Chapter Six (Part 2 of 2)
Despite it was two in the morning, at the hospital there were many people from the Qin household. They all looked either anxious or frivolously waiting. Qin Song’s eyes swept over them coldly, he held Han Ting Ting’s hand and led her to where the largest crowd gathered.
Qin Song and Han Ting Ting found where Zhang Yu sat. Zhang Yu was surrounded by Qin household members from the top of the pyramid hierarchy. Uncles and brothers kept pressing Zhang Yu about the seriousness of Qin Yun’s condition. What those vultures were most concerned about was how it’d affect the change in power and share price of Qin’s company after the state of Qin Yun’s health was publicised.
The carefree and gentleness of Zhang Yu’s usual mood was non-existent. The Zhang Yu that sat in front of those vultures was like a dignified queen from a seventeenth century European oil painting. She sat there calmly, her back straight and ignored the vultures’ questions.
Zhang Yu’s n.o.ble aura made the vultures only dare to surround her from a distance and not one of them dared to use force to intimidate her to answer their questions.
Qin Song was within steps of the crowd’s circle, he halted and withdrew the anguish from his face. He coughed not too light or too heavy. ‘Gentlemen, what are you doing?’
The crowd heard Qin Song and immediately retreated from Zhang Yu’s spot and circled Qin Song. ‘Qin Song! Your father is dying!’
One by one they showed their true colours and Qin Song pursed his lips whilst they ranted.
‘I think we should convene an emergency meeting. Qin’s company cannot become a headless snake!’
‘A public statement needs to be issued. Many reporters have already called and asked about the nature of Qin Yun’s hospitalization.’
Qin Song quietly listened but the hand that held Han Ting Ting’s hand applied more pressure as he endured each of their heartless comments. ‘Uncles, there’s no need to worry. Everything will be dealt with in a satisfactory manner. It’s getting late, everyone should go back to their own homes. Tomorrow I’ll notify everyone if there’s a change in circ.u.mstances.’
Qin Song’s peers relied on their elderly status to bully Qin Song. ‘What would a child like you understand? It’s a critical moment that will affect the livelihood of Qin’s company.’
‘Oh? Uncle, do you have a better suggestion?’ Qin Song said with obvious anger and smiled coldly. ‘I respect you as my elder. But I’m married, no longer a child. Any business relating to Qin’s company, it’s up to me to make the final decision. Uncle’s opinion will not change anything.’
Qin Song knew when to hold back. He silently swept an icy look around the circle and everyone was intimidated by his cold aura.
‘Song Song!’ Zhang Yu called from behind the solemn circle. ‘You can’t speak to your uncles in a disrespectful manner. If your father knew about it then he’ll blame you for not knowing the difference between top to bottom.’
Qin Song laughed faintly and didn’t say anything else.
No one in the crowd dare to offer another opinion. For many years, Qin Song and Li Wei Ran have helped to establish Liang’s company to become a compet.i.tive company on the market. They were secretly happy that Qin Song had no desire to take over Qin’s company. They thought Qin Yun would choose someone from amongst them to be the next head of Qin’s company. But today they witnessed Qin Song’s determination to protect Qin’s company from their clutches and their hopes were dashed. Qin Song was Qin Yun’s legitimate heir and the Zhang household was a powerful force to be reckoned with. Qin Song also had his own merits, he’d achieved fame for his work ethics and drive.
There was a temporary stalemate between the two sides.
Han Ting Ting gently pulled Qin Song’s hand. ‘Song Song, let’s go inside to see dad.’
‘Um,’ Qin Song said and led Han Ting Ting and Zhang Yu into Qin Yun’s hospital room.
Before the senior members of the Qin household were able to ha.s.sle Zhang Yu because there were no guards. As a preventative measure Zhang Yu ordered two chauffers and a butler to guard outside Qin Yun’s hospital room. No outsiders were allowed to come into the room.
After closing the door, Zhang Yu collapsed and cried the tears she’d held in all night.
‘Mum…’ Qin Song said and pulled Zhang Yu up.
Zhang Yu twisted Qin Song’s ear. ‘b.a.s.t.a.r.d!’ Zhang Yu scolded him and cried at the same time. ‘Brat! It’s all your fault for making your dad angry! I hate you!’
