CHAPTER 356: CHAPTER 355: FATE

Qu Chaozong helped the old man urinate, then cleaned the urinal and tucked it back under the bed.

He rushed around, and the old man’s eyes followed him everywhere.

Qu Chaozong softly finished his chores and sat back by the bed. The old man asked, "Young man, do you have a phone? Could I borrow it to call home?"

Qu Chaozong took out his phone and asked, "Who would you like to call? I can dial for you."

The old man said, "Just call my driver. The number is 15..."

When the call connected, Qu Chaozong told the person on the other end, "Hello, please hold on."

Qu Chaozong put the phone to the old man’s ear, and the old man spoke into the receiver, "Hey, Xiao Wang."

The room was extremely quiet; Qu Chaozong, who usually made business calls, had his phone’s volume maxed out, so he could hear everything clearly.

Xiao Wang’s voice was noticeably agitated: "Oh my, old man, where have you gone? We were worried sick!"

The old man said, "I’m fine. I fainted while walking and was brought to the hospital... Oh, which hospital is this?"

Qu Chaozong quickly chimed in, "Central Hospital."

The old man repeated, "I’m at Central Hospital. Come over, okay? By the way, where’s Da Bao?"

Xiao Wang replied, "Miss was worried sick, and she’s searching everywhere for you. We split up to look for you. I’ll call her now to let her know."

The old man said, "Alright, quickly inform her. Let her know I’m fine and tell her not to worry!"

After hanging up, the old man sighed, "They must have been searching all night outside."

Qu Chaozong put away the phone and reassured him, "Now that they know you’re okay, they’ll be relieved."

The old man nodded and suddenly asked, "Oh, I still don’t know your name."

Qu Chaozong said, "You can call me Chaozi; all my friends call me that."

The old man nodded, saying, "Chaozi? You’re called Chaozi too?"

Qu Chaozong grinned, "Yeah, it’s quite a common name. Once my mom yelled at me outside, and several people responded."

The old man laughed but it shook his lungs, and he winced, saying, "Don’t make me laugh, it hurts terribly when I do."

Qu Chaozong quickly stood up and asked, "Should I help you rub it a bit?"

The old man shook his head, "No need, it’ll pass soon."

The old man eased up, the pain not as severe, and his expression gradually relaxed.

The two of them couldn’t fall asleep, so they chatted quietly.

The old man asked, "How many people are in your family?"

Qu Chaozong replied, "Just me and my mom. My dad went out of town for work during my junior high days, and then they divorced."

The old man sighed, "A woman raising a child on her own, it’s not easy."

Qu Chaozong nodded, "Indeed."

The old man asked again, "Chaozi, how old are you?"

Qu Chaozong replied, "Twenty-eight."

With a kindly gaze, the old man said, "Two years older than my Da Bao."

Qu Chaozong reached out to tuck the quilt in. He wasn’t very interested in the old man’s family matters; he’d been up all night and was feeling dizzy and tired, thinking he’d have to head to the office in a few hours, and it made his head hurt.

The old man, having slept, had regained his energy and wanted to chat. Even if Qu Chaozong was unwilling, he couldn’t offend the elderly man’s feelings.

Qu Chaozong cooperated in conversation, "Why were you out walking alone so late? You could have let someone accompany you."

The old man said, "I’m usually just strolling around the neighborhood. I never wander far, and besides, I’ve always been in good health without any issues."

Qu Chaozong couldn’t resist asking, "So why did you faint suddenly?"

The old man chuckled sheepishly, "A few years ago, I had a partial lung resection, and the doctor told me to quit smoking."

"Quitting smoking is easier said than done. Too many people keep an eye on me during the day, so I sneak a smoke at night while taking a stroll."

"Probably caused some inflammation."

Qu Chaozong couldn’t help but laugh, realizing he’d found the old man just after he had sneaked a smoke.

Qu Chaozong chuckled, "Your family is strict with you for your own good. The doctor already told me your lungs have dark spots; you really shouldn’t smoke anymore."

The old man started talking at length about quitting smoking, full of complaints, "I’m so old, how many years do I have left? Not smoking is worse than dying; the craving is intense... It’s really tempting!"

Being a smoker himself, Qu Chaozong understood the feeling, but despite that, he advised, "Do it for your family’s sake. Smoking is a fleeting pleasure. The doctor told me if you keep smoking, your lungs will be completely destroyed, and when that day comes, even an oxygen tube won’t help. Imagine the suffocating feeling—it’s unbearable."

The old man chuckled, wincing, "Ouch... Hurts... Ugh..." After a moment of recovery, he continued, "What you said is exactly what Da Bao usually nags me about."

Qu Chaozong casually asked, "Is Da Bao your grandson?"

The old man replied, "No, she’s my granddaughter. She’s the only close family I have now, and she must be very worried after this incident."

"She’s cared for me since she was little and spends any free time she has coming to the city to stay with me. When it comes to quitting smoking, she watches me the closest; I don’t dare hide any at home because she’d find them no matter where I hide."

"Honestly, if it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t care anymore. I’ve lived long enough; she’s the only one I can’t let go of."

Qu Chaozong listened silently for a while before responding, "It’s wonderful how close you two are. It’s so enviable."

The old man said, "Exactly, we’re just relying on each other. I hope when she finds a boyfriend and gets married, they’ll stay close. I wouldn’t burden them."

The old man’s face showed a hint of melancholy, "I just want to see my Da Bao whenever I can. At my age, you truly see them less and less."

Qu Chaozong thought of his own mom, feeling a sense of empathy, "I think the same. I want to live close to my mom in the future, at least a bit closer."

The old man, sharp-minded, asked insightfully, "Chaozi, judging by what you said, do you have a girlfriend?"

Qu Chaozong threw his head back and laughed, "Yes, I do."

The old man showed a deeper interest, "What kind of person is she?"

Qu Chaozong smiled, "She’s pretty, kind-hearted, very caring. By the way, she lives in your neighborhood, too. Last night, I was driving her home when I ran into you."