Chapter 2
Lin Xiu explained for a long time, finally producing a leave of absence note before the big, fat man believed he wasn’t skipping class.
The big, fat man pointed at Chi Aibei: “What about him? I saw him climb over the wall with my own eyes. He didn’t ask the school for leave, did he?”
Lin Xiu didn’t know what bad luck he’d encountered. Why did he have to deal with this simpleton’s affairs?!
He was about to say, “Then take him back,” but before he could open his mouth, he heard a sniffle from the simpleton beside him.
He looked over and saw that the swollen, still-red eyes were once again filled with tears…
Chi Aibei looked at the big, fat man with tear-filled eyes, his mouth trembling as he spoke in a choked voice: “Uncle, our father had a car accident. He’s in the hospital right now, fighting for his life. My brother… my brother didn’t want to take me. He only wrote a leave of absence note for himself.” Saying this, Chi Aibei burst into tears: “Uncle, is my father going to die?”
Lin Xiu: “???????”
Before the big, fat man could react, earth-shattering sobs erupted.
The big, fat man visibly panicked, quickly saying, “Hey, hey, hey, don’t cry!”
Chi Aibei threw his head back, his mouth open, his cries growing louder.
The big, fat man’s own son had never cried this much despite years of being scolded, so he was completely at a loss, coaxing, “Don’t cry! Your dad will be fine! Hey, you, his brother, comfort him!”
Lin Xiu frowned, watching Chi Aibei’s unrestrained weeping. He considered himself experienced in reading people, but this was the first time he’d seen Chi Aibei like this. He didn’t even have time to process the fact that a fatherless child suddenly shared a father with him!
Seeing him silent, the big, fat man assumed he was also worried about his father: “You’re going to the hospital, right? Do you have any money? I’ll call you a cab. Which hospital?”
Lin Xiu sighed: “No need, uncle.”
He glanced at Chi Aibei, who was crying as if his father had actually died. If he didn’t take him away today, this situation might escalate: “We’ll go ourselves.”
The big, fat man felt he was wasting their time and insisted on calling them a cab, saying to Lin Xiu, “With something like this happening, you should take your brother with you. Even if he stays at school, he won’t be able to focus on his studies.”
Chi Aibei looked up at Lin Xiu, sobbing: “Brother…”
Lin Xiu looked at his tear-stained face: “…” Just shut up.
In the end, Lin Xiu didn’t let the big, fat man call them a cab, as they didn’t actually have a father who’d been in an accident.
He hailed a taxi, shoved Chi Aibei inside, got in the backseat himself, and told the driver, “Central Hospital.”
In the car, Lin Xiu let out a long sigh.
His already complicated emotions were shattered, a level of absurdity he hadn’t experienced even in his past life.
As the taxi left the school grounds, he looked at Chi Aibei…
He remembered this simpleton. Over the years, only this simpleton had been kind to him. Because of his naivety, he couldn’t understand the pity whispered around him. Later, after some unknown trauma, his innocence deepened; even when someone called him “idiot,” he would only smile and reply, “I’m an idiot.”
Lin Xiu wondered how this simpleton had instantly fabricated such a preposterous excuse about “their father’s car accident.”
Chi Aibei suddenly turned his head, saw Lin Xiu looking at him, and showed a small canine tooth in a smile.
Tears still clung to his eyelashes, making the smile look pathetic.
Lin Xiu didn’t know what to say. He turned his head to look out the window… Perhaps the simpleton hadn’t been so naive to begin with. Years of malice could indeed destroy someone’s mind.
Chi Aibei leaned closer to Lin Xiu. Lin Xiu glanced at him, expecting him to say something, or offer an explanation, but nothing happened. Chi Aibei just moved a little closer, that was all.
Chi Aibei, who had just arrived in this unfamiliar world and cried twice already, suddenly felt a little melancholic. Lin Xiu heard a sigh and turned to look at him.
Seeing the simpleton with his eyes downcast and a heavy heart, it prevented Lin Xiu, who was also full of worries, from sighing again.
Lin Xiu: “What’s wrong?”
Chi Aibei couldn’t, of course, say he was upset because he had transmigrated into a book with no money to his name. But since Lin Xiu asked, he couldn’t not answer.
He looked up, a tear welling in his eye: “Brother, will our father die?”
“…” The unease in Lin Xiu’s heart was finally dispelled. He took a breath, reminding him, “We don’t have a father. Don’t get too into character.”
Chi Aibei lowered his head: “Oh, then where did our father go?”
Lin Xiu: “…”
Central Hospital.
As soon as Lin Xiu entered, he saw Grandma Lin chatting with the woman in the next bed.
The woman in the next bed, seeing Lin Xiu, pointed and said, “Speak of the devil, here comes your grandson!”
Lin Xiu greeted the woman in the next bed, then looked at Grandma Lin: “Grandma.”