Qin Song quietly let Zhang Yu twist his ear until it was on the verge of coming off.
‘Mum, don’t be like that…’ Han Ting Ting said and gently pulled Zhang Yu’s arm. ‘Song Song is sad too. Mum, let go.’
Zhang Yu listened to Han Ting Ting and let go then Zhang Yu sobbed.
Qin Song’s complexion was poor too. He didn’t know what to say. Compared to when he was outside confronting those vultures, inside the room he felt helpless.
A doctor stepped into the room and Qin Song pleaded silently toward Han Ting Ting to look after Zhang Yu. Then he and the doctor went into the living room next door to talk.
‘Yu Yu,’ Qin Yun whispered after Qin Song and the doctor left.
‘I’m here,’ Zhang Yu said gently and wiped her tears before she went to Qin Yun’s bed.
Han Ting Ting followed Zhang Yu. She saw Qin Yun on the bed, pale and weak. But his eyes that looked at Zhang Yu were gentle.
‘Ting Ting, you’re here too?’ Qin Yun asked.
‘Dad!’ Han Ting Ting said in a shaky voice.
‘Um, it’s good you’re here,’ Qin Yun said and nodded.
‘How are you feeling?’ Zhang Yu asked and sat beside him on the bed. She gently stroked his cheek. ‘Smile a bit more.’
Qin Yun held Zhang Yu’s hand and smiled.
‘You scared me to death!’ Zhang Yu gently scolded Qin Yun.
‘I know. I’m sorry,’ Qin Yun said and summoned enough energy to stroke Zhang Yu’s cheek.
The way Qin Yun and Zhang Yu spoke sweetly to one another moved Han Ting Ting deeply. Her eyes and nose stung. Then she quietly left the room to give them privacy.
Inside the hospital the soft lights gave the illusion of a warm spring day. Outside the hospital the night sky was dark and cold. Han Ting Ting carefully closed the door of Qin Yun’s hospital room and heard the soft voices from the living room. When she reached the living room the doctor had left. Qin Song was a lonely statue that stood beside the window.
‘Qin Song!’ Han Ting Ting called. She carefully walked toward Qin Song and stood beside him. ‘What did the doctor day?’
‘The doctor said it’s nothing to worry about,’ Qin Song said weakly that he couldn’t convince himself of the lie.
Han Ting Ting let out a sigh of relief. ‘That’s good… dad’s awake, let’s go see dad.’
Qin Song froze and kept silent.
‘Song Song, don’t be like that,’ Han Ting Ting said.
Han Ting Ting held Qin Song’s hand. ‘You fighting with dad isn’t right. But dad being sick isn’t your fault. Yes, you should apologise. You need to say sorry for opposing your dad over trivial matters. You don’t need to say sorry you caused dad’s illness.’
‘Is that true?’ Qin Song asked softly.
Han Ting Ting nodded her head. ‘Of course!’
‘Um,’ Qin Song said awkwardly and led them to Qin Yun’s bed.
That night Qin Yun and Qin Song talked for a long time. It was nearly dawn, Han Ting Ting from a light sleep heard footsteps and opened her sleepy eyes. She saw Qin Song opened the door of the hospital’s guest room.
‘Um… Song Song, what’s the time?’ Han Ting Ting asked.
‘A quarter past five. Go back to sleep,’ Qin Song said and rubbed ‘little country bun’s’ head.
Then Qin Song sat on the sofa beside the bed. He was tired but his heart felt light.
Qin Yun’s hospital room was an exclusive customised room. It had three bedrooms. The s.p.a.cious main bedroom for the patient, a medium guest bedroom and a smaller guest bedroom. Zhang Yu gave up the medium guest bedroom for the newlyweds so Zhang Yu slept in the smaller guest bedroom. The problem with the medium guest bedroom was that the bed would be a tight squeeze if two people slept on it. Qin Song was adamant he’d curl up on the sofa and Han Ting Ting should take the bed.
Han Ting Ting rubbed her face to wake herself up. Then she got off the bed and pulled Qin Song’s arm. ‘Go sleep on the bed. Let me sleep on the sofa.’
Han Ting Ting’s hair was knotty, her sleepy face was flush pink and her hands pulled Qin Song’s arm like she was pulling a radish out of the ground.
