Chapter 81: Seeing Xiao Fangqi

　　In the corridor to the ICU, the head nurse stopped Su Ling with a grave expression. “The patient has regained consciousness, but he’s been through a severe trauma and is extremely wary of strangers. Are you sure you want to go in?”

　　The young patient in Bed Seven woke up at around one in the morning. Disoriented and frightened by the unfamiliar surroundings, he thrashed about in panic. It took the night-shift nurse and the on-call doctor quite some time to soothe him and bring his distress under control.

　　The two men before her were devastatingly handsome. Just one glance from them was enough to send her heart racing. But the head nurse was a woman of principle. No matter how wild her thoughts ran, she never slacked off when it came to her duties.

　　She had to keep the patient stable and ensure no accidents occurred under her watch.

　　“He should remember me.” Su Ling gave a gentle and amiable smile. “We met at the animal hospital, and I stepped in to stop his adoptive mother when she was scolding and hitting him.”

　　Today was the day he would finally get to see Xiao Fangqi. No sooner had they finished lunch than he eagerly grabbed Lin Feng’s hand and headed for the hospital. They found a bench in the corridor and waited patiently until visiting hours began at three.

　　Though he understood the head nurse’s concerns, his desire to see the child was too strong to ignore. He was determined to enter the ward, confident that Xiao Fangqi would not push him away.

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　　Tears welled up in Fang Qi’s eyes. A soft whimper slipped from his throat, faint as a wounded kitten’s cry. He tried to turn, but the restraints held him fast.

　　“Don’t move, it’s okay,” Su Ling coaxed gently, brushing a hand lightly over the boy’s arm. “The nurse was afraid you’d hurt yourself, so she had to restrain you to the bed for the time being. It’s okay. Don’t be scared. You’re in a hospital now. Rest well, and you’ll get better soon.”

　　“… Big… Brother…” Fang Qi’s voice came out as soft and fragile as a kitten’s mew, while tears trickled down his cheeks like gentle raindrops, shimmering as they fell.

　　Su Ling blinked, his heart tightening with a sudden ache. His eyes stung as he gripped the child’s small hand firmly. “It’s okay to cry. Let it all out. From now on, I’ll protect you, and no one will ever hurt you again.”

　　“Waaah… Big Brother… Waaah waaah… Big Brother… it hurts… Waaah…” The child’s cries poured out like a dam breaking, sobbing so hard he gasped for breath.

　　Su Ling froze, completely at a loss. Just then, the day nurse rushed in and urged, “Quick, calm him down! He’s crying so hard, he might not be able to breathe!”

　　“Oh, okay.” Su Ling gently stroked the child’s head. “No more owies, no more owies—I’ll blow them all away!” Puff, puff!

　　He blew softly twice onto the child’s head. “See? The owies are gone! I’ve blown them all away.”

　　A warm, gentle hand stroked the top of his head, and the tension in Fang Qi slowly melted away. As Su Ling’s voice reached his ears, calm gradually replaced the turmoil. His large, tearful eyes stared intently at him as if desperate to hold onto his presence.

　　“Does he have to stay tied up like that?” Su Ling inquired, concern etched into his voice.

　　“That depends. If he keeps thrashing, we might not have a choice,” the nurse replied.

　　Su Ling glanced down at the little boy and asked softly, “You won’t struggle anymore, right?”

　　“Mm-hmm.” Though only five, Fang Qi sounded surprisingly mature for his age. “Big Brother, please don’t tie me up. I promise I’ll be good.”

　　Turning to the nurse, Su Ling said, “He’ll behave. Can you take the restraints off now?”

　　The nurse hesitated. “I’ll need to check with the doctor first.”

　　Just moments ago, the child had woken up, refusing to let anyone touch him and crying uncontrollably. But now, he had suddenly become so sweet and well-behaved, it tugged at Su Ling’s heartstrings.

　　“Sorry to trouble you,” Su Ling noted.

　　With that, the nurse stepped out to find the doctor.

　　Su Ling pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped away the tears on Fang Qi’s face. “Once you’re all better, I’ll take you home.”

　　At the mention of “home,” Xiao Fangqi shook his head vigorously. “I don’t want to go home! I don’t want to!”

