Chapter 4 - First Push

Zian watched the performance closely, engrossed in the performance that captivated him wholeheartedly...

He can feel the sadness, the longing, the unrestrained, the pain, every tone and gesture that the female singer does on the stage was bringing an impact on Zian, the sad but plain lyrics was being portrayed in a raw emotion of desperation and helplessness that makes the singer's sound is filled with unspeakable emotions that overwhelmed him strongly...

Tears started pouring in his eyes uncontrollably… waves of desperation and longing overcame his mind.. and Zian cried his heart out...

Yuyeon was walking in the alley of the hospital after going to the cafeteria to pick up Zian's lunch together with Shen Ruiqi hearing the loud cry in the alley.. they realized it was Zian's voice and rushed towards his room.. but just before Yuyeon and Shen Ruiqi could reach the door.

Yuyeon instantly knelt helplessly and started sobbing trying to restrain her heart from hearing the words that came through Zion's mouth... "Dad… dad…. daad….."

These repeated words spoken by her only child broke through Yuyeon's defenses and her heart aches indescribably. Shen Ruiqi just kneels and covers Yuyeon face in her chest tightly in her arms.. tears also pour slowly into her eyes hearing the wailing of the duo in unison as one is crying out loud and one is restrained.

No words could be uttered by her as she knows the feeling so well. Seeing some nurses were about to approach them, she just gestured for them to go away and don't come.. the nurses had a tacit understanding and didn't move forward to approach the latter to give them the space that they needed...

The VIP ward was currently empty since the other VIP already checked out yesterday because of fast recovery so there was only Zian left in the ward… ten minutes later, after Yuyeon regained her composure, Shen Ruiqi took her to the toilet to fix her appearance before coming to Zian's room…

Zian's already sleeping in the bed with a face filled with traces of tears, apparently, he just cries himself to sleep due to exhaustion from welled-up suppressed emotions…

Shen Ruiqi then checked up on his condition and found out that he was just exhausted and let him rest... Yuyeon looked at her only child and sighed lowly.. two hours later, Zian woke up due to hunger and sees Yuyeon is reheating the food on the table with an electric stove. "Mom… I'm hungry". "Wait a bit, I'm still waiting for the soup to be warmed again.. it will be much tastier", said Yuyeon.

She then turned towards Zian and hugged him "be strong... because that was what your dad will want you to be.., as your dad always says. "If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger.. and you can do anything after that.."

Reminded back at the singer, Zian thought to himself... "I was not aware that my heart can be pried open just with some simple lyrics like that, i guess it is true that when you truly express yourself, you can influence other people's inner desire, i wish i can become like her... i want to make other people feel what i felt as i can't express myself well, maybe music can help."

Zian then reminded of the time when his father was teaching him one-inch punch.. every time he cried after the exercise because of pain in his hands, his father always says this simple phrase over and over again.. to strengthen his heart and to learn to endure hardship...

His father never taught him another martial arts as it was not needed, he just taught one-inch punch so Zian can defend himself if ever being bullied because of his difference in hair and eye colors, he just said if you get hit by the others once, just punch them back with this punch once and run find the adults.

Zian was once bullied in his Elementary School but he then became the leader of the pack because his one punch in the bully's stomach made him kneel and cry for forgiveness in front of the others and the pack then feared him but later he earned their respect since he never bullies the others but helping them one way or another…

Yuyeon then brought the soup and fed Zian slowly.. while the latter ate his fill with a heavy heart and no smile.

Yuyeon saw her son and uttered " You are stronger now... You are the man in the family now.. and by that, I believe in you.." Zian turned his head and faced her mother's eyes.. tears started to run on his face again but this time the light in his eyes was different. "I am, mom.. don't be sad anymore.."

His words came out slightly weak but the light in his eyes shows determination… "I will never leave you lonely again" this time Zian's voice is full of love and compassion.

Yuyeon just looked straight into her son's eyes and smiled brightly.. so bright that it gives Zian a warmth and safe feeling.. both of them ended up hugging each other tightly.. unknown to them, behind the door, Wang Zhang lei is listening, and watching the interaction closely.. he sees the smile of pure happiness in Yuyeon's face for the first time again and listening to his grandchild's conviction…

"Feng-er, you taught Zian well, I truly am proud of you..." He sighs.

A huge burden was lifted from his heart and he turned back.. he decided to not disturb the moment as he felt it would strengthen the family bonds.

He just walked and finally decided in his heart with a clenched fist… Wang Zhang lei then entered one of the doctor's offices and closed the door.. it was the TCM's Head Departement Room.

"Doctor Lei, I just want to make sure of one thing… Will Zian's health have no complications or problems in the future? I want clear answers".

Well, I've done all the medical checks upon him, his vital signs are top-notch except for his stamina which can be improved by exercising regularly.. to tell you the truth, I don't know what hinders him to wake up sooner since after the operation to remove the blood clot in his head 3 years ago around the time after the accident, he supposed to wake up about 2 months with the recovery that happening.

The problem might be with the weak willpower since the beginning but that is out of my expertise since i am a TCM master, not a Psychiatrist… and i don't interact daily with him before the accident.. so i can't explain that, but rest assured, he is fully healed, except with some memory loss before the accident.

There is no backlash from the incident but i will still want you to inform him that he should not have another accident related to his head such as a concussion or heavy blows to the head just in case something bad happened to cause it might take away most of his abilities as a normal human if that happens, Doctor Lei explained carefully and smiled.

Wang Zhanglei listened closely to the explanation and exhaled deeply… the brief meeting with Doctor Lei made Wang Zhang lei satisfied and promised himself to donate something to help others after Zian's Homecoming Party.

Zian comes back from the hospital 3 days ago, but the Homecoming Party is held today because Wang Zhanglei already arranged a public event with the orphans in the morning and he wanted Zian to attend it together with Yuyeon, knowing his grandpa's intention Zian agreed and attended the event.. surprisingly Wang Zhanglei already asked the MC before to asked Zian to speak in front of the children as formalities and not him...

Zian was caught on the spot with confusion and awkwardness but somehow his foot moved towards the center stage and grabbed the microphone. His mind blanked when he realized that all eyes were staring intently at him.. he didn't know how to arrange a speech or even make an impromptu one on the spot, but he just said whatever things were in his mind at that moment…

In the end, Zian says " till 3 days ago i was in the hospital. I was hospitalized because of some accident, therefore i was forgotten by the world.

I don't have any friends left since the last time they talked to me or I talked to them was so long… i only have my grandpa and my mother left by my side. but you all, i envy you... you have each other's company whether you like it or not... remember this moment in your heart.. because you will miss this moment in the future. that's all from me."

All the kids in the orphanage were shocked.. especially when Zian's said to have been forgotten by the world and had each other's company. These words echo in their minds because they can relate to them.. and they felt that the gap between Zian and them is narrowed so that he didn't pity them in his eyes but they pitied him back.

When the time to have lunch arrived, a young girl around his age approached Zian and asked him if he wanted to have lunch together with the other orphans at the long table.. gladly Zian accepted the invitation, and had lunch together.

After lunch, Zian approached the girl and asked, "why did you want to have lunch with me?" She just answered back shyly... It's because what you said is the same as my late brother said before his passing.. we have each other's company.. so we are not lonely even if we are forgotten by the world.

Zian was amused by this revelation since he just made up random excuses on the spot before that and got no intention whatsoever.

"Maybe... just maybe... Hmmm." Xion just speaks to himself.

A bright smile plastered on Zian's face made him smile like a stupid person, but it makes him happy. What's your name? asked Zian suddenly… the girl looked surprised by the question and was baffled… but answered back, my name is Yiren.