Qin Song laughed. He let Han Ting Ting pull him to the bed. Then he pulled her to sit on the bed next to him.
‘Why don’t we sleep together?’ Qin Song asked teasingly.
Qin Song only wanted to tease ‘little country bun,’ unexpectedly Han Ting Ting thought about it for a while then nodded her head.
‘Um, ok!’ Han Ting Ting said.
Qin Song’s tiredness and the strain of the night made Han Ting Ting’s heart ached. She didn’t want the two of them to be indecisive about who should take the bed all night.
‘Good friends should help each other, regardless of gender,’ Han Ting Ting’s heart whispered.
If ‘little country bun’ was determined to share the bed, Qin Song wasn’t going to disagree. He squeezed into the bed next to Han Ting Ting and covered their bodies with the bed sheet. He couldn’t resist lifting his head, smiled at her and looked at her seductively to tease ‘little country bun.’
Qin Song’s ‘little country bun’ was indeed tensed. Han Ting Ting closed her eyes tightly and slowly inched toward the edge of the bed like a turtle pulling its neck back into its sh.e.l.l.
Qin Song was amused. He poked ‘little country bun’ and caused her to cover her embarra.s.sed face under the bed sheet. The bed was indeed a tight squeeze for the two of them, Han Ting Ting provoked by him almost fell off the bed. Before she could let out a yelp, she held onto his arm to keep herself from falling. He didn’t hesitate to pull her into his chest and adjusted the bed sheet over them.
It was obvious that there were two separate hearts but Qin Song and Han Ting Ting both felt like there was only one heart beating loudly because both their heart beats were in sync continuously.
Qin Song held ‘little country bun’ inside his chest, she was too tensed that she didn’t dare move. He gently brushed his fingers through her soft knotty hair. Their surroundings were eerily quiet. Inside his heart he was secretly happy.
‘I knew it was you… on the night of my birthday, I kissed you,’ Qin Song whispered into Han Ting Ting’s ear.
Qin Song wanted to say that out loud to Han Ting Ting for a long time. It had nothing to do with Chen Yun or the past relating to Qin Sang and Li Wei Ran. That night, when he bent his head to kiss Han Ting Ting, inside his heart it was clear the person he was kissing was no one else but Han Ting Ting. It didn’t matter the gap of his feelings for Han Ting Ting back on that night compared to their night in the hospital, the person he wanted to kiss and did kiss was Han Ting Ting.
The dawn was radiant, a new day filled with love and happiness. Sunlight spread through the room of a pair of newlyweds who held each other tenderly and neither of them knew when they fell into a peaceful sleep.
‘Ting Bao, Ting Bao…’ Ting’s mum called.
Han Ting Ting in her sleepy state thought it was time to wake up to go to work. She rolled over and stretched her arm to hug Putt Putt. Out of habit she leaned her face against Putt Putt’s face. But she felt that there was something strange about Putt Putt’s face, she pinched Putt Putt and heard Putt Putt cried out. Then Putt Putt’s face buried into her chest.
Ting’s mum saw that not only did her daughter loved to sleep in but her daughter also loved to touch and pinch all over her endearing son-in-law’s body whilst sleeping. Ting’s mum couldn’t bear to watch her son-in-law suffer anymore and hit her daughter’s shoulder. ‘Ting Ting! Wake up!’
Han Ting Ting finally forced herself to wake up. She didn’t know in her sleep that she either pushed Qin Song’s body around the bed or wrapped him into her chest and relentlessly tormented him. In the morning she innocently sat up on the bed and rubbed her sleepy eyes.
Qin Song was still sleepy, he half opened his eyes and innocently looked at Han Ting Ting. Afterward he rolled over and went back to sleep. Han Ting Ting’s flushed bright red, gently and carefully climbed over his body then in her wrinkled clothes stepped down the bed.
Ting’s mum covered Qin Song’s body with the bed sheet. Then she pulled her daughter over and scolded softly. ‘Qin Song’s parents woke up long ago. Kiddo, you have no manners.’
Han Ting Ting bent her head and ashamed enough to not say a word.
Ting’s mum rubbed her daughter’s head. ‘Go wash your face. I brought home cooked dishes.’
Han Ting Ting washed her face in the bathroom then walked to Qin Yun’s room. She saw Zhang Yu sat on the sofa beside Qin Yun’s bed. Zhang Yu was happily eating buns Ting’s mum made.
