Chapter 22: Visitation. "Huo Wenyuan will never leave Gu Ci." ...

The bell rang for the last evening study session, and Gu Ci's phone, hidden in his drawer, vibrated simultaneously.

Gu Ci carefully removed the phone, read the note, and immediately answered.

Butler Feng's gentle voice was tinged with caution: "Xiao Ci, is class over?"

"Uncle Feng?" Gu Ci, feeling strangely nervous, surveyed his surroundings and replied, covering the receiver. "Just finished class."

Butler Feng said, "Okay, we'll pick you up at the usual location. Mr. Huo will be there too."

Hearing Butler Huo's words, Gu Ci instantly had a bad feeling.

He had just said that another driver would pick him up this morning... And why was Uncle Huo here too?

Gu Ci frowned, asking worriedly, "Uncle Feng, is...something wrong?"

"It's okay," Butler Feng quickly denied. "I'll wait until you get home."

Seeing Gu Ci hang up, Shang Zui, backpack slung over his shoulder, asked with concern, "What happened?"

Gu Ci shook his head. "I don't know. Uncle Huo and Uncle Feng are here."

Shang Zui, noticing his absentmindedness, put his arm around his shoulders and walked out. "Let's go. Huo Wenyuan isn't here today. I'll stay with you." "

Don't worry. He just sent me a WeChat message scolding me this afternoon. He'll be fine."

Uneasy, Gu Ci walked out of the school gate accompanied by Shang Zui. Amidst the crowd, he approached a familiar car. The moment he looked up, he was unexpectedly met with eyes as sharp as a cold blade in the window.

The coldness in that look reflexively deterred Shang Zui. After all... from childhood to adulthood, no matter how arrogant or defiant the elders or peers around him might be, they would not dare to utter a single word when they saw Huo Xiao.

But the next moment, he was surprised to see Gu Ci approaching without fear.

"Hello, Uncle Huo!"

Huo Xiao's attitude was unusually calm. "Hello, Xiao Ci."

Shang Zui suppressed the shock he felt, wisely choosing silence. He bowed his head respectfully to Huo Xiao.

Huo Xiao's eyes flicked over him, and he replied calmly. Then, looking at the nervous Gu Ci, he reminded him, "Get in the car, Xiao Ci."

Gu Ci nodded, said goodbye to Shang Zui, who had never seen him stand so straight and proper, and got in obediently.

As the car started, Gu Ci finally asked the question he had been worried about all the way: "Uncle Huo... Is Brother Wen Yuan feeling better?"

Huo Xiao tilted his head, studying Gu Ci's expression, and said softly, "The fever's gone."

"Huh?" Gu Ci's heart sank.

Wasn't he fine when he texted him this afternoon? Why did he have a fever again?

He was already in poor health, so if he had a fever again, would there be any other consequences?

Huo Xiao's emotions remained calm. He told Gu Ci, "Don't worry, he's stable now. Go home."

Gu Ci, however, wore a scowl.

He couldn't help but worry about Huo Wenyuan.

Gu Ci looked at Huo Xiao and pleaded, "Uncle Huo, can you let me go check on the young master?"

Fearing Huo Xiao would refuse, he quickly added, "Just a quick glance from a distance, to make sure he's alright. I won't go near him!"

Huo Xiao remained silent.

Steward Feng, in the passenger seat, also remained silent, his expression remarkably composed.

Gu Ci bit his lip, looking truly pitiful. "Uncle Huo..."

Silence fell over the car.

Just when everyone thought Gu Ci's request was hopeless, Huo Xiao suddenly ordered, "Old Du, turn around."

Gu Ci's eyes lit up. "Thank you, Uncle Huo!"

"I knew Uncle Huo cared deeply about Brother Wenyuan and wouldn't be so harsh!"

His tone was filled with praise and gratitude.

The corners of Huo Xiao's mouth drooped, and the calm and restrained demeanor he was so proud of finally showed a crack.

Gu Li was right; being too much like his mother wasn't a good thing.

There was nothing wrong with treating people sincerely, but sometimes, sincerity wasn't always rewarded.