Grandma Lin was always a kind-faced old woman. She suffered a stroke during Lin Xiu’s junior high entrance exams, leaving half her body paralyzed and her mouth slightly crooked.
Seeing Lin Xiu at the hospital, she looked surprised: “What are you doing here?”
Her speech was slurred, but her mind was clear. The May Day holiday was over, and he was still here—the brat must have skipped class again.
Over the past two years, Lin Xiu juggled his studies and a part-time job. Grandma Lin didn’t ask, but she knew.
She only had a slight cold these past few days, but somehow this child insisted on bringing her to the hospital, where she had stayed for several days.
She was worried about the expense, but Lin Xiu wouldn’t let her leave.
Chi Aibei looked at Grandma Lin, and couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness. In the novel, Grandma Lin passed away the day before Lin Xiu’s college entrance exam, causing him to miss it and fall from grace. Only then did those bullies dare to pick on him, leading to Lin Xiu later accepting He Chenjiang’s help, making it easy for others to step all over him.
Grandma Lin, seeing Chi Aibei who came in with Lin Xiu, asked unclearly, “Who is this child?”
Lin Xiu turned to see the simpleton looking sad and red-eyed. His eyelids twitched, and he whispered, “Don’t act up, we don’t have a dad!”
Chi Aibei sniffed. Thinking of Lin Xiu’s tragic future, he couldn’t help but feel heartache. He firmly said in his heart, “No, starting today, you do. I’m your father!”
Chi Aibei shouldered the heavy responsibility of being an old father and greeted the old woman, “Hello, Grandma. I’m Lin Xiu’s classmate. My name is Xiao Bei.”
Grandma Lin, seeing Chi Aibei’s well-behaved appearance, nodded and said “good” several times, then turned to scold Lin Xiu for skipping school and leading his classmate astray, skipping class together.
Chi Aibei stopped Grandma Lin from criticizing Lin Xiu: “Grandma, Brother Lin Xiu studies really well. Even if he doesn’t go to school, he can still get into university. I’m not a good student, so I want Brother Lin Xiu to tutor me.”
Grandma Lin glanced at Lin Xiu and said with a hint of reproach: “Tutoring is good. Let him tutor you.”
Lin Xiu was speechless. This wasn’t over, was it?
He didn’t have time to tutor a simpleton!
Chi Aibei, acting as if he were at home, pulled over a chair and sat beside the bed, chatting with the old woman. His eyes curved into a smile, and when he wasn’t acting up, he didn’t look like a simpleton at all.
“Grandma, you know, Brother Lin Xiu is amazing! He’s always number one on exams. He’s famous in our school; he’s the school’s top student. Everyone admires him. Of course, I admire him the most.”
Hearing him constantly praising him, Lin Xiu felt it was excessive. They weren’t that close, were they? And why would the last-place student admire him? If he had to admire someone, he should admire the second-to-last.
Chi Aibei was sweet-tongued and never stopped talking about Lin Xiu. The old woman was amused by him, and several times Lin Xiu tried to interject but couldn’t get a word in.
It wasn’t until noon that the old woman and the young boy finished their chat. Lin Xiu picked up his phone: “I’m going to buy lunch.”
The two, engrossed in their conversation, didn’t even acknowledge him.
Before leaving, Lin Xiu told Chi Aibei: “Stay here, don’t wander around.”
Chi Aibei nodded perfunctorily: “Okay, brother, go ahead.”
Grandma Lin also waved him off, urging him to hurry.
Not long after Lin Xiu left, a commotion erupted in the corridor. Clanging sounds and sharp shouting drew the attention of the three elderly people in the ward, who all sat up to see what was happening.
Chi Aibei immediately rushed to the door and reported to the elderly women in the ward: “It seems like there’s a medical dispute. Grandmas, please don’t worry; I’ll go check it out.”
Grandma Lin wanted to stop him, telling him not to get involved, that medical disputes were dangerous and he might get hurt, but before she could speak, Chi Aibei was already gone.
Many people had gathered in the corridor. A middle-aged woman was pulling at the collar of a doctor in a white coat, crying and shouting for him to pay for her husband’s life.
The man who had come with the woman smashed the nurse’s station and kicked over a treatment cart. A female nurse stepped forward to stop him, but he shoved her to the ground.
By the time the hospital director arrived, the place was in chaos. These people wouldn’t listen to him, only continuing their ruckus. In the pushing and shoving, someone knocked off the director’s glasses; a “crack” sound followed as someone stepped on them.
“Murder! This hospital committed murder! It’s this man! He killed my husband! My husband was fine when he came in, but after surgery, he’s gone! Waaaaah! You have to give me an explanation today!”
Lin Xiu returned with lunch and was about to exit the elevator when he was blocked by the crowd at the door.
He squeezed out of the elevator and saw a woman of short stature grabbing the male doctor’s collar. After several shakes, she pushed him hard… The male doctor landed directly at Chi Aibei’s feet.
Lin Xiu frowned. He’d told him to stay put!
