ABOES 41: Agreeing to Treatment

Chi Yunxing froze for a second.

He knew Duan Zhiyan had grown up with Chi Xiwen and had known him since infancy so calling him “Ge” wasn’t unreasonable.

Still…

Chi Yunxing pressed his lips together and stared at Duan Zhiyan, who was smiling at him.

The request had come too suddenly. He wasn’t prepared for it at all, and for a moment, he truly couldn’t get the words out.

Just as he was hesitating, unsure whether to deflect, Chi Xiwen’s displeased voice rang out beside him. “Who asks someone to call them Ge like that?” He shot a glare at Duan Zhiyan, pulled Chi Yunxing into his arms with one broad sweep, and said, “Besides, Yunxing’s my little brother. What does he have to do with you?”

Duan Zhiyan glanced at him and let out a chuckle like he had just heard something amusing. “Nothing to do with me?”

He took a step forward, slapped Chi Xiwen’s hand from Chi Yunxing’s shoulder without hesitation, and said with open provocation, “Chi Xiwen, need me to remind you who Yunxing called Ge first when we were kids?”

“You—” Chi Xiwen’s face immediately darkened.

Seeing the two about to argue, a soft laugh came from behind Chi Yunxing.

He turned his head and saw Tan Yao’s lips curled into a smile.

“You two really haven’t changed a bit,” she said as she stepped forward, separating them and pulling Chi Yunxing to her side. “Argue all you want, but don’t scare our Yunxing!”

“I wasn’t arguing,” Chi Xiwen grumbled. “Why would I argue with him?”

Duan Zhiyan kept smiling, though he was still staring at Chi Yunxing while speaking to Chi Xiwen. “Right, you can’t win, so of course you won’t argue.”

“You…” Chi Xiwen choked, wanting to retort, but something seemed to stop him, and he finally said, “Forget it. Not worth it.”

The atmosphere in the room lightened considerably.

Chi Yunxing watched the banter between the two, and the corners of his lips couldn’t help but curl up.

Duan Zhiyan caught that smile and his gaze softened.

Since Grandma Chi was still resting, the group moved out to the corridor to sit.

Duan Zhiyan asked Tan Yao about her condition.

Tan Yao replied it was the same as always. After a pause, she glanced at Chi Yunxing standing beside her and smiled. “But now that Yunxing’s back, I don’t think she’ll want to go just yet.”

Everyone agreed wholeheartedly.

It was still a heavy topic, so Tan Yao quickly changed it, sharing amusing stories from when Chi Xiwen and Duan Zhiyan were kids.

Chi Yunxing listened with great interest, occasionally sneaking glances at Duan Zhiyan when he thought he wasn’t looking.

Of course, Duan Zhiyan noticed every time but chose not to say anything.

When Chi Yunxing went to the restroom, Duan Zhiyan took the opportunity to ask about what happened at the police station the previous day.

It had caused quite a stir, and the related hashtags were still trending online.

After Yu Jun spoke out, public outrage escalated. All blame had turned toward Ye’s parents and Xia Huaiming.

Some netizens even speculated that the so-called engagement between Ye Xinian and Xia Huaiming might’ve been a result of Ye’s parents taking a one-million-yuan payoff from Xia Huaiming, essentially “selling” Ye Xinian.

From the looks of it, Xia Huaiming had just wanted to mess around with Ye Xinian, not expecting him to take it seriously and even show affection on a variety show.

The online analysis grew increasingly detailed, and the angrier netizens became, the more sympathy they showed toward Ye Xinian.

They flooded Xia Huaiming’s Weibo with scathing comments, and Xia Group’s stock hit its limit-down overnight.

Everyone’s mood soured as the subject came up.

Chi Xiwen finally said, “Everything else can be handled. What matters now is getting them to confess.”

“They haven’t confessed yet?” Duan Zhiyan frowned.

“No,” Chi Xiwen nodded. “But it’s just a matter of time. We’ve got enough evidence—they won’t get away. It’s just… the longer they delay, the longer Yunxing has to wait to change his household registration and name.”

That was what the whole family cared about most.

When Chi Yunxing found out yesterday that he couldn’t immediately change his name, he hadn’t said anything, but everyone could tell he was disappointed.

Duan Zhiyan fell silent for a moment before saying, “I’ve got an idea.”

Chi Xiwen looked at him. “What are you thinking of doing?”

Duan Zhiyan didn’t elaborate.

Not long after, the nurse came out and told them that Grandma Chi was awake.

The sedative dose had been small, so she hadn’t slept long.

The moment she woke up, her hoarse voice asked, “Yunxing… where’s my Yunxing?”

The nurse rushed to fetch them.

Chi Yunxing immediately stood and went into the room.

The others followed closely. Chi Xiwen, fearing complications, called the attending physician just in case.

