You’re Not Alone

Not long after Jian Ge talked to his friends, Bai Yuren and Lu Hua came. Bai Yutang introduces Jian ge to his family, and finally can pretend that the crybaby from the previous scene does not exist.

Lu Hua already heard about Jian Ge before and greeted him with her sad smile. Bai Yuren thanked him for his guidance even though she failed to be accepted in T university. Jian Ge politely greeted his mother and encouraged his sister.

Bai Yutang once imagined what kind of faces his family had when he introduced this outstanding friend of his. But he never imagined that he would introduce Jian Ge to his family in this situation. The gloomy situation where a sincere smile is really hard to conduct.

Jian Ge talked to his mother and his sister, giving them the warm words they need but didn't try to raise any hope. Hope is important, but sometimes warm words are what we need the most for consolation compared to those empty hopes.

Bai Yutang just kept silent and didn't dare to look at Jian Ge's face. He knows that his condition right now is a mess. And he was so ashamed he could not be a strong man he wished to be. As strong as his father. or Jian Ge, in the hard time like this.

After chatting for more than ten minutes, Jian Ge asks his mother whether he can invite Bai Yutang to have lunch. He also asks for things that his mother and his sister need. He gives his number to them in case something happened and they need to contact him.

When they walk outside, Jian Ge asks him, "You look so pale, did you get enough rest?"

After those embarrassing moments, Bai Yutang decided not to lie again. He nodded his head.

"Do you want to take a bath and refresh yourself before lunch? How about this. I took you to my hotel, you can take a bath there. While you take a bath, I can order some food and we can just have lunch in the room. Is that okay with you?"

Bai Yutang feels glad to hear that suggestion. He really didn't want to eat outside and let other people see his red eyes and tired face like this. So he nodded his head again. He doesn't even know where Jian Ge stays. But he didn't want to ask.

"Do you bring your clothes?"

Bai Yutang freezed. His clothes are with his sister. And it will look weird if he goes back now to get his clothes.

Noticing his movement, Jian Ge said again, "If you don't have any at this moment, i'll get some for you while you take a bath."

They walked to the hospital lobby, and Jian Ge called someone. Few minutes later they stood at the lobby, waiting for this person. Bai Yutang didn't even have the courage to ask who Jian Ge called.

A black SUV stopped in front of him. Jian Ge opened the back door and held Bai Yutang's hand, directing him to sit on the back seat. After he sat, Jian Ge closed the door and walked around the car, opening the opposite door to sit next to him. The driver sat alone in the front. 

When Jian Ge enters the car, the driver asks, "Where do you want to go, Doctor Jian?"

"Lets go to the hotel first. H Hotel. I believe it's not far from here."

"Yes Doctor Jian, it was only 10 minutes from here." The driver then smoothly drives to the destination.

When they reached H hotel, it was not even 10 minutes from the hospital. Jian Ge took his suitcase from the driver and told him to wait around the lobby.

Bai Yutang only stands there. Since Jian Ge comes, he only follows all Jian Ge's words. He's tired of making all the decisions and taking care of everything for this whole week. Jian Ge just took Bai Yutang's hand and asked Bai Yutang to follow him. He told Bai Yutang to sit in the lobby while he checked in at the receptionist.

Bai Yutang knows this hotel but has never stayed here. It's a standard 5 star hotel. The hospital is located in the middle of this city. So a lot of hotels and shopping centres are around here.

Five minutes later Jian Ge came to him again and took his hand again. They walk through the elevator and head to the room. Bai Yutang usually likes to notice every detail about buildings. But now he doesn't want to see anything.

When they arrived at the room, Jian Ge put his suitcase in the closet. He turns around to face Bai Yutang. "I'll get you some clothes to change. You just take a bath, and get some rest. I'll be back in thirty minutes."

Bai Yutang nodded. When Jian Ge walks outside the room, Bai Yutang suddenly feels lonely in this big room. It was really nice to have someone that he can hold on to after this hard week.

He took a shower, and tried to clean himself thoroughly. After a long bath, he looked at the mirror, saw his own reflection. Red eyes, haggard face, thin body, and dark eye bags like his mom's. His beard and moustache thinly spread over his chin. He then took the saving kit, and shaved it clean. 

When he brushed his teeth, he heard the door open. Bai Yutang could hear Jian Ge's faint voices talk to him from outside the bathroom's door.

"I brought you the clothes."

Bai Yutang wears the bath robe, he slightly opens the door, and Jian Ge's hand appears, handing him a paper bag. Bai Yutang took it and Jian Ge's hand disappeared. He then closed the door again.

He looks inside the paper bag. Jian Ge bought him a T-shirt, wool pants, a jacket, even underwear. All of it in dark colour. He's glad. Dark colour means difficult to look dirty even though he stays whole day long in the hospital.

When Bai Yutang comes out from the bathroom, he sees Jian Ge sitting down in the sofa chair, and says "I already ordered the food before I go and ask them to deliver in 40 minutes. It should be here in a few minutes. I didn't ask you what you want to eat. So if the food is not to your liking, we can order again, okay?"

Bai Yutang nodded and sat in the sofa chair opposite Jian Ge. He just silently sat there and stared at his own hand again.

Jian Ge didn't say anything again and just turned the television on. He switched the channel into the international news channel. They silently listen to the television's voice until the bell door rings.

