Chapter 140 Photos in the Empty Room
The morning sun shone into the room through the gaps in the curtains. Lan Sizhui rubbed his eyes and sat up, calling out habitually, "Daddy? Father?"
All he got in response was an empty room.
He was stunned for a moment, then he threw off the quilt and got out of bed. He stepped barefoot on the floor and ran to the door of the next room and knocked: "Daddy? Father?"
The door was ajar and opened with a slight touch.
The room was empty, the bed was neatly made, and a stack of freshly developed photos lay on the table.
Lan Sizhui walked over and picked up the photos. The top one was a family photo at the amusement park. Daddy sat in the middle, his eyes curved with a smile. His father had his arm around his shoulders, and Lan Sizhui leaned against his father's chest, holding the plush toy he had just won. The following photos showed him and his father riding a roller coaster. Both of them were screaming with their mouths open, their expressions exaggerated and joyful. There was also a solo photo taken by his father, the sun shining on his face, and he was smiling back at the camera...
In every photo, Daddy’s smile is so bright and so real.
But now, both daddy and father are gone.
Lan Sizhui held the photo in his hands, his fingers gently brushing across his father's smiling face in the photo. Tears fell without warning, hitting the photo and leaving a small stain.
Are they gone again?
Are you not coming back?
We agreed to have breakfast together last night, but how come everyone is gone when I woke up?
The child stood there, his tiny body trembling slightly, tears streaming down his face like beads from a broken string. He didn't dare cry out loud, so he could only bite his lip, bury his face in the photo, and his shoulders tremble.
"Si Zhui?"
A gentle voice echoed from the doorway. Lan Xichen pushed it open and saw this scene—his little nephew standing alone in the middle of the room, clutching the photo tightly in his arms, crying like an abandoned animal.
Lan Xichen’s heart instantly tightened.
He received a message from Lan Wangji last night, informing him that Wei Wuxian's old injury had relapsed and that Jun Wu had taken him back to the Heavenly Palace for treatment, with Lan Wangji accompanying him. Wangji also said that Xie Lian and Hua Cheng would be coming soon to take care of Si Zhui, and asked him to come and see the child first, so that he wouldn't be scared when he woke up and saw no one.
I didn't expect that I was still a step late.
“Si Zhui,” Lan Xichen walked over lightly and squatted in front of him, his voice as gentle as water, “Why are you crying?”
Lan Sizhui raised his head, his eyes red. Seeing it was him, his tears fell even harder. He choked and said, "Uncle... Daddy and Father... They're gone again..."
"They're not leaving, they have something to take care of." Lan Xichen gently took the photo from his arms and placed it on the table. Then he hugged the child in his arms and patted his back soothingly. "Your father is not feeling well and has gone to see a doctor. Father is with him and will be back soon."
"Really?" Lan Sizhui's voice was nasal and a little uncertain.
“Really?” Lan Xichen said confidently, “When has uncle ever lied to you?”
He paused and explained softly, "When your father recovers, he will come back to be with you. Uncle Xie Lian and Uncle Hua Cheng will be here to take care of you these days, and your uncle will come to visit you often, too. Okay?"
Lan Sizhui sniffed and nodded, but he still buried his face in Lan Xichen's arms, crying softly. He wasn't afraid of being alone, he was just afraid... afraid that his father would be gone for a long time like last time, leaving him bruised and battered.
Lan Xichen held him, his heart aching and tender. This child was always so sensible, even half-hiding his fear. He gently patted Sizhui's back, patiently waiting for him to cry enough.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Lan Xichen stood up holding Si Zhui, walked to the door and opened it, and it was indeed Xie Lian and Hua Cheng.
“Brother.” Xie Lian saw him and nodded. His gaze fell on Si Zhui in his arms, a trace of heartache flashing in his eyes. “Is Si Zhui awake?”
“Yeah, I just woke up.” Lan Xichen put Sizhui down and ruffled his hair. “Sizhui, Uncle Xie Lian and Uncle Huacheng are here to keep you company.”
Lan Sizhui raised his red eyes, looked at Xie Lian and Hua Cheng, and whispered, "Uncle...Uncle..."
“Hey.” Xie Lian walked over, took out a piece of candy and handed it to her. “Don’t cry anymore. It won’t look good. Let’s take you to buy your favorite osmanthus cake, okay?”
Hua Cheng also softened his tone, which was rare. "We can also go to that toy store we met last time and buy you another robot."
Lan Sizhui shook his head, walked to the table, picked up the stack of photos, hugged them tightly in his arms, and whispered, "I want to wait for Daddy to come back."
Xie Lian and Hua Cheng looked at each other and saw helplessness and heartache in each other's eyes.
Xie Lian squatted down, looked at him, and said seriously, "Si Zhui, your father has gone to seek medical treatment. He can only come back to be with you after he is cured. You must be good, eat well, and go to school well. When your father comes back and sees that you are well, he will definitely be very happy, right?"
Lan Sizhui thought about it, nodded, and carefully put the photo into his arms, as if he was holding a treasure.
“That’s good.” Xie Lian smiled and reached out to wipe his tears. “Come on, let’s make breakfast. After breakfast, your uncle will take you to school.”
Lan Xichen watched Xie Lian skillfully comfort Si Zhui, and he felt a little relieved. With them around, Si Zhui should be able to feel better.
“Then I’ll leave Sizhui in your care,” Lan Xichen said.
“Don’t worry, brother.” Xie Lian nodded, “We will take good care of him.”
Lan Xichen glanced at Sizhui again, ruffled his hair, and then turned and left.
In the living room, Xie Lian went to the kitchen to make breakfast, while Hua Cheng sat on the sofa with Si Zhui. The child still hugged the stack of photos tightly, a look of confusion and expectation in his eyes.
Hua Cheng looked at him, was silent for a moment, and suddenly said: "Your father loves you very much."
Lan Sizhui raised his head and looked at him.
"He suffered a lot just to go to the amusement park with you." Hua Cheng's voice was soft, yet it carried a convincing force. "So, you have to be well and wait for him to come back."
Lan Sizhui nodded, not quite understanding, and hugged the photo tighter.
He didn't know what hardships his father had suffered, he only knew that he had to be a good boy and wait for his father to come back.
When they come back, we will look at these photos together and laugh together.
The sunlight shines through the window and falls on the back of the child holding the photo, warm and quiet.
But in that silence, there is too much weight of waiting hidden.
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