When Only Love Remains

Chapter 22

"Hello?"

"May I know if this is Mr. Wang Yibo, the son of Mr. Wang Yong?" a lady on the other line spoke up to confirm if the number given to her is of the person she wants to contact.

Listening to this query, Xiao Zhan glanced at Wang Yibo's back before responding with a "Hmm,"

After getting the confirmation, the lady spoke further. "Sir, I am speaking from Changsha general hospital. Your father Mr. Wang is in critical condition. So, we're expecting you to be here as soon as possible."

"What?" Xiao Zhan's face turned pale as he heard about this. He had no impression of Mr. Wang that the lady spoke about. Wang Yibo never shared his family's details. And neither he said he has a father. Not that Xiao Zhan asked him for it. But, at this moment, Xiao Zhan did not know what to do.

"Sir, we ain't allowed to divulge more than this. Please visit as soon as possible." Lady informed for she knew that the identity of the patient was important. When she made sure that there was nothing to add to this information that she was asked to convey, he hung up.

"Wei? Hello? Hello?" Xiao Zhan still tries to be oblivious to the fact that the call has ended. For a moment he couldn't believe what his ears heard. It was Wang Yibo's voice that brought him back to this world, "ZhanZhan, who was it?" Wang Yibo asked.

Xiao Zhan took in a deep breath before speaking, "Someone from Changsha general hospital called. She said your father is in critical condition. We should hurry back."

Listening to this transpired piece of information, the bicycle comes to an unforeseen halt with the screeching sounds of tires. Appraising the situation at hand, Xiao Zhan tightly hugs his best friend, thinking that other needs his backing. But, what arises from his best friend's mouth sends Xiao Zhan to shocking hell.

"Feihua! Nothing will happen to that person. It is all his tactics to call me by his side for no good reason. This is not the first time I am receiving calls like this. He has always been like that after my mom's death. Whenever I have an important concert or shooting, he always finds some or the other reason to force me into meeting him. Now that tomorrow I have a concert to participate in, I can say with surety that this must be his other try at maneuvering me into giving up my profession as an idol. This time, I am definitely not falling for his lies of sickness again."

These cruel words coming out of Wang Yibo's mouth for his own father held Xiao Zhan's mind at bay. He did not know what Wang Yibo's father did for Wang Yibo to hate him so much. However, there was still 1 out of 100 possibilities that this time the news wasn't bogus. What if Mr. Wang is seriously ill this time? He tried to reason with Wang Yibo, "But—Yibo, what if—"

Nevertheless, Wang Yibo did not let Xiao Zhan complete his reasoning, he spoke up to cut Xiao Zhan's words, "There ain't any what if, Xiao Zhan. He always fakes those nonsensical health issues, and when I visit him, he blows off his façade and begs for forgiveness." Wang Yibo says with an impassive voice as if he has no emotional attachment to his father.

"Be-begs?" Xiao Zhan stutters as he wasn't able to comprehend Wang Yibo's feelings right now. Wang Yibo had always concealed his family's past. Whenever someone, especially Xiao Zhan brings up the topic of his parents, Wang Yibo always used to find random topics to circumvent the conversation about his family. Also, Wang Yibo has not informed Xiao Zhan of the real reason behind his arrival in China. So, the death of Wang Yibo's mother is all new to him.

"Yes, forgiveness." Wang Yibo starts as he couldn't bear to hide things from Xiao Zhan. Till now he had masked his pain effectively. Yet now, in this given situation, he couldn't dodge his best friend's enquiries. And if he were to ignore them again, his loyalty in friendship would be questioned.