In the blink of an eye, April had arrived and the weather had warmed. That day happened to be April Fool’s Day, when even outrageous jokes could be forgiven. People everywhere were playing pranks on friends and colleagues, and laughter rang out all around.
A month had passed since Wang Cheng made his agreement with his grandfather. Thanks to his efforts, Yazhi had been improving steadily and business was flourishing. With Pan Zhihai holding down the fort, Wang Cheng no longer needed to visit the company every single day.
That day, Wang Cheng went to Central Hospital with Chu Yifeng.
He Ping was still hospitalized. A major operation was not something that could be performed on a whim, especially when the risks were high. Every preparation had to be checked repeatedly, since one small oversight could cause the surgery to fail. Only three days earlier had the doctors finally settled on a date: today.
He Ping had been moved to another room. When Wang Cheng and Chu Yifeng arrived, doctors and nurses were wheeling him out. Guan Meifang followed beside him, constantly comforting her son. She managed a strained smile when she saw them.
Outside the operating theater, Doctor James and Old Doctor Liu were already prepared. James would be the lead surgeon, assisted by Old Doctor Liu.
Both were leading authorities on the brain. With the two of them working together, the chances of success should be even higher than James had predicted.
“Eldest Aunt, don’t worry. The operation will definitely succeed.” Wang Cheng went over to reassure her.
Guan Meifang nodded. She had spent the past few weeks trying to encourage herself. Everyone said the chances were good, including the surgeon himself, so she knew she ought to feel reassured. Yet now that the moment had actually come, she could not stop worrying.
Time passed slowly. Guan Meifang began praying to every deity she could think of. If she had known the names of Western gods, she would probably have prayed to them too.
Wang Cheng checked his phone. Two hours had passed, but the light above the operating room still showed the surgery was under way. He stretched. Suddenly a steaming cup of coffee appeared before him. Chu Yifeng had just returned with another coffee and a cup of water. Wang Cheng took the water and gave it to Eldest Aunt, who thanked him quietly.
“It’s taking a long time. How much longer do you think?” Wang Cheng leaned against Chu Yifeng’s shoulder and sipped his coffee.
“They should be almost finished.”
Wang Cheng was about to ask how he could know when the doors suddenly opened. James and Old Doctor Liu emerged one after the other. Old Doctor Liu looked visibly excited. He had witnessed and assisted with an operation he had never personally performed before, and he had been able to observe every step of a more accomplished specialist’s work at close range. The experience would be invaluable for his future research.
“Doctor, how is my son? Was the operation successful?” Guan Meifang hurried over.
James removed his mask and smiled. “Congratulations, madam. The surgery was successful.”
Guan Meifang burst into tears of joy and clasped James’s hand tightly. “Thank you!”
Afterward, He Ping was moved to intensive care for observation. As long as he passed the critical period and recovered gradually, there should be no major problems. That was James’s assessment.
Wang Cheng and Chu Yifeng were about to leave when Wang Ziyu hurried over. Her eyes brightened at the sight of Wang Cheng, and she jogged toward him. “Second Brother! How is Eldest Cousin?”
“Slow down. The floor’s slippery,” Wang Cheng said. “He’s doing very well. The operation was a success. The doctor says he should get better before long.”
“That’s wonderful!” Wang Ziyu knew her cousin was having surgery today and had wanted to come earlier, but her second brother insisted she concentrate on classes. She had therefore rushed over as soon as lessons ended. Only then did she notice Chu Yifeng, and a trace of awkwardness crossed her face.
Chu Yifeng raised an eyebrow.
Wang Cheng was paying attention to her and naturally noticed the change. He found it odd. Xiao Yu had met Chu Yifeng before, so why should seeing him here make her uncomfortable? Unless… Wang Cheng’s heart jolted. Could she really have overheard something that night?
“Xiao Yu, you’ve been back at school for quite a while. How are things going?”
Wang Cheng calmly diverted her attention.