‘Ting Ting, you’re awake,’ Zhang Yu said, smiled and waved to Han Ting Ting to come toward her. ‘Come over here. Your mum’s buns are really delicious!’
Qin Yun reached for a tissue and gently wiped Zhang Yu’s lips.
‘Is Song Song still sleeping?’ Qin Yun asked his daughter-in-law.
‘Yes Song Song’s still sleeping. Dad do you want me to wake him up?’ Han Ting Ting said.
Han Ting Ting noticed Qin Yun’s att.i.tude toward Qin Song softened a lot.
‘He went to bed late. Don’t wake him up. Come here and eat something, because of me you worried all night,’ Qin Yun said.
Qin Yun was in a good mood. He turned around and smiled at Ting’s mum. ‘I’m sorry for being a nuisance. It’s still early and you had to bring food for us. Zhang Yu, you’re such a child.’
Zhang Yu was too busy eating hot buns, behind her back Qin Yun was winking at Han Ting Ting and Ting’s mum.
In the afternoon, Zhang Pu, Li Wei Ran and Qin Sang came to visit Qin Yun. Han Ting Ting didn’t know why when she saw Qin Sang, she didn’t feel admiration toward Qin Sang like she used to. Instead she felt a strange feeling that was hard for her to put a finger on it.
Qin Yun saw Li Wei Ran and immediately asked about the situation outside. Li Wei Ran thought for a while and didn’t reply. Qin Yun knew straight away the reason for Li Wei Ran’s silence.
‘Those people can’t help themselves,’ Qin Yun said.
‘Qin Song’s att.i.tude is important during this critical period, if he doesn’t deal with the situation directly then the rest of us are no use,’ Li Wei Ran said. ‘Uncle… how about I go talk to him one more time?’
Qin Yun quietly shook his head and smiled.
Zhang Yu couldn’t hold it in anymore. She wanted to show off in front of Zhang Pu for once. ‘Last night Song Song apologised to his dad! Our family have reconciled!’
Zhang Yu deliberately pulled Han Ting Ting’s hand, gave Qin Sang a dirty look who stood behind Zhang Pu. ‘It’s true what they say, it’s important to choose an ideal daughter-in-law! Beauty doesn’t have much use. It’s better to bring someone who is a blessing home!’
Qin Sang dated Qin Song for a short period and Zhang Yu was always dissatisfied with Qin Sang. Many years later Qin Sang was accustomed to Zhang Yu’s att.i.tude. Qin Sang could only look away and pretend she didn’t hear or understood anything.
Zhang Pu couldn’t hold back any longer, smiled and showed Zhang Yu who was the wiser sister in their family. ‘I think Ting Ting is beautiful. Why would you say she wasn’t beautiful in front of her face?’
Zhang Yu wanted to attack Qin Sang more. Instead Zhang Pu twisted Zhang Yu’s words to attack Han Ting Ting and made Zhang Yu startled. Han Ting Ting wanted to ease the tension and diverted their attention. ‘Ah, why isn’t Song Song still not awake? It’s nearly lunch time.’
Suddenly the door was opened and a smiling Qin Song stepped into the room. ‘Who’s missing me already?’
Zhang Yu saw Qin Song and immediately forgot about the battle with Zhang Pu a few seconds ago. Zhang Yu grinned and pushed Han Ting Ting toward Qin Song. ‘Of course it’s your wife who misses you!’
Qin Song naturally accepted Han Ting Ting who Zhang Yu delivered to him. He hugged Han Ting Ting into his chest and lowered his head to smile at her.
Han Ting Ting held tightly by Qin Song could smell his refreshed body scent coming out from a shower. Then she remembered they hugged each other all night, her face flushed red and she didn’t know where to put her hands.
It was strange… Han Ting Ting felt she was stranger by the day! Before Qin Song also put up a pretense in front of both their parents and hugged her too. Back then she would blush awkwardly but recently he hugged her more often that it was becoming a normal occurrence. Yet she still struggled to get used to it instead it made her more confused, her heart beat was faster by the day. It was strange that anything relating to him whether it was one look or his scent as each day pa.s.sed she became more… aware of him. She asked her heart – it wasn’t good… right?
