Chapter Fourteen (Part 1)
Qin Song was woken up by the sound of a door creak. He groped around to find his soft and fragrant ‘little country bun’ who was sleeping peacefully on his chest. He figured since his hands were wide awake and active, his hands’ next destination would be to pinch Ting Ting’s toned plump bottom.
Han Ting Ting was startled and opened her sleepy eyes. She was still sleepy and didn’t appreciate being woken up early to reward someone with uncourteous hands. She scratched Song Song’s chest to let him know she wanted to catch up on sleep she lost because he kept her up all night.
Qin Song’s eyes were teary from Ting Ting’s three scratches on his chest that drew blood. He obediently let her lie comfortably back on his chest, closed his eyes and went back to sleep.
When Qin Song and Ting Ting woke up again, her parents weren’t home. Her mum left them congee and many of his favourite dishes on the dining table. He thought if there were omelettes too then it would be the perfect breakfast. But recently Ting Ting’s mood swings were unpredictable and he didn’t dare to ask her to cook them omelettes.
Qin Song thought marriage was a mysterious phenomenon. After marriage his and Ting Ting’s personalities were swapped. She became the one that bullied him and he became an obedient student scared to upset the teacher. He quietly ate his small serving of congee as he watched his wife devour his favourite dishes on the dining table.
When Ting Ting swallowed the last water spinach stir fried in chili the doorbell rang. Qin Song obediently put his chopsticks on the dining table and went to open the front door.
At the door wasn’t Han Ting Ting’s parents who fled their home before dawn because they were traumatised by their daughter and son-in-law’s lively performance that lasted all night and the acoustics were sound and clear from their bedroom.
‘Young master, Mrs Qin senior asked for me to drive you and Mrs Qin junior to the hospital,’ the driver said.
Qin Song stood frozen at the front door.
Han Ting Ting didn’t hear Song Song’s conversation with the driver but Song Song’s soulless body made her run to him. She held his cold hand and tears formed in her eyes. ‘Song Song?’
Qin Song withdrew his bleak expression because he didn’t want to make Ting Ting anxious. He patted her back. ‘Honey, pack our belongings.’ He forced a smile to rea.s.sure her. ‘Afterwards we’ll go to the hospital to visit dad.’
Qin Song and Ting Ting were driven to the hospital. At the hospital unlike last time there were no vultures circling outside Qin Yun’s hospital room. Qin Song had banished most of the vultures into retirement overseas. The few vultures that lingered behind at Qin’s company after their revelation that Qin Song was no longer a kid who hadn’t wiped his nose clean, didn’t dare to make a squeak and wisely avoided the hospital to stay out of Qin Song’s way.
Qin Song thought his victory against his uncles was meaningless the moment he stepped into the hospital. His heart was deeply pained more than he antic.i.p.ated during those nights reading his dad’s prognosis reports.
Qin Song entered the hospital meeting room but it wasn’t full of the doctors he contracted.
‘The thirteen specialists that you invited to the hospital have flown back overseas, they can’t do anymore to help Mr Qin senior. As for the local specialists they’ve cancelled the meeting because their hands are tied too,’ a hospital doctor explained.
Qin Song hands were clenched. ‘Who gave them permission to cancel the meeting? Are-they-all-sick-of-living?’
The hospital doctor dropped the heavy pile of Qin Yun’s health reports. He bent his shaky legs to retrieve the fallen reports.
Since Qin Song married Ting Ting and took over Qin’s company, outsiders were accustomed to the matured and responsible Qin Song. But Qin Song’s violent outburst in the hospital meeting room reminded everyone how frightening it was to be on the receiving end of his temper if they offended him.
‘Within twelve hours I want them all standing in front of me,’ Qin Song ordered. ‘Or I’ll make them disappear for good!’
‘Yes, Mr Qin junior,’ the hospital doctor said and bowed his head.
Qin Song heard footsteps behind but didn’t turn around because he recognised it was his mum’s footsteps.
