Chapter 19#
【Chapter 019】#
The next afternoon, the surgery began on time.
Jing Shun felt as if he had been in a long dream, filled with a vast white chaos. He couldn’t see anything clearly and had no strength to think.
Beep—beep—beep—
Until an irregular ticking sound reached his ears, and his long-dormant senses slowly stirred awake. Jing Shun lifted his heavy eyelids, only to frown at the overly bright light.
“Mm.”
“Jing Shun?”
Someone called his name, very softly.
Jing Shun’s unfocused gaze slowly gathered on the figure by the hospital bed. He stared at Chi Gui’s face for a long moment until the memories from before the surgery returned, and he understood where he was now.
“…”
The surgery was over?
Had Chi Gui been here with him all along?
A wave of inexplicable acidity hit Jing Shun’s nose, and the vulnerability in his expression was something even he hadn’t noticed. He opened his mouth but realized his nose and mouth were restricted by the ventilator.
Chi Gui caught every subtle change in Jing Shun and whispered soothingly, “Take it easy. Don’t rush to speak.”
With that, he immediately pressed the call bell beside the bed. “Please notify Professor Song that Jing Shun is awake.”
“Understood.”
The entire medical team was dedicated to Jing Shun’s care. Upon hearing the news, Song Chunhui quickly arrived with the medical staff.
“Mr. Jing, how are you feeling now?”
Song Chunhui stood by the bed, leaning in to carefully observe Jing Shun’s condition. “Tell me, how many fingers am I holding up? If you don’t have the strength to speak, just blink.”
Jing Shun found it inconvenient with the ventilator on, but he answered every question one by one, his thoughts gradually clearing.
After a long while of questioning, Song Chunhui signaled the medical staff to temporarily remove Jing Shun’s ventilator.
He took a small medical device from his white coat, lifted the blanket covering Jing Shun, and gently tapped his knee joint with skillful pressure. “Mr. Jing, what do you feel now?”
Jing Shun was a bit slow to respond. “A little numb.”
Song Chunhui moved to a different spot and repeated the process. “What about here?”
“About the same,” Jing Shun answered truthfully. “Also a little numb.”
Song Chunhui increased the pressure. “And now?”
As the sound faded, Jing Shun caught a brief, slight hint of pain—so faint it was almost unbelievable. “…It hurts?”
Song Chunhui smiled without speaking, then tapped his joint again.
Jing Shun once again captured this hard-won sensation of pain, and an unprecedented joy surged across his face. Even his voice trembled. “It hurts, it hurts!”
Chi Gui observed the exchange between the two, and the subtle tension between his brows disappeared.
He asked on Jing Shun’s behalf, “Professor Song, is Jing Shun’s condition good or bad now?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Having sensation is a good sign.”
Song Chunhui pulled the blanket back over Jing Shun. “Don’t worry, the first round of surgery went even smoother than expected. It repaired at least seventy percent of the nerve damage.”
“Mr. Jing, get some good rest. We’ll do a full checkup in a few days, and we can adjust the subsequent treatment plan based on your actual progress.”
“…”
Jing Shun was still caught up in that long-lost sensation and couldn’t snap out of it for a moment.
Song Chunhui understood how Jing Shun felt and simply turned to Chi Gui. “You’ve hired a caregiver, right?”
“Follow the post-op instructions carefully. For now, don’t let the patient turn over recklessly. Later, he can have some liquid food—post-op strength replenishment is very important.”
Chi Gui knew what to do and nodded in agreement.
Song Chunhui left with the medical team, and the soft click of the door closing followed.
Jing Shun was afraid this was all just a dream. “Chi Gui, I-I’m not dreaming, am I?”
Chi Gui knew what he feared and answered seriously, “You’re not dreaming. Professor Song said your surgery went very well.”
Hearing this affirmation, Jing Shun’s eyes quickly brimmed with a long-forgotten sting of emotion. He swiftly turned his head, closed his eyes, and suppressed the sob that was threatening to escape.
“Mm, that’s good.”
As long as it wasn’t a dream.
Jing Shun took a deep breath and looked back at Chi Gui, who was at the bedside.
Chi Gui met his gaze. “What’s wrong? Any other discomfort?”
Jing Shun shook his head but said, “Thank you.”
From the time they met until now, Chi Gui had helped him in so many ways—
Spending money to get Professor Song to treat him, dealing with scumbags like Chi Sheng for him.
Catching on to his psychological issues in time, finding a therapist for him, sensing his anxiety and unease before surgery, and even offering the most direct comfort and companionship through his actions.
