Half an hour later, an employee from the Department of Homeless Services of the Bureau of Civil Affairs showed up. He thanked the medical staff and everyone who had come with Xie Qingcheng as he explained the situation.
"This old man is called Zhuang Zhiqiang. He really is a stubborn old nail house."
Xie Xue and Bai Jing—who'd insisted on hitching a ride—had also come up from the underground parking garage. They sat on the sofa in the doctor's office to listen to the details.
"Mr. Zhuang Zhiqiang…his situation is rather unique. Homeless Services has been struggling to resolve this problem." The employee wrung his hands and took a sip of the tea that the nurses had brewed in disposable paper cups. He smacked his lips and sighed. "He came to Huzhou about three years ago and said that he was looking for his daughter. But we checked the registry—he's just an old man who lives all by himself. He doesn't have any family. He used to reside in a yaodong in Shanzhou, a place so poor even birds don't want to live there. He didn't have any neighbors whatsoever, and he had to walk over a mile just to get water. We even sent people down to inquire with the other villagers, and they all said that the old man was very antisocial and that they didn't know anything about him at all."
"But that's not an excuse for you to shirk your responsibilities!" Bai Jing blurted out stridently. "Shouldn't you lock up people who pose a danger to society? He disrupts the municipal environment and might even attack others!"
"Miss, you must understand," the employee said with an awkward expression. "We can't lock up the homeless, they are citizens as well. We can only arrange housing for them or send them to a hospital for medical care…"
Bai Jing's tone was vicious. "I don't care. Nutcases should all be forcibly institutionalized. Shouldn't all these abnormal things be quarantined?"
Before this exchange, He Yu hadn't yet formed an opinion on this woman. He was someone who didn't have a particularly strong moral compass—in other words, he had a rather high tolerance for all sorts of people. To him, what Xie Qingcheng had told him about her wasn't even worthy of comment—everyone had their own way of living, their own choices.
But Bai Jing's rant about "nutcases" really was tap-dancing right on Young Master He's nerves.
The corners of He Yu's mouth suddenly curved into a slightly mocking smile, but he lowered his head and kept quiet.
The employee from the Department of Homeless Services wiped away his sweat. "Young lady, please calm down a little. Since Mr. Zhuang Zhiqiang's condition does seem likely to worsen to the point where he might lose his ability to function in society, we'll take him to our affiliate psychiatric hospital for treatment and supervision once his situation here improves…"
"Which psychiatric hospital?" Xie Qingcheng suddenly asked.
"Given the current situation, it'll probably be Cheng Kang. Even though it's not the best in terms of facilities and management, the accommodations we have reserved with Wanping have already been filled up. There's nothing we can do."
Hearing this, Bai Jing was finally satisfied. "That's more like it…" she muttered.
Just as they were talking, the emergency doctor arrived.
He informed them about Zhuang Zhiqiang's condition: Because he had been treated in time, he was no longer in mortal danger. One visitor was allowed if they wanted to go check on him. "A girl would be best," the doctor explained.
"The patient is still in a state of confusion. He keeps trying to look for his daughter."
Xie Xue stood up. "I'll go." She followed the doctor out of the room.
He Yu had been sprawled over the reception room sofa with his elbow propped up on its back, listening to the conversation with his head lowered and an indifferent expression on his face. However, now that Xie Xue was leaving, he swung his long legs down and prepared to get up as well.
"Hold it," said Xie Qingcheng, his guarded wariness obvious.
"What's wrong?"
"Why are you following my sister around all the time?"
The schoolboy sat back down on the sofa, falling silent for a moment.
Though it seemed like they were having a sophisticated and courteous conversation, his almond eyes were, in fact, full of derision and ridicule.
"Then, what if I follow you around all the time instead, Doctor Xie?" To this, Xie Qingcheng had no reply.
With a steady warmth in his voice, He Yu said, "Both you and your matchmaking date are here. Isn't it inconvenient for me to be around? I'll give you some room. I don't want to be in your way."
Bai Jing immediately snatched the bait and yelled, "There's no chance we'll get together!"
He Yu laughed softly without looking at Bai Jing. Tilting his head, he added quietly at a volume only Xie Qingcheng could hear, "Doctor Xie, don't you think your charisma is fading with old age? You can't even get that little girl."