Wang Ziyu recovered herself. “Pretty well. I’m a student council officer now.”
Jing University held elections for student council officers each semester. Wang Ziyu had performed well. Many troubling rumors had circulated about her last term, but all had eventually been exposed as other people’s attempts to frame her, including the incident involving Tang Xin.
After the new semester began, Tang Xin’s return to school had been unpleasant. Posts about her still occupied prominent positions on the campus forum. The moment other students saw her, they remembered the incident, and gossip that had only just begun to fade started up again.
Some softhearted male students defended the beautiful girl, especially after rumors spread that she had been crying in her dormitory. They argued that people should forgive when possible and stop bringing up the past. But another phrase applied just as well: she had brought it on herself. Had she not done what she did, she would never have ended up in this position.
When the student council elections began, Tang Xin predictably lost, receiving very few votes. A younger male student replaced her as head of the discipline department. Wang Ziyu, on the other hand, rose to become head of the academic affairs department. With her excellent grades, she was the natural choice.
“I knew my sister was amazing.”
Wang Cheng looked at her proudly.
Wang Ziyu blushed a little. “Second Brother, I’ll go check on Eldest Cousin and Eldest Aunt.”
Wang Cheng nodded. “Go ahead.”
He Ping’s condition remained stable. Later, Wang Cheng drove Wang Ziyu back to university and promised to tell her as soon as their cousin woke up. Wang Ning’an came after work too, and was relieved to see He Ping was all right. Guan Meifang wanted to stay at her son’s bedside so that he would see her first when he opened his eyes. Knowing she would not have the heart to cook, Wang Cheng brought dinner for both of them on his next visit, prepared with his own hands.
The following day, Eldest Aunt called Wang Cheng. He Ping had woken up. She was so overwhelmed that she broke down in tears halfway through telling him. Wang Cheng hurriedly comforted her: the important thing was that her son was awake. Shortly after hanging up, he received a call from Wang Ning’an. His elder brother could not leave work and asked him to go to Central Hospital.
Wang Cheng had been planning to go anyway. He shared the good news with Wang Ziyu before setting out.
Chu Yifeng had left earlier, because Doctor James was preparing to return to Italy. He had been away for too long, and his research institute was pressing him to come back. With Old Doctor Liu looking after He Ping, there was no need for James to stay.
After He Ping regained consciousness, Old Doctor Liu examined him and confirmed he was stable. That morning, he had been moved into a regular hospital room.
Wang Cheng managed to lose his way. Central Hospital was enormous, and on previous visits he had always gone straight to the same room. Fortunately, a nurse directed him to the other building that housed the regular ward. He Ping’s circumstances were unusual, so he had the room to himself. As Wang Cheng entered, he found Eldest Aunt fussing over the man in the hospital bed.
“Pingping, what would you like to eat? Mom can go downstairs and buy it. But the doctor said you can’t have anything hard to digest or too strongly seasoned. How about some porridge?”
“No need, Eldest Aunt. I brought porridge.” Wang Cheng entered and set the insulated container on the table. He looked at the man watching him closely and smiled. “Eldest Cousin, I’m your cousin Wang Cheng. Do you remember me?”
The man’s face showed little expression, but his gaze was as clear as purified spring water. None of its former murkiness remained. He had always been reasonably good-looking, and now no one meeting him now would guess that he had spent twenty years regarded as a fool. Hearing Wang Cheng’s question, he managed a stiff, unfamiliar smile.
“I remember you. Thank you, Cousin.”
Guan Meifang had worried that he might not remember any of them and had already asked him the same question. She had described everyone in the Wang family, dwelling especially on Wang Cheng’s household. Without their help, she told him, he would have remained confused and helpless for the rest of his life. They must always remember the kindness that family had shown them.
“We’re family. You don’t need to thank me.” Wang Cheng opened the container. “You must be hungry, Eldest Cousin. I made this porridge myself. It’s good for replenishing blood, and it’ll do you good to eat it while it’s hot.”
