I just don't know what exactly happened between Ellie and William.
"William, you get some rest first, I'm going out for a bit."
"Okay."
William leaned against the pillow, pulling the blanket over him. Although he couldn't sleep, he still closed his eyes.
In a short while, Daniel came over with food, placing the Chinese yam and millet porridge on the table, and said, "William, have some, then rest a bit after drinking it."
William made an affirmative sound.
"I also bought ham sausages for Coco."
Daniel said, extending his hand towards Coco, but Coco ignored him.
"Did it hear me making fun of it for being black?"
"Heard it."
Daniel was silent for a moment.
"I won't laugh at you anymore, please have some ham sausage." Daniel said, waving the ham sausage in his hand towards Coco.
Coco ignored him, burying its head in William's arms.
Daniel felt a bit defeated. Seeing that the water in the bottle was running out, he called for the doctor.
The doctor changed the bottle for William and said, "After this one, there's one more."
Daniel glanced at the bottle and said, "Such a large bottle, huh?"
"Yes."
William said to Daniel, "It will probably take another one or two hours, you should go back first."
"I don't want to, I'll stay here and keep an eye on the water for you."
William looked up at Daniel without objecting or agreeing.
"But all the clinics on this street are closed, why is it that only yours is still open?"
The doctor sighed and said, "That's a bit of a long story."
"Then give us the short version."
"I usually close at ten o'clock, but that day I closed particularly early due to some matters. Then a child fell and hit his head, bleeding a lot. It would take some time for the ambulance to arrive as well. His mother usually comes to my place the most for medical treatment, hoping I could provide emergency hemostasis. I just happened to be absent that day, and at that time, there weren't as many community hospitals around here.
By the time the ambulance arrived, the child had already died from excessive blood loss. Perhaps my presence might not have changed anything, but I still feel quite regretful."
Daniel felt a sense of sorrow after hearing this.
William said, "It's not your fault."
"I know it might not be my fault, I just feel a bit regretful."
Daniel said, "So that's why you stay open late every time, not closing your doors?"
"Yes."
"I see."
The doctor smiled at the two and said, "You guys continue chatting, I'll keep watch outside."
William had a few sips of the yam and millet porridge on the table and said, "Is it okay for you to not go home so late?"
Daniel replied, "It's fine, my mom went to my cousin's aunt's sister's cousin's nephew's wife's house, not sure when she'll be back."
William, after hearing a string of relationships, didn't understand who he was talking about and simply said, "Okay."
After the IV was finished, the night had grown deep.
William felt less of a dull pain in his stomach. He glanced at the time and saw it was already past one in the morning.
Daniel said, "William, come sleep at my place tonight."
William shook his head, "No need, I'll see you home."
"There's no need to see me home, William, I can just hail a cab and go back."
Although Daniel said it wasn't necessary, William still saw him home.
Daniel waved to William, "William, send me a message when you get home."
"Okay."
William hailed another car and went back.
As soon as he arrived at the door, he found it was locked, not just the front door, but also the back door.
He tried his fingerprint, but it didn't work either.
He received a message from Brad.
[Brad]: Sir locked the door and said not to let you back in.
William saw that message and replied with an "Okay."
He held Coco and went to a nearby internet café, paying for five hours of computer time.
As soon as he sat down in front of the computer, he received a message from Daniel.
[Daniel]: William, William, have you gotten home?
[William]: Yes.
[Daniel]: Can you get in? If they won't let you in, I'll come pick you up and bring you to my place.
[William]: Can't get in, no need.
[Daniel]: Where are you now, William?
[William]: Don't come, just sleep.
[Daniel]: I don't have anything else to do anyway, I'll get Mason to come with me to find you.
[William]: No, sleep.
Daniel, looking at his message, could imagine his expression.
[Daniel]: Then William, be safe, I'll come find you for breakfast when it's light.
[William]: No need, we can eat when we have time.
[Daniel]: Then remember to catch up on sleep tomorrow, and when we're free, I'll use my lucky money to treat you to something delicious.
[William]: Okay.
William turned off his phone, looked down at Coco in his arms, and said, "We won't be going home today, you'll have to spend the night here."
Coco rubbed against him in his arms.
William reached out and rubbed its head.
He hadn't received any lucky money for a long time; Pearl used to give it to him, but not after that.
In the years after Pearl left, William never asked Philip for a cent; almost all the money he spent was earned by himself from taking overnight gaming jobs. Pearl left him a bank card, which was enough for him to spend until he graduated from university.
He randomly picked a movie.
Perhaps because the movie was too boring, or maybe because he was too tired from the day, William fell asleep.
When William woke up, the computer screen had long been turned off.
It was a little past five in the morning, and it was still dark outside.
William, holding the cat in his arms, walked on the streets.
Some shops were already open.
If it were earlier, one could still see the figures of sanitation workers.
William walked aimlessly, not knowing where to go, where he should go, or where he could go.
The steaming variety of breakfast items at the breakfast shops had already been cooked.
At this time, there weren't many vehicles on the road.
But some people were already busy with the new day, heading to work.
William returned to the Xu family home.
The door was pushed open in an instant.
He saw Philip sitting downstairs.
He was wearing a blue suit, a pure white shirt underneath, and gold-rimmed glasses, eating breakfast leisurely. Upon seeing William come in, he looked up and said, "Where have you been hanging out until now?"
"Didn't you lock the door to prevent me from coming in?"
Philip looked at him and said, "You were out all night and didn't come back, so I deliberately locked you out. You can't study well, and I don't know where you've been hanging out, you unregulated thing."
"Okay." William said, then went upstairs with the cat.
Around seven or eight o'clock, Scarlett also woke up.
She brought breakfast and knocked on William's door.
William opened the door, saw her, and glanced at the breakfast in her hand, saying, "I'm not eating."
Scarlett said, "Don't blame your dad; he's angry because you came back too late yesterday. He's also looking out for you."
William responded coldly, "Are you finished?"
Scarlett was taken aback for a moment.
"Leave when you're done talking," William said, and then closed the door.
Angry because he came back too late yesterday?
It would be more believable to hope that he never came back at all.