Your Distance

70 - Growth . 2

“Auntie, I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” Ting Shuang took out his phone, “This is the last message my dad sent me. He was still waiting to have a video call with me. I’m studying overseas alone and entrusted my dad to you, thinking you’d take good care of him. Who’d expect… Forget it, we’re family, and grudges shouldn’t be kept within a familyYou didn’t mean it, and no one knows who caused this… I won’t go back home, so I won’t have dinner. It’s impressive that you can still stomach any food, knowing my dad’s state…”

Before Weng Yunyi could speak, he looked towards his father’s friend, Yan Liqian, “Uncle Yan, thank you for coming to visit my dad. I still remember my dad telling me about how my elders, you, him, and my mother, started the business together when I was young… The kids of our generation really envy yours, there were opportunities everywhere, and people were also diligent. The most important things were pure intentions and the trust that people had in each other, that’s something that our generation can only hope to achieve… You definitely can’t forget that time, and the glorious years… I suddenly remembered, you even hugged me when I was a kid, do you remember?”

Yan Liqian nodded, eyes wrinkling as he smiled, “It’s been so many years. Has Lil’ Shuang graduated? There are many young children like you in the R&D department, who joined the company after graduating.”

“I’m graduating soon. It happens to be the school holidays now. Plus, with my dad like this now, I can’t put my mind at rest and go study.” Ting Shuang thought for a while, “I was thinking, how about I apply for a term-long vacation and intern at the company for six months? While I’m at it I can also visit my dad often, and when he gets better, I can accompany him… Oh yes.”

He introduced Bai Changyi to Yan Liqian, “Look at me, I was so happy to see you that I forgot to introduce an important person. Professor Bai, he’s cooperated with Roborun for several projects, and works with almost half of Roborun‘s European partners. You aren’t responsible for any projects there, but I’m sure you know him too. He came today, first to see my dad, second to propose a new project.”

The look in Yan Liqian’s eyes immediately changed, and he reached out to shake hands with Bai Changyi.

For a while, both parties exchanged greetings and their contact information before Ting Shuang and Bai Changyi left the hospital. Ting Shuang called a taxi by himself, not letting the driver send them off. Zhu Wenjia followed them out, wanting to say something, but stopping, “Ge, I…”

“You know I have a bad personality, so whatever I say may sound unpleasant.” Ting Shuang smiled, “Go back and accompany my aunt, I want to be alone with your sister-in-law.”

“… Ge, are you really not eating at home anymore?” Zhu Wenjia was really uncomfortable being caught in the middle.

“What are you thinking?” Ting Shuang patted Zhu Wenjia on the back, “When Dad’s recovered, let’s have dinner together.”

Zhu Wenjia felt better after hearing that, “Then that’ll be soon. Who knows, maybe Dad will make a full recovery in a week.”

“I think so too.” Ting Shuang said with a smile.

After getting into the taxi, the smile on Ting Shuang’s face completely faded.

The ten hours on the plane and the exhaustion of not eating or sleeping suddenly hit him, and he was exhausted both physically and mentally.

He also couldn’t care less about whether the taxi driver would look at them judgingly, and leaned on Bai Changyi’s shoulder as he usually did at home.

Maybe it was because he had been too tense in the hospital, but his head now felt dull and painful, and he just couldn’t sleep.

“… Bai Changyi, was I too much?” He asked in a low voice, “Am I too scheming? Even I feel like I’m being insidious.”