Ji Zhang didn't say anything anymore as he closed his distance and went to stand just beside the bed. He slowly bended down a little and touched his grandson's face with his old one.
Ji Haishan saw how his grandfather's expression turn gentle when he was facing the unconscious 'Ji Haishan' and his heart thudded against his chest in frenzy. He slowly clenched his fist.
He wasn't expecting this..
'Ji Haishan' looked very peaceful in his sleep. As if he wasn't the same person when he was awake. Ji Zhang hadn't seen him for a few years now. He also forgot how his grandson would act when around him.
It was so long ago that they ever talked.
One thing he knew for all these years.. was that his grandson might..
".. he might have resented me so much." the old man murmured alone but Ji Haishan heard him clearly.
For a moment there, Ji Haishan's face was that of bafflement. Then, it changed to a face of indescribable pain. Then, it became normal again, just right before his grandfather turned to face 'Bai Yulin'.
"Please take good care of him. It's been a long time since he last visited the mansion. So do tell him that when he's awake." then the old man walked away towards the door.
It looked as if he didn't want to be here when 'Ji Haishan' was awake.
Then he stopped midway and faced 'Bai Yulin' with a smile. Taking one more glance at the unconscious man, he said "You can call me grandfather, young lady. Just like how he did."
At this moment, Ji Haishan's heart couldn't stop beating so fast. Just like how he did..? Why used past tense? Was it so long ago that he even called his grandfather using 'grandfather'?
He was confused. Why was he suddenly like this? Why was it so hard to calm down??
He thought he was fine. He thought he was over it. He thought.. his grandfather never cared about his feelings..
And just when the door was about to open, Ji Haishan's feet had brought him towards the old man. He himself was surprised by what he was doing. But the heart that he thought was dead kept telling him he must do this.
His heart told him he must do this or he would regret it.
"Gra.. grandfather.. I- Ji Haishan.. has never resented you. He.. has always.. been thinking about your health."
The look of the old man was nothing like how he could ever imagine. Ji Haishan once again- felt that he was such a failure of a grandson.
He wasn't even related to him by blood but this old man really loved him genuinely. He was just too caught up by his own pain that he couldn't see. He just cared about the past but he forgot this old man might not have forever.
".. I'm sorry." these two words were unconsciously blurted out.
"Why are you sorry, young lady?" Ji Zhang laughed, trying to mask his own complicated expression. He didn't know whether what she was saying was the truth or not but he really felt better hearing that.
"Let's meet again, young lady.. oh no, Yulin." Ji Zhang corrected himself.
Ji Haishan suddenly realized who he was currently and he pursed his lips, saying "Grandfather.. thank you."
Then the old man was no longer inside the room. Ji Haishan felt so lost. He never thought he would forget his role so easily.
But more than that..
"You feel relieved." Ji Haishan snapped his head back towards the source of the sound he heard.
There, he saw Bai Yulin awake. With a small smile over her face. She looked pale but that didn't lessen her glowing smile at all.
".. you heard us." it wasn't a question but a statement.
"Since when?" Ji Haishan asked, his face unreadable.
"Since the very start, actually.." Bai Yulin scratched her head as if she was caught acting mischievous.
".. from when you stuttered to introduce yourself." she added with a laugh.
"You..!" Ji Haishan controlled himself. Bai Yulin was a patient now so he couldn't get angry. No.. he must calm down.
"Hahahha! You were so bad, I could do better!" Bai Yulin laughed again. She didn't care even when Ji Haishan's face was contorting in anger.
Ji Haishan later gave up. Fine, she could have it. He was bad. He stuttered, he fidgeted. It was not manly at all- hey! He was a MAN! He SHOULD be manly!
It was all because of this stupid body that he was also affected by the hormones.
"Ugh.. stop that, idiot." Ji Haishan shook his head helplessly when Bai Yulin never stopped laughing.
When things calmed down, Bai Yulin called Ji Haishan to sit beside her on the bed. Although reluctant, he still complied.
Ji Haishan wasn't facing her fully because he was sitting right at the edge of the bed. But it was fine for Bai Yulin. Without a care of how he might react, she interlaced their fingers together in one hand.
A small hand and a big hand together, close and tight. Ji Haishan could feel his heart racing again for the second time but he knew it was different than the one he felt when he saw his grandfather.
This time it was totally different.
As if he could really differentiate..
But what could he differentiate..? What could he actually identify..?
He slowly.. and gradually.. got the answer.
He liked Bai Yulin..
He was in love with her..!
"Thank you for saving me, Ji Haishan." Bai Yulin's voice was heard and it killed his thoughts in many scattering pieces.
Ji Haishan was startled but he maintained his composure. He didn't know what to do. He finally realized his feelings and he hoped he wouldn't be too obvious.
"Really.. thank you. You're like a hero." she added. This time, her smile was wider and her eyes were twinkling.
'You're my hero and I.. like you.' she didn't voiced this out loud. She just kept it in her heart.
In that storage room, before Bai Yulin closed her eyes, only one thought came to to mind. And it was about how she hated the fact that he was far from her. He was by the door, he stood there without moving closer, and she hated that.
She wanted him closer. She needed his presence. Only then would she feel truly safe. And she had to tell herself that he would soon approach. Only then did she closed her eyes with a hard-earned smile.
At that time, she realized her feelings towards him.
At this point.. both Ji Haishan and Bai Yulin realized their feelings towards each other.