Two sentences from Ou Ming’s father was all it took to convince Jiao Ziqing .
Many hours later, Ou Ming had still not moved in the bed . Jiao Ziqing checked the time . It was past 11 a . m . She knew Ou Ming hadn’t had a bite to eat since afternoon the day before . How could he recover by relying solely on liquid infusion?
Jiao Ziqing walked to Ou Ming’s bedside and nudged him . “Ou Ming, get up to eat,” she pleaded .
Ou Ming stayed still on the bed . At the same time, the infusion was complete . The nurse entered to remove the needle . Still, Ou Ming didn’t move a muscle .
The more Jiao Ziqing watched, the harder her heart ached . She sat by her son’s side, and pressed her hand to her lips to keep from sobbing out loud . Her shoulders still quivered, and she could be heard swallowing her sobs .
Ou Ming raised his head a wee bit and opened his eyes, but they remained absolutely empty . They had no light or spirit .
When Jiao Ziqing saw Ou Ming’s eyes, she got up quickly . She bit down hard on her own knuckles and pinched herself to prevent the sound of her cries from escaping her lips .
Although Ou Ming couldn’t see, his hearing ability had always been good . Hearing the barely restrained weeping, Ou Ming closed his eyes and asked, “When can I be discharged?”
Jiao Ziqing wanted to answer when she finally heard him speak . The moment she removed her hand from her mouth, the floodgate of tears opened . Instead of speaking, she started crying .
“You’ll be discharged once you’re recovered . ” Ou Huojin walked in carrying a new bag of packed food . “What you need to do now is focus on taking care of your body . Regardless of the circumstances, you need to eat . Even if you don’t have an appetite, you still have to eat a little . ”
Jiao Ziqing looked toward her husband . She held his hand and suppressed her weeping like a little child .
Ou Huojin patter her hand gently . He faced Ou Ming and said, “I know you don’t like hospitals, but you can’t be discharged yet . There’s actually a high chance that your eyes will recover . But, if you insist on continuing the way you are, that might become the very reason your eyes don’t .
Ou Ming still remained indifferent .
Ou Huojin’s voice turned earnest as he continued speaking . “Xiao Ou, you’re already 31 years old . After this New Year, you’ll be 32 . You have to be more sensible . You’re an adult, so stop making your parents worry . ”
“Got it . ” Ou Ming didn’t raise his head or open his eyes, but he answered . “You guys should go home . You don’t have to worry about me . I’ll eat when I’m hungry . ”
“No . Eat now . Xiao Ou, please eat now . Mom is begging you . Eat something, will you?” Jiao Ziqing opened the lunch box and said, “This was cooked by Auntie Gui . Haven’t you always loved Auntie Gui’s cooking? Come, try some . ”
As she spoke, she brought the bowl in front of Ou Ming .
Ou Ming turned around to face the other direction in annoyance, “You’re so frustrating! I don’t want to eat!”
Jiao Ziqing’s hand froze mid-action . She was shocked that her own son found her frustrating . She suddenly felt a wave of sadness .
This was the scene Wen Fenglin witnessed when he came in . He sighed to himself and said, “Xiao Jiao, if the child doesn’t want to eat, then let him go hungry . ”
When Ou Huojin heard that, he looked at Wen Fenglin in displeasure and said, “Lao Wen, I guess anything goes since this isn’t your son . ”
“How could you say that? It’s not as if it is my fault that your son is in this state,” Wen Fenglin said .