Chapter 958 - 370: An Unpredictable Future (Final - - Middle)

April 13th, Yinan Province, Yunbian City.

As a coastal city, Yunbian City during the rainy season appears damp everywhere. The moisture rolling in the air penetrates everywhere.

Provincial First People’s Hospital,

A haggard middle-aged man, leaning his head in his hands, sits waiting anxiously outside the operating room. He remains motionless, his body tense, barely showing the rise and fall of his chest as he breathes. Sweat from his forehead leaves distinct light brown marks on his face, and his deeply sunken eyes resemble valleys at night.

At a certain moment, the words "Surgery in progress" flickered on the rotating screen above the operating room door, followed by the distant rumble of thunder.

The man lifted his head laboriously, swallowed, and his heart was overwhelmed with anxiety.

Five minutes later, the door to the operating room opened. He, like an old elephant sensing the end, let out a low whimper and rushed forward. A nurse pushed a gurney out, with a doctor following closely behind.

The man widened his eyes forcefully to look at the patient on the gurney, a young man. The antiseptic blue suit completely enveloped the patient, exposing only the half of his face covered by a breathing mask, where you could faintly see his chest rising and falling.

The man’s hanging heart suddenly fell to the ground. Then, he came to his senses and, trembling, asked hoarsely,

"Dr. Li, how is my son?"

The doctor’s eyes relaxed with a smile. He said sincerely,

"The surgery was very successful!"

At this moment, the man felt a happiness akin to embracing the sky.

Two hours later, in the hospital room,

Fan Wubing slowly opened his eyes, the white ceiling and soft light meeting his gaze, followed by the faint smell of disinfectant and food wafting past his nose. He glanced slightly to see his father, with graying temples, dozing off in the chair beside him.

A touch of gentle light swept through his eyes, and a relieved smile crept onto his lips.

He raised his hand with difficulty to touch his father’s shoulder.

His father, startled as if waking from a nightmare, shuddered all over, then widened his eyes as if to tear open the corners. All his fear turned into joy upon seeing Fan Wubing’s face,

"Wubing, you’re awake!"

Color gradually returned to Fan Wubing’s face. He smiled faintly and said,

"Yes. It’s like waking from a very long dream..."

...

A month later, May in Yunbian City finally endured past the rainy season and welcomed the refreshing early summer.

Fan Wubing stood by the window of the hospital room, looking up. The sky was washed clean, the vast blue bringing immense peace to his heart. He still reminisced about what he dreamt of on surgery day, yet it was as difficult as piecing together shattered glass.

He touched his head, already sprouted with hair, and murmured softly,

"Is my constitution really that good? Recovering so well..."

Just then, his father called from the doorway, "Wubing, the paperwork is all done, time to be discharged."

He turned around, seeing a father who looked almost sixty a month ago now seem about thirty, full of vigor. He chuckled,

"Okay, I’ll pack up and be right there."

He opened the small drawer beside the hospital bed and began to meticulously tidy it up. Inside were many greeting cards written by friends and colleagues, and various small gifts.

After tidying everything, they left the hospital.

Standing on the shaded path outside the hospital, the father and son waited.

His father’s face was filled with uncontrollable joy, muttering,

"Your second aunt just called saying she made a big meal for you, all ready, full of your favorite foods. I told her you just got out of the hospital and can’t eat all those meats, but she insisted that you need good food to recover quickly. She isn’t too educated, always fussing about... And your third uncle, at his age, runs around finding all sorts of remedies to help you recover, like earthworms and kiln ashes... all trying their own thing, just listen to the doctor’s advice, won’t you?"

Fan Wubing replied with a smile,

"They’re just concerned for me."

His father couldn’t help but laugh, "You used to find dealing with relatives bothersome, but now, after falling ill, you’ve had an epiphany?"

Fan Wubing touched his crew cut, "Can’t help it, they always urge me to get married."

"Well, you should start a family, you’re not young anymore."

Fan Wubing shrugged and pursed his lips, "Ah, your son is just not capable, no one likes me."

His father’s brows raised, "Nonsense! Your aunt introduced several girls, all are quite pleased with you. But every time it’s you who’s not interested? You say you’re picky, slowly choosing the right one, that’s fine, but don’t end up as an aging bachelor! When I was your age, you were already three!"

Fan Wubing reassured, "No rush, no rush, I’ll find the right one."

His father’s brow was stern, but his mouth couldn’t help but smile. He felt increasingly satisfied with this son of his; before, any talk of marriage would surely lead to an argument. Indeed, it took falling seriously ill for him to see life more clearly.

At that moment, a black sedan drove up. A somewhat portly middle-aged man stepped out from the driver’s seat, smiling as he approached,

"Brother, Wubing."

Fan Wubing warmly greeted, "Second Uncle."

Second Uncle complained,

"Oh, today the second section of Zhonghuan Road was just a nightmare to drive through! I left at eight, and a one-hour journey took me three!"