108 Talking to her
“Hi,” Han Zixin smiled at An Qinyan when he saw her.
An Qinyan smiled at the boy as she patted his head. “Ah Xin, how are you?”
“I’m good, Auntie,” Han Zixin replied when he saw how weak the woman was looking. The dark circles below her eyes were prominent. He passed the coffee that Han Nanxian had brought for him and Song Xueyun, “Do you want to have coffee?”
“Such a good kid,” An Qinyan softly said as she took the coffee and gestured to him to follow her if he wanted to see An Xiulan from the close. When they reached the room where An Xiulan was sleeping, she said, “Talk to her. Maybe, she will wake up after listening to you.”
“Is she still in a coma?” Han Zixin whispered, his brown eyes flashing with apparent worry.
An Qinyan shook her head. “The doctors said she is out of coma. Last night, she was running a high fever and so she is still sleeping. Talk to her for a while, I will be back soon.”
Outside the glass door, Song Xueyun and Han Nanxian were witnessing the scene where Han Zixin was talking to the sleeping An Xiulan. Since they were divided by the door and a wall, they couldn’t hear what he was talking about.
“Nanxian, do you think their friendship will last?” Song Xueyun asked in a worried tone. “Lu Xuan hates Han Zixin’s guts. In the end, Lu Xuan and An Xiulan are twins. Who would she chose?”
“You are worrying in vain,” Han Nanxian replied. “It’s Lu Xuan’s problem. He hates everyone. Why must we be worried about a hateful boy?”
Song Xueyun pursed her lips as she refrained from making any comments.
When the visiting hours were over, the three of them left for home. Han Zixin’s dormitory had closed by that time and he has no option but to let Han Nanxian send him to their grandfather’s place.
“Don’t you think it’s better to stay at grandfather’s place if you want to meet your friend frequently?” Han Nanxian suggested while waiting for the teenage boy to burst out but when he saw how Han Zixin didn’t try to spout acid or ignore his existence, he pushed his luck, “If you stayed with grandfather, Mr Han wouldn’t force you to come back to Han house. I know you will never return there. If you don’t want to be forced, grandfather is the safest option.”
Han Zixin didn’t react but he was listening to everything. That day when An Xiulan dragged him to her house, his sperm donor had come to school to order him to move back to the mansion but he was able to dodge back from making the decision that day. However, he didn’t know for how long he could do that.
Grandpa Han was thrilled to receive both of his grandsons for dinner. He was even more thrilled when he found out that they came together. He was so pleased as he imagined that their relationship was becoming less sour.
At this moment, Han Zixin was bewildered. Was he missing Little Blockhead so much that his feet took him to her house? But when he saw his grandfather coming out of the Villa next to An Xiulan’s, he understood what was happening there.
His grandfather and An Xiulan were neighbours? ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀꪶ
How come he didn’t know?
“Housekeeper Wu, ask the kitchen to add a few more dishes,” Grandpa Han ordered as he brought both of them inside and began giving them the tour. He showed the boys the room that he had prepared for Han Zixin and grumbled how sad it was.
“Grandpa, I agree to live with you,” Han Zixin whispered.
Han Qian looked at Han Nanxian in astonishment. “Ah Xian, what did he say? I think I’m imagining things?”
Han Nanxian burst into a bout of laughter and said, “Grandpa, Han is coming home. Don’t ask him too many questions or he will change his mind.”
“He dares!” The old man said and ran from there to make proper arrangements before his grandson changed his mind again.
Later, the three of them had dinner together.
“What’s with your brother today?” Han Qian whispered as he saw how quiet Han Zixin was all this while.
“His best friend is in hospital. He is just sad, ” Han Nanxian explained and the old man sighed.
“It’s good that he has returned home. I can look after him well, “Han Qian replied. “You brat, now that your little brother has come here, you will start visiting the old man again. Before him, even you never missed me.”
“Yeye, you know how busy my schedule is. I will be appearing for the college entrance test in a few months,” Han Nanxian began acting pitifully with his grandfather.
“Fine. Fine,” Han Qian rolled his eyes. “I’m a happy man today. Even if I die, I won’t have any regrets. Oh no, I can’t die without seeing An Xin living well.”
“You are just getting sentimental, Yeye,” Han Nanxian sighed.
“What do you know, grandson,” Han Qian took a deep breath and uttered, “The mess your father had created is not easier to clean. I wish I had taught him well. If I had given him good upbringing, Ah Xin wouldn’t have experienced what he did.”
“I’m sorry, Yeye,” Han Nanxian apologised.
Han Qian’s eyes softened as he saw his grandson’s bowed head. “It was never your fault, An Xian. You were so young. Ah Xin didn’t blame you for what your father did to him. He is just hurt by lies. One day, he will understand the reason behind your selfishness. We, humans, are selfish when it comes to people we love. You loved him the most in this world. You lied to have him by your side. One day, he will understand you.”
Han Nanxian stared at the starry sky and prayed for that day to come sooner.
Perhaps, his grandfather’s words would come true one day…