‘Forget it!’ Zhang Yu said.
Zhang Yu helped the frightened doctor pick up her husband’s health reports. ‘I gave them permission to cancel the meeting. They’re already on their planes, don’t call them back.’ She nodded her head to the doctor. ‘You can leave.’
The hospital doctor was relieved he was rescued by Mrs Qin senior, he quickly left the hospital meeting room and gently closed the door to give Mrs Qin senior and the formidable Mr Qin junior privacy.
The mother and son were deadly quiet inside the hospital meeting room. Qin Song’s temper showed no signs of subsiding.
Zhang Yu put a hand on her son’s tensed shoulder and gently rubbed it to get rid some of his tension. ‘Song Song…’
‘Mum!’ Qin Song spat out coldly.
‘Let your dad be, he wants to spend his precious time left with us at home instead of a sterile hospital bed,’ Zhang Yu said.
Qin Song punched the hospital meeting table. Blood dripped from his fisted hand onto the dent of the table.
‘Don’t be like that,’ Zhang Yu said. She pulled her son’s arm and lifted his bleeding hand. She blew gently on his hand to ease the sting. ‘Both you and I understand what’s best for your dad. Let’s not put him through the pain of a third surgery.’
‘Mum, do you want me to see dad die?’ Qin Song asked in a trembling voice. ‘I can’t do it.’
‘I know, it’s going to be hard. But the pain we’re going through can’t compare to the pain your dad is going through to hang on for us,’ Zhang Yu said.
Zhang Yu took a deep breath. It wasn’t the time for her to cry, she needed to convince her son to let her husband enjoy a peaceful life before death.
Zhang Yu patted the back of her son’s shoulder like she used to when he was a kid and something caused him to be upset, it was the only thing left she could do to comfort him.
‘Song Song,’ Zhang Yu said. ‘Your dad is Qin Yun. He’s infamous for his prideful ways. With the exception of when he proposed to me, he’d never bend down to anyone or any situation before. How can you bear to see your dad time after time punish his body and begging himself to stay strong?’
‘They’re not punishment, they’re treatments!’ Qin Song boomed.
‘Can the treatments cure him?’ Zhang Yu asked rhetorically.
Qin Song was defeated by his mum’s dead end question – there was no cure.
Qin Song realised a third surgery wasn’t to cure his dad’s cancer but it was a way for his dad to comfort and give their family hope that his dad could escape a death sentence.
Qin Song had sought after the latest drugs, reputable oncologists and medical equipment to treat his dad’s cancer. It wasn’t because he was a n.o.ble son, he just didn’t want to accept that he was losing his dad to death. His dad willingly let his body go through the painful treatments because his dad wanted to show him how much his dad loved him.
Qin Song felt he was selfish. He understood his dad was suffering for him but it was hard for him to let his dad go.
Qin Song thought that his mum was stronger than he could ever be. His mum was able to let go of her own selfishness and let go of their last hope that his dad would be cured.
‘Song Song, you’ve never had to undergo a surgery in your life. Your dad had his body cut up twice. I had a caesarean to give birth to you. Your dad was by my side the whole time the obstetrician performed the caesarean. Afterward it took a long time for my body to heal. Your dad never wanted me to get pregnant again after he saw how much I had struggle post pregnancy,’ Zhang Yu said. She couldn’t hold back her tears any longer and cried. ‘When your dad and I got married I told him I wanted to give him five children. That’s how much your dad loves me and you. You and I are enough for him.’
Zhang Yu felt grateful she got to spend many happy years with her husband. The thought of their separation through death, it made her wish she was the one dying first. Grieving for her husband and the love they shared would be overwhelming for her.
‘Song Song, if there was a cure do you think I would let your dad go? He’s been your dad for thirty years. What about me? I loved him my whole life. You and Ting Ting both have long lives ahead that you’ll both face together. Your dad is my world. Don’t you think if there was a cure I would be the first to risk my life to save your dad?’ Zhang Yu said.