The waiter comes to set up the food. He brings a cart that can extend into a dining table. He took the food from the drawer and put them on the table. Jian Ge ordered congee cooked from jasmine rice with century egg and scallops. Bai Yutang can smell the garlic and ginger mixed with the jasmine scent. Few shiitake mushrooms sliced on top of the congee.

He also saw a wonton soup, yellow egg drop soup with minced chicken, a few kinds of dimsums, and soybean pudding. The last dish the waiter took out and put on the table is fish and tofu soup with bean sprouts and thin shreds of chilli.

Bai Yutang feels that maybe Jian Ge can sense that he hasn't eaten anything since last night. So he just chose a simple and easy to eat kind of food for Bai Yutang to eat. The feeling of being taken care of by someone, really comforts him.

Bai Yutang eats the food in silence. Surprisingly even though he felt that he didn't have an appetite before, he cleaned up all the food shared with Jian Ge. Jian Ge even put some more dimsum to his plate quietly.

After finishing his soybean pudding, Bai Yutang feels like he's being alive again. He then looked up to Jian Ge, and said with a soft voice, "Jian Ge, I really don't have any suitable words to express my gratitude for your visit. I just can say thank you.."

Jian Ge smiled gently at him. "It's okay, you're having a hard time, and you are going through all of this very well. I'm so proud of you, and also sad that I just can do these things to ease your hardship a little bit."

After that Bai Yutang asked Jian Ge about his father. Jian Ge silenced for a while, and said "My friend is the one of the lead neurologists there, I already ask him to take care of your father's case. I don't know what to say to you, but this kind of case is really hard to treat. They already do everything in their scope of knowledge. Most of the time in these kinds of cases we need to pray hard for the patient's will to survive, and a miracle."

Bai Yutang was silenced to hear those explanations. It's the same explanation that the doctor gives him everyday.

Jian Ge's voice still resonates in his ear before Bai Yutang heard his voice again, "I really hope your father will get well soon, TangTang. He's a good man, good husband, and good father. And remember, that you're not alone. You have me here to support you too."

Bai Yutang nodded his head, and tried to smile. "Thank you Jian Ge. I know that. Thank you.."

Bai Yutang needed to go back to the hospital, so he didn't stay long. Jian Ge sent him back to the hospital. Jian Ge brought some snacks too while he bought the clothes for him. Jian Ge gives snacks to his sister.

Bai Yutang is glad, his sister a little bit distracted from her sorrow with Jian Ge. They talk about the medical faculty. What to expect and what need to prepare. Jian Ge promised her to send medical books as a congratulatory gift.

His mother also can smile a bit hearing her daughter become a bit lively again after they cry together in this whole week. She also sometimes answers Jian Ge's question and smiles a bit too.

Bai Yutang truly feels having someone as great as Jian Ge is really his luck. He tried to make his mother and his sister smile for the whole week but failed miserably. But again, he also forced his smile to come out when needed to talk with the people who visit his father. Not a smile from his heart.

Jian Ge accompanies them, and waits outside when they take turns to come inside to see his father. Bai Yutang offers Jian Ge to meet his father inside. Jian Ge nods, and goes inside just for five minutes.

Bai Yutang didn't know what Jian Ge did inside, nor said to his father. But somehow, a small seed of happiness grew inside his heart. To know this man he admired, wanted to visit his father and give him consolation.

At night, Jian Ge persuaded Bai Yuren to take her mother home and take some rest. Jian Ge worried to see Lu Hua's complexion that looks sickly. Jian Ge reminds Lu Hua that she needs to take care of her own health or else her husband will be sad if she gets sick due to exhausting herself.

Lu Hua finally agreed, and Jian Ge asked his driver to send these two women back home. Jian Ge himself accompanied him all night. For the dinner, they just bought simple meat bread and fruit juice. They eat those in the lounge.

They didn't talk much, but Bai Yutang was comforted by having someone to be by his side and soothe his nerves. Bai Yutang asks Jian Ge when he'll go back to B city. With a heavy face, Jian Ge told him that he will come back tomorrow night with the latest flight.

Bai Yutang's sad, he hoped that Jian Ge could accompany him all the time. But he also knew that it was impossible. So he just nodded his head repeatedly.

Early in the morning, Jian Ge already showed up and woke him up from his uncomfortable sleeping posture in this uncomfortable chair. Bai Yutang felt very content when he saw that gentle smile as the first thing he saw this morning.

Jian Ge gave him a hot tea and offered Bai Yutang to take a bath in the hotel. Jian Ge said that he will stay in the hospital lounge should something happen with Bai Haoran, and Bai Yutang could go by himself to the hotel with his driver.

Bai Yutang feels bad if he does that, but he also knows that Jian Ge means good. So he followed Jian Ge's suggestion again. They have breakfast in the hospital, and have their lunch at the hotel again like the day before when his mother and his sister come to the hospital. They come here fetched by Jian Ge's driver.

Before night, Jian Ge offered to send them home before he went to the airport and departed to B city. Lu Hua and Bai Yuren reject that offer. After heat discussion, they finally settled with them sending Jian Ge back to the airport first, then the driver sent them home.

Bai Yutang is really sad and feels at loss when he has to wave goodbye to Jian Ge. Jian Ge just pat his shoulder lightly. Right before he entered the car, Jian Ge pat his head and tousled his hair again.

"Take care, TangTang. Remember, you're not alone."