Lu Tian dropped Yue Ling back at De L'amour after lunch and didn't forget to walk her to her office. He was reluctant to leave his wife, but knowing that they both had work to do, he could only go with a heavy heart.

Yue Ling felt her heart ached at how dejected Lu Tian looked when he left, but she knew it was for the best. She had to review a few documents and then head to An Qing with Liu Shan.

There was too much work that needed to be completed.

*Ring ring

While looking at some documents at her desk, her phone rings. She looked at the screen to check who was calling.

'Ji Jingxu.'

When she saw the name of the caller, she quickly answered the phone.

"Wow, now you remember to call your sister.

"

Her voice sounded with laughter, but she did not hear a response from the other line, her eyebrows furrowed. She moves the phone away to check the screen.

Seeing that the call was still connected, her frown deepened before placing the phone next to her ear.

"Jingxu?

"

"Jie…

"

Ji Jingxu's hoarse voice rang from the other line, and Yue Ling felt her heart drop to her stomach. She didn't know why, but she couldn't help but recall the time when she was informed of Lee Shin's death.

Her hand gripped her phone tightly. All she could do now was wait for the other person to answer.

However, after waiting for long enough, she couldn't wait anymore.

"Jingxu, why aren't you answering? Is Everything alright?

"

"Everything is fine. I just… I just miss you. Inu and grandfather miss you too.

"

Hearing Ji Jingxu's words, Yue Ling breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't even realize that she had been holding her breath.

She slumps back in her chair and massages her forehead with a faint smile.

"I miss you all too. I'll tell Tian for us to visit. We have to pick up Inu anyways.

"

Silence fell on the other line again, and after a long second, she could hear a faint mm from her brother.

Her smile remained faint, but it was serene and filled with warmth for her bother.

"How is School? How's Inu? Is he behaving well?

"

"School is fine, and so is Inu. He is always sticking to grandfather at the hip.

"

Yue Ling's smile grew wider as she listened to her younger brother chatted away. She knows she has work to do, but how can she focus on work when her brother calls her?

After all, it wasn't normal for Ji Jingxu to call her during work hours.

This can only mean that he must really miss her.

Thinking this, she was now determined to visit her grandfather and younger brother. Just as much as they miss her, she misses them too.

"How about I come by after work today? We can have dinner and—

"

"It's alright.

"

Before she could finish her words, Ji Jingxu cut her off. She was confused but waited for him to reason with her.

"I have a lot of school assignments I need to focus on, and grandfather has been busy with work, too. Besides, you have work too. How about you visit on your next day off?

"

Yue Ling could only sigh upon hearing his words, but she gave him an answer of agreement.

"Alright. Let's do that then. Make sure you finish all your assignments by then.

"

She spoke on the phone with Ji Jingxu for a few more minutes before ending the call.

As she returned to scanning over the documents in front of her, unbeknownst to her, Ji Jingxu was sitting alone inside the brightly lit corridor of the military hospital.

His head hung low like a lost soul as he stared at the phone in his hand.

"Jie…

"

His eyes were red, with tears streaming down his cheeks.

"I'm sorry…

"

He was sorry that he couldn't tell her. He wants to tell her, but this was a last request from their grandfather.

"Jingxu.

"

Doctor Dong sympathized with the boy before him as he called his name, causing Ji Jingxu to look up from his phone.

"Doctor… how is he?

"

Everything had been fine the past few days. Grandfather Ji was up and running like usual. However, when they were heading to his School this morning, the old man started coughing.

His coughs became severe to the point of Grandfather Ji coughing up blood, and then he grew lethargic.

Ji Jingxu didn't know what to do. All he could do was hug his grandfather and watch as the old man slipped in and out of consciousness while Yang Zhong drove to the hospital.

That was how they ended up here at Imperial Military Hospital.

And all he could do again was stand there and watch without being able to do anything.

Doctor Dong stares at the boy, and he smiles faintly. He sits down next to him and stares ahead at the window.

"The danger has passed. He's just exhausted himself too much.

"

His eyes searched the sky outside the window, and he sighed inside.

"But that's just one of the dangers… he's still holding on.

"

He has been a doctor for decades and has watched his patients overcome their pain or succumb to it.

As the primary doctor of his good friend, it hurts him to watch Grandfather Ji fight such a battle—neither yielding nor already accepting his fate.

To him, life was like a rope. If a person truly wants to live, they will do Everything to keep a firm grasp on that rope. Never letting go.

However, he could see that Grandfather Ji was only holding onto the end of the rope that keeps him alive for his grandchildren.

If Yue Ling and Ji Jingxu had not been here, he would have already let go of the rope long ago.

Ji Jingxu's head dropped as he listened to Doctor Dong. His lower lip trembled, but he held in the urge to choke a sob.

"Grandfather… he… please do Everything you can for him. Please.

"

Doctor Dong sighs, a smile filled with sympathy for Ji Jingxu. He pats the boy on the head and reassures him.

"I will do Everything I can. Even if he doesn't want me to, I will.

"

The two gave in to silence before Doctor Dong left to check on his other patients.

Ji Jingxu leaned against the wall while staring out the window.

He knows his grandfather is holding on because of him and Yue Ling.

In the past, when the old man thought everyone was sleeping in the house, he (Ji Jingxu) would hear Grandfather Ji cry alone in his study.

There were even times when he overheard his grandfather talk to the photo of his wife, while other times to his daughter and son-in-law's photo.

Each time he encountered this scene of his grandfather, he could only cry in silence with the old man.

To others, Grandfather Ji was the strong General of the army. He was someone many respected and admired. Someone who never showed any weakness. However, they forget that he is a human with feelings.

In the middle of his thoughts, Ji Jingxu felt a light tap near his feet. His head lowered, and his moistened red eyes trembled at the sight of the white fluff ball trying to comfort him.

"Inu…

"

He leans down and wraps his arms around the fur baby and silently sobs alone in the hospital corridor.