Qin Song heard his mum’s painful sob and turned around to hug his mum. ‘Mum… you still have me.’
Zhang Yu sobbed and hugged her son at the same time. ‘Song Song, I’m begging you… don’t force your dad to have a third surgery. I can’t bear to continue watching your dad go through more suffering.’
Qin Song didn’t say another word. He felt like he was a mountain that was engulfed by an ocean.
Qin Song let his mum go. He sunk on a chair and felt hopeless like a submerged mountain.
Han Ting Ting barged through the door of the hospital meeting room. She was in a panic state and didn’t have time to absorb the grieving atmosphere in the hospital meeting room. ‘Song Song! Dad… dad threw up a lot of blood!’
Zhang Yu rushed out and ran to her husband’s hospital room.
Qin Song held Ting Ting’s sweaty hand and chased after his mum.
Qin Song and Ting Ting ran for a little while then she stopped running. He turned around and saw her face was bleached white and her forehead was sweaty.
‘Honey, what’s wrong?’ Qin Song asked.
Qin Song saw Ting Ting struggled to keep her eyes opened and there were no sounds coming out of her mouth. He caught her limp body before she fainted.
When Han Ting Ting regained consciousness, it was night time.
Han Ting Ting laid on a comfortable hospital bed. The room was s.p.a.cious and the soft lighting made her drowsy. Above her bed was an air-conditioner that was turned on to keep the room not too cold and not too warm. The light from outside crept through the gap at the bottom of the door.
Han Ting Ting turned to the darker side of the room and saw Song Song sat by her bedside.
‘You’re awake?’ Qin Song asked. He gently swept Ting Ting’s hair away from her forehead. ‘Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?’
Han Ting Ting shook her head. ‘Did I faint?’
Han Ting Ting remembered Song Song was holding her hand running toward his dad’s room. Whilst she was running she kept remembering how his dad threw up blood on the pillow and bed. Then her body felt weak and she became dizzy. The last thing she remembered was Song Song’s scared look and he held her in his arms.
Han Ting Ting forced herself to remember what else happened before she was unconscious but Song Song kept distracting her with his wide smile.
Song Song’s intense stare at Han Ting Ting made her anxious. ‘Is there something wrong… with me?’
Qin Song hugged Ting Ting from the front and rested his forehead on her forehead. His smiling lips hovered over her lips. ‘You dummy. We’re going to be parents… My dummy Ting Bao, our baby’s in your tummy.’
Han Ting Ting’s eyes were filled with immense happiness.
‘Seriously?’ Han Ting Ting asked.
Han Ting Ting rubbed her stomach but there was nothing but a flat stomach. Where would there be room for a baby under her flat stomach?
‘It’s true! The doctor said that our baby is six weeks old and our baby is healthy,’ Qin Song said in a choked voice.
Qin Song lifted Ting Ting on his lap. She leaned back on his chest. He gently hugged her and made sure he didn’t put any pressure on her stomach.
Qin Song felt that night was both the worst and best night of his life. That night he accepted he was going to lose his dad and received the news he was going to be a dad. He felt like strong waves were crashing his heart, he couldn’t control the combined forces of intense pain and joy.
Qin Song didn’t know that kind of feeling existed. A whole new life conceived from his and Ting Ting’s fated love. He didn’t know what their baby looked like but he already loved their baby unconditionally.
Qin Song realised that in the last thirty years, his dad loved him the same way he loved his and Ting Ting’s conceived baby.
Qin Song felt he was a fool. He wasted too many years doubting his dad’s unconditional love for him. Why was it when he found out the meaning of a father’s unconditional love, it was too late?
‘Song Song… you…’ Han Ting Ting asked hesitantly.
‘What?’ Qin Song asked whilst he was still flooded with intense feelings.
‘You… don’t want our baby?’ Han Ting Ting asked in a choked voice.