“Let me.” Guan Meifang took over feeding him. Wang Cheng had been coming so often lately and always bringing them food. She could hardly make him serve them as well. He Ping was still weak after surgery, and his appetite was smaller than before. After two bowls, he could eat no more. Guan Meifang finished the rest because Wang Cheng said anything left over would have to be thrown away.
Now that his mind was clear, He Ping seemed eager to absorb new experiences. Wang Cheng chatted with him for an hour and stopped only when fatigue began showing on his cousin’s face. Once He Ping had fallen asleep, Guan Meifang drew Wang Cheng into the corridor.
“Chengcheng, you’ve worked so hard visiting the hospital lately. If you’re busy, you don’t need to come all the time. I can look after your eldest cousin.”
“Eldest Aunt, it’s no trouble. I just happen to have more free time lately. Seeing Eldest Cousin recover makes me happy too. I’ve already told Mom and Dad he woke up. They said if they could get away, they’d have flown here immediately.”
Guan Meifang’s eyes reddened. “Thank you, Chengcheng.”
Wang Cheng smiled and patted the back of her hand.
Wang Cheng came again the next day, this time bringing a tablet computer. He had noticed how eager He Ping was to learn new things. A tablet would suit him perfectly. Once connected to the internet, he could search for almost anything he wanted to know. Some people even called such devices magical.
Guan Meifang felt awkward about accepting such an expensive gift. Wang Cheng convinced her it had cost very little, then showed her and He Ping how to use it, step by step. He left the instruction manual behind before departing. Wang Cheng had never expected to encounter Yuan Xia at Central Hospital. When he spotted the familiar figure, he thought for a moment that his eyes were deceiving him. They had not met in person for some time. Ever since Yuan Xia excitedly told him there was a way to have a child of his own through in vitro fertilization, they had only spoken by phone.
Yuan Xia turned at the sound of his name and looked even happier to see Wang Cheng than Wang Cheng was to see him. He hurried over. “Wang Cheng? What are you doing here? Have you come for that procedure too?”
For some reason, Wang Cheng instantly understood what Yuan Xia meant, and the corner of his mouth twitched. “No. My eldest cousin is in this hospital.”
“I’m so glad to see you. I was wondering whether I should tell you about this.” Yuan Xia did not notice his expression.
“When did you come to the capital? What are you doing here?” Wang Cheng asked.
“Three days ago, with Jiang Xuan. He had business today, though, so I came alone.” Yuan Xia seemed embarrassed to say anything further.
Wang Cheng suspected his guess had been right. He took Yuan Xia out of the hospital building and led him to a flower garden, where only a handful of people were nearby.
“Don’t tell me you’re here for in vitro fertilization.”
Yuan Xia blushed. “I am. Jiang Xuan agreed. He said Central Hospital has a special department that handles the procedure, and he’s already contacted them. I’ve been coming in for medical examinations these past two days. The doctors say it can be dangerous if your body isn’t in good condition.”
“How have your test results been?” Wang Cheng asked.
“I don’t know yet. There are quite a few examinations. I only completed some yesterday and still have more to do today.”
Wang Cheng thought for a moment. “Then I’ll go with you.”
“Don’t you have something else to do?”
“Nothing urgent. I can spare the time.”
Seeing his interest, Yuan Xia took him along. In vitro fertilization was no longer unusual. Many women unable to conceive naturally could undergo the procedure if they could afford it. What was truly extraordinary here was that the prospective parent was a man. Society was not yet very accepting of homosexuality, and the news that a man could become pregnant would cause an enormous sensation. Very few people knew about the possibility. They walked for fifteen or twenty minutes before Wang Cheng saw the building, hidden behind several tall towers. Almost no one was in sight, and the area was very quiet. A sign at the entrance warned that unauthorized visitors were forbidden. Had there not been a nurse inside, Wang Cheng would have assumed the building was empty.