Hanguangjun- The Waiting

Lan Institute

When Ian opened his eyes, he was no longer in a dark cave but rather a well-lit room. A boy sat beside him patiently with an expressionless face. He had extremely light eyes and an irresistible face. He wore a pristine white three piece suit with a pale blue tie. His silky black hair went down to his shoulders and was kept from falling on his eyes by a pale blue headbamd with clouds printed on it.

"Hello. How long was I out?" Ian asked in broken Chinese.

"Three days," the boy replied without a change in his face.

"Where am I?" Ian asked again.

"This is the Lan Institute." the boy replied in the same tone.

"Lan Institute- the premier medical institute specializing in music therapy using ancient musical instruments?" Ian asked, a bit taken aback.

The boy nodded imperceptibly. "The same."

"You were the one playing the guqin!" Ian expressed.

"Who else?" the boy replied.

"Where's Chenqing, I mean my di zi?"

The boy briefly glanced to the side of the bed. There the flute remained seated on a side table. Ian picked it up and examined it for any damage.

"Where did it find you and when?" the boy asked, his face devoid of any expression. Ian understood him to be talking about the di zi.

"I found it when I was a kid. I was visiting my hometown in Hubei." Ian answered.

"What about Suibian?" the boy questioned.

Ian looked at his hand. He was fully clothed now.

"Your clothes were torn in the fall. Only the writing on the arm was seen," the boy explained.

"I was in my rebel phase. My parents were forcing me to learn Chinese. So, to piss them off I just tattooed Whatever on my arm," he explained.

The boy slightly shook his head. "Why name it Chenqing?"

Ian smiled, thinking of his di zi. "It called out to me from a stall. I asked my father to buy it. He kept it locked up till I was a teenager. When we were united it was finding my old flame all over again. I picked it up and started playing a tune from my head. That was the tune you were playing in that cave. Does it have a name?" he asked.

"It's called Wangxian. It is an ancient song about two lovers. One of whom died and the other waited for a long time," the boy explained.

"By the way, what's your name?" Ian asked.

"I am Lan Zhan," he replied.

"Wei Ying, English name Ian. I am scheduled to join Soochow university as a professor of anthropology next week. So, your family runs Lan Institute?" Wei Ying asked.

Lan Zhan smiled shyly. "Yes. It's a pleasure meeting you Wei Ying," he replied.

Ian smiled. He was not used to people calling him by his Chinese name. But that name sounding from his lips was familiar. He noticed the cast on his legs.

"So it's broken? " He asked casually.

Lan Zhan gave a curt nod.

"It's a clean break though. Should heal relatively quickly, " A young woman spoke from the door.

"Sorry for eavesdropping but I was already on my way in to check up on the patient when I heard that you were having a discussion, " A woman not much older than Ian spoke. She wore a white doctor's coat and a tag on it gave out her name as Lan Yangyang.

"Are you my doctor? " Ian asked with enthusiasm on seeing the pretty woman.

"I am. I had actually arrived in Suzhou not long back. We have met before if you don't remember. I interned under Mrs. Wei in Connecticut, " Yangyang offered.

"Are you the Chinese student who gifted her a jade tea set?" Ian asked.

Lan Yangyang smiled broadly and nodded.

"Then I'll leave you to catch up, " Lan Zhan said, getting up.

"Hey Lan Zhan", Ian stopped him. " Do you know where my phone went? " He asked.

Lan Zhan shook his head. "It was destroyed in the fall. You can use mine, " He said, taking out an iPhone.

Ian waved his hand. "No, no, no. I don't want to read your naughty texts. I just need to let my fiancee know that I am alive. I am sure the hospital can allow me to have a call, " He insisted.

Lan Zhan blinked. "My family owns the hospital, " He replied bluntly. "If you don't want to use my phone, you should wait to be discharged, " He declared.

Ian stared after him in awe. Is the guy serious. Ian turned to the doctor. "When do I get out of here? "

"Mr. Wei, you hit your head really hard. We had to put you in an induced coma for the swelling in your brain to go down. You have just recovered. I would suggest at least seventy two hours of observation starting now. As for the cast, it will take three weeks but you are good to go without taking it off, " Yangyang explained.

Lan Zhan stood behind her listening to it all. "You heard that bro? Seventy two hours more. That's six days. My fiancee is going to go crazy. Can you just give her a call and tell her that I am alive? " Ian begged.

Lan Zhan nodded, taking his phone out again when Wei Ying narrated the number. The phone rang. A woman answered in English. Lan Zhan swallowed hard and looked at Ian before answering in fluent English himself.

"Wow, your English is better than mine and it's my first language, " Ian complemented.

"She didn't ask how you were. She only asked when you'll be back and if you can be back in time to join on Monday, " Lan Zhan informed.

Wei Ying nodded without a bit of surprise.

"Shouldn't she be more concerned about you? " Lan Zhan questioned narrowing his eyes.

"I'm Chinese. I am not used to people showing me concern, " He replied.

"That's unnatural." Lan Zhan commented.

"Welcome to my life, " Wei Ying grinned.