Chapter 1 Part 2 Hospital Visit And Betrayal
The next morning during breakfast, his mother kept reaching out to check his forehead, worry etched into her face as she repeatedly asked how he felt. His father looked from the television news to her worried expression, sighed, and said:
"All right, all right. If you're that worried, then find some time to take him in for a check."
His mother glared sideways at him, pouting, then kicked him hard under the table. His father howled dramatically as though slaughtered. Even Qi couldn't help laughing softly. In that moment, looking at his mother's fake-angry expression, he thought she looked very cute.
At noon, as soon as Qi left school, he saw his mother waiting just outside the gates in a bright orange-red dress that gleamed vividly against the dim, cloudy weather. She waved at him with a radiant smile.
"Mom... we're going to the hospital now? Won't the lunch break be too short? We still have to eat, line up, register... it'll take too much time." He knew his mother wouldn't rest until she dragged him to a hospital today, but didn't expect her to show up at noon.
"Don't worry. I already asked Teacher Xu to excuse you this afternoon. Consider it a half-day off." She winked mischievously, her face filled with playful mischief.
Qi could only give a bitter smile. These past two years he had come to realize just how flamboyant and humorous his parents could be. In contrast, he himself perhaps because of all his reading seemed almost prematurely old and serious.
His mother flagged down a taxi easily likely because of her dress's striking brightness. She pulled open the back door, sliding into the seat while waving him inside.
"Get in, quick. Even with school excused, better early than late. We'll grab lunch first, and then head to the hospital."
Qi entered. As the taxi pulled away, he happened to glance at the intersection and spotted a street with what looked like an ancient building. He immediately remembered the Taoist priest Pingshan.
"Driver, what's that street over there? Looks like there's some old building there?"
The driver glanced in the indicated direction. "Oh, that's Xiangyun Road. The building you're talking about must be Xiangyun Monastery. Been there for centuries, since the Ming dynasty or something. Surprising you don't know it's not far from your school."
Qi flushed slightly. "I just entered middle school. Haven't really explored the area yet."
In truth, he had been attending for over a semester already. But since he always rushed straight home with his head down after classes, he had paid no attention to anything nearby and remained oblivious to the surroundings.
They reached the City First Hospital. After a quick meal at a small eatery nearby, his mother pulled him inside to register.
The bustling crowd overwhelmed Qi. His mother frowned too, but she didn't seem too worried. After all, she had someone to smooth the way her so-called "old classmate," the one his father had offhandedly mentioned last night: Vice President Xu Tiejun.
As always, his mother led Qi directly to the vice president's office, located in a separate low building surrounded by hedges. But when they arrived, the office door was tightly shut.
His mother rapped a few times. No reply. Her brow creased.
"Qi, wait here. I'll go ask around where your Uncle Jun is." With that, she hurried away.
Left alone, Qi leaned silently against the door. In the surrounding quiet, he realized faint sounds drifted from inside. He pressed an ear to the wood. What he faintly heard was strange noises.
"Mm… ah…"
Heat surged strangely through his body.
"Could Uncle Jun be inside...?"
He suddenly realized what those sounds signified.
Too many books had made Qi precocious in more ways than one. Ancient Chinese scholars had been full of sly, subtle sensuality beneath sober words. He had picked it up.
Though he had never seen it in person, he understood what was happening inside.
If it were anyone else, he might not have reacted so strongly. But to imagine it was his longtime family friend the Uncle Jun who had known him since childhood it triggered something raw and uncontrollable in him.
As he listened, beginning to lose himself, the sharp tapping of his mother's heels sounded down the hallway.
Qi snapped awake in fright. "Uncle Jun's in there... and I'm eavesdropping outside if Mom sees me like this...!" Panicked, he quickly darted into the hedge nearby to hide.
His mother, looking annoyed, reached the door. Not noticing her son's absence, she kicked the door sharply.
"Xu Tiejun! What are you hiding inside for? Stop pretending and come out!"
Inside, there was a crash of toppled furniture.
Soon, a slender woman in a nurse's outfit stumbled out, clothes disheveled, her face embarrassed as she scurried away.
His mother remained utterly calm, simply watching her flee. Then she turned toward the man inside Vice President Xu with his forced smile and guilty face. Her voice stretched with mocking sarcasm:
"Oh, my, the great Vice President is so very busy..."
Xu looked about nervously to ensure no one else had witnessed it, then hurried to seize her hand and coax her inside.
"Juan, please, come in and talk. Standing at the door like this won't look good if someone sees."
Her voice was laced with irritation, though not real rejection.
"Tch. You've already done it still afraid of being seen? Just now, with that young nurse..."
Her tone softened slightly.
Then, to Qi's complete shock the next moment saw Xu suddenly seize her tightly and press his mouth to hers.
His mother did not resist at all. Their lips melded, tongues twisting visibly.
When their kiss ended, Xu dragged her into the office.
Qi was frozen.
He had known this "Uncle Jun" since childhood, yet never imagined such a relationship with his mother. Recalling his father's words last night, he suddenly understood. His father knew his father surely knew about the affair.
A deep, unprecedented fear rose in Qi's heart.
It compelled him to flee.
He ran from the hospital, his mind filled with only one thought: to tell his father. Only his father could drive away this terror clawing at him.
Almost as soon as he left, his mother hurriedly emerged from the office, suddenly remembering.
"Wait where's Qi? Didn't I tell him to wait here for me?"
"What? Qi came with you? No, I didn't see anyone else here." Xu's face was stunned. He reached to grab her hand again.
She slapped him away, rolling her eyes with a seductive laugh.
"I have to find my son... Next time, then. But don't let me catch you with another nurse or doctor again, hmm?" With sultry sway of hips and curves, she strutted out, leaving Xu staring after her backside and swallowing hard.