April is the peak tourist season in Q City, and the floor-to-ceiling windows of the hotel room can see thousands of cherry blossom trees blooming in the park next door.

Lin Youqing stood by the window and admired it for a moment, then turned around: "Teacher Duan, what are your plans for the future?" ”

Duan Whale leaned his luggage on the edge of the big bed, and sat on the sofa: "Xiaoxing and I will only go back to H City tomorrow afternoon, and I want to go to the Olympic Sports Center in the morning." ”

"Yes, the Olympic Sports Center is a successful case of hybrid power generation, and I can be a tour guide." Lin Youqing then recommended herself, "You take a rest first, and I will bring Xiaoxing over in the evening." There is a light show in this park at night, and there is a night ......"

"You don't have to stay with us like this." Duan Whale interrupted him, "It's more important to be busy with your own business. ”

Lin Youqing insisted: "It's okay, I'm happy." ”

His attitude was obviously very attentive and sincere, but who knew that Duan Whale was embarrassed.

"But you've done so much for me, and I can't give you a reciprocal return. It makes me uneasy. ”

"You don't need anything in return! Not really! ”

Lin Youqing hurriedly explained, paused for a moment, but was a little expectant: "However, it will be difficult for me to meet Teacher Duan again after tomorrow...... So if you want, it's okay to only have half a day, can you stay with me. ”

Together?

Duan Whale knew that Lin Youqing's request did not seem excessive. However, once you say yes, some things are likely to change uncontrollably.

Of course, he also knew Lin Youqing's feelings for him. As early as when he was a teacher, this quiet and obedient student would always stand not far away and watch him silently. And to tell the truth, he doesn't hate Lin Youqing's attention.

But at this moment, Duan Whale still hesitated.

"I know what you mean, but I'm afraid it's not appropriate."

"I ......"

Stunned for a moment, Lin Youqing's expression slowly turned into panic.

I don't know if it was because of the rejection of his feelings, or because his heart was pierced, his eyes became extremely complicated in a short period of time, and his face changed from the beginning of the red to a miserable white.

"I'm not, I'm not ......," he wanted to explain, but his mind was already confused, and he couldn't organize words anymore.

Duan Whale was a little unbearable. But since this is the beginning, it will not help to regret it.

He simply gritted his teeth: "Youqing, you are such a smart person, do you want me to be clearer?" You are my student, my colleague. That's all our relationship should be—"

"Please, don't say it!"

Lin Youqing shuddered, almost stumbling beside Duan Whale, unable to raise his head for a long time.

It was a while before I heard him babble.

"Why do you have to demolish me? Shouldn't it be regarded as a request from an ordinary friend...... I'm not going to make any excessive demands, and I'm not going to do anything that turns you off. Why do you have to say such things that embarrass me? ”

"I'm sorry."

Duan Whale could pull Lin Youqing into his arms as soon as he stretched out his hand, but he only sighed.

"I know that you resigned and returned to Q City this time to cut off this meaningless emotion. Now that you've made your decision, why bother with it? ”

"Pointless? But don't you want me to stay in H City again and again? Lin Youqing's voice trembled a little: "I can also go back with you, as long as I ......"

"You still don't get it!" Duan Whale interrupted him: "I want you to stay in H City for the sake of your future." And I reject your kindness for the sake of your future. I'm not a good lover, I can't solve all kinds of problems around you, and it will bring you more trouble! ”

"Is it a good lover, isn't it only known after trying to get in touch? In fact, I wanted to say this to you when you divorced, but I stood outside your office that day, but I found that you and Mr. Su were dating. I could only walk away silently, and I didn't dare to take half a step beyond the thunder pool...... But isn't the teacher single now? This time, why can't you consider me? ”

"Why don't you understand, no is no way!"

Duan Whale suddenly and sternly stopped the ensuing argument.

Lin Youqing was taken aback. He was stiff and pale, as if he had just been slapped in the face.

“…… I'm sorry," Duan Whale, who quickly calmed down, lowered his head and rubbed his eyebrows, "We don't have to continue discussing this issue. ”

Lin Youqing hasn't eased up yet. It was as if Duan Whale's shout just now had smashed his hard-earned courage along with his dignity.

"No...... The one who should say I'm sorry is my ......."

He suddenly felt that he had become a lost dog, and panicked for no reason, and all he wanted was to escape.

"It's hard for me to be strong...... Mr. Duan has the grace of knowing me, but I have always had a bad idea of you...... is still messing around like this. I...... Very ashamed. ”

Speaking of this, Lin Youqing once again lowered his head deeply.

"I'll leave right away, go now, please forget what I said that offended you."

“……”

Duan Whale didn't say anything more, he seemed to be able to smell the fragrance of the laundry detergent on Lin Youqing's body, but in the blink of an eye, Lin Youqing had already stood up and walked quickly to the door.

"Later, I'll send Xingze over."

With that, he slowly closed the door.

Once again, there was only deathly silence in the room.

Duan Whale sat on the sofa by the window, and felt that his whole body was beginning to sink a little bit again, sinking into the swamp that made him chagrin and self-hatred.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Lin Youqing sent Duan Xingze and his luggage back to the hotel room as agreed.

As a thank you and some other inexplicable mentality, Duan Whale tried to invite him to dinner, but was politely refused.

"I'll have an interview in a moment."

Lin Youqing regained his former gentleness and calmness, and cautiously stood five or six steps away from the door, waving to the Duan family's father and son.

Teacher Duan...... Thank you for taking care of me for these nine years. ”

“……”

Realizing that the other party did not say goodbye, Duan Whale was speechless for a while.

He didn't close the door, just stood at the door, watching Lin Youqing disappear into the elevator at the end of the corridor. Then he suddenly realized that this might be the last time he saw Lin Youqing in his life.