It was nearly eleven o'clock in the evening when Gu Ci arrived at the hospital. Through the glass outside the ward door, he watched Huo Wenyuan lying on the bed from afar.

Because of the distance, he couldn't see clearly. He could only see Huo Wenyuan's eyes were closed, his breathing steady, seemingly asleep.

To get a better look, Gu Ci pressed his hand against the glass, his face almost pressed against it. A red rim of his eyes filled his eyes, and he silently prayed for Huo Wenyuan's speedy recovery. He

watched like this for an unknown amount of time until Housekeeper Feng reminded him, and he reluctantly moved his feet away.

As he turned around, the alarm bell by the bed suddenly rang sharply. Immediately, the nurse who had been accompanying him stood up and performed a series of emergency procedures. Doctor Yang also rushed over.

Gu Ci was stunned. He instinctively wanted to follow them in, but was stopped by the nurse outside.

Huo Xiao calmly stopped him, "Xiao Ci, come back."

Gu Ci had no choice but to give up, but his heart tightened, and he could only silently repeat: "Please don't let anything happen, please don't let anything happen..."

Soon, Doctor Yang left the ward and reported Huo Xiao on Huo Wenyuan's condition.

"Mr. Huo, the current diagnosis is that Young Master Huo Wenyuan has a damaged immune system, resulting in a decreased immunity. At the same time, he is also subject to extremely strong emotional fluctuations, which is why he has repeated fever symptoms."

Huo Xiao asked, "What's wrong with his emotions?"

"We've previously confirmed that Young Master Huo can induce tactile deprivation under certain conditions. This time, his immune system is damaged, so this may be related to this." Doctor Yang glanced at the pale Gu Ci, seeming to hesitate. "So..."

Huo Xiao saw his hesitation and said, "Just say it."

Doctor Yang continued with a stiff upper lip, "In theory, Young Master Huo cannot have direct physical contact with others, but Young Master Gu is an exception."

Gu Ci looked up in surprise.

Huo Xiao's eyes revealed doubt: "What do you mean?"

Doctor Yang said firmly: "Heart disease needs to be treated with heart medicine. My suggestion is... let Young Master Gu go in."

Huo Xiao neither agreed nor denied, but turned to ask Gu Ci: "Little Ci, are you willing to go in?"

Gu Ci was waiting for this sentence. When Huo Xiao asked this, he immediately nodded firmly and eagerly.

Huo Xiao sighed, and finally let go.

Looking at Gu Ci in the ward, Huo Xiao retracted his expression, turned around and walked back.

Butler Feng, who witnessed everything, hurriedly followed.

The elevator door opened, Huo Xiao turned his head and asked abruptly: "Do you think I did the right thing?"

Butler Feng was stunned for a moment, and said with a standard smile: "Sir has always been wise..."

Huo Xiao shook his head and interrupted him: "You are blaming me."

"I know, they will blame me too. But Ali, I have no other choice."

"Just think of it as me being selfish for once. I will apologize to you when I go to hell."

Huo Wenyuan still had a long road ahead of him, filled with thorns and mud, and he was destined not to leave him alone.

So he chose Gu Ci.

It didn't matter; he would personally make them each other's weaknesses.

It

was raining outside the window.

Summer was like that: clear skies during the day, the air thick with the fragrance of ripe gardenias, but at night, a shower of rain fell without warning.

The sound of the rain pattered as Gu Ci sat beside the bed, gazing at Huo Wenyuan, whose eyes were still closed. It was as if he had been transported back to the last time he had seen his father.

The wind and rain outside seemed to be sobbing, and in the dim, cold room, his father lay flat on his back, his eyes closed.

Gu Ci subconsciously hadn't wanted to recall that moment, but now, a fear of loss washed over him.

No, no, Brother Wenyuan would be fine.

He looked at the right hand, pockmarked with needle marks, his nose aching. He couldn't help but reach out and gently clasp it, as he always did.

It was so cold.

Huo Wenyuan's hands were long and slender, perhaps born to play the piano. The joints were distinct and the veins were perfectly formed. Yet, in the cold light of the hospital room, they looked vaguely pale and sickly.

Gu Ci lowered his head and carefully placed his chin on the back of Huo Wenyuan's hand.

