Chapter Fifty-One: Blood is Thicker than Water

  After arriving at the hospital, it was almost midnight. After the doctor finished diagnosing Zhao Jun and putting him on an IV drip, Fang Wenke, Liang Xue, and I were all exhausted.

  The three of us stood around Zhao Jun's bedside, watching him fall into a deep sleep. No one dared to speak loudly, fearing that they would wake him up.

  The ward was very quiet, so quiet that we could hear the three of us growling with hunger, and the three of us looked at each other, teasing each other.

  I saw Zhao Jun sleeping soundly, no big deal, so I got up and prepared to go out and buy some boxed meals or something to fill my hunger, leaving Liang Xue and Fang Wenke in the ward to watch over Zhao Jun.

  As soon as I stepped out of the ward, I saw an old man walking towards me. At a glance, I recognized him - he was the old man who lent me his black umbrella during my morning run, and also Zhao Jun's grandfather.

  I put away my surprise and quickly ran up to ask him: "Grandpa, how did you know so soon that Zhao Jun was hospitalized!"

  Obviously, Grandpa was confused by my question. He looked at me strangely and was dazed for a while before he realized who I was. He tidied up his hair and said, "What did you say? My eldest grandson is in the hospital?"

  Looking at the grandfather in front of me who seemed to be unaware of what was going on, I knew that I had misspoken. It was very clear that Grandfather did not know about Zhao Jun's hospitalization, but why was he appearing at the hospital?

  "Miss, what did you just say? My grandson is hospitalized?" Grandpa looked at me dazed and asked me again anxiously.

  I knew I couldn't keep it under wraps, so I just went ahead and said, "It's... uh... right here in this hospital room. Grandpa, Zhao Jun is fine, he just got a head injury, he'll be okay tomorrow!" I pointed to the hospital room behind me while comforting Grandpa and helped him into the room.

  When Grandpa walked into the ward, Fang Wenke was shocked. Fang Wenke's eyes widened and he instinctively shouted out: "Grandpa!"

  Grandpa was also confused by the scene in front of him and stuttered: "Grandson!"

  It's clear that Grandfather's shout of "Grandson" wasn't directed at Zhao Jun, who was lying in bed, but rather at Fang Wenke, who was sitting on the side.

  The fact that Xiaofang and Zhao Jun are biological brothers is self-evident.

  Fang Wenke hastily got up and took Grandpa out, afraid of waking up Zhao Jun.

  I stayed in the ward with Liang Xue, listening to the low murmurs outside the door, but soon heard Fang Wenke and Grandpa's footsteps leaving.

  When Fang Wenke and Grandfather were far away, Liang Xue dared to ask me in a low voice: "What's going on? Zhao Jun and Fang Wenke are biological brothers?"

  I nodded my head in undeniable acknowledgment of this absurd familial relationship.

  "That's also too far-fetched! Fang Wenke and Zhao Jun aren't even of the same surname?" Liang Xue continued to ask curiously.

  "Their parents divorced very early on; Zhao Jun followed his father and Fang Wenke followed her mother."

  "This world is really cold-blooded." Liang Xue looked at Zhao Jun on the hospital bed, and her eyes showed a few more points of sympathy.

  I quietly got up and walked out of the ward, patrolling around the corridor, but still couldn't see the figures of Fang Wenke and Grandpa, and didn't know where they had gone.

  Since I hadn't seen Grandpa Ke for a long time, I went downstairs alone and found a fast food restaurant near the hospital to buy some takeout.

  It was late at night and the fast food restaurant's chefs had almost all gone off duty, so I waited for over 20 minutes before buying a rice bowl dish and stir-fried vegetables.

  I clutched the emergency rations in my hand and quickly walked back to the hospital, but when I entered the hospital lobby, I saw Fang Wenke sitting slumped on a chair. His eyes were dull as he stared at the pendant lamp in the center of the hall, as if trying to hold back tears from falling from his eyes.

  I hastily walked up and sat down beside Fang Wenke, saying: "What's wrong with you? Has something bad happened?"

  Fang Wenke saw me walking over and quickly wiped the corner of his eye with his hand, looking at me saying: "......you also heard just now, actually I and Zhao Jun......"

  "I know you and Zhao Jun are biological brothers, I knew it all along." Before Fang Wenke could finish his confession, I interrupted him.

  Fang Wenke showed incomprehension towards my knowing and said: "How did you know that Zhao Jun and I are biological brothers?"

  "I've seen the text messages you and Zhao Jun sent each other on your phone, it was that night when you were driving drunk, I accidentally saw them, so I know everything."

  Fang Wenke fell silent, perhaps surprised that I had kept his secret for so long despite already knowing the truth.

  But two seconds later, he suddenly knelt on the ground, hugged me and burst into loud sobs, causing the dishes I was holding in my hands to be knocked over and scattered all over the floor.

  The hospital lobby was almost empty, as it was late at night and few people came to the hospital. However, Fang Wenke in a corner of the hall was like he had lost his closest relative, despairing, his cries piercing every corner of the hospital.

  I propped up the house that was embracing me, wondering what had happened to him, but heard him weakly sobbing in my ear, saying: "My father has stomach cancer and is about to pass away. Grandpa stayed so late at the hospital just to take care of my father. Actually, Zhao Jie told me before that my father had cancer, but I thought since I hadn't seen my father for over a decade, there wouldn't be any emotions involved. Until just now when Grandpa took me to see my father in his ward, I saw that all his hair was gone and his lips were pale white. In that instant, I collapsed. Although we've been apart for so many years, he's still my father!"

  I held the house in front of me and finally knew that men also have weak moments and such uncontrollable sorrow.

  Originally men and women are the same, it's just that the former knows how to pretend, while the latter knows how to use this to gain sympathy.

  Blood is thicker than water.