HOSTILITY

Guan returned to the bookstore leisurely. He was gone for over an hour and did not think any wrong with it, since nothing happened to him or to his car that hour he was gone.

He was about to unlock the door when he noticed it was already open. His heart almost stopped at the thought that there might be some burglars still inside the store. He knows how much this store means to his parents, though small, especially to his mother.

Guan braces himself as he pushed the door open and went straight to the counter, only to see his father standing with his cane. His assistant is also here, standing not too far from his father. It seems like he is intently staring at something with his back facing Guan.

The assistant bows to Guan as a form of greeting.

"Chairman, the Second Young Master is here."

Niu Yizhang clears his throat and faces Guan. "Where were you?"

Although Niu Yizhang's voice carries heaviness to it, it does not sound stern to Guan.

"I went running some errands with Su Bin." Guan looks away at the mention of Su Bin's name – afraid that his father might not buy his white lie.

"Is that so?" Niu Yizhang exhales deeply, "Then, let's go."

What?

Guan is confused by his words that he did not how to react as Niu Yizhang walks past him. "Where to?" he asks but his feet remain stuck on the ground.

His father pauses, and says with his back at him, "Lunch," then, sets on his way to the door.

"After you, second Young Master," the assistant leads him the way with his hand.

Guan briefly stares at him before following his father outside. How did he not notice their car parked outside earlier?

And asking him to have lunch? Well, that is a first.

Guan never would have thought that a day would come when his father invites him to eat out, just the two of them. He sits silently and awkwardly across his father inside the private room of a restaurant.

It is also the first time that Guan has been in this restaurant. The view of the greens outside calms him a bit. He almost forgot that he is with his father right now. Guan closes his eyes and feels the fresh air, with the sound of birds in the background, it feels like he is deep in the forest. He definitely should come back, though he forgot the name of the restaurant. He tries to recall. He probably saw it at the entrance, but his memory is totally blurred.

"What errands were you having with Su Bin?" Niu Yizhang asks while pouring tea for Guan.

Guan slowly opens his eyes, facing his father, and stares squarely, devoid of emotions. Both of them show no affection for each other but still act civil. An outsider might mistake them for business associates rather than father and son.

"Just some errands," he says and politely receives the cup. "You don't have to know more about it."

Guan frowns after taking a sip. He likes this tea; it's refreshing to the palette and has no strong odor.

Niu Yizhang sneers. "You don't have to be hostile about it."

"I can't help it. Father taught me well."

Niu Yizhang chuckles and did not refute any further.

Silence ensued between the two of them up until the food arrived.

Guan noticed that most of the food in front of them was his favorites – well, up until now. He could not help but frown at the sight and felt complicated. From under the table, Guan clenches his fist.

"Let's eat." Niu Yizhang picks up the chopsticks and starts eating.

"What are your real intentions of inviting me here?"

Niu Yizhang's hand stops mid-air. He peers at his son who is scowling down at him – his eyes full of hostility.

"Do I need a reason to invite my son to eat with me?"

Guan's shoulder starts shaking then laughter bursts out of his mouth – full of mocking. "So, you admit that I'm your son?"

*bam!*

Niu Yizhang slams the table with his hand hearing what Guan had said. Some of the liquid splashed and spilled on the table. His hands trembled with rage while looking back at his son while his eyes twitches as he felt a small tingling sensation on his chest.

"Did you bring me here to talk about me taking over Big Brother's position? What, you're going to persuade me not to accept it and go back to New York?" Guan mockingly laughs once again, "Don't worry, Father. I will get out of your sight as soon as possible."

After saying all that, Guan picks up the chopsticks and starts eating as if what he had said are not harsh to bear. It may look like he is composed and enjoying the food, but in reality, it feels like he is eating bricks. He could not even tell if the food tastes good or not. He did not chew them properly and gulp them down his throat.

He clearly knew that their conversation would always go south. It would always end with an argument or worse – a fight. Guan knew how little his father treats and thinks of him ever since he was a child.

But he could not help but worry about him when he was told how worse his condition was; he could not reject his crying mother. The thought of his father lying in the hospital with apparatus all over his body haunts him. His family still matters to him after all. Guan thought his heart had hardened through the years. It turns out it was all in his head.

Guan stops eating when the table shook violently. Looking across him, his eyes widen seeing his father sprawled on the table. It feels like the world stopped spinning and he was frozen in his seat. He did not know how to respond before he realized what was really happening – it feels like his body grows numb and cold water is poured all over him. Even words would not come out of his mouth.

"F-…Father!" he immediately runs to Niu Yizhang's side.

His father looks lifeless and his lips are turning blue.

"Father, wake up!"

Guan tried to hoist his father up but he was too heavy for him.

"Assistant Song!" Guan shouts with urgency at the door. He knows his assistant is waiting on the other side of the room.

The assistant enters and is shocked at the scene in front of him.

"Call emergency! Hurry!" Guan shouts once again.

"Master! What happened?"

"I don't know." Guan's voice cracks.

The assistant saw how Guan had paled at the sight of his father collapsing. He wonders if this is even the same hostile and grumpy Second Young Master from before.

"I think it's faster if we drive the car. I'll inform the hospital in advance."

Guan nodded his head and follows the assistant's suggestion.

----

Outside the emergency room, Guan waited anxiously on the bench. It's only been five minutes since Niu Yizhang entered the emergency room but it feels like an eternity.

Guan berates himself for how he acted earlier. He shouldn't have said those words. But he couldn't help it.

It is like he is programmed to answer that way when it comes to his father.

"Second Young Master," Assistant Song sits beside him, "I've informed the Vice President and the Madam. They're on their way as of now."

"Yes, thank you."

The assistant bows his head before heading out to answer another call.

Guan massages his temples and leans his head back as he felt a headache coming. He totally forgot about his mother and brother.

The worst is yet to come.

And he is right.

Guan hears hurried footsteps coming his way with his eyes still remaining close. He waited.

Not long after, the footsteps stop in front of him. He feels a shadow towering over him, and not long after, a pair of hands violently pulls his collar up.

"What did you do this time?!"

Guan slowly opens his eyes and his brother's enraged face came to view. He stares at him dead in the eyes as Guan Qing tightens the grip on his collar.

"Answer me!" Guan Qing shakes him brutally.

There is only a few centimeters height difference between them.

The look in Guan's eyes irritates Guan Qing the most. It feels like he feels no guilt over what happened to their father.

On the side, Assistant Song – who had just arrived – tried to break them free but Guan Qing did not budge and glares at him, making him cower a step back.

Guan still did not open his mouth and just let his brother do as he wishes.

"Not gonna answer?"

Guan Qing lands a punch on Guan's face.

The punch was too strong, and Guan tumbles on the cold tiled floor. It was also the part of his lip where he got punched by Su Bin. The slit is not fully healed. Guan felt the corner of his lip gushing out of blood. Feeling it with the back of his hand, he was not wrong.

The former cut had reopened, getting even bigger.

Guan Qing was going to give him another punch when the doors of the emergency room swung open.