Chyou ran inside the hospital at full speed despite the passing nurses' warning to go slow. But she didn't care. She took a turn at the corridor and finally saw Yating sitting on a bench opposite a ward. Beside him was Butler Mo.
She breathlessly came up to him and took a seat by his side. "Yating."
Butler Mo looked taken aback. "Miss. Zhu."
Yating, who had his head lowered in his hands, slowly looked up. "Chyou..."
Chyou felt her chest squeeze. His eyes looked red and haggard as if he had aged by years. His handsome face was now marred with grief. She felt her eyes ache too but she wanted to be strong for him.
She gently held his hand and squeezed it in her palm. Her delicate fingers wrapped themselves around his knuckles, providing warmth to his cold hand.
"You don't have to look so low and gloomy Yating because Uncle Rong will be all fit and fine in no time, okay? So cheer up or he will feel extra sad to see his son like this."
Butler Mo wiped the corner of his eye.
Yating stared down at her hand holding his and felt a little strength seeping into his heart. He slightly trembled as the tips of his fingers also attempted to hold her back.
Chyou pursed her lips and gently wiped the tear off his eye threatening to fall. "Uncle Rong will be fine, Yating. My heart knows it."
"It's all my fault, Chyou. If I hadn't gone home tonight then Dad would have been fine. I knew he looked tired yet I forced myself."
She glared at him. "What is this self-deprecating nonsense am I hearing? Since when does a son have to feel guilty about meeting his father?"
"But I met him to ask him about...what Cheng Yin said tonight."
"Cheng Yin? What did he say?"
Xiaosi arrived a minute later too, catching on to the last part that Yating said. His gaze fell upon them holding hands and he threw a look at Chyou.
Chyou felt it and looked up. "What?"
He calmly withdrew his gaze. "Nothing."
He then looked back at Yating for an answer. Butler Mo came forward and hesitantly answered it. Xiaosi's eyes slightly widened as he heard the tale of incidents that happened until now.
He averted his gaze for a moment, contemplating Cheng Yin's behavior. He kept his thoughts to himself and glanced at Yating. He patted his head and smiled. "You aren't wrong, Yating. It was fine to ask Gu Rong."
He threw a bewildered look at Butler Mo, who had his gaze lowered.
So was it only me who didn't know about Dad's condition...?
The doctor furrowed his brows. "It also seems that he has been skipping on his medicines."
Butler Mo said, "Indeed...sometimes Master Gu can be careless. I do my best to make him take his medicines on time but he just doesn't listen."
He shook his head. "He has to follow his medications on time or such attacks can become frequent. He needs to be aware of his health and not take unnecessary stress."
As the doctor left, Yating faced Butler Mo with hurt and betrayal reflecting in his irises. "Uncle. Since when has Dad not been keeping well?"
Butler Mo hesitated but he knew there was no use of hiding things now. "It's been ten years now..."
Yating was in disbelief. "And I am getting to know about it now?"
He quickly said, "Master Gu didn't want you to be worried for him so-"
"Worried? I am his son for God's sake! Dad has been suffering from a serious heart condition all this time and none of you thought that I deserved to know about it?"
"Young master..."
"Just how many things have you been hiding from me? First his health, now there is something about Mom and his past that I don't know about. Was he treating me more as a stranger than his son?" He gritted his teeth.
"No, no! Young master! Please don't misunderstand Master Gu."
Xiaosi came forward and firmly held his shoulder. "I know you feel hurt and be sure to scold your father to death once he wakes up. But he really needs you now. Just stay with him inside."
He bit his lip hard.
Chyou nodded. "Yes, yes. I will also join you in scolding Uncle. But right now, you should be with him."
Yating took a deep breath and nodded. He slowly walked inside the ward. Butler Mo bowed. "Thank you so much, Mr. Zhu..."
Chyou frowned at her father. "Do you know everything?"
Xiaosi glanced at her. "Not everything. Bits and parts of it. So I can picture what must have happened. But I never insisted Rong to tell me about it. It was his secret which now...
Yating needs to know. It's high time."