Just in Time Chapter 105
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 105 Dialogue
Yun Fang came out of the bedroom wearing a new turtleneck sweater, and heard Yi Chenliang ask, "When did Qi Huo leave?"
"While you were taking a shower," Yun Fang replied.
Breakfast consisted of leftover dumplings from last night, which were still warm after being steamed. The two sat down to eat.
"Will Qi Huo and Chang Ziqi really break up?" Yi Chenliang asked.
"I don't know," Yun Fang passed him the vinegar. "Many things are different from the previous life."
For instance, in his previous life, he had met Qi Huo ten years later, and had little interaction with Chang Ziqi. It wasn't like now, where Qi Huo would even come to him when he was unhappy.
"However, he once told me that they met in high school and were separated for a long time in between," Yun Fang dipped a dumpling in vinegar. "I'm not sure if it's happening now."
After all, back then, Qi Huo had focused on bragging about how handsome, awesome, and loving Chang Ziqi was, annoying Yun Fang to the point where he almost wanted to shoot him to shut him up.
Now, Qi Huo really wanted Song Cun to shut up.
Whether it was because he was scared after being beaten up by Yun Fang at the beginning of the second year of high school, or for some other reason, Song Cun had transferred out of Class 4 not long after. At least he didn't have to see that bastard during school hours anymore.
But when he returned home - to this new family formed by Qi Shuang and Song Ming - he still had to face Song Cun.
Yesterday, on New Year's Eve, he didn't stay at home, which somewhat displeased Qi Shuang. But in front of Song Ming and Song Cun, she couldn't say much. She just smiled and complimented Song Cun, "Xiao Cun, you look good in this red sweater."
Song Cun smiled, "It's mainly because you have good taste, Mom."
Who the fuck are you calling Mom? Don't you have your own mother? Qi Huo wanted to smash a stool on his head.
But he really couldn't ask that. Song Cun had lost his mother when he was young and was raised by his father.
Qi Huo sat on the sofa with one leg bent, scowling at his phone.
His chat with Chang Ziqi was still stuck on his message "Let's break up," with no definite answer. He was very irritated and furiously typed.
Blooming Flowers on Rainy Night: [Give me a f*cking straight answer about breaking up or not! ]
Blooming Flowers on Rainy Night: [I don't have that much time to waste with you!]
"Xiao Huo, want to come with us?" Song Ming asked with a smile.
Qi Huo looked up, visibly annoyed, "What?"
"To pay New Year visits with us." Qi Shuang saw his attitude and wanted to scold him. She couldn't hold back, "Who are you showing that face to on New Year's Day?"
"Let it be, let it be. The kid doesn't want to go, thinks it's troublesome," Song Ming tried to persuade her.
"I'd be thankful if he were half as sensible as Xiao Cun," Qi Shuang sighed, then turned to Song Cun and said, "Cun Cun, if you don't want to go, you don't have to."
Song Cun smiled and said, "It's fine, Mom. I'll go with you."
Qi Huo rolled his eyes while sitting on the sofa.
Song Cun didn't have a good attitude towards him either and left with Song Ming and Qi Shuang.
"Idiot," Qi Huo cursed. His phone still hadn't received a message. This time, he cursed at the phone with genuine feeling, "Big idiot."
**
Chang Ziqi sat in the car. As soon as he turned on his phone, Qi Huo's unread messages popped up.
Blooming Flowers on Rainy Night: [Let's break up.]
Blooming Flowers on Rainy Night: [Give me a fucking straight answer about breaking up or not!]
Blooming Flowers on Rainy Night: [I don't have that much time to waste with you!]
Chang Ziqi frowned.
Break up?
Had he missed some memory or argument? Why did Qi Huo suddenly want to break up with him?
He was halfway through typing when a call came in from Chu Dong.
"Ziqi, have you reached the hospital?" Chu Dong's voice sounded a bit off.
"Mom, I just arrived. How's Grandfather?" Chang Ziqi opened the car door and walked hurriedly towards the hospital ward.
Chu Dong started crying, "Your grandfather... he just passed away."
Chang Ziqi froze on the spot.
