At 11 a.m., Lin Xi woke up in Duan Yiheng's arms.
She kicked Duan Yiheng under the covers, causing a shiver to run down her thigh. "You rascal," Lin Xi spat at his chest. Duan Yiheng chuckled softly, "I heard someone cursing me this morning." "This morning?"
Lin Xi rubbed her lower back, "It's probably not until the afternoon." Duan Yiheng reached for his watch on the bedside table. Lin Xi glanced at the time beside him and said, "Why didn't Sister Mei wake us?" Duan Yiheng chuckled, "I'm afraid if I did, someone would be too embarrassed."
"Get up," Lin Xi said decisively, "I'm hungry." Duan Yiheng said, "Sister Mei must have prepared something. Get dressed and wash up first." Lin Xi was so hungry her stomach was practically sticking to her back. She practically clung to Duan Yiheng's arm as they walked down the stairs.
In the afternoon, the two went to the North Courtyard to play chess with the old man. The next day was the same. Since Duan Yiheng took over Yinfan, the three of them, grandfather, grandmother, and grandson, had a rare relaxing weekend. On Monday, the two of them started another round of busy work at the company.
Regarding the Likang project, she and her team developed a detailed tracking sheet. Likang demanded speed, and she would communicate the details with them whenever there was progress, clarifying the deliverables for each stage. Two weeks later, Lin Xi reported to Xu Yu, and another project progress meeting was held.
Halfway through the meeting, when they were discussing the payment calculation system, Lin Xi's phone started vibrating incessantly. It was Uncle Deng calling. Lin Xi hesitated for only two seconds before getting up and apologizing, "Sorry, I'll go outside to take this call." Before she even reached the meeting room door, Lin Xi was shocked:
"I'm coming right away!" Xu Yu rushed towards her, noticing her pale face, and asked hurriedly, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" "My grandfather fainted and was taken to the hospital," Lin Xi said as she ran. Xu Yu quickly chased after her:
"Wait a minute, I'll have someone take you. Xiao Zhang, Xiao Zhang, come out quickly, take your Manager Lin to the hospital." Someone darted out of the conference room and squeezed into the elevator at the last minute. Lin Xi didn't even know how she got into the car.
Xiao Zhang comforted Lin Xi as he drove, but Lin Xi, still unaware of the situation at the hospital, just told him to drive, her face pale. Her phone rang again; this time it was Duan Yiheng. As soon as Lin Xi answered, tears streamed down her face: "Big Brother."
Duan Yiheng's heart tightened. He softened his voice: "Don't worry, tell me, where are you now?" "I'm in the car," Lin Xi said. "I heard Uncle Deng's tone... it doesn't sound good."
Duan Yiheng couldn't comfort her on the phone; he had a bad feeling. After a long pause, he said to Lin Xi: "You go to the hospital first. I'll contact Duan Mingxuan and Duan Zheng." Lin Xi's heart sank heavily, as if a stone had been placed on it.
She was the first to arrive at the hospital. Uncle Deng had completely lost his usual composure and looked panicked. "How is he?" Lin Xi grabbed Uncle Deng's arm. "What happened?" Uncle Deng said,
"After lunch, the doctor monitored the old man's vital signs as usual, but half an hour after he fell asleep, the data became abnormal. I rushed into the bedroom, and the old man was trembling uncontrollably. He was brought to the hospital immediately." "Then…" Lin Xi didn't dare ask.
Just then, Duan Yiheng and Duan Mingxuan ran over one after the other. "Xiao Xi," Duan Mingxuan beat Duan Yiheng to it, "You sit and wait, Grandpa will be alright." Lin Xi walked past him to Duan Yiheng. Duan Yiheng gripped her shoulder tightly with one hand:
"I didn't want you to go through this, but you're not alone." Lin Xi lowered her head, pressing against his chest, a large wet patch on the floor. Duan Mingxuan glanced at her, his heart aching with a dull, aching pain.
At this moment, personal grudges had to be put aside. Duan Mingxuan asked Duan Yiheng, "Grandpa severed ties with Dad, will he be willing to see him?" Duan Yiheng replied, "Whether he's willing to see him or not is Grandpa's business, whether he comes or not is Duan Zheng's business." Duan Mingxuan:
"Did you notify him?" Duan Yiheng hummed in agreement. When Duan Zheng received the call, his tone was genuinely panicked for a moment. After hesitating for five or six seconds, he said he would rush back immediately. But he was far away in Canada; if the old man didn't make it this time, he might not be able to see him.
The operating room light went out, and Lin Xi subconsciously turned around. Uncle Deng stood guard to the side, waiting for Duan Yiheng to speak. Duan Yiheng put his arm around Lin Xi and stepped forward, but at this moment, he opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a question. The corridor was eerily quiet. The doctor, his face grave, slowly said,
"I'm sorry, we did our best. The old man's bodily functions have undergone several major surgeries, and now they're severely damaged. I'm afraid his time is running out. The family needs to prepare themselves." "Grandpa,"
Lin Xi murmured, tears blurring her vision. Duan Yiheng suddenly hugged Lin Xi tightly, his voice hoarse, "How much longer can he hold on?" The doctor said,
"It's hard to say. It varies from person to person. Some people live for days, some for weeks, but it could be just a few hours. As family members, please stay with him these next few days." Duan Yiheng nodded slightly, "Thank you." The doctor sighed and left.
When the old man was wheeled out, he was covered in tubes. He was so weak he seemed lifeless. After being taken to the ward, Lin Xi held the old man's hand, with Duan Yiheng and Duan Mingxuan standing behind her. "Grandpa? Can you hear me?"
The old man blinked slowly and weakly. Lin Xi didn't know what to say at that moment, nor did she dare to shed tears. She simply stroked the old man's withered hand repeatedly. The nursing team was already in place, but no one dared to leave the ward.
No one ate dinner that night, but standing there wasn't helping. The old man raised a finger, gesturing for them to rest.
Lin Xi refused to leave, but Uncle Deng persuaded her, and finally Duan Yiheng helped her to the living room. She leaned against Duan Yiheng, while Duan Mingxuan sat opposite them. The three of them stared at each other all night.
Lin Xi knew that the old man was on his last legs; he had held on until now, probably waiting for Duan Zheng. The next morning, the old man seemed a little more energetic. Lin Xi leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Grandpa, are you waiting for Uncle Duan?
He's on his way back." The old man uttered a single, strained "Duan." Lin Xi could no longer hold back her tears; she turned and rushed into the bathroom, trying to control herself.
She was still young when her parents arrived, and wasn't at the scene of the accident, but witnessing the old man's impending death was a direct and cruel reality. Duan Yiheng knocked on the bathroom door: "Lin Xi, come out."
Lin Xi sniffed, tilting her head back to force back her tears. She opened the door and asked first, "Uncle Duan, how much longer?" Duan Yiheng said, "At the earliest, it will be three in the afternoon." Lin Xi wiped away her tears and said, "I'll go keep Grandpa company."
Just then, Duan Mingxuan suddenly called out, "Grandpa." Lin Xi and Duan Yiheng stumbled and ran over. The old man was struggling to take his last breath. His slightly rising and falling chest returned to calm, his legs trembled, and his eyes closed.
Something seemed to be consuming all his life force within him until he stopped moving…