House Dad’s Literary Life

The view from the summit was beautiful. After recovering a bit, Lan Zhoukai took his daughter to take a look. Gazing into the distance, he patted his daughter’s back and smiled gently, “How does it feel to reach the top? Pretty good, right?”

“Dad, I didn’t climb up like Xixi did. Uncle Yang carried me up,” Lan Xin said honestly, pouting.

“But you worked really hard earlier! Right now, with your abilities, you can’t climb such a high mountain yet. However, remember this feeling. In the future, when you encounter difficulties, don’t give up easily. You like success and dislike failure, right?” Lan Zhoukai began to instill some motivational wisdom to his daughter.

After a while, they began to descend the mountain.

Going down was much easier. They rejoined the main group that had fallen behind and, in less time than it took to climb up, Yang Yi and the others reached the foot of the mountain.

Lan Zhoukai didn’t forget his promise and invited Lan Xin’s little friends and their fathers to a hotel for a barbecue meal.

At noon, in the large private room at the hotel, the four tired children, after finishing the long-awaited barbecue, sprawled out on the big sofa in the room and quickly fell asleep.

“They’re really tired. Xin’er is usually very picky about where she sleeps, but now she falls asleep as soon as she lies down.” Lan Zhoukai said as he went over to cover his daughter with his coat before returning to the dining table where the adults were chatting over tea.

Since they were going to visit Nan Zhaoyu’s father in the afternoon, Yang Yi also told them about Nan Yiyun’s condition.

“So, you see, when people are young, they should exercise and stay fit. Old Nan, he’s a calligrapher, right? He looks like a typical frail scholar who never exercises. When you get older, all sorts of illnesses start to appear!” Chen Guoqiang, a boxing coach at a fitness center, had the most to say on this matter.

“Guoqiang, tell me what kind of exercise someone as fat as me should do. Boxing?” Lan Zhoukai asked with interest.

……

In the afternoon, the children woke up. Fully rested, they were once again full of energy, bouncing around. However, Xixi, who had overexerted herself, felt unbearable soreness in her calves. She had to ask her dad for a massage before she could slowly start moving again.

In the car, Yang Yi told Xixi why Nan Zhaoyu didn’t come today.

“Uncle Nan is sick?” The little girl was somewhat surprised, though it was clear that she couldn’t fully grasp the seriousness of Uncle Nan’s illness. Perhaps in her worldview, being sick was just like having a cold – uncomfortable but not a big deal.

“Yes, so we’re going to visit him. You should comfort Nan Zhaoyu and tell him: Zhaoyu, don’t be scared, your dad will get better,” Yang Yi instructed his daughter while driving.

“Okay!” Xixi nodded obediently.

However, upon arriving at the hospital and seeing Nan Yiyun lying unconscious on the ICU bed through the glass window with a breathing mask on his face, Xixi realized something was wrong.

“He still needs further observation. He regained consciousness early this morning, which the doctors say is a good sign, indicating minimal damage to his brain. But he still can’t speak,” Nan Zhaoyu’s mother was already being very strong, her eyes red as she held back tears while explaining to Yang Yi and the others who had come to visit.

“It’s okay, didn’t the doctor say he will get better?” Yang Yi, though accustomed to life and death, was experiencing for the first time how ordinary people deal with emotions when facing the life-or-death situation of a loved one. He couldn’t help but sigh quietly, offering gentle comfort.

“Sister-in-law Nan, I know Old Nan is the pillar of your family. If there are any difficulties at home, feel free to let me know. After all, Nan Zhaoyu and our Xin’er are good friends and classmates. If there’s anything I can do to help, I will definitely help!” Lan Zhoukai patted his chest and said.

“Thank you, thank you, Xin’er’s father!” Nan Zhaoyu’s mother wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and said gratefully, “Actually, there are no difficulties at home now. Before, Zhaoyu’s father had saved some money… Right now, we don’t want anything, we just want him to recover as soon as possible. Zhaoyu can’t be without his father!”

“Don’t say that. Teacher Nan will definitely recover. I believe in him. Heaven helps the worthy,” Yang Guo said.

While the adults were talking, the children gathered around Nan Zhaoyu.

Perhaps sensing the somber mood and seeing their friends’ sad expressions, even the usually loud Lan Xin didn’t dare to speak loudly. She asked softly, “Zhaoyu, what’s wrong with your dad?”

Xixi looked at Nan Zhaoyu, who was hanging his head with a sad expression, and she held his hand thoughtfully.

