Volume One, Chapter 69: Visiting Your Sick Friend

Four days had passed! Still, there was no way to reach Huo Cong.

Huo Xiaobei was frantic with worry, so much so that blisters had formed at the corners of his mouth, crusted over with red scabs.

It was the weekend, and this afternoon, Huo Lintong had stayed home, working remotely. For one, Ye Sheng was returning to the capital today, and for another, he wanted to have a talk with his son.

His son had been absent-minded for days; how could a father not notice? Huo Lintong sipped his coffee, watching Xiaobei lying on the sofa, fiddling with his phone. He knew Xiaobei wasn’t watching videos—his furrowed brow and the constant tapping at the screen made it clear he was calling someone. He’d made countless calls these days; Huo Lintong knew they were all to his desk mate.

He also knew Huo Cong had taken sick leave and hadn’t been to school for several days.

His child was so anxious, he’d even developed blisters.

Suddenly, a phone vibrated. Xiaobei grabbed his own and scrambled up from the sofa, only to realize it was his father’s phone, not his.

Seeing his son’s excitement, Huo Lintong couldn’t help but chuckle as he answered.

“Ninth Master, I couldn’t reach Miss Ye,” Wang Liang said anxiously over the phone. “I saw her hurry onto a taxi, but couldn’t catch up, and her phone isn’t connecting…”

Huo Lintong frowned, said he understood, and was about to call Ye Sheng himself when her number popped up instead.

He answered quickly.

“Ye Sheng.”

“Brother Lin,”

Ye Sheng’s voice was unsteady, tinged with apology. “I’m sorry, I forgot Wang would pick me up at the airport today. I jumped into a taxi—I have something urgent to handle.”

“Mm, it’s fine.” Huo Lintong felt somewhat reassured, but hearing the strain in her voice, he asked, “Can you tell me what happened?”

The taxi driver said something—Huo Lintong caught the words “Huo Residence.”

After a moment, Ye Sheng picked up the phone again. “Huo Cong isn’t feeling well. His father called me, so I’m going to check on him.”

“Alright,” Huo Lintong didn’t press further. “If you need anything, call me anytime.”

Ye Sheng agreed, hung up, and half an hour later, her car arrived at the Huo Residence.

She stepped out, suitcase in hand, returning to a place she hadn’t set foot in for three years, and saw Huo Mingting standing at the door.

The two gazed at each other from a distance, both seeing the complex emotions in the other’s eyes.

—

Just as Xiaobei was about to ask Huo Lintong what had happened, his phone vibrated again.

This time, it was his own.

Xiaobei glanced at the caller ID, immediately answered, and called out with a clear, lively voice, “Huo Cong!”

On the other end, Huo Cong was startled by Xiaobei’s loud greeting, but hearing his voice made his feverish, chilled body feel instantly comforted.

“Mm,” Huo Cong replied, “It’s me.”

In contrast to Xiaobei’s crisp voice, Huo Cong’s was terribly hoarse, like a rusty old bell.

Xiaobei’s heart, which had just settled, leapt up again. He peppered the phone with questions: “What happened to your voice? Why is it so hoarse? Are you still feverish? Are you feeling bad? Are you really uncomfortable?”

Listening to his son’s incessant worrying, Huo Lintong shook his head helplessly and went to fetch clothes for the child.

Huo Cong’s throat was itchy, and he wanted to cough, but he held back, not wanting Xiaobei to worry. He managed, “I’m alright. Not as bad as you think.”

He had been suffering, but hearing Xiaobei’s voice eased the discomfort.

“You called me so many times… Sorry, my phone died and I missed them all,” Huo Cong apologized, his voice trailing off until it was barely audible.

Xiaobei’s brows knitted together as he hugged a pillow, “It’s okay, don’t say another word, and don’t apologize. I know you’re unwell. I don’t blame you.”

He kept comforting him: “Being sick is always uncomfortable. I cough a lot when I have a cold too, and don’t feel like talking. It’s alright, really.”

As Xiaobei soothed Huo Cong, Huo Lintong came over to help him dress and put on his shoes.

For some reason, the call suddenly dropped—as if someone had arrived.

Before Xiaobei could process what happened, his father had already led him out the door, bundled up snugly.

“Dad, where are we going?” Xiaobei asked, confused.

Huo Lintong fastened the hood of his down jacket and replied, “To visit your sick friend.”