　　Realizing the child had misunderstood, Su Ling quickly clarified, “We’re not going back to that bad woman’s house! You’ll come home with me, to my house, okay?”

　　“Your house?” Fang Qi blinked up at him, his eyes teeming with anticipation.

　　“I’m your great-uncle,” Su Ling corrected, pointing at his own nose. “You’re not an orphan, Xiao Fangqi. You’ve got me, your great-grandma, great-grandpa, and loads of family!”

　　Fang Qi looked utterly baffled, clearly not understanding a word Su Ling had just said.

　　“Big Brother!” he insisted.

　　The way his little face tensed up in protest looked just like an adorable version of Lin Feng. In an instant, Su Ling’s heart practically melted into a puddle.

　　“Alright, alright. Big Brother it is,” Su Ling chuckled, playfully tapping the boy’s little nose.

　　The attending physician arrived, carefully examining Fang Qi’s mental state before nodding in approval and giving the go-ahead to remove the restraints.

　　Finally free, Fang Qi tried to turn over, but with a fractured wrist and multiple soft tissue traumas, even the slightest movement sent searing pain shooting through him. He wailed, “Waaah!” and broke down in tears once more.

　　“Shh, don’t cry. Our little Fangqi is a brave boy, isn’t he?” Su Ling cooed gently. “Once you’re all better, I’ll take you to the amusement park, alright?”

　　Xiao Fangqi sniffled and held back his tears, looking heartbreakingly pitiful.

　　Su Ling wiped his tears away and murmured softly, “You have to be good and listen to the doctors and the nurses, okay?”

　　“Mhm… I will…” Fangqi whispered, gazing up at him with longing as if reluctant to let go.

　　Unfortunately, ICU visits were limited to just thirty minutes. As soon as time was up, a nurse came by to gently usher visitors out. As such, Su Ling had no choice but to rise from his seat.

　　The moment Xiao Fangqi realized he was about to leave, he panicked and flailed against the blankets.

　　“Big Brother, Big Brother, don’t go!” he cried, his voice trembling.

　　“You’re such a good boy, Xiao Fangqi. But you’re very badly hurt right now and need to stay in the hospital to get better. Once you’re all better, you can go home,” Su Ling explained, holding up his pinky finger. “I pinky promise I’ll come visit again tomorrow.”

　　Fang Qi sniffled and hooked his pinky with Su Ling’s. “You… you won’t lie to me?”

　　“Of course not!” Su Ling assured him with a smile. He thought for a moment, then removed a chubby penguin keychain from his bunch of keys and placed it in Fang Qi’s hand. “How about I let this little penguin keep you company?”

　　“Okay,” Fang Qi replied, gripping the penguin tightly.

　　“You’re so brave, Xiao Fangqi!” Su Ling praised him warmly. As the child gazed at him with a mixture of hope and longing, he reluctantly stepped out of the room.

　　The moment he stepped outside and saw Lin Feng waiting in the corridor, he flung himself into his arms, pressing his face into the curve of his neck like a child seeking comfort.

　　Lin Feng ran a soothing hand along his back. “What’s wrong?” he asked in a whisper.

　　Su Ling shook his head and pulled away. “Let’s head home. We’ll come again tomorrow.”

　　“Alright.”

　　As they headed toward the lift lobby, they brushed past three or four people who looked like reporters.

　　Su Ling frowned. “They’re from the provincial radio station.”

　　Lin Feng shared, “I just spoke with the attending physician. Fang Qi’s condition is relatively stable. If it stays that way after one more day of observation, he can be transferred the day after tomorrow.”

　　Su Ling raised an eyebrow, surprised. “Transferred?”

　　“Yeah, to Lin Clan Hospital.”

　　“That’s good to hear.”

　　Lin Family Hospital was equipped with cutting-edge technology and staffed by top-tier doctors. Since it was their own family’s hospital, it felt all the more secure and trustworthy.

　　Although reporters from the provincial radio station were allowed inside the hospital, the ICU remained strictly off-limits. All they could do was film from the doorway and conduct interviews with the attending physician and a nurse. Frustrated and unwilling, they had no choice but to leave.