Thinking about this, Jing Shun repeated his thanks. “Chi Gui, thank you for helping me so much.”
Without this person in front of him, he might have repeated the same path as his past life, slowly swallowed by the darkness until death arrived.
Chi Gui heard his thanks. “You’re welcome.”
Jing Shun felt that this acknowledgment wasn’t enough. “I owe you so many favors. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay them.”
Although there was a contractual agreement between them, and Chi Gui seemed to help him according to the terms, Jing Shun saw clearly—
He was the biggest beneficiary in this transaction. Chi Gui, on the other hand, gained nothing from the agreement.
After all, the “partner needs” in Chi Gui’s contract were a very vague concept. Even without him, there were plenty of others who could play that role.
Even if he could afford the medical bills in the future, he might never be able to repay the favors.
Chi Gui saw through Jing Shun’s concerns. “Just owe the favors for now. You can repay me all at once when you have the chance. When that time comes, you’ll have to listen to me completely.”
His deep voice was like a drumbeat, hiding a hint of undeniable control.
Jing Shun’s heartbeat inexplicably skipped a beat. “Mm, I understand.”
Maybe it was the lingering effects of the anesthesia from the surgery, but he still felt dizzy and a bit warm.
Soon, a knock came at the door.
Uncle Lin stood at the door. “Sir, it’s me.”
Chi Gui pulled back a little. “Come in.”
Uncle Lin entered with a caregiver, and his eyes immediately landed on the awake Jing Shun. “Young Master Jing is awake? This is Caregiver Chen. He’ll be taking care of you during your hospital stay.”
Caregiver Chen nodded at Jing Shun and Chi Gui without speaking much, immediately starting to check the post-op instructions on the bedside table. He seemed dependable and responsible.
Chi Gui withdrew his scrutinizing gaze and turned to see Wei Di at the door.
“Sir, it’s time.”
Wei Di met his gaze and stepped forward quickly. “We have to leave now. The overseas itinerary can’t be delayed any longer.”
Uncle Lin chimed in from the side, “Sir, you and Wei Di go ahead and take care of your business. Uncle Lin and Caregiver Chen are here for Young Master Jing. Nothing will go wrong.”
Chi Gui nodded and stood up. Before leaving, he made sure to remind Jing Shun, who was still in bed, “Get some good rest.”
“Mm.”
After watching Chi Gui leave the ward, Jing Shun asked the butler, “Uncle Lin, where is Chi Gui going?”
Hearing the change in how Jing Shun addressed him, Uncle Lin immediately sensed something. With the judgment of someone who had seen a lot, he gave Jing Shun a thorough explanation.
“I heard from Wei Di that Sir has to attend an international business conference tomorrow evening. It was a schedule set two months ago. He was supposed to leave yesterday afternoon, but it coincided with your surgery.”
Chi Gui had Wei Di postpone the departure from yesterday afternoon to this morning. When Jing Shun still hadn’t woken up, he pushed it back again to this evening.
Wei Di knew the importance of that conference and was anxious inside but didn’t dare urge his boss.
Jing Shun reacted slowly. “Chi Gui postponed his departure? He’s been waiting at the hospital for me to wake up?”
The butler smiled and nodded, saying no more.
Jing Shun suddenly remembered the night before the surgery, recalling Chi Gui’s final comforting words—
“Jing Shun, if you need me, I can stay with you.”
“…”
Jing Shun was used to Chi Sheng’s repeated broken promises. He had originally thought Chi Gui was just saying empty words to comfort him, not daring to make any excessive demands.
But he never expected the other man to actually silently stay with him for an entire day?
Uncle Lin asked, “Young Master Jing, what are you thinking about?”
A ripple stirred in Jing Shun’s heart, carrying an unfamiliar intimacy he hadn’t even noticed. “I was just thinking that Chi Gui isn’t at all like the rumors say. He’s really good.”
“Yes, Sir is a good man.” Uncle Lin tucked the blanket around Jing Shun. “Young Master Jing, would you like to rest a bit more?”
“Mm.”
Jing Shun needed to stay in the hospital for observation.
A week passed, and he lay in bed feeling bored, staring at the spring sunlight streaming in through the window.
Suddenly, the sound of overlapping footsteps came from the doorway.
Jing Shun looked up and immediately showed surprise. “Brother Yu.”
Yu Xiuzhu met Jing Shun’s gaze as he knocked and walked in. “Xiao Jing, look who I brought?”
Yu Yinhe followed behind him, holding a bouquet of brightly blooming flowers. “Jing Shun, I hope this impromptu visit isn’t disturbing your rest.”
