Nie Yugang dragged his tired body back to the empty room.
In the simple three-room unit, almost every wall had pictures of him and his son, from baby to preschool, from primary school to high school, high school to university, and then pictures of the boy after proudly entering society.
Nie Yugang gazed at the pictures of the past decades hanging on the wall. It felt like a huge mountain pressing down on Nie Yugang's heart. It was heavy and depressing.
He sat on the sofa and hesitated for a while before picking up the landline phone next to him and dialing his son's work number.
His son had taken after his temper and was equally stubborn!
Previously, because he said that he was going to look for his biological parents, they had gotten into a huge quarrel and his phone number was blacklisted by his son. Even now, it was still on his son's blacklist!
Every time he wanted to make a call, he could only contact him through this unit's phone.
Just like that, it had been tremendously difficult contacting him.
"It's been half a month. Why am I the one reaching out!"
Old Nie muttered, but the movement of the buttons in his hand seemed to be almost instinctual. Although it was slow, they teemed with a sense of familiarity.
The sound of the phone beeping rang, and his mood sunk with it.
After a short while... he put down the phone in disappointment.
"This unfilial son, he won't even pick up the phone!"
When a person was sick, he would naturally feel like the world was against him.
He looked at the photo hanging on the wall, and his heart was filled with all kinds of emotions.
He had planned to call his son today to tell him that he would not hinder him from finding his biological parents, and he wanted him to come back and see him.
After all... He might have to leave soon. If his son was not by his side when he left, he would not dare to imagine the regret that child would carry.
Since three years ago, his son had gone on a business trip to the capital. He had said that he was going to be promoted. At that time, after he happily sent his son away, Old Nie did not expect that to be the last farewell.
For three years, the father and son would only contact each other by phone. Because he was worried about his son, an illiterate man in his sixties had learned how to use his mobile phone to type and send text messages.
As he looked at the pictures of his life that his son sent from time to time, he could feel a little more at ease.
Young people had strong career aspirations, and the pressure of work was great.
He missed his son very much, but he restrained himself.
But over the past six months, his health took a turn for the worst, and carnal desperation seeped into the desire to see his son again!
He started learning how to video call, but his son did not have much time for it. At most, he sent a few pictures, and that was it.
Once, when he took the pictures that his son sent and showed them to Old Wang next door, Old Wang's son had blurted out, "What a geeky nerd!"
This had angered Old Nie!
He didn't care about his long friendship with Old Wang and gave him a beating on the spot.
He insulted his precious son?
How could he not be angry?
Because of this, every time Little Wang saw him, he would lower his head and avoid him.
At that moment, the door was pushed open and an old figure walked in.
"Haha, isn't this Old Nie? How was your check-up at the hospital today? Are you interested in having two rounds with me?"
Old Wang walked into the living room with shaky steps and asked Old Nie, who was sitting on the sofa, with a smile.
In his hand was a box of chess.
When they were young, they were both in the factory. Old Wang was proud to be a junior high school graduate, and Old Nie hadn't even graduated from primary school, so he compared everything with Old Nie to gain a sense of superiority.
He was usually very smug.
He was a good person, but he had his own flaws!
However, even though he had studied a few books, Old Nie always destroyed him in chess. He was very frustrated and always looked for Old Nie to play two games whenever he had nothing to do.
Today, there was no doubt that he was here for 'revenge'. It could also be considered as a way to relieve each other's boredom.
"Alright! Two games!"
Old Nie collected his complicated emotions and nodded.
He was not at his best.
Old Wang very naturally pulled a chair over and sat opposite Old Nie. He placed the chess pieces on the coffee table between the two of them!
He began to slowly place the chess pieces.
"You haven't answered me yet. How was the examination at the hospital?"
Old Wang placed the chess pieces in his hand and asked.
Old Nie laughed bitterly. He did not try to avoid it. His eyes were filled with gloom as he said,
"You're right. It's cancer. I won't be walking away from this one!"
"You! ..."
Old Wang's hand that was holding the chess piece trembled. He looked at him in disbelief!
He wanted to say something, but it was like a fishbone stuck in his throat. He could not say anything.
Previously, he had teased Old Nieand told him to go to the hospital for an examination. If he did not detect his cancer early, he would be done for.
He had not expected the joke from before to turn out to be true.
Old Wang, who was usually cheerful, couldn't smile anymore.
On the contrary, Old Nie smiled helplessly.
"Life and death are fated. Wealth and honor doesn't care about any of that. Come, come, come. While I can still move, hurry up and play two more games!"
"Where is he? Why isn't he back yet?"
Old Wang's face darkened, and his hands stopped moving.
He knew that Old Nie only wished to see his adopted son once again!
He heard that the boy had gone to look for his biological parents recently. This made Old Nie so angry that they had not spoken for half a month.
"I haven't told him about this yet!"
Old Nie let out a long sigh. The disappointment in his eyes couldn't be concealed.
Right now, he only wanted to see his child once, even if the other party came back in a huff.
He even felt a little regretful.
Why couldn't he swallow his anger back then?
If the child wanted to find his biological parents, then he should go and find them!
For a moment, complicated feelings surged into his heart, and Old Nie felt even worse.
Seeing this, Old Wang was a little sad, but also a little angry!
He put down chess pieces in his hand and looked at Old Nie with a gloomy expression:
"Give that adopted son a call now and tell him the news of your illness! If he doesn't come back, treat it as if he was never your son! Don't worry, if he doesn't come back, I'll let my son take care of you until you die! I don't believe that this lousy job is more important than his f*cking father's life!?
"In my opinion, he just wants to fly after leaving you! You've been doing this for so many years, why can't you see it?
"I told you long ago that you have to consider marrying, but you didn't listen! Look, is this adopted son reliable?!"
Old Wang was really angry. He was furious!
After all, what kind of job was he working on that kept him from home for three years in a row?
He had only sent photos and never once took a video call. Was he lying about his job?
Knowing that old Wang was doing this for his own good, Old Nie could only say helplessly,
"I tried, but I couldn't get through!"
"Did you call the office again? Call him!"
Old Wang said anxiously.
Old Nie shook his head.
"Didn't we have a fight about meeting his biological parents? I don't know what happened, but he's blocked my number!"
"Hey? This guy is so arrogant. He even blocked your phone number? No, bring it over. I'll call him! He definitely won't block me, right? Don't worry, I'll call him!"
Old Wang laughed in anger. He asked Old Nie to hand over the phone number of his adopted son and then made a call!
A voice came from the other end of the line.
Sorry...