“It was Xuan Wen who saved me from the edge of death?!” Gao Ming felt matched the nightmare scenario.
“How deep are you in her web? How can you automatically ignore the efforts of the other experts?” The nurse fed Gao Ming a spoonful of rice. “Since you did such a heroic thing and saved many students, the superior gave the order to do everything to save you. Many experts helped. Even I contributed a lot.”
“You definitely didn’t mean that. You didn’t even look at me when you said that.” The nurse had taken care of Gao Ming for months already. She read to Gao Ming daily to help Gao Ming. Slowly, she treated Gao Ming as her friend, a friend who was noble and was good at listening.
“Hmm.” Gao Ming responded mindlessly. His brain was in a mess. The things the nurse told him appeared to be unconnected to the things he encountered in the nightmare, but they had a tenuous connection. He was certain that he was in the real world, but the lingering fragments in his brain told him that the other world existed and that the nightmare world was equally real.
“Which side is real?”
“Here comes the food. Ah~~”
The fragrance of food danced in his senses. The food felt so real on his tongue. This was definitely not a dream.
“Is the food from the canteen that delicious? You make me want to try them.” The nurse continued to feed Gao Ming with a smile. “I’ve handed your report to the doctors. They said you’re recovering well. However, you still can’t do extreme activities. I believe some reporters will come to visit you in a few days. After all, you’re a living miracle.”
Gao Ming glanced at the screen. There was a video that introduced him, and there were many messages that hoped to get his blessings.
“I’m not a God. Why are they wishing at me?”
“Brother, a normal person won’t survive after going through what you went through. But you’re recovering now. That’s very impressive.” The nurse fed Gao Ming again, “I log in there every day. If not for the rules at the hospital, I even want to start my own account to record my daily care of you. People will love that.” The nurse had been taking care of Gao Ming, but this was Gao Ming’s first day meeting her, so he couldn’t understand her passion. Looking at the messages that wished him well, Gao Ming seemed to hear endless prayers.
“Is it because the people and the ghosts from the nightmare haven’t forgotten about me? Or is it the people in real life?” Gao Ming swallowed the food. He couldn’t reach an answer.
A boy in the outside corridor tripped and fell. The block building that he made scattered everywhere.
“Do you think I don’t have enough troubles? Can’t you be more mature and save me the trouble?” A man’s rough scolding echoed in the corridor. The boy was so scared that he started to cry.
“I’ll go take a look.” The nurse put down the tray and rushed out of the room. “This is a hospital. Please do not raise your voice and disturb the patients.”
Gao Ming glanced out the door. A man in an old black jacket stood in the opposite sick room. His shoes were wrinkled, and his pants were worn. His face was lined with fatigue. His hair was a mess. Glaring at the boy who fell on the ground, the man’s neck was red from anger. He tried to hold it in and turned to the nurse, “I’m sorry. I was too angry and failed to control myself.”
The man was very muscular, but he tried not to get angry. “Ah Fang will stay here to accompany his mother. I’ll go gather money. I’ll hand in the late hospital bills tomorrow.”
Before the nurse could say anything, the man grabbed the old black wallet from the table and stormed towards the elevator.
The nurse sighed. She picked the boy up from the ground. “Ah Fang, we’re the bravest boy, right? Didn’t your mom say she wanted you to be happy every day? Come. Let’s go play some puzzles.” The nurse picked up the scattered building blocks and ran back to Gao Ming’s room with an apology.
“Teacher Gao, can this child stay here temporarily? His mother is bedridden.” The nurse whispered to Gao Ming, “His mom stays in a shared sick room. The other patients often complain about this kid. However, Ah Fang is actually a very nice kid. He never makes any trouble.”
“What is this boy’s name?”
“Ah Fang. Is there anything wrong?” The nurse felt like Gao Ming’s focus was strange.
“Let him stay here. It’s too quiet here on my own.” Gao Ming nodded.
“Thank you, Teacher Gao.” The nurse thanked him. “When I’m done with work, I’ll bring him to the nurse duty room.”
After the meal, the nurse packed up the tray and left. Gao Ming stared at the boy silently. He knelt at the corner further from Gao Ming. A lot of cheap building blocks were placed before him. He carefully picked up one block. After a long contemplation, he placed it on another block. About ten minutes later, the boy created a gorgeous home. The boy knelt before the toy house. As if unsatisfied, he carefully removed the building blocks. As the nurse said, he was very obedient. He never made a fuss.
“Is your name Ah Fang?”
Gao Ming’s sudden question startled the boy. He bumped into the blocks, and the house tumbled over. The boy turned around with fear. He thought he did something wrong. He didn’t dare to talk to Gao Ming.
“Am I that scary?” Gao Ming thought the boy was quite pitiable.
The boy lowered his head to look at his shoes as if worried that he might disturb Gao Ming.
Gao Ming was helpless. When he heard the name Ah Fang, something lit up within him. “Don’t be scared. I won’t chase you away. I’m just curious. Why did your parents give you this name?”
The boy didn’t answer. He glanced at the sick room where his mother was.
Gao Ming shook his head and let the child be.
The boy returned to his blocks. Soon, a new house appeared on the floor.
Staring at the boy, Gao Ming was intrigued. He couldn’t help but ask, “Kid, you seem to like to build haunted houses.”
Gao Ming stunned himself when he said that. He wanted to comment that the child liked to build houses, but somehow, the words haunted houses came out of his lips.
To Gao Ming’s surprise, the boy’s reaction was unique. He stopped moving and turned to look at Gao Ming as if Gao Ming got it right.