　　As soon as the news aired, Fang Qi’s name shot back up the list of trending topics on Weibo. The online debate reignited, with netizens hurling opinions from every direction.

　　“What’s going to happen to the child now? Does he really have no family left? Don’t tell me they’re sending him back to that awful adoptive mother!”

　　“No way, an adoptive mom who abuses her kid should go to jail, right?”

　　“I hope they throw that adoptive mother behind bars soon! The world’s better off with one less scourge like her!”

　　“A friend of a friend found out that Xiao Fangqi actually still has family in City H.”

　　“Really? Are you sure your friend’s info is accurate? It better not be some made-up rumor!”

　　“It’s definitely not a rumor! All of Xiao Fangqi’s grandmother’s relatives are still alive, but they just seem unwilling to come forward.”

　　“Wait, what about his mother’s side? Like his grandparents or uncles? Why hasn’t anyone from that side come forward either?”

　　“Word is that his mother was an orphan.”

　　“You’ve got to be kidding. You actually expect me to believe that a top student at B University is an orphan?”

　　“It’s true! I was a classmate of Xiao Fangqi’s mother. She really was an orphan and had been supported by Xiao Fangqi’s grandmother since she was little. Xiao Fangqi’s parents grew up together as childhood sweethearts, and their love was so strong that they got married while still at university. They were the golden couple of our department! [Image.jpg]”

　　Attached to the comment was a photo of several students in graduation gowns, leaning close and striking goofy poses. Among them, a tall, handsome young man was carrying a stunning girl in a princess carry, both laughing with pure joy. It was none other than Fang Qi’s parents.

　　Below, hundreds of replies poured in, with thousands more hitting the Like button. Eventually, that comment stood proudly pinned at the very top.

　　“A match made in heaven! It’s a pity that they’re taken too soon. Sigh, let’s light a candle for them.”

　　“Still, don’t you think it’s a little inappropriate to post a photo of the deceased like this?”

　　“Is it just me, or does Xiao Fangqi’s dad look like a certain someone?”

　　“Who are you talking about?”

　　“Yes, yes, yes! Is it him? [Image.jpg]”

　　After a shower that night, Su Ling flopped onto the bed and started scrolling through Weibo. His thumb paused as he came across a trending comment thread. He tapped the image and was instantly greeted by Lin Feng’s attractive face.

　　The image was clearly a screenshot from a video. Lin Feng wore a straw hat and held a Chinese ricefish in his hand. A smudge of dirt streaked his face, yet it did nothing to diminish his striking good looks.

　　“Hey, you’re right! This person does look like Fang Qi’s dad!”

　　“Wait a sec… If I’m not mistaken, this is my idol’s husband!”

　　“If I’m not wrong, he’s the CEO of Lin Enterprises!”

　　“Why do these two total strangers look so much alike? Are they related somehow?”

　　“Loads of people in this world who look alike, but that doesn’t mean they’re related. Besides, one’s surname is Fang, and the other is Lin. They’re worlds apart.”

　　Su Ling had saved the photo of Fang Qi’s parents. When Lin Feng came out of the bathroom, Su Ling sat up and handed him his phone.

　　“This is Elder Brother’s son. Don’t you think he looks like you?”

　　As Lin Feng towel-dried his hair, he reached out to take the phone and studied the faces in the photo intently.

　　“He looks like my brother.”

　　Su Ling questioned, “Do you have a picture of your brother?”

　　Lin Feng sat on the bed and answered, “It’s at the ancestral home. You’ll have to ask Mum for one.”

　　Su Ling lay on his broad back as the two of them stared at the phone screen. “Life is so unpredictable. What happened to your brother’s family… It’s heartbreaking.”

　　The entire family had passed away in the prime of their lives, leaving Xiao Fangqi all alone in the world. Had fate not brought them together, Xiao Fangqi’s future would have been just as bleak, if not worse.

　　Just the thought of him all alone in the hospital erased any chance of sleep for Su Ling.

　　“What’s going to happen to that family? Have the police said anything?” he ground out through clenched teeth. “We absolutely, absolutely can’t let them get away with this.”