”
“I’ll
bring you to see the big sis from that day, okay?”
Hearing
that, the little kiddo immediately pouted and unhappily said, “Not okay. Big
sis beat papa, she is a bad person.”
“Big
sis was kidding with papa. Actually, she is a nice person and really likes Nian
Nian.”
“really?”
“Of
course it’s real, will your papa lie to Nian Nian?”
“Okay
then. Nian Nian can play with her,” The little kiddo pretended to be aloof and
said.
Looking
at his daughter’s proud and lovable appearance, Chen Xi immediately broke out
into bouts of laughter.
…
… …
Affiliated
Hospital of Zhong Hai Medical School. ICU acute ward.
Ning
Zhong Guo changed into a patient’s clothes as he sat on the bed, somewhat
helplessly looking at the emotionless Ning Qiu Tong.
To
be honest, he had long thought of this day.
It’s
just that, he did not think it would come so sudden.
“Qiu
Tong ah…why don’t, we go home? You see that there’s also nothing wrong with me
normally, I can even eat and exercise. There’s no need to make such a big issue
out of it, right?”
Looking
at his daughter’s ice cold expression, Ning Zhong Guo’s tone was no longer as
strict as before.
That
negotiating tone, it was as if he was a child who had done something wrong and
was nervously waiting for his parents to berate him.
“No.
We will go home when the surgery is done.”
She
glanced at her father, whose back was stooped while sitting on the hospital
bed, shaking his head and laughing bitterly.
Although
her expression was still ice cold, her heart was bleeding profusely.
Since
when did her father show such an attitude in front of her before?
The
more Ning Zhong Guo was like this, the clearer Ning Qiu Tong understood him.
Her
father knew about his health all along, it was just that he was hiding it from
her.
Since,
at this moment, she already knew, there was no need for her father to hide it
anymore…
Looking
at her father who had seemed to age, then looking at his inability to cover up
anymore, and then at him showing his helplessness for the first time…
Ning
Qiu Tong’s heart was really torn into pieces…
The
ward was slightly quiet as the father and daughter stared at each other.
Finally, Ning Zhong Guo retreated in defeat.
He
shook his head and softly said, “Alright then. I will sleep first. Call me when
professor Xie is ready.”
“Okay.”
Ning
Qiu Tong emotionlessly nodded her head and turned around to walk out of the
room.
And
at that moment when she turned.
Ning
Qiu Tong burst into a warm bout of tears.