“Of course not.”
Jing Shun signaled the caregiver to adjust the backrest of the bed. “Sister Yin, how come you have time to come?”
“Representing the whole production team to visit you.” Yu Yinhe handed the bouquet to the caregiver and stood by the bed. “I heard from Xiuzhu that the surgery went well. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
Jing Shun managed a slight smile. “It’s just a shame I missed the fifth and sixth episodes of filming.”
Yu Yinhe smiled. “That’s all right. We’ll be waiting for you to come back for the last two episodes.”
Yu Xiuzhu opened the insulated bag he’d brought. “You’re being discharged next Friday, right? That’ll be just in time for the first episode of the show to air.”
Jing Shun asked, “Has it already been scheduled?”
“Mm, the scheduling press conference is next Monday.” Yu Yinhe explained the release timeline. “The first week will have the prelude trailer, plus the first episode’s formal release.”
“Oh, by the way, you’ll need to get on Weibo and help promote the show.”
“Of course.”
The three chatted for less than ten minutes.
Yu Yinhe stood up to leave. “Jing Shun, I have a prescreening meeting at the station later. We’ll see each other again at the studio when the time comes.”
Jing Shun didn’t want to delay Yu Yinhe’s work. “Okay.”
Yu Yinhe came and went in a rush.
Yu Xiuzhu stared at her brisk retreating figure. “Still so energetic.”
Jing Shun responded, “Brother Yu, do you have nothing to do this afternoon?”
“Nothing much, so I came to chat with you.” Yu Xiuzhu handed him the medicinal stew he’d prepared. “Here, drink this. It’s good for replenishing your blood.”
Jing Shun sniffed the strong herbal aroma and grumbled, “Again?”
On the day of the surgery, Yu Xiuzhu had a family emergency and couldn’t come.
But ever since the surgery ended, he came every other day.
Each time, he brought homemade soups and medicinal stews, and before leaving, he’d give endless reminders, fussing over everything. Calling him a “mom friend” wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
Hearing Jing Shun’s grumble, Yu Xiuzhu laughed. “Don’t dawdle. Drink it while it’s hot. I already asked the doctor about the herbs in this. It’s safe.”
Jing Shun couldn’t waste Yu Xiuzhu’s kindness and took a sip of the soup.
“How is it?”
“Delicious!” Jing Shun was honest. “Brother Yu, I didn’t know you could do stuff like this.”
“…”
Yu Xiuzhu paused for two seconds before speaking. “I used to know a little friend who had stomach issues—even more fragile than you. I learned a bit to take care of him.”
Jing Shun was curious. “Who?”
Yu Xiuzhu hid the real emotion in his eyes. “Someone you don’t know.”
Jing Shun could tell he didn’t want to talk about it, so he continued drinking the soup. “Oh.”
Yu Xiuzhu picked up an apple and a fruit knife, started peeling as he changed the subject. “Oh, by the way, the show’s advance payment has come through. I had the studio’s finance department transfer the full amount to your account.”
Jing Shun paused. “Full amount?”
He and Yu Xiuzhu had signed a management contract, and the money was processed through the Bamboo Grove Management Studio.
Seeing Jing Shun’s stunned expression, Yu Xiuzhu smiled. “Come on, I have the authority to decide. You’re in need of money right now, aren’t you? You still have the second round of surgery coming up, right?”
Yu Xiuzhu didn’t know exactly what the relationship between Jing Shun and Chi Gui was, and he respected Jing Shun’s privacy by not asking deeply.
But he truly treated Jing Shun like a younger brother and didn’t want to see him troubled by money.
“Xiao Jing, I know you’ve basically cut ties with your family. You need to have some funds on hand now. You can ‘settle accounts’ with me later when you have the chance.”
“Thank you, Brother Yu.”
Jing Shun was deeply moved, and at the same time, a sense of sorrow grew within him—
Having learned from his past life, he never actively reached out to Jing Guanhai or Xu Jia in this life. And they, in turn, hadn’t sent him a single message or made a single call.
Even though they were still bound by blood, they had long ceased to be his family.
“…”
Family?
Jing Shun silently pondered this word—one that should have brought him happiness and all the reliance he needed—and his thoughts inexplicably drifted—
Now that he was living in the Chi residence, could he and Chi Gui be considered “family”?
The moment this thought surfaced, Jing Shun remembered Chi Gui’s status and influence in Haishi, and he immediately stopped his unrealistic daydream.
Forget it.
At least Dog Baobao was good. Dog Baobao could be family~