Unexpected Second Chance at Love

"Old man!"

Ji Jingxu’s voice echoes throughout the hospital corridors and enters through the cracks of the door leading to a private ward. He burst open the door as he knew he had entered the right room.

He stood at the door and stares at the scene in front of him. However, unlike the strong tone of his voice, his lower lip trembles and his eyes turn moist as if the tears in his eyes were holding for their dear life in order to not fall.

"Grandfather..."

Inside the private ward that is furthest to the back of the hospital, Zhong Yang stood at the side while Doctor Dong sets up the IV on Grandfather Ji, who laid awake on the bed.

When they heard the young man’s voice, all three men turn to look in the direction of the door.

"Jingxu, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at school?"

Grandfather Ji was surprised to see Ji Jingxu at the hospital. He doesn’t sit up as his body was too exhausted but tries to keep a calm and strong appearance in front of the boy. However, anyone can hear how hoarse his voice had become and see the rims of his eyes redder than usual.

He wanted to tell Zhong Yang to take Ji Jingxu home, but seeing the boy on the verge of crying, he couldn’t bring himself to do such a thing. He sighs a very faint smile and wave to the boy.

"You don’t have to worry about me. I am alright now."

He spoke with a smile, but inside, he was torn into pieces. He never wanted Yue Ling or Ji Jingxu to see him in such a weak state like this.

Zhong Yang had told him about what happened. He (Grandfather Ji) doesn’t remember everything, but he can remember he was going to finish his medicine. However, before he knew it, his vision blurred with flashes of white then everything went dark.

By the time he regained conscious again, he was already in the hospital. Luckily, he woke up minutes before Ji Jingxu arrived. Who knows what the boy will do if he didn’t wake up?

Ji Jingxu stares at the old man. He press his lips tightly together to keep it from trembling as his fists clench at his sides.

He inhales a deep breath and strides inside the room. Stopping in front of an empty chair, he plops down.

"Old man, I’m going to stay here with you. School can wait."

He spoke in a tone full of arrogance, but he didn’t forget to use both his hands to wipe away the tears in his eyes.

He knows that school is very important, but no matter how important it is, his grandfather means more. If he doesn’t spend time with the old man, he will no doubt regret it later.

Grandfather Ji wanted to refute Ji Jingxu’s words, but he hold himself back again. He is always the one telling Ji Jingxu to go to school and do good, but now that he knows he doesn’t have much time left, he wants to spend time with Yue Ling and Ji Jingxu as much as possible.

"Fine, you can stay here today, but tomorrow, you have to—"

Before he could finish his words, his eyes shook when they landed on another figure at the door. However, unlike Ji Jingxu’s figure, this person was taller and carried an aloof aura.

"Lu... Lu boy..."

Lu Tian had long been standing at the door. He could have made a sound but decided to keep quiet. When he heard Grandfather Ji call him, he nods his head in greeting.

The look on his face was expressionless like he had known about the old man’s health. However, only God knows what he is really feeling at this moment.

Every time they met, Grandfather Ji always held a strong and healthy appearance. It was like nothing in the world can bring the old man down. However, the him right now, is laying on the hospital bed and looked so weak and fragile.

Is this really the same old man who trained and watched over him from a young boy until now?

Met with Lu Tian’s faint unsettled look, Grandfather Ji was put in a tough situation. He heaves a long sigh and looks at Doctor Dong then Zhong Yang.

"Everyone wait outside. Let me speak with Tian alone."

Doctor Dong nod his head in understanding. He moves to help position the bed so that Grandfather Ji was sitting up, then leaves the room.

Standing not too far behind Ji Jingxu, Zhong Yang force out a heart aching smile. He looks at Lu Tian then back to the old man.

"I will be outside. If you need anything, just call for me."

Grandfather Ji didn’t need to answer as his assistant already knew his answer. He looks to Ji Jingxu and he sighs a smile that reach his eyes.

"Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere."

Hearing those words, Ji Jingxu’s eyes turned moist again, but he force back the urge to cry. He abruptly stood up and looks up at the ceiling to keep himself from crying.

"If you dare to go anywhere, I will not forgive you."

Without waiting for the man to reply, he turns away and strides out of the room with Zhong Yang following behind.

Grandfather Ji stares at Ji Jingxu’s back and he sighs inside. Even though they do not have the same blood running inside each other, Ji Jingxu’s personality was no different from his when he was younger.

Both of them were stubborn and often hid their pain through tough words.

As the room cleared up, Lu Tian calmly close the door. He walks over to the chair Ji Jingxu had been sitting and takes a seat.

"When?"

Grandfather Ji parted his lip to speak, but before a sound could escape him, Lu Tian spoke first. He doesn’t find the boy rude as this was something normal between them.

He chuckles in response then heaves a deep sigh. He doesn’t know how Lu Tian found out about his illness, but since he is here, he (Grandfather Ji) knows that he cannot come up with some excuse. After all, this is the boy he trained himself and one of the few people he has difficulty reading.

"Five years ago."

His word fell and he looks away from Lu Tian. His gaze locks with the foot of the bed where the blanket covered his feet.

"But it was only recently that my health started to take a turn for the worst."

When he first learned about his illness, he thought everything will be fine as long as he kept a healthy lifestyle. However, within the passing years, he could feel himself becoming weaker and weaker.

It was then that he realized his time was shortening each day

He smiles a smile that did not reach his eyes. It was a smile full of heartache and guilt. One that showed he wasn’t ready to leave behind Yue Ling and Ji Jingxu.

"I don’t have much time left."