Chapter 22: The Last Gathering (02)

  Today is Saturday, although it's windy, the weather seems to be good, the clouds in the sky are white like snow, extending all the way to the end of the sky.

  At noon, as soon as the bell rang, students rushed out of the classroom and ran to the cafeteria, seeking the source of life. Of course, this source is not that source!

  Chen Haonan was packing up his textbooks when he suddenly heard someone shouting that someone outside was looking for him. He couldn't help but look out the window, and saw his sister Chen Jiayi suddenly appearing in the corridor.

  "How did Jia Yu end up here?" Chen Haonan couldn't help but mutter to himself. He found it strange that his sister had never come to S before, and at this time she should be in school, so how could she suddenly appear here? "Could something have happened at home? Or is it Dad..." The sudden thought made Chen Haonan's heart skip a beat, he panicked, almost bursting into tears - not even having time to gather his things, he hastily ran out of the classroom.

  "Jia Yu, how did you come here?" Chen Haonan walked up to his sister and asked without waiting for her to speak. His tone was heavy with a hint of blame, startling the passing classmates who couldn't help but turn their heads.

  "Hao Nan, it's me and your little uncle Jia Yu coming to find you!" Chen Hao Nan didn't know what his sister was up to, just as he was about to ask another question, someone put their hand on his shoulder, the voice also came from behind.

  She quickly turned around and saw that it was Uncle Chen Xiaoxian, and her younger uncle Chen Xiaokang was also standing beside him. Chen Haonan's heart was greatly shocked and delighted, and a few tears quietly flowed out...

  Chen Xiao Xian hurriedly pulled his nephew into his arms, gently patting the back of his head and smiling: "Our family's Hao Nan has grown up, why are you still crying?"

  Chen Haonan knew that his uncle's words were words of concern and encouragement, so he held back his tears. Chen Jiayi quickly handed her brother a tissue, and he smiled as he took it, quickly wiping away the tear stains.

  Young uncle Chen Xiaokang stood by with a faint smile. He was exactly ten years older than his nephew, and when Chen Haonan was young, he often carried him around on his back, so the relationship between the two had always been very close, often quarreling and fighting, and speaking without reserve. At this moment, seeing Chen Haonan smile, Chen Xiaokang took a step forward and placed one hand on the back of his neck, laughing and saying: "Haonan, our whole family is here now, we're just missing you - I heard we're coming to school to pick you up and take you home. Little Jie and 'Worm' are both making a fuss about following us, they're waiting for us in the car!" As he spoke, Chen Xiaokang's hand pointed downwards towards the teaching building with a smile.

  Xiao Jie is the son of Chen Haonan's aunt, Chen Shugui, who has just turned six years old; "Worm" is the daughter of Chen Xiaoxian, whose full name is called "Chen Huiyun", and she is not yet four years old. The two little guys are particularly close to Chen Haonan, this big brother, and often turn around him. Following the direction pointed by his uncle, Chen Haonan saw a black small car parked on the central road, Xiao Jie and "Worm" two little ghosts were looking out of the window, looking around. After his thoughts settled down for a moment, Chen Haonan said: "Okay, I'll go ask my teacher for leave - the teachers' office is over there." As he spoke, his hand pointed in the direction of the office building. Then, he went into the classroom and came out with his backpack after a while.

  When they arrived downstairs, Chen Haonan handed his backpack to his sister. Just as he was about to turn and leave, he suddenly remembered something and hastily said: "I'm going back on leave, Dad will definitely be angry... I've called him several times saying I want to go back and see him, but he just won't let me..."

  "It's okay, this time it was your dad who asked me and your little uncle to come pick you up." Chen Xiaoxian quickly replied to his nephew. Without waiting for Chen Haonan to speak again, he said another sentence "Let's go, I'll accompany you to ask for leave..." and pulled his nephew away. So, Chen Xiaokang and his niece Chen Jiayi returned to the car to wait for them.

  It just so happened that Chen Haonan and his uncle Chen Xiaoxian were walking towards the teacher's office building, when he suddenly heard someone calling out his name from behind. He turned around to see who it was, and to his surprise, it was their class teacher, Old Li. His heart couldn't help but feel a little happy. It turned out that Old Li had just finished lunch at home and remembered that there were still some assignments that hadn't been graded, so he hastily left the house, not expecting to see Chen Haonan as soon as he stepped out of the residential building - he immediately called out his name.

  "This is my uncle..." Chen Haonan quickly introduced Chen Xiaoxian to the teacher as soon as he walked over with Old Li.

  "Oh——, hello!" Old Li seemed startled and hastily shook hands with Chen Xiaoxian.

  "Is it Teacher Li? Hello!" Chen Xiao Xian said politely while shaking hands with Old Li.

  It's been a long time since Chen Haonan saw such a greeting, and he was a bit unaccustomed to it. After Uncle and the class teacher finished shaking hands, he immediately made his intentions clear to Old Li.

  "Go ahead, I'll give you two days off, go spend some quality time with your dad, but don't forget to bring back two books to read too..." Old Li readily agreed and added a few more reminders.

  "Then thank you, Teacher Li." Chen Xiaoxian hastily thanked Old Li. Turning around, he instructed his nephew: "Haonan, you go first, I'll chat with Teacher Li for a bit, and then come over to let your little uncle wait..."

  After listening to his uncle's words, Chen Haonan bid farewell to the head teacher and left.

  "Has your brother's illness improved?" Old Li immediately asked as soon as Chen Haonan walked away.

  Old Li asked this, Chen Xiao Xian felt extremely uncomfortable in his heart. He didn't speak immediately, but only shook his head and sighed. Afterwards, he said: "Thank you for your concern, Teacher Li."

  "That's nothing," Old Li hastily declined, and then he also sighed: "It's just that Haonan is suffering..."

  "How has Haonan been doing at home lately?" Chen Xiaoxian asked anxiously.

  "It doesn't look very good!" Old Li sighed again and said, "This semester, Haonan has changed a lot. He's become quiet and rarely talks to his classmates. His spirit is also absent-minded and he's lost the vitality and energy he used to have. At the beginning of the semester, he was often distracted in class and his grades dropped quickly. Later, I analyzed the pros and cons with him, and he slowly improved a lot, but I still often see him staring blankly..."

  "Then please take care of him for me, Teacher Li. I'll thank you properly next time I have the chance! — Please do!" Chen Xiaoxian repeatedly requested.

  "You go ahead and take care of your business, don't mention thanks or anything. It's our responsibility as teachers! You can rest assured, I'll be keeping an eye on Haonan!" Old Li nodded solemnly.

  "Thank you!" Chen Xiao Xian shook hands with Old Li once again.