‘How’s that possible?’ Qin Song asked. He tilted his head to the side to look at Ting Ting. ‘I’m so happy about our baby that I’ve forgotten who I am.’
‘But looking at you, you don’t seem happy one bit,’ Han Ting Ting said softly.
‘Ting Bao!’ Qin Song called out. He swallowed his intention to scold Ting Ting for doubting how much he loved her and their baby. ‘If I was in my dad’s shoes and there was no chance for a full recovery, would you have the heart to… help me to suffer less so I can live peacefully before I die?’
Han Ting Ting was surprised by Song Song’s sudden question. She thought about what she would do if she was in his mum’s shoes. ‘If I could ease a patient’s suffering I wouldn’t hesitate to help. But if it was you, I don’t know if I could do the same for you… Song Song, mum must be beyond heartbroken!’
Qin Song stared at Ting Ting for a long time. He felt if he was separated from her, every second he couldn’t see her would make it hard for him to breathe. His dad loved and doted on his mum for decades longer than he’d loved Ting Ting. How much pain did his mum go through to decide to let his dad go?
Qin Song wished that in his and Ting Ting’s lives, they never have to face the same dilemma his parents faced. He never wanted to be forced to separate from Ting Ting.
The doctor came to examine Song Song and Han Ting Ting’s baby again. The doctor said that for a six week fetus it was healthier and more active than other fetuses its own age. It made Han Ting Ting realised why recently she ate a lot and still felt hungry, and why she slept a lot and still felt she didn’t get enough sleep.
Qin Song asked the doctor about everything he needed to do to ensure Ting Ting and their baby were both safe. By the time he returned to Ting Ting’s hospital room she was asleep. Her breathing was even and her cheeks were a healthy pink. He put the bed sheet over her body up to her neck, kissed her forehead and stepped softly outside.
Qin Song went to his dad’s hospital room. He stood in front of the door with his hand on the door handle for a long time before he opened it and entered his dad’s room.
Qin Yun was sleeping but he was frowning in his sleep.
Qin Song was spoiled by his family and he used to deliberately provoke his dad’s anger. But after he found out he was going to be a dad, he realised it was rare for a dad to stay angry at their own child.
Qin Yun woke up when he felt something was in front of his bed. He opened his eyes and saw his son standing in front of his bed in a trance. ‘What time is it?’
Qin Song looked at the watch Ting Ting gave him. ‘It’s nine.’
‘Um,’ Qin Yun said.
‘Dad, soon you’ll be promoted to be a grandpa,’ Qin Song said.
Qin Yun’s complexion was pale but his eyes lit up. ‘Ting Ting’s pregnant?’
Qin Song nodded his head. ‘Our baby’s six weeks old, we found out today.’ He took out an ultrasound photo from his pocket and pa.s.sed it to his dad. ‘Dad this is your grandchild.’
The ultrasound photo of Qin Song and Ting Ting’s baby was blurry. If the doctor didn’t show them where their baby was in the photo then they couldn’t see the outline of their baby’s little body. Qin Song was amused by his dad looking carefully at the photo more than he would look at an annual financial report.
Qin Yun smiled. ‘My grandchild looks exactly like you!’
Qin Song’s voice choked. ‘We don’t know if our baby is a boy or girl yet. The doctor said when our baby is five months we can find out… dad, it’s just five months!’
Qin Yun stared at his son and many fond memories of his son’s childhood played in his mind. ‘It doesn’t matter if the baby is a boy or a girl. But I prefer to have a granddaughter. My granddaughter would be beautiful and loveable like my daughter-in-law… whereas my grandson would be a trouble maker like my son.’
Qin Song was remembering his childhood too. He smiled with his dad and felt sorry for causing his dad so much grief.
Qin Yun wasn’t used to being awake and not seeing his childish wife by his bedside. ‘Where’s your mum?’
‘Mum went home to tidy up the place,’ Qin Song said. He retrieved the photo and held his dad’s hand. ‘Dad, let’s go home!’
End of Chapter Fourteen (Part 1)