“My dad is sick,” Nan Zhaoyu sobbed, then looked up with tear-filled eyes at Xixi, “Xixi, I’m so scared. Yesterday… yesterday he almost died…”

Xixi looked at Nan Zhaoyu in surprise.

“How could he almost die?” Yang Luoqi looked at Nan Zhaoyu with fear and asked softly.

Chen Shiyun beside them also nodded vigorously. She and the other children couldn’t imagine such a possibility. Regarding the concept of death, they had watched many cartoons and understood that if someone dies, like monsters, they never come back!

“He just, just suddenly fell down and then didn’t speak. My mom and I were so scared,” Nan Zhaoyu sobbed.

Xixi, feeling very sad for her friend, shook his hand and said, “Zhaoyu, don’t cry, your dad won’t die. My Papa said… my Papa said he’ll get better!”

“Really?” Nan Zhaoyu sniffled and rubbed his eyes, asking.

“Mm-hmm, my Papa said so!” Xixi nodded vigorously.

In Xixi’s mind, her father was more powerful than any gods or deities. Whatever he said would come true.

Chen Shiyun didn’t like the gloomy atmosphere. She said, “Zhaoyu, you know, I thought you had run away, but since your dad is sick, I forgive you! But today we went mountain climbing. We climbed a very, very tall mountain.”

The topic was slightly shifted by Chen Shiyun, and Lan Xin followed suit and asked, “Zhaoyu, will you still go to kindergarten?”

Nan Zhaoyu pursed his lips and nodded.

“Great! Your dad will definitely get better, Zhaoyu, don’t cry anymore,” Xixi was happy for her little friend, but she sensed something was wrong and quickly started to comfort him again. However, the little girl didn’t know what else to say and could only repeat herself.

……

After visiting Nan Zhaoyu, Yang Yi took his daughter home.

However, Xixi had been looking gloomy the entire time, completely different from the cheerful expression she had while climbing up and down the mountain.

Yang Yi thought she was sad because of what happened to Nan Zhaoyu’s father and kept trying to cheer her up.

“Hey, Xixi, your mom is holding a concert today! Tonight, when you call her, ask her, ‘Mama, is it fun to sing for so many people?'” Yang Yi said with a smile while preparing dinner.

However, the little girl just pouted and nodded silently without saying a word.

“What’s wrong?” Yang Yi was puzzled. He turned around, rubbed the little girl’s head, and said, “Didn’t Papa tell you that Nan Zhaoyu’s dad will definitely get better? So, you don’t need to be sad for Nan Zhaoyu or worry too much. Why are you still upset?”

Feeling the warmth of her father’s big hand, the little girl’s suppressed emotions suddenly burst forth. She hugged her father’s leg and cried softly, “Papa, I don’t want, don’t want you to suddenly die.”

“Huh? Silly girl, what are you talking about?” Yang Yi was a bit stunned by the little girl’s crying, but he quickly understood the reason without needing Xixi to explain.

Yang Yi turned off the stove and squatted down, feeling both amused and touched. He hugged the little girl, affectionately kissed her cheek, and said, “Papa won’t suddenly die, you silly girl.”

“Nan Zhaoyu’s dad suddenly got sick because he’s old. But your Papa is still very young and won’t get sick!” Yang Yi explained.

But the little girl wouldn’t listen to explanations. She tightly hugged her father’s neck, lifted her tear-streaked face like a pear blossom in the rain, and her little pink lips quivered as she sobbed, “I don’t want you to die. Please don’t die, okay?”

Yang Yi’s heart was deeply touched. At this moment, he felt his daughter’s deep dependence on him. Though touched, he was also helpless and could only comfort her softly, “Papa won’t die. Papa will stay with you, watch you grow up slowly, and then…”

And then walk her down the aisle on her wedding day? Watch her have her own marriage and happiness, and eventually welcome his grandchildren as he grows old?

For some reason, when Yang Yi thought about this scene, his nose felt a little sour.

No! Yang Yi didn’t want to think about something so far in the future.

Moreover, forget about marriage! His daughter was still so young. If anyone dared to have ideas about her, Yang Yi swore on Xiao Guai that he’d break their legs!

No, no, breaking their legs would be too light a punishment. Throwing them into the Grand Canal to feed the fish would be better! But anyway, there was no way such a person would ever appear!

At this moment, Xixi interrupted Yang Yi’s teeth-gnashing reverie.

“You have to pinky promise!” Xixi, with teary eyes, pouted, and extended her little finger, “You can’t suddenly die.”

Yang Yi was momentarily stunned, then he smiled warmly. He extended his pinky and hooked it around his daughter’s little finger. “Alright, pinky promise. Papa promises you.”

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