However long Qin Song slept was how long his beautiful dreams lasted. In the morning in his half-sleep half-awake state, he was overjoyed ‘little country bun’ hugged him and wished him a good morning. When he woke up, he closed his eyes and inhaled the scent left behind on Han Ting Ting’s pillow. He promised his warm heart that when he returned home he was going to grab Han Ting Ting’s shampoo.
That whole day pa.s.ser-bys came in by the droves. There were people who came to visit the patient and there were people who came to attack the patient. The one common thread was it was Qin Song who had to be hospitable and received the callers that dropped by, he took all them to a bar nearby. Later that night outside the hospital Qin Song sat inside his car and called Han Ting Ting. ‘I drank a little too much.’
‘You don’t need to come up, dad’s asleep. I’ll come down to find you,’ Han Ting Ting said softly and headed outside at the same time.
‘Um,’ Qin Song said. ‘Come down quickly.’
Qin Song’s voice was soft and Han Ting Ting suddenly felt worried and ran outside. Qin Song’s car was parked in front of the garden, she saw the window wind down half way and he was resting on the backseat with his eyes closed.
‘Song Song…’ Han Ting Ting called softly.
Qin Song heard Han Ting Ting’s voice, opened his eyes and stretched over to open the door for her. ‘Come here.’
‘Are you tired?’ Han Ting Ting asked and closed the door. ‘Where’s the driver?’
‘Something came up and I let the driver go home to take care of it.’ Qin Song said.
Qin Song closed his eyes, let out a deep breath, grabbed Han Ting Ting’s hand and pulled her closer to him. He placed her hand over his forehead.
Han Ting Ting struggled for a moment, Qin Song’s eyes opened and he probed ‘little country bun.’ She felt strange and didn’t know how to express it, her lips mumbled a few sounds and took the initiative to use both her hands to ma.s.sage him.
The breeze pa.s.sed through the half open window and the alcohol stench in the car was strong. But Qin Song didn’t act like a drunk person. He closed his eyes and stayed silent. His usual sharp motor mouth was silent in the car.
‘Are those people causing you trouble?’ Han Ting Ting asked gently whilst still ma.s.saging him.
‘Who?’ Qin Song asked. ‘Ah, no.’
‘Then what’s making you unhappy?’ Han Ting Ting asked because she felt that Qin Song had grievances on his mind.
Qin Song pulled Han Ting Ting’s hands down and clasped her hands. He was gentle toward her and gave her a helpless smile, it was unlike his usual self.
Since little Qin Song was used to calling for rain and wind and he’d receive rain and wind. It was the first time he heard someone directly asked him what was making him unhappy.
‘My dad’s surgery was unsuccessful,’ Qin Song said and exhaled. He finally let it out. ‘The doctor said they found another type of cancer and is likely to spread to other regions.’
Han Ting Ting widened her eyes. ‘What’s going to happen next? Another surgery?’
‘I don’t know,’ Qin Song said and looked outside the window.
Qin Song held her hands tighter and interlocked their fingers. ‘Ting Ting, I really regret it.’
He leaned over and hugged her tight. He wanted to trap the only real warmth that belonged to him.
‘I regretted the bad relationship between me and my dad that lasted for too many years, I regretted recklessly doing many things to cause my dad pain and I regretted that none of those things could be taken back,’ Qin Song said.
Han Ting Ting listened to Qin Song’s regrets. Then she remembered her dad’s statue expression when they moved houses and it felt like a knife was cutting her heart.
‘Song Song,’ Han Ting Ting said. She patted Qin Song’s back and coaxed him gently. ‘It’s not your fault. No one can predict the future… You’re doing well, continue to stay strong. Your parents only have you. Don’t waste your time and energy on guilt.’
Han Ting Ting coaxed Qin Song in her preschool manner and made Qin Song smile. ‘I’m not wasting time. I’ll find the best doctors to treat my dad. I just feel really sad and didn’t have anyone to confide my feelings…’
‘You can confide in me,’ Han Ting Ting said. ‘We’re good friends.’
Qin Song suddenly stiffened. Then he pushed her away a little and looked at her with eyes that shone with hope.
‘What I said to you last night before sleeping, you didn’t hear it?’ Qin Song asked. ‘I’m serious. Can we try to be together?’