Those watching the commotion were afraid of getting involved, so when the doctor fell, no one helped him; they all took a step back. Only Chi Aibei remained motionless.
Chi Aibei didn’t just stand there. He helped the male doctor up: “Uncle, are you alright?”
The doctor looked exhausted, as if he hadn’t slept well in days, and now looked panicked. He looked up at Chi Aibei: “I’m fine, thank you.”
The woman reached out to grab the doctor again, but before she could touch his white coat, Chi Aibei stopped her.
Lin Xiu was startled and quickly pushed past the people in front of him: “Excuse me, please move…” Before he finished speaking, he heard a familiar sob…
“Auntie, my father also died in this hospital.”
Seeing the tears welling up, Lin Xiu’s eyes twitched: “…”
Your dad died so fast? No more resuscitation?
Seeing the woman suddenly fall silent, Lin Xiu silently retracted his step. He wanted to see what new tricks this simpleton would pull with his “dad.”
Chi Aibei’s tears flowed freely: “My mother died of overwork soon after I was born. My father also died on the operating table. Now, only my brother and I are left to depend on each other. My brother and I are still students, and we have a sick grandmother to take care of. Auntie, are you making such a fuss in the hospital to get more compensation?”
Although he was prepared, Lin Xiu was still speechless at Chi Aibei’s absurd statement.
He silently denied in his heart that the “brother” the simpleton referred to was definitely not him!
The woman made a fuss to get more compensation from the hospital; why else would she go to all this trouble?
Before she could speak, Chi Aibei said: “But if the hospital calls the police, you’ll be arrested, right?”
The woman shrieked: “Why would they arrest me? They killed my husband!”
Chi Aibei glanced at the mess on the floor and the injured doctors and nurses, sniffing: “You injured people and damaged other people’s property. Even if the police don’t arrest you, you’ll still have to pay compensation. All the things you smashed are expensive; the compensation the hospital gives you might have to be paid back to the hospital.”
Chi Aibei’s reminder made the woman realize how much they had damaged. She turned and glared at the man who had smashed the nurse’s station—you were supposed to just damage a bit, but you had to pick the most expensive things!
The female nurse, having recovered, said: “I’ve already called the police. If you continue to make a fuss, go make a fuss at the police station.”
The woman, hearing this, became even angrier: “Call the police! Call the police! You killed my husband! Believe it or not, I’ll sue you to death!”
Chi Aibei pulled at the woman’s clothes again: “But Auntie, now that you’ve made such a fuss, even if you go to court, you won’t win. The hospital would have to pay compensation, but now it’s uncertain.”
The woman frowned at Chi Aibei: “…” Was this child on her side or the hospital’s? Why was he pouring cold water on her?
Seeing that the previously chaotic crowd had fallen silent thanks to Chi Aibei, Lin Xiu realized the simpleton had done it on purpose.
There’s no such thing as true empathy in this world, unless one has experienced the same thing. The simpleton used his father’s “death” to show he was on their side. Compared to the hospital, they were more willing to listen to someone who had suffered a similar fate.
The stage was set. The hospital still hadn’t spoken, so Lin Xiu went over to remind the director.
The director was still wondering when another accident had occurred in his hospital. Only after Lin Xiu’s reminder did he realize the child was helping them.
He put on his glasses, one lens cracked: “Let’s talk this through. This happened in our hospital, and we will take responsibility.”
The woman, having heard Chi Aibei’s words, felt a little panicked. Seeing that the director wasn’t pursuing the matter, she glanced at the men she had brought. Under the director’s kind persuasion, she left with them.
With the troublemakers gone, the onlookers dispersed.
The male doctor thanked Chi Aibei again. Chi Aibei shook his head: “You’re welcome.”
Seeing Lin Xiu approach, Chi Aibei’s eyes curved: “Brother!”
Lin Xiu hesitated, not knowing what to say.
This short morning had completely shattered his perception of the simpleton! He had almost spun a whole web of lies!
Lin Xiu: “Didn’t I tell you to stay in the ward?”
Chi Aibei denied coming out to watch the commotion: “I was sent out to gather information.”
Lin Xiu looked at him: “And the result of your investigation is that you now have a deceased father?”
Chi Aibei was surprised: “You heard that?”
If Lin Xiu hadn’t known that he would be a simpleton for over a decade, he would have suspected that Chi Aibei wasn’t actually simple at all after what just happened.
Lin Xiu didn’t like to meddle in other people’s business, but he still reminded him: “Don’t get involved in these things next time.”
The Chinese people’s love for gossip is ingrained in their bones; Chi Aibei wasn’t sure if he could control himself.
Chi Aibei pouted: “Oh.”
Lin Xiu didn’t know how he detected the perfunctory tone in that “oh,” but he looked at him.
Thinking about his father’s car accident and death on the operating table this morning, Lin Xiu felt a little sympathy for him.
Lin Xiu said: “Your father is truly blessed to have such a good son!”