He looked up at the entrance of the hospital ward building just a few steps away. People were coming and going around him, with his mother's cries in his ears.
If only he had been a little faster.
If he had been quicker in getting his luggage at the airport, if the car had driven a bit faster, or if he had run in just now…
But now, he was too late.
—
Chang Ziqi looked at the peaceful old man lying on the bed, as if he were just sleeping. His lips moved, as if afraid to disturb his sleep, "Grandfather."
But the old man didn't answer him.
When he was young, Chu Dong and Chang Nian were always busy with work, and his grandparents had settled abroad, so before entering junior high school, he had always lived with his maternal grandfather.
His maternal grandmother had passed away before he was born, and his grandfather was very busy with work, but in his memory, his grandfather always had time to play with him, never saying he was too busy or had no time.
This sprightly old man always seemed to have ample time, accompanying him in all sorts of strange and wonderful activities.
Even though his childhood lacked the company of his parents, he only felt regret, but never felt lonely.
[MIT is good. Study management, and when you're done, grandfather will hand over the company to you.]
[Internet? The internet is not bad either... It's good for young people to have their own pursuits.]
[Go ahead, grandfather is in good health. Our Ziqi must study hard, finish university, get a master's degree, and bring back a doctorate, haha!]
This was the last conversation he remembered having with his grandfather.
It was ordinary, just like countless conversations before. He had heard his grandfather's expectations many times, and only nodded in response, not taking it to heart.
He thought there would be many more such conversations, but never imagined it would be the last.
Chu Dong had called him during his final exams, saying his grandfather wasn't feeling well and had been hospitalized.
When he asked about it, Chu Dong said it was just a routine hospitalization. With one more day of exams left, Chu Dong said there was no rush and told him to come back after finishing his exams.
He boarded a flight back home as soon as he finished his exams.
"Your grandfather didn't want us to tell you, afraid it would affect your studies," Chu Dong told him tearfully. "He insisted on waiting for you to finish your exams before coming back... He was waiting for you, but he just couldn't hold on any longer..."
Chang Ziqi looked at him with reddened eyes.
Someone nearby covered him with a white cloth.
Chang Ziqi rushed forward, pushing the person away, his eyes bloodshot, not letting them touch. People around tried to pull him back.
"Ziqi, don't be like this!" Chu Dong grabbed his arm, crying, "Don't be like this!"
"How dare you keep it from me!" Chang Ziqi finally roared. "How dare you not tell me!?"
"Ziqi—"
"It was just a f*cking exam! Just a f*cking exam! Just a final exam!" Chang Ziqi angrily struggled and shouted at Chu Dong and Chang Nian, his eyes full of tears. "It was just a f*cking final exam! And you all had to hide it from me!"
"My grandfather was waiting for me! He was waiting for me! Couldn't you have urged me to hurry? To be quicker!" Chang Ziqi tried to push them away. "What right did you have to make decisions for me! My grandfather was waiting for me! Couldn't you have let him see me one last time before he left!?"
Chang Ziqi finally broke down sobbing. "My grandfather was waiting for me! How could you do this!?"
Someone behind tried to hold him back, but he clung to the railings of the hospital bed, refusing to let go. "I was so close... I was so close, just a few steps away..."
Chu Dong burst into tears.
The people around couldn't pull Chang Ziqi away. Su Qingbai went up and grabbed Chang Ziqi's arm, forcefully pulling him up from the ground. He wasn't crying, but his eyes were red. "Chang Ziqi, let go!"
Chang Ziqi held onto the railings tightly, refusing to let go.
"Grandfather is already gone!" Su Qingbai held him firmly. "The funeral car is waiting outside. Do you have to make a scene here?"
Chang Ziqi was still crying, his voice hoarse. Su Qingbai pried his fingers off the railings one by one and pulled him away. The waiting staff pushed the hospital bed out.
Chang Ziqi tried to break free to chase after it, but Su Qingbai held him tightly from behind. "Chang Ziqi! Calm down!"
"Why should I calm down! That's my grandfather! He raised me!" Chang Ziqi cried out in anguish. "He was still waiting for me to come back—"