Grandma Chi was much calmer now, but the moment she saw Chi Yunxing, she still couldn’t hold back her tears.

Seeing her cry made Chi Yunxing feel even worse. He hurried to her side and held her hand. “Grandma, I’m here… don’t cry, okay?”

She gripped his hand tightly and said nothing, just letting the tears fall.

Chi Yunxing’s heart ached, and his eyes turned red.

When she saw his teary eyes, she gently asked, “Why are you crying, sweetheart? Did someone bully you?”

Chi Yunxing choked out a laugh and shook his head. “No, I’m just happy to see you.”

Grandma Chi tried to sit up, and Tan Yao and the nurse quickly helped her.

Through it all, she never let go of Chi Yunxing’s hand.

Even with her vision blurred by tears, she smiled and said, “I’m happy too… You’ve grown so much while I wasn’t looking…”

Chi Yunxing took a tissue from Chi Ling and gently wiped her tears.

He wanted to say something to comfort her, but a sob escaped instead.

He bit his lip and swallowed it down.

Though still emotional, Grandma Chi was clearly doing better than before. She would cry, then pause to talk to Yunxing.

She reminisced about his childhood, then imagined how happy Grandpa Chi would’ve been.

“I never thought I’d be luckier than that old man. I got to see Yunxing before I go… He’ll be so jealous when I see him on the other side!”

The whole room had red eyes after that.

“Mom!” Chi Ling couldn’t help calling out.

Grandpa Chi hadn’t lived to see Yunxing return. That was their deepest regret.

He had doted on Yunxing to the point of indulgence.

When they found out Yunxing had been kidnapped, Grandpa Chi collapsed on the spot. It took him a month to recover.

Though strong before, his health steadily declined afterward.

Even minor ailments piled up and became serious.

In his final illness, doctors warned them to prepare, but he clung to life, saying, “I dreamed of Yunxing. He said, ‘Grandpa, I’m coming home soon.’ So is he back?”

No one answered him. After a long silence, Grandpa Chi sighed and murmured, “Yunxing, you little liar…”

From then on, his health worsened.

Despite the pain and countless medical tubes, he refused to go home. He wanted to hold out until Yunxing returned.

He endured, day after day, until he could bear no more.

When the doctors finally removed the machines, he gave a long sigh of relief.

He passed away peacefully, saying only one thing as he held Grandma’s hand over and over again.

“Yunxing…”

***

Chi Yunxing could no longer hold back. His tears poured down as he clutched Grandma’s hand.

“Grandma, Grandpa’s already gone, but you… you can’t leave me too…” His throat tightened, “I just got back… You don’t even know about my job yet, or what I’ve been doing all these years… You can’t leave now…”

“I don’t want you to go…”

His sobs escaped.

Grandma, eyes swollen, reached out and gently wiped his tears.

“Don’t cry, my star, don’t cry…”

Chi Yunxing shook his head, letting the tears fall.

Tan Yao came over and said softly, “Mom, you don’t know, Yunxing’s a celebrity now! He’s so popular. So many young girls adore him. He’s acted in tons of dramas, you haven’t even seen them yet!”

“And now that he’s finally home, you haven’t even made him your signature dishes. How could you bear to leave?”

“Let’s get better, okay? Once you’re healthy again, Yunxing can stay by your side more often.”

A tear slipped from Tan Yao’s eye and landed on Grandma’s hand. “Please, Mom, let’s treat the illness properly…”

Chi Xiwen also came forward, “Grandma, please get better. When you’re well, I’ll drive you and Yunxing on a trip. You love roses, right? Let’s go to Bulgaria or maybe Yunnan—it’s closer. We can take so many photos together.”

“Mom, please,” Chi Ling said hoarsely. “We’ll all be with you.”

Even Duan Zhiyan’s eyes turned red. He smiled and added, “Grandma, just think. Grandpa loved Yunxing so much. If he knew Yunxing was back, wouldn’t he want you to stay and be with him longer?”

That seemed to strike a chord.

She turned to the others. “The old man… would want that?”

“Of course,” Tan Yao said tearfully. “He definitely would.”

Chi Ling nodded firmly.

Chi Xiwen added, “Maybe Grandpa would want you to stay long enough to see Yunxing graduate college and even get married.”

The resolve in Grandma’s heart finally wavered. She looked down at Yunxing, who was crying like a child.

Heart aching, she took a tissue and shakily wiped his tears.

“Don’t cry, Yunxing, don’t cry… Grandma will listen. I’ll listen to all of you, so please don’t cry…”

Chi Yunxing, with eyes red, asked hoarsely, “Really?”

“Really.” Grandma’s voice trembled. She gazed at her precious grandson who was lost for so many years and finally home.

She couldn’t bear to leave him. Not now.