Han Ting Ting was dumbfounded. The whole day she thought about a lot of scenarios and how to respond. But she never expected that Qin Song would give her a straightforward confession.
In Han Ting Ting’s small world, anything that got to do with love it was always bottled pain, there was never someone like Qin Song who confessed to her straightforwardly.
Han Ting Ting wasn’t used to it, but it was a fresh strange feeling.
‘Qin Song,’ Han Ting Ting said. ‘Have you forgotten? Before we got married we had an agreement…’
Han Ting Ting remembered his cold laugh and that he said she didn’t have to worry because she wasn’t his type. It wasn’t half a year yet and she was worried a lot!
Qin Song dismissed her diversion. ‘I’m asking you if you want to. What are you doing bringing up the past for?’
Han Ting Ting shook her head. ‘I… don’t want to.’
Qin Song was furious. ‘Then why did you hug me this morning?’
‘I didn’t…’ Han Ting Ting denied. ‘Ah… I was half-asleep and I thought I was at home. I mistook you for Putt Putt…’
Qin Song’s face darkened and he gritted his teeth. His heart cursed ‘little country bun’ – You’re a piece of work!
‘Forget it!’ Qin Song said coldly. ‘It’s nothing. I just wanted a try to see what it’ll be like.’
Qin Song choked. He turned away and waited. But Han Ting Ting didn’t have a shred of regret instead she sighed in relief like she got rid of a heavy burden then she smiled comfortably.
‘Ok, let’s go home,’ Han Ting Ting said.
Qin Song gritted his teeth. ‘Han-Ting-Ting!’ He sat straight and glared at ‘little country bun.’ ‘Why don’t you want to?’
Han Ting Ting didn’t know why herself. At the start Qin Song didn’t allow her to fall for him. Was that why in the time they’ve known each other she reminded herself daily to remember their agreement? Then when he suddenly changed his mind, her first response was to reject it?
It was like when Han Ting Ting was little and had cavities. Her mum didn’t allow her to buy chocolates to eat. Later she didn’t know why after she lost all her baby teeth she didn’t dare to eat chocolate. Years later, someone like her who craved sweets avoided anything that had chocolate as an ingredient.
Han Ting Ting was scared if she didn’t give him an answer he considered was a proper answer then it’d make him angry. ‘Then why do you want to? Before you didn’t like me.’
Qin Song was completely speechless.
Qin Song didn’t know why he wanted to give it a try with ‘little country bun.’ Did he like her simple easy going nature? Or did he like that she was decent and a good listener?
Was it because during a difficult period, he couldn’t cope with all the responsibilities on his own and Han Ting Ting was the only one beside him?
Perhaps it was simply because he was a man and she was a woman and as they stayed in one spot together the smoke would eventually flare up and became a fire? Toward love, he’d always relied on intuition. He’d never thought about it carefully.
‘I don’t know,’ Qin Song said directly. ‘I think… you’re a good person.’
Qin Song’s face blushed pink and coughed twice. ‘Besides, we’re already married.’
‘But we said that we would only be married for one year,’ Han Ting Ting said softly.
Qin Song was driven crazy. He narrowed his eyes. ‘Han Ting Ting, when you’re with me, you only think about divorcing me, right? After you divorced me, you’ll go and be a step-mum for Dong Dong, right?’
Han Ting Ting was speechless. At the start she agreed to marry Qin Song because she didn’t want her parents to hurt because of her and end all those arranged dates. Qin Song was right, she did think about those things. But living with Qin Song many things have happened that wasn’t monopolised by that person. She wasn’t like before, in a daze only thought about that person and Dong Dong.
Qin Song saw Han Ting Ting’s daze and felt insulted! He couldn’t accept it! His legitimate wife was right in front of him and dared to think fondly of another man? And straight after he confessed too!
‘Let’s go home!’ Qin Song said. ‘Go to the front seat and drive!’
Han Ting Ting was startled out of her daze. ‘But I don’t know how to drive.’
The strong alcohol stench was all around Qin Song. He smiled coldly. ‘Want me to drive?’
‘Forget it, let me drive,’ Han Ting Ting said.
Han Ting Ting took a while before she summoned enough courage and sat on the driver’s seat.
End of Chapter Six (Part 2 of 2)