Seven-year-old Duan Xingze was sitting on the sofa playing with his mobile phone, and Duan Whale walked up to him and sat down.

"Xingze, do you still ignore Dad?"

Duan Xingze didn't even bother to raise his head: "Dad is a big fool, I don't want to talk to a fool." ”

Duan Whale smiled dumbly, reached out and pinched his little nose: "In the future, don't talk about the things that your mother taught you in front of outsiders."

Duan Xingze put his phone down: "Why?" Mom, no, Daddy said that in their place, this is something that everyone can understand. You can't say anything if you do something wrong, Dad didn't do anything wrong! ”

"Of course your dad is not wrong with him. But even on his side, there are still many people who can't understand what he does. They can be sad, disappointed, and even angry. You're still young and don't have the ability to fight against them, so the most important thing is to protect yourself. ”

"Like grandpa?" Duan Xingze frowned as if he didn't understand: "Then will Grandpa Lin and Grandma Lin also be sad, disappointed, and even angry?" ”

“…… Maybe. Duan Whale touched his head: "Let's go, Dad will take you downstairs to eat, what do you want to eat?" ”

――――

After this evening, Duan Whale really never saw Lin Youqing again. The next morning, he took Duan Xingze to the Olympic Sports Center, had lunch, and left for the airport at two o'clock in the afternoon.

Out of politeness, he asked Duan Xingze to call Lin Youqing on the way, thank the Lin family for taking care of them during this time, and say goodbye by the way. However, the call was not answered the first time, and the second time it took five or six clicks for an answer.

"Hello?"

Lin Youqing's voice sounded after a while, and it could be heard that the volume was deliberately lowered.

"Brother Youqing," Duan Xingze got straight to the point: "Dad has something to say to you." ”

Duan Whale pinched his son's face and took the phone, "Xiaoxing and I have already gone to the airport, you ......"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly heard a voice on the other end of the phone asking, "Lin Dewen's family, who is Lin Dewen's family?" ”

Lin Youqing hurriedly responded: "I am!" ”

There was a lot of noise, and the phone was hung up.

Lin Dewen, is Youqing's stepfather?

Duan Whale seemed to have guessed something, and his heart suddenly twitched. But it is obviously not appropriate to harass Lin Youqing at this time, and he can only put this matter in his mind for the time being.

"Dad. Is there something wrong with Brother Youqing's family? ”

Duan Xingze patted his father's thigh, looking as strict as a little adult.

"It's fine." Duan Whale shook his head, "Let's call him later." ”

Taxis arrived at the airport before the evening rush hour. According to the original plan, the father and son were supposed to take a flight back to H City in an hour and a half.

After passing through security and arriving at the departure lounge, there is still time to spare. Duan Whale asked Duan Xingze to sit in his seat and eat ice cream, and he began to ponder the situation on Lin Youqing's side again.

can be regarded as having a good heart, and at this moment, Lin Youqing took the initiative to call over.

"Sorry ......"

It was quiet on the other end of the phone, but Lin Youqing's voice was even more tired: "Teacher Duan, what did you just say." ”

"What's going on over there?" Duan Whale asked him bluntly, "I heard the nurse's voice just now, is your dad okay?" ”

"Hmm." Lin Youqing responded weakly and lowered his voice: "It's okay." ”

Lies.

Duan Whale obviously heard the sound of someone else crying on the phone.

Lin Youqing seemed to notice this, and he began to move, and then there was a hollow sound of footsteps on the phone. Duan Whale could almost guess that Lin Youqing was walking on the cold and quiet corridor outside the morgue.

His head was hot: "Do you want us to come back?" ”

Lin Youqing was stunned, but still refused softly: "Thank you, I really don't need it." ”

Duan Whale reluctantly responded: "Then take care of yourself." ”

Lin Youqing said thank you again and hung up the phone. Duan Whale also put the phone back in his pocket and turned around and walked back to the lounge.

Duan Xingze had already finished eating the ice cream and was stretching his neck, looking towards this side like a little adult.

"Just now, a big sister came to inform me that the plane we were on was going to be late."

"Did you say how long you were late?"

"I don't know, you ask her yourself."

Duan Whale brought another roast chicken wing to his son, and then went to the ground staff to ask about the specific situation.

According to the ground staff, due to the heavy rain in H City, the round-trip flight they took has not yet landed, and the possibility of diversion around H City is not even ruled out. Correspondingly, the time for the flight to return to Q city and take off again can only be postponed accordingly. A conservative estimate would be at least a six-hour delay.

Next, the ground staff was also ready to introduce the insurance compensation for flight delays, but Duan Whale didn't care too much.

He walked back to Duan Xingze and said in a low voice, "Grandpa Lin seems to be sick. ”

Duan Xingze immediately put down the chicken wings: "Hey! How?! ”

"I don't know, Brother Youqing, they are all in the hospital now."

"Then we'll go too!" Duan Xingze hurriedly wiped his little hands, "Anyway, the plane is going to be late, let's go see Grandpa Lin!" ”

Duan Whale put on a coat for his son, and the father and son held hands and walked outside the airport.

Because it was not clear which hospital the Lin family was in, after getting into the taxi, Duan Whale called Lin Youqing again.

Lin Youqing, who learned that they had returned, was obviously a little stunned, and it took a while to slowly react.

“…… Xingze is so small, it's okay to run to the hospital, what if I get infected by the virus? ”

"I was negligent."

Duan Whale obviously didn't think of this. To be sure, he's not that rough, but he's quite ignorant when it comes to parenting.

In the blink of an eye, the taxi had already driven to the vicinity of Lin Youqing's house, and Lin Youqing on the other end of the phone also thought of a compromise.

"Go to my house first. The hospital is not far from my house, and I will come to you. ”