Chapter 260 - 117: Bro, Don’t Mention It (Part 2)

Chapter 260: Chapter 117: Bro, Don’t Mention It (Part 2)

At that moment, the phone of the man next to him rang. For some reason, the ringtone was incredibly loud, adding to the chaos of the already hectic hospital ward.

"Devoting my youth to the glorious city behind me..."

Zhang Shutong thought the song sounded familiar. A moment later, he realized it was "Eloping." The last time he’d heard it was a long time ago, on a Friday walk home from school.

’This is so out of place. Who plays "Eloping" in a hospital ward?’

Zhang Shutong thought drowsily. It reminded him of that day a Fox was also playing this kind of music. A man was driving slowly, and a girl’s ears had turned red in the passenger seat. It was raining, and a light fog shrouded the city as he curled up on his side in the back seat...

But now the Fox was wrecked, and the man was in surgery, fighting for his life. All Zhang Shutong could do was pick up fragments of the past from the song and the smell of the down jacket. They were called fragments for a reason—holding them would leave your hands bloody.

’It really is out of place.’

’I used to think the easiest thing in the world would be getting Gu Qiuyan off the island with me,’ Zhang Shutong thought silently. ’It was my escape route, my backup plan. Now, it’s the exact opposite.’

In the end, he decided to close his eyes and rest for just a moment. But the next instant, his phone rang.

It was Du Kang.

Zhang Shutong was instantly alert. When he’d returned, they’d agreed that Du Kang would call him as soon as Song was out of surgery.

His heart hammered in his chest. Zhang Shutong took a deep breath and pressed the answer button.

"How is he?"

"He’s fine. The doctor said the surgery was a success. He’s out of danger."

Hearing those words, his heart finally settled back into his chest.

Zhang Shutong lifted his head and looked around, feeling for a moment as if he’d woken up in another world. He clenched his fists tightly. This was no place to talk, so he held his phone, took his IV bag off its stand, and slowly walked out into the hallway.

"Don’t worry, I’m here watching him. He’ll be fine," Du Kang whispered. "I’ll let you know if anything changes. I’m in his room now. Your mom seems to have pulled some strings and got him into a semi-private room for four. It’s quiet enough, has a private bathroom, and there’s even a TV on the wall."

"Where are you going to sleep tonight?" Zhang Shutong asked belatedly. "Should I have my dad book a hotel for you?"

"Nah, don’t worry about it. I’ve been taking it easy all day, so I can pull an all-nighter. Oh, and get this, something funny happened. I was waiting outside the OR when your mom saw my back and yelled, ’Son!’ She thought it was you and went in for a hug, but then she realized her mistake. It was pretty awkward."

’That sounds just like Mom.’ Zhang Shutong forced a smile.

"Where are they now?"

"Your mom wanted to take me out to eat, but I said it was too much trouble and just grabbed a bite at the cafeteria. She drove off to buy some necessities, and your dad is handling the admission paperwork, I think. So it’s just me in the room for now."

"When will Song wake up?"

"Probably around midnight," Du Kang said. "You shouldn’t stay up. You sound a little congested, and it’s so noisy over there. Don’t tell me you’re back at the hospital getting another IV, are you?"

"Just a cold," Zhang Shutong added. "Don’t tell my mom, or I’ll never hear the end of it."

"Now you’re making me feel guilty. Fine, whatever, just finish your IV and go home," Du Kang stressed. "I’ve got it covered here, seriously. If Song wakes up, I’ll message you on QQ, okay?"

"Yeah, thanks."

"Don’t say that. He’s my teacher too. You’re being way too formal, Shutong."

Du Kang said teasingly, then hung up.

This was a deluxe four-person ward. A curtain between each bed could be drawn to create a small, private space. Du Kang was sitting in the bed near the window. As expected of the well-funded municipal hospital, there was even a pothos plant on the windowsill. Bored, he idly twirled one of its leaves around his finger.

He could tell his best friend was just putting on a brave face, but he wasn’t as nonchalant as he’d sounded on the phone, either.

Du Kang felt his current situation was a bit awkward.

’In terms of actual help, I haven’t really done much. Shutong’s parents are the ones handling everything. Me sticking around just gives them one more person to worry about.’

’Emotionally speaking, it would be better for Shutong to be here anyway. He could be with his family.’

The young man scratched his head, feeling a pang of regret. ’I shouldn’t have rushed over here on an impulse.’

’Oh well, I’m already here,’ he thought. He’d always been pretty easygoing. ’Can’t go back now anyway. I’ll just have to find a way to make myself useful.’

And then, an opportunity presented itself.

Du Kang saw the man’s eyelids twitch suddenly.

’Wait, could it be...?’

"Teacher, you’re awake?" Du Kang said excitedly.

The words seemed to reach the man’s ears a beat too late. Du Kang wasn’t even sure if Song had heard him.

After several seconds, the man weakly opened his eyes, his gaze slowly coming into focus. He struggled to turn his head and opened his mouth, but couldn’t even make a sound.

Song Nanshan blinked his heavy eyelids. The surprise in his eyes proved that he was, for the moment, lucid.

Du Kang said hurriedly:

"Teacher, it’s me, Du Kang. How are you? We’re at the municipal hospital. You gave us all a huge scare. My aunt was the one who found you after the car accident, and then Shutong..."

But before he could finish, the man seemed to latch onto a certain keyword. His newly lucid eyes immediately dimmed, turning ashen like dead embers.

Song Nanshan spoke his first words since waking. His voice was so hoarse it sounded as if it came from another world:

"I was wrong..."

’Wrong about what?’

’Was he apologizing for causing everyone trouble with the car accident?’

’Well, aren’t you polite.’

He then saw Song raise a hand toward him and hurriedly said: