Translator: Cold Love

Chapter 16: Father and Daughter

3/4

After listening to professor Xie's words, Ning Qiu Tong stood rooted to the ground.

She really wanted to ask professor Xie if her father's illness could be cured.

However, when she slightly opened her mouth with trembling lips, she realized that she was unable to mutter a single word.

Is there still a need to ask?

Although she did not understand some of the medical terms that professor Xie has used, but just by judging from the situation, there was no need for professor Xie to explain.

Ning Qiu Tong stood on the spot as two clear drips of tears flowed down her pale face.

In that instant, she thought back to the time when she was young.

Her mom left early and it was her dad who brought her and her sister up hand by hand.

As time went by, their living standards improved. However, her father was often outside due to work related reasons. Hence, leaving her and her sister alone in this cold and s.p.a.cious house.

Therefore, when she grew up, no matter how busy she was, she would always go home at night.

It was because she did not want her father to feel that sort of loneliness.

Due to her family issues, Ning Qiu Tong became a strong and independent woman when she grew up and it gradually made her realized the importance of family love.

Her father was very strict; Whenever he says one thing, it means just that.

Sometimes, however, he would comply with her little temper and let her act willfully.

Eventually, Ning Qiu Tong grew into an adult. Although she has not gotten married and become a proud mother, but she started to experience what kind of feeling her father has towards her and her sister.

That was like a familial love for someone with the same bloodline…

Suddenly, as if she thought of something, Ning Qiu Tong took a deep breath and calmed herself down.

She gently wiped off the tear stains and with a straight face, she sincerely asked professor Xie, "Professor Xie, when can we begin the treatment?"

"It's better to start as soon as possible. I will make a call to the hospital now and prepare a special ward…"

Saying up till here, professor Xie pondered for a while before continuing, "However, I suggest Miss Ning and Mr Ning to prepare yourselves mentally. His current condition could not be achieved in just a mere one to two days. Hence, I suspect that Mr Ning long knew of the illness and so as not to worry you, he did not tell you all."

"I understand. Thank you, professor Xie."

Ning Qiu Tong solemnly nodded and turned to look at the door.

Come to think of it, dad is still in there comforting Qing Xue not to worry.

… … …

I suddenly turned over the ink on the scene, smeared the poems like the old crows.

Father really pity mother, but his foolish giggle embarra.s.sed people.

… … …

"Goose, goose, goose. She is singing towards the sky, with her beautiful neck bending in such a lovely curve. Her pure white feather coat floats on the jade green water. Her red feet stir crystal wave on the lake surface!"(TN: It's a famous poem from the Tang dynasty. It's called 'song for the goose')

Chen Xi carried the little kiddo while sitting on the sofa, and taught Nian Nian the Tang poem word for word.

Nian Nian was already 4 years old and she should start to recognize some words.

She was very smart, in less than a whole afternoon, she has already memorized the 'Song for the goose'.

When the little kiddo finished reciting the entire poem, she excitedly burrowed into Chen Xi's chest and smiled, "Papa, am I good at it?"

"Good! Nian Nian is so smart!"

Chen Xi kissed his daughter and smilingly said, "Papa will teach you another poem. Repeat after me… Two yellow orioles sing in the green willows."

"Two yellow orioles sing in the green willows."

The little kiddo articulated every single word and sentence after Chen Xi while clapping along.

"A flock of white egrets surge up the blue sky."

"In my window is framed the snow-capped peak of Mount West."

Close by my door are moored boats from faraway Wu."(TN: A poem from Tang Dynasty by Du Fu)

While Chen Xi was patiently teaching his daughter poems, a foreign ringtone suddenly rang out.

Chen Xi paused for awhile, thinking that it was Aunty Zhang's phone.

However, he suddenly realized that it was his phone.

Chen Xi immediately placed the little kiddo aside and grabbed the phone that was on the table.

"h.e.l.lo, is this Chen Xi?"

Lin Xuan's voice came from the other side.

Maybe she has heard the little kiddo's clear voice, Lin Xuan immediately laughed.

Without waiting for Chen Xi to reply, she directly said, "The day after tomorrow, sunday. I've already confirmed with everyone. You have to be there."

"Ah sure thing, sorry for the trouble."

"Remember to bring Nian Nian along. Let them see how cute you and Ying Ying's daughter is. She will make them envious to death."

Chen Xi thought for awhile before laughing involuntarily, "Sure, I will bring Nian Nian along when the time comes."

After that, the both of them had a few casual talks before hanging up.

Chen Xi placed down his phone and when he glanced down, he saw that the little kiddo was secretly leaning against him so as to listen in on the conversation.

Chen Xi carried his daughter and rubbed her nose while purposely putting on a straight face and asked, "When did you learn to secretly listen in on papa's conversation?"

The little kiddo pretended to not know of it and laughed loudly, "Papa, where do you want to bring Nian Nian?"

"I'll bring you to see the big sis from that day, okay?"

Hearing that, the little kiddo immediately pouted and unhappily said, "Not okay. Big sis beat papa, she is a bad person."

"Big sis was kidding with papa. Actually, she is a nice person and really likes Nian Nian."

"really?"

"Of course it's real, will your papa lie to Nian Nian?"

"Okay then. Nian Nian can play with her," The little kiddo pretended to be aloof and said.

Looking at his daughter's proud and lovable appearance, Chen Xi immediately broke out into bouts of laughter.

… … …

Affiliated Hospital of Zhong Hai Medical School. ICU acute ward.

Ning Zhong Guo changed into a patient's clothes as he sat on the bed, somewhat helplessly looking at the emotionless Ning Qiu Tong.

To be honest, he had long thought of this day.

It's just that, he did not think it would come so sudden.

"Qiu Tong ah…why don't, we go home? You see that there's also nothing wrong with me normally, I can even eat and exercise. There's no need to make such a big issue out of it, right?"

Looking at his daughter's ice cold expression, Ning Zhong Guo's tone was no longer as strict as before.

That negotiating tone, it was as if he was a child who had done something wrong and was nervously waiting for his parents to berate him.

"No. We will go home when the surgery is done."

She glanced at her father, whose back was stooped while sitting on the hospital bed, shaking his head and laughing bitterly.

Although her expression was still ice cold, her heart was bleeding profusely.

Since when did her father show such an att.i.tude in front of her before?

The more Ning Zhong Guo was like this, the clearer Ning Qiu Tong understood him.

Her father knew about his health all along, it was just that he was hiding it from her.

Since, at this moment, she already knew, there was no need for her father to hide it anymore…

Looking at her father who had seemed to age, then looking at his inability to cover up anymore, and then at him showing his helplessness for the first time…

Ning Qiu Tong's heart was really torn into pieces…

The ward was slightly quiet as the father and daughter stared at each other. Finally, Ning Zhong Guo retreated in defeat.

He shook his head and softly said, "Alright then. I will sleep first. Call me when professor Xie is ready."

"Okay."

Ning Qiu Tong emotionlessly nodded her head and turned around to walk out of the room.

And at that moment when she turned.

Ning Qiu Tong burst into a warm bout of tears.