"Brother Wenyuan, please wake up and see if I'm okay?"

"You said you'd get well soon. How could you lie to me?"

Gu Ci's voice grew increasingly depressed as he thought about it. His voice was muffled, and he couldn't muster any energy. He then realized that Huo Wenyuan had become like family to him.

He would give up everything for Huo Wenyuan's recovery.

"Brother Wenyuan, don't be such a jerk," Gu Ci muttered sadly. "As long as you're healthy, I'll do anything."

They were still young, with many years to go together, many important moments to witness together.

Gu Ci's eyes welled up, and before he knew it, a tear had already fallen onto the back of Huo Wenyuan's hand.

Since arriving at the Huo family, he seemed to be crying more and more easily, especially in Huo Wenyuan's presence. He couldn't hold it back.

Gu Ci frantically tried to get a tissue to wipe his tears, but the next second, a slightly cold hand grabbed him, restricting his movements.

A slightly hoarse voice sounded beside his ear: "Why are you still crying?"

"!"

Gu Ci looked at the hand holding his in disbelief, then looked up, feeling happy.

"Brother Wenyuan, you're awake!"

Huo Wenyuan said nothing, but pulled out a tissue from the side, then propped up his arm and sat up, leaning over to wipe Gu Ci's tears. Meeting Gu Ci's wet eyes, he forced a smile and teased: "Weren't you quite optimistic when you first came? Why are you always crying when you come to me?"

Gu Ci bit his lip and glared at him, his eyes getting redder.

He wanted to control himself too...but couldn't he control himself?

Seeing Gu Ci's growing grievance, Huo Wenyuan's heart tightened. He sincerely admitted his fault, "It's my fault, don't be sad."

Gu Ci didn't mean to blame him. Hearing this, she asked, "What's your fault?"

Huo Wenyuan said helplessly, "I shouldn't have worried you."

"My body's always like this. It's all my fault. I made you sad."

Hearing Huo Wenyuan's self-reflection, Gu Ci's heart ached.

"It's not your fault."

"How are you feeling now?"

"Seeing you makes me feel better." Huo Wenyuan reached out and pinched Gu Ci's face, deliberately saying, "I'm so nervous just because I have a fever. If I really die—"

Before he could finish his words, Gu Ci panicked and covered his mouth with her hand.

"Huo Wenyuan, please stop talking like that!" He

was clearly worrying, so why did he keep saying such discouraging things?

A flicker of surprise crossed Huo Wenyuan's eyes. His lips felt soft against Gu Ci's palm. Their eyes met, and the sound of the rain outside the window immediately died down, leaving only the stillness of the hospital room.

Something else was resonating in his chest.

He grabbed Gu Ci's hand and squeezed it tightly.

"I was wrong."

"I won't do that again."

Gu Ci was truly angry and tried to pull his hand away.

Huo Wenyuan stared at him, holding it tightly, refusing to let go.

"I'm sorry, Gu Ci, I shouldn't have said that."

"I won't leave. Even if you want to leave me, I won't leave you."

Gu Ci turned his head, his eyelashes trembling slightly.

He really didn't want to experience another separation, and he didn't like Huo Wenyuan's indifferent attitude towards his body.

After calming down for a while, Gu Ci said in a deep voice, "You keep your word."

Huo Wenyuan knew Gu Ci's inner uneasiness at the moment, so he said nothing more. Instead, he extended his pinky and hooked it through Gu Ci's.

Gu Ci looked up at him, his eyes slightly puzzled.

Huo Wenyuan: "Didn't you do the same thing before? This time, I'm taking the initiative to promise you."

"Huo Wenyuan will never leave Gu Ci,"

Gu Ci added, his eyes clear and sincere. "May Huo Wenyuan live a long and healthy life!"

Huo Wenyuan rarely refused to refute.

"Yeah."

His fate was not worth mentioning and was riddled with holes. How could he be worthy of Gu Ci's concern

? But he didn't want to make Gu Ci sad.

Gu Ci was finally coaxed. His little finger moved, and his thumb firmly stamped the seal. He raised his head and smiled as before.

The wind and rain outside the window passed, and a new day arrived as expected.