Chapter 94 Fragments of Courage
Thursday is here soon.
That morning, Sizhui didn't stay in bed. He dressed and sat at the dining table, a small bowl of pumpkin porridge in front of him. He ate slowly, his eyes calm, unlike the resistance he had shown last time.
Wei Wuxian looked at him and breathed a sigh of relief. Lan Wangji handed him a boiled egg and said, "Eat this before you go. You'll have more energy."
Si Zhui took it and his fingers were steady as he peeled the shell, not trembling like last time.
When he was about to leave, Lan Jingyi ran out of the house and stuffed the phoenix kite into his hands: "Si Zhui, take it with you! Just think of it as me accompanying you!"
Si Zhui was stunned for a moment, then took the kite and said, "Thank you."
Jin Ling followed him out and stuffed a mint candy into his mouth: "Suck this and you won't feel the pain."
Si Zhui pinched the mint candy and suddenly smiled, his eyes curved into crescents: "Yeah."
On the way to the hospital, Sizhui rested the kite on his lap, clutching the unopened mint in his hand. Wei Wuxian watched him in the rearview mirror and saw him gently stroking the kite frame, his fingertips moving in a soothing manner.
"Nervous?" Wei Wuxian asked.
Si Zhui shook his head, then nodded and whispered, "A little, but better than last time."
Lan Wangji held his hand: "Relax."
The boy's hand was still a little cold, but he didn't hold him tightly like last time. He just squeezed it back gently, as if to say "I know".
When they arrived at the infusion room and the nurse came over, Si Zhui subconsciously leaned closer to Lan Wangji, but he didn't close his eyes. He watched the nurse take out the needle, took a deep breath, opened the mint candy in his hand, and put it in his mouth.
The cool mint flavor spread across the tip of my tongue, slightly suppressing the fear in my heart.
"Are you ready?" The nurse's voice was gentle.
Sizhui nodded and reached out his hand. This time, he didn't grab the hem of Lan Wangji's clothes, nor did he hold Wei Wuxian's hand. He just kept his arm steady, staring at the liquid in the IV tube, as if to encourage himself.
The moment the needle pierced his skin, he frowned in pain, but did not shed tears. He just bit the mint in his mouth tighter.
Wei Wuxian stood by, looking at his straight shoulders, and suddenly felt a lump in his throat - this kid was accumulating courage bit by bit in his own way.
While receiving the IV, Sizhui placed the phoenix kite on his lap, his fingers slowly tracing the lines on its wings. Wei Wuxian sat beside him and told him about how, as a child, he had been caught secretly flying a kite while studying at the Cloud Recesses and was caught by Second Young Master Lan.
“At that time, he punished me by making me copy a book, but I fell asleep halfway through.” Wei Wuxian said with a smile, “Then he finished copying it for me and gave it to Mr. Lan, your great uncle. But your great uncle was so astute that he saw through it immediately, so we were both punished. Speaking of which, Lan Zhan, did you fall in love with me at that time?”
Si Zhui's lips curled slightly as he listened attentively. Lan Wangji sat across from them, watching them, the smile in his eyes as gentle as water.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, landing on the kite's wings, gilding them. Sizhui suddenly said, "When I get better, let's go fly a kite together. We can fly it very high up in the grassy area outside the city."
“Okay.” Wei Wuxian agreed immediately, “Then let Lan Zhan take a picture of us.”
Lan Wangji nodded: "Yes."
When the infusion was finished and the needle was removed, Sizhui flinched, but quickly relaxed. The nurse smiled and praised him, "You're so brave, kid. You're much better than last time."
Sizhui blushed a little and whispered, "Thank you."
On the way back, Sizhui leaned back in his chair, still clutching the phoenix kite. The coolness of the mint lingered on his tongue, yet his heart felt warm. He suddenly felt that the IV drip wasn't so scary after all, like the troublesome string tangles you always have to deal with when flying a kite. Once you fix them, you can fly higher.
As the car pulled into the old house, Lan Jingyi and Jin Ling leaned over the wall again to look out. Seeing the kite in Sizhui's hand, Lan Jingyi immediately shouted, "Sizhui! Are you crying?"
Si Zhui opened the car door, raised the kite and shook it: "I didn't cry, and even earned a compliment from the nurse."
Two young men ran over and surrounded him, asking him questions. Sizhui stood in the middle, answering them one by one, his smile growing brighter.
Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji stood at the door and watched. Wei Wuxian leaned on Lan Wangji's shoulder and said, "Look, he has really grown up."
Lan Wangji held his hand, feeling the warmth on his fingertips: "It's because we are all here."
Yes, courage never comes out of thin air. It is made up of fragments pieced together by bits of peace of mind, a little companionship, and a little encouragement. And family is the one who picks up these fragments and piece together the complete courage.
Si Zhui looked at his friends who were around him, and at his dad and father who were smiling at each other at the door. He suddenly felt that the hospitals, needles, and the smell of disinfectant that had once frightened him seemed to have become less important.
Because he knows that no matter what happens, there are people supporting him. That is enough.
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