Mr. Zhou felt like it was a dream the moment he was hugged by Yan as it had been years since his daughter last hugged him. Ever since she grew up, she felt that there should be a proper separation between males and females, so they grew apart. Even though Mr. Zhou loved his daughter, he could no longer coddle and pamper her every day now that she was an adult.
Coupled with the fact that the two had had a big fight, they had not seen each other for so many years. Mr. Zhou always reckoned that Yan was reluctant to see him, and as much as he missed his daughter, he was not able to lay aside his ego to ask her to come home, since he was the one who wanted to sever their ties. If he were to ask her to come home, would that not be like slapping himself in the face? Mr. Zhou cared about his image, but Yan cared about her image even more.
After the silent treatment the two had been giving each other all these years, right now, Yan was the one jumping on him to hug him. Furthermore, her warm tears even dripped on his face.
“Is that really you?” Mr. Zhou gently put out his hand to try to touch Yan’s hands while she was in tears.
All of sudden, she seemed to have remembered something, so she quickly retreated. “Look at how excited I got and immediately forgot that you’re still injured. Dad, did I hurt you? Are you feeling unwell? Would you like some water? Or, should I get you the doctor?”
Yan asked many questions and had also answered them herself, leaving no opportunity for Mr. Zhou to respond. Once she finished, she quickly ran out of the ward.
Looking at her, Mr. Zhou helplessly let out a sigh. This isn’t a dream. If this is a dream, how can she be so real? Though so many years have passed, my girl is still a little girl—always in a rush and lacking patience.
In a short amount of time, Yan was able to bring the doctor in. It was the doctor’s charge to bring him over once the patient woke up. The moment Yan thought about this, she instantly went to look for the doctor in charge.
After the doctor came in, he did a full checkup on Mr. Zhou. He asked a few questions and turned to look at Yan. “Ms. Zhou, your father is recovering fine. What he needs right now is to recuperate for some time. During this time, he should avoid eating anything too greasy or spicy; the blander the better to aid his injuries.”
Yan nodded quickly. “Thank you, doctor. I understand. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. If you have any other questions, please come and find me.”
The ward became quiet after the doctor left. After Yan had returned from walking the doctor out of the ward, she did not react the same way as before. Right now, her ears and face appeared to be somewhat red; it was probably because she felt embarrassed about what she did earlier.
After all, they had not seen each other for so many years. As soon as he became awake, she immediately jumped on him. At this moment, Yan felt like she was brought back to her childhood, even though she was already a grownup. Suddenly, she took out her phone—as if she just remembered something. “Let me give Mom a call to tell her that you’re awake.”
Just as she was about to leave, Mr. Zhou suddenly called on her. “Yan.”
Yan paused and stood there, unmoving. At the same time, she started to feel emotionally overwhelmed as her eyes turned teary.
“I haven’t seen you in a while. Come and sit down so I can have a good look at you.”
Covering her mouth, Yan suddenly felt choky and was unable to utter a word.
Her full name was Zhou Xiaoyan. But since she was little, her father always liked to call her Yan. Before she realized, Yan had become what she went by. She did not expect that after all these years, she could still hear her father calling her by this name.
Zhou Xiaoyan was choking with sobs that she could not even bring herself to turn around. Mr. Zhou could only see her stand there with her back facing him, shivering; the suppressed sobbing poked his heart like fine needles. Recalling how the two had not been in contact for the past five years, Mr. Zhou also began to tear up.
After shivering for a while, Yan managed to say in a choking voice, “I-I will get you some water.” When she finished talking, Yan left the ward for a long time before returning. Mr. Zhou waited for a long time for her to come back, but he did not blame her for that as her emotions were out of control earlier.
Now that everything was fine, Yan held a glass of water and walked toward him, appearing to be calm. Apart from her red eyes, she looked normal and calm. “Dad, let me help you up to drink some water.” Yan held him and stuffed two or three pillows behind him. It took some effort as Mr. Zhou had been lying horizontally for so many days, so his body had stiffened.
When Yan passed the glass of water to him, he tried to take it from her with his shaking hands. Seeing the pair of shaking hands made her tear up again. She quickly stood up. “Dad, your hands need more time; let me help you.” She then bent over, brought the glass of water to him, and slowly helped him drink it.
At the same time, Mr. Zhou did not resist. After all, she was the one he had been missing dearly all these years. Now that she was willing to come back to see him, and even stay here to look after him, he was satisfied.
After drinking some water, Yan followed up, “Dad, are you feeling unwell?”
Mr. Zhou shook his head.
“If you’re feeling unwell, please let me know so I can call the doctor.”
“Don’t worry. I’m fine. Didn’t you hear the doctor say earlier that I’m recovering well?”
“That’s what he said, but—”
“Alright. Don’t be too worried. Didn’t you say you were going to give Mom a call? Go for it and tell her that I’m awake so that she’ll stop worrying at home.”
Yan was supposed to make that call earlier but had forgotten about it the moment she broke down. Now that Mr. Zhou had reminded her, she quickly took out her phone and gave Luo Huimei a call.
Meanwhile, Luo Huimei was cooking lunch in the kitchen. The moment she heard that Mr. Zhou had awakened, she immediately turned off the stove. “He’s awake? Really? I’ll head there now.”
“Mom!” Yan called out to her. “Don’t get here in a rush. It’s almost mealtime, so why don’t you come over after you’ve finished cooking. The doctor told me earlier that in the future, Dad’s not supposed to eat anything too greasy; the blander the better. So…”
“I understand. I’ll go and prepare something for you and your dad, then I’ll go to the hospital to look for you guys. Please take good care of your dad and don’t agitate him; do you understand?”
Zhou Xiaoyan responded, “Mom! I’m not that kind of person.” Even though she was stubborn, she knew when and where to behave that way. Right now was not the time for that sort of behavior.
“Alright, alright. Just wait there for me with your dad.”
Yan let out a sigh of relief after she hung up the phone. Then, she slid the phone back into her pocket. “Mom said she’d come over after she’s done with the cooking.”
“Mm-hmm.”
The ward became quiet again. Yan felt somewhat uneasy, so after some thought, she said, “Dad, why don’t I help you wipe your face?”