Xie Qingcheng said nothing.
Wicked thing.
Could it be that his ancestral tomb had been renovated into an outhouse?
How'd they produce such a depraved beast?
Xie Qingcheng's expression was cold as his lips moved just enough to reply, "Hurry up and get lost."
He Yu smiled. He stood up suddenly, and his arm shot over Xie Qingcheng's shoulder. Xie Qingcheng started, bewildered as to what this depraved gentleman, who was flouting normal etiquette, was doing.
Even though they were several centimeters apart, he could pick up the scent of He Yu's adolescent hormones, as well as feel the heat emitting from the boy's chest as he loomed over him.
The domineering aura unique to young males made Xie Qingcheng, a fellow man, extremely uneasy. As a rather traditional man, he immediately felt a sense of irritation at his "male territory" being invaded. Xie Qingcheng was just about to shove He Yu away when this invasive and imposing schoolboy straightened back up. In his hand was a large bag of coffee he had picked up from the counter behind him—the drinks He Yu had just ordered.
"Ge, I was just getting the drinks," he said.
He Yu's derisive smile widened at the sight of the man's dark expression. He took out the cups of coffee from the paper bag and passed them to the employee from Homeless Services, the doctors, and the nurses.
He also asked someone to bring one to Xie Xue and even handed a cup to Bai Jing.
But then, he clicked his tongue and looked at Xie Qingcheng. "Would you look at that. I'm so sorry, I forgot to get one for you."
After a brief pause, He Yu held out his cup of iced coffee to Xie Qingcheng. "Why don't you drink mine?"
But this clearly wasn't a sincere offer. He had already inserted the straw into the cup and was holding it right up to Xie Qingcheng's lips, as if it were the most natural thing to do.
He was certain Xie Qingcheng would refuse.
But to his surprise, it sparked Xie Qingcheng's temper instead. Xie Qingcheng subverted all of He Yu's expectations as he sat right there on the sofa with the air of a man getting waited upon by a little brat. With a sly lift of his gaze, he stared into He Yu's eyes, parted his pale lips and slowly closed them around the straw that had been shoved in front of his face.
Without breaking eye contact, he sucked deeply on the straw without a hint of courtesy.
Xie Qingcheng's throat bobbed as he swallowed the drink. It was as though he were egging He Yu into a fight.
Then he let go of the straw, his wet lips glossy, his eyes sharp.
"You can put it over there. I'll take it as a gesture of filial piety."
He Yu was speechless.
When he saw Xie Qingcheng dip his head and close his lips around the straw, he felt a maddening heat in his chest, probably from sheer anger.
He thought that this person really deserved to be tormented thoroughly, more than words could describe. He had wanted to see Xie Qingcheng stuck in an awkward dilemma or snap back in embarrassed rage.
But in the face of He Yu's challenge, Xie Qingcheng had answered him with an air of composure, radiating arrogance.
For a second, He Yu had the urge to toss the coffee all over that fatherly ice cube of a face, to see how miserable he would look with his face dripping wet and his clothes soaked through.
But in the end, he only smiled and set the iced coffee lightly down onto the tea table. Ducking his head for a moment, he spoke quietly to Xie Qingcheng. "All right, since you wanted it, be sure not to waste a drop. Drink it all, drain the cup, and let me know if it's not enough. I'll get you another."
"How could I possibly impose? You've acted as my driver and handed over your checkbook tonight, and now you're even offering to become my delivery boy." Xie Qingcheng laughed coldly and picked up the coffee, his long, slender fingers sliding through the droplets of condensation collecting on the cup. "You're dismissed."
After Xie Qingcheng finished speaking, he swirled the cup at He Yu.
He Yu walked away, a dark expression on his face.
After witnessing this verbal pissing contest, it was clear to everyone present that the two of them weren't exactly on the best terms. It was somewhat awkward, but Xie Qingcheng acted as if everything were fine. He got up, and under the circle of watchful eyes, tossed the coffee into the trash. Only schoolboys ordered coffee so late. How was he to get any sleep that night if he messed around like this at his age?
Xie Qingcheng sat back down, his expression calm as he looked toward the Homeless Services staff. "Sorry about making such a scene. My client's son doesn't know any better."
