As Shen Peichuan put down the picture frame in his hands, Captain Song approached him. “Come and have a seat.”
He led Shen Peichuan to the sofa.
“I am retiring,” Captain Song said.
Shen Peichuan stared at him in silence.
He could tell that Captain Song regretted leaving his job, especially since he was yet of retirement age. Shen Peichuan figured that he must be in desolation.
“Actually, you-”
Captain Song waved at Shen Peichuan dismissively. After all, there was no use crying over spilled milk.
“I have recommended you as a candidate to take over my position. However, it is still all up to the higher-ups. You need to show them you are capable of it.” Captain Song glanced wistfully at his surroundings. “I will really miss my job a lot. It’s been so many years. How can I not get attached to this place?”
Shen Peichuan lowered his gaze to the floor. He did not know how to console the retiree.
“Bah! Let’s not talk about that! Would you do your boss a last favor and promise me you will forget about the past?”
Captain Song patted Shen Peichuan on his shoulders.
Shen Peichuan nodded. “Don’t worry. I never really took anything to heart.”
“Okay, I trust you.” Captain Song uttered remorsefully, “Sigh, everything’s my fault.”
Shen Peichuan did not respond.
“Alright, I shall leave you to your work. Also, I think it’s time I pack up and leave.” Captain Song rose from his seat. Shen Peichuan followed suit and said, “Let me send you off.”
Captain Song chuckled dryly. “All the years I spent grooming you didn’t go to waste after all.”
Shen Peichuan accompanied Captain Song outside. On their way, they met a few of their colleagues. Each of them expressed their regrets to see Captain Song leave and told him he would be missed dearly.
After the two of them passed the main entrance, Captain Song insisted on Shen Peichuan to leave. He wanted to walk out of that place alone.
Regardless of what happened, everyone was reluctant to part ways with their chief. Having worked together for such a long time, the bonds they formed with one another were irreplaceable.
Shen Peichuan stood at the door as he watched Captain Song’s silhouette disappeared into the distance. He was also dejected.
“Now that Captain Song is gone, the Deputy Chief can finally shine,” someone in the crowd behind Shen Peichuan muttered.
Shen Peichuan hushed the crowd and ordered, “Everyone, get back to work.”
“Yes, Captain Shen,” the same person responded wryly.
Shen Peichuan’s face darkened. “Stop spouting nonsense.”
As to who would succeed Captain Song was still undecided. Shen Peichuan also wasn’t sure whether he would be promoted to the position once held by Captain Song. It was unbecoming for anyone in the office to joke about serious matters as such.
The person tittered to himself before walking away.
It was the time for meetings in the office. Everyone left for their respective meetings with their own department.
After work, Shen Peichuan fetched Grandma Su to the hospital.
Shen Peichuan waited with Grandma Su outside the examination room for the doctor to be done with the checkup on Su Zhan.
While they were waiting, Shen Peichuan told Grandma Su about the accident Su Zhan got into. The old woman didn’t believe it at first. She thought it was a tale fabricated by that cheeky grandson of hers.
The reason behind her disbelief was simple. She didn’t want to accept Qin Ya being unable to bear children.
But now that she was outside the examination room, she began to worry that Su Zhan really got into an accident.
A while later, the doors swung outwards. Su Zhan was pushed out of the room with Qin Ya behind him. She froze in her place when she saw Grandma Su. She soon snapped out of her trance and approached the old woman with the medical personnel.
Grandma Su’s body was trembling involuntarily. Her eyes quickly found the face of the person on the bed. Indeed, it was her grandson Su Zhan.
“Su Zhan!”
Grandma Su broke down in an instant. Shen Peichuan ushered her to her grandson in her wheelchair.
She clasped her wrinkly fingers around Su Zhan’s limp hand. “Su Zhan! Please wake up!”
“Please stay away from the patient. He needs to remain still,” the doctor hurriedly forbade the old woman from making physical contact with Su Zhan. “The patient has hurt his head. His body is too frail to suffer from any more physical shock.”
Grandma Su retracted her hand in a hurry. She didn’t want to cause any more damage to her grandson.
At that moment, there was nothing but fear in her heart. She feared that Su Zhan’s life was in peril.
“Doctor, is my grandson okay?” Grandma Su’s eyes reddened.
“He’s no longer in a critical state, but we are still unclear as to when he will wake up.”
Even the doctor doesn’t know when he will wake up?
The grandmother stammered, “B-but he will wake up, right?”
Grandma Su had heard too many unfortunate tales of accident victims becoming a vegetable.
The more Mrs. Zong thought of the possibility that her grandson would forever remain in a coma, the paler her face became.
The doctor adjusted the glasses on his nose and replied in a somewhat morbid tone, “We cannot give you a certain answer.”
Grandma Su felt light-headed as she staggered.
As she was about to faint over, Shen Peichuan hurried ahead to support her. “Don’t be too worried. There’s still a high chance that he will wake up.”
Grandma Su wiped her face and spoke regretfully, “It’s all my fault. It’s all my fault.”
Grandma Su was referring to the quarrels she had with her grandson for the past few days. She knew Su Zhan loved Qin Ya with all his heart, but she obstinately disapproved of their relationship.
Grandma Su figured that Su Zhan must be upset by her reluctance to accept Qin Ya, which led to his drink driving and the accident that almost took his life.
“Su Zhan, Grandma is wrong. Please, wake up!” Grandma Su cried with her torso hanging on the railing of the bed.
Qin Ya turned her gaze to Shen Peichuan. She whispered, “Why did you bring Grandma Su here?”
Shen Peichuan responded, “I can’t hide the truth from her forever.”
“We will now send the patient to the ward,” the doctor announced. The lot of them were blocking the people who were passing through the hallway.
Grandma Su followed tightly behind Su Zhan as he was ushered to the ward.
The pallid complexion of Su Zhan gave Grandma Su a heartache.
Unwittingly, she grabbed Su Zhan’s hand and wailed on.
“Su Zhan, just wake up! Don’t let your old grandmother worry about you!” Grandma Su did not care if she was making a scene. She had lost her usual composure. Su Zhan’s sudden tragedy was too huge of a blow to her.
Qin Ya poured the old woman a cup of water. “Here. Drink some water.”
Grandma Su raised her head to stare at Qin Ya.
