Back Then, I Adored You

“Master!” Nanny Zhang was standing closest to Old Master Gu, so she was the first one rushing toward him.

“Grandpa!” said Gu Yusheng. Holding onto one of Qin Zhi’ai’s hands, he dragged her with him as he hurried over, and she stumbled along with him.

Qin Zhi’ai had not seen Old Master Gu for more than a month, since the Gu Company’s annual party, and he seemed to have aged since then. In fact, his paleness made his face appear transparent, and his breathing was labored. Numerous tubes were coming out of the exposed areas of his body and from under the sheet covering him.

“Grandpa!” Gu Yusheng called out again. He looked up at Old Master Gu’s surgeon.

The surgeon understood without Gu Yusheng asking. He replied, “Mr. Gu is not in good condition right now.”

Qin Zhi’ai could clearly feel Gu Yusheng’s hand shaking in hers.

“We will arrange for the best doctors and nurses to evaluate and care for your grandfather, and he will be closely monitored in the ICU. Mr. Gu, you need to be prepared for any bad turn, though.”

After the surgeon briefed Gu Yusheng on his grandfather’s condition, Old Master Gu weakly called out from his bed, “Yusheng.”

“I’m here, Grandpa.” Gu Yusheng saw his grandfather trying to lift his hand to grab something. He didn’t hesitate to hold his hand out to hold his grandfather’s hand as he said again, “I’m here, Grandpa.”

Not completely conscious yet, he mumbled, “Yusheng,” a number of times before realizing Gu Yusheng was holding his hand. Once he realized Gu Yusheng was next time him, he said in a weak voice, “Yusheng, please get along with Xiaokou, okay?”

Gu Yusheng’s body stiffened. He immediately stopped repeating, “I’m here, Grandpa,” in a comforting voice.

Disappointment washed over Qin Zhi’ai like a bucket of cold water, but she quickly composed herself out of worry and concern for Gu Yusheng. She looked up at him as he still held her hand.

Gu Yusheng’s grandfather then continued to say, almost as if chanting, “Please get along with Xiaokou, okay?” Gu Yusheng watched his grandfather with lips pressed together, not saying anything.

Old Master Gu continued, seemingly to elicit a promise from Gu Yusheng. Eventually, he began breathing irregularly, and his speech became confused.

“Oh, okay? Yu? Yusheng…”

Gu Yusheng remained unresponsive and slowly turned to look at Qin Zhi’ai.

When his eyes locked onto hers, he moved his lips, as if he wanted to say something. Qin Zhi’ai looked down to avoid his stare. She pressed her lips together and, as though she’d made a final decision, pulled her hand away.

She pulled her hand out of his so hard that Gu Yusheng’s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately grabbed her wrist.

Qin Zhi’ai’s fingers shook as she turned her head sideways so as not to look at Gu Yusheng. She then pulled her wrist out of his hand, turned around, and ran to the elevator.