"I-it's fine." The worker laughed awkwardly.
"So where were we… Oh, that's right… So, you're certain that Zhuang Zhiqiang doesn't have a daughter?"
The employee snapped out of it. "That's right, he doesn't. Mr. Zhuang Zhiqiang doesn't have any relatives at all. We help homeless individuals get in touch with their family or other community members, but there was no one we could contact for this old man."
Xie Qingcheng fell silent.
From his experience, he felt that Zhuang Zhiqiang's reaction didn't seem like a meaningless or random dissociative episode. The matter of his "daughter" had to be a weight on his mind.
"Daughter…" The old man lay on the hospital bed with an oxygen cannula, still muddled and rambling under his breath about the person who might have been a figment of his imagination. "My wonderful daughter… Your old man watched you grow up right before his eyes, watched you go to school with your little backpack on your shoulders, watched you pass the college entrance exam and move to the big city…"
He stopped for a moment, a cloudy tear seeping out from the wrinkled folds of his eyelids. The old man's sleep-talking was tainted in pain and choked with sobs. "Why couldn't you…ever come back to see your old man…?"
Xie Xue was softhearted, and her tears flowed freely as she listened at his side. After getting the nurse's permission, she reached out for Zhuang Zhiqiang's hand and said from his bedside, "Uncle, don't cry anymore. I… I'm here. I'll stay here with you. Please get better soon…"
As he was still ill, she couldn't spend too much time with the patient.
After she comforted the old, confused man for a while, the doctor told her it was about time to leave.
After disinfecting herself, Xie Xue walked out of the emergency
room. She reached into her bag for tissues to wipe her tears, only to discover that they'd already been used up.
A pretty hand passed her a man's handkerchief.
Xie Xue looked up. Her slightly swollen and red eyes were met with the sight of He Yu's gently smiling face.
With Xie Qingcheng, He Yu had behaved like a degenerate beast, but with Xie Xue, he was rather like a well-behaved show dog. The handkerchief he passed over was a square of snowy white silk of a very delicate and exquisite make, without a single crease marring its surface.
"Here you go."
"Th-thank you."
"It's nothing."
He'd already known that Xie Xue would react like this. Xie Xue's parents died soon after she was born, and her grandparents had already passed away long before that. Ever since she was little, she'd been very envious of others who could shout "Daddy," "Mommy," "Grandpa," or "Grandma." In her case, it was only during the annual Qingming festival that she could quietly say those words as she stood beneath Xie Qingcheng's black umbrella with a bouquet of dainty white chrysanthemums in her hands, facing those ice-cold, rain-soaked gravestones.
Thus, the one thing she couldn't bear was seeing people of her parents' or grandparents' age without children to keep them company.
"Doctor?" Wiping her tears, she spoke to the emergency physician again. "Can you please let me know when he's moved to the psychiatric hospital? I'll go with him."
He Yu frowned slightly. "What would you go to that kind of place for?"
"It's no trouble. It just so happens that the university wants me to go to several prisons and psychiatric hospitals to discuss whether we can bring students to visit. They said it's to give the screenwriting and directing students some hands-on experience in civic engagement, but I haven't had the chance to discuss it with them yet." Xie Xue blew her nose. "It's not like I'll be going out of my way."
Since she'd put it that way, He Yu couldn't really say anything else.
He could only walk over to the side and pick up that little yellow stray. He Yu put his hands under its chubby front legs and lifted it up to his face. Its yellow-and-white-striped legs kicked a few times in midair, and its black bean nose met his almond eyes as it fell into somewhat of a daze. He Yu said gently, "I'll get a dog permit so that you can stay at my place for the time being. Once your owner's better, I'll send you back to him."
Trembling and shivering, the little dog let out a whimper.
It is said that animals have a sixth sense, allowing them to detect danger and madness hidden behind a person's smile. So, despite the kindness of He Yu's words, the little dog was frightened but attempted to get on He Yu's good side anyway. It nervously stuck out the tip of its soft tongue and gave He Yu a lick.
He Yu laughed and reached out to stroke the dog's head, letting the dog lick the tips of his fingers. Eyes dark, he said, "Good boy. You're much more sensible than him."