“BABYSITTER” HUH?

"How is my Father?"

Guan Qing approaches Niu Yizhang's physician and forgets about Guan for a minute.

The doctor removes his surgical mask on his face and sighs in relief.

"Thankfully, it was not serious this time. We checked the Chairman's heart and saw minor problems that are not life-threatening. He is safe for now."

He adds, "You should avoid getting him agitated and giving him too much stress. We warned you about what will happen if he goes into surgery again. His body won't take it anymore. This should not happen again if you want to be with him longer. He'll be out in a minute to transfer him to the room."

"Thank you, doctor," Guan Qing sighs but not with relief.

"No worries, Vice President."

Guan leans back on the wall and thanks the gods for saving his father. He even laughs to himself. He never thought there will come a time when he would ask the gods for mercy.

"Come with me."

He immediately pursed his lips when he heard his brother's commanding tone, following after him to the fire exit.

Upon arriving, Guan Qing instantly fishes a pack of cigarettes from his breast pocket and lights a stick. Guan is quite amused at the sight of his brother smoking.

This is the first time he sees him smoke.

"Now speak."

Really, the way he speaks is imposing, making one submit to them – just like their father.

Guan lights a cigarette for himself. "You know what happens when Father and I are in the same room. You've seen it yourself."

Guan Qing is scowling at him while watching him talk. Thanks to that, now, he is pressured to spill everything that has transpired earlier.

Is it an inherited trait? Su Bin also nagged him about that one time they had an argument.

"You are fully aware of Father's condition, right?"

"I am."

"Tsk!" Guan Qing crossly throws the cigarette butt on the floor however, he suddenly realized he should not be doing that. In the end, he picks it up and throws it in the bin nearby.

Guan saw his every move and laughs to himself.

Going back, Guan Qing starts lighting another stick. "Then, why did that happen? Why did Father collapse, huh? You better give me one good believable explanation right now."

"You think I wanted this to happen?"

"Did I say that you do?" Guan Qing looks at his brother incredulously – yes, he is not convinced with his answer. Although it is wrong to doubt him, due to what had happened, he could not help it. "And why the hell do you hate Father?"

Guan Qing extinguished the unfinished cigarette and tosses it in the bin. Putting his hands in his pockets.

Guan raises his brows at his brother's question. Amused, he asks back, "Why do you hate me, Big Brother?"

Guan Qing's eyes falter after hearing the question, breaking the austere image he had a while ago.

Instead of replying, he walks past Guan, before turning the hilt, he says, "You better explain to Mother what had happened."

Guan is left there standing, in the dim stairwell finishing his cigarette, thinking how their family had come to this. Maybe, it's because of him.

Sighing out the smoke, he crumples the cigarette in his hand – not minding the burning sensation on his skin.

----

Walking back to his father's room, he saw a woman outside sitting on the bench. It feels like she is waiting for someone while playing with her phone and glancing at the door from time to time. Approaching her, Guan already recognized her and knew why she was there.

"I didn't know that babysitting is part of the job description of an Editor," he says as he sits right next to her.

There are four seats in total and the woman is sitting on the edge.

Liu Yang turns to the unfamiliar voice of a man sitting next to her. "Excuse me?"

Did he just say babysitting? And how did he know she is an editor? Feeling crept out, she is planning to move to the next seat but realized she is sitting on the edge. Feeling cornered, Liu Yang raised to her feet and settled on standing by the - away from the man.

Guan chuckles at her reaction. That was cute, he thought. "Aren't you annoyed with that brat? Dragging you all the way here when it's not even part of your job?"

Liu Yang stops scrolling through her phone. Annoyed, she scoffs and fiercely glares at him. Pushing her glasses, she utters, "Look, Sir, I don't know who you are so, I am not obliged to answer your questions."

"You're right," Guan says while shrugging. He stops teasing her and reclines his back on the seat, keeping quiet.

"Aren't you going to take a seat?" he offers, tapping the seat she just emptied but she ignores him. She remains impassive and apathetic - not batting an eye at him.

The silence between them somewhat calms Guan. He stares at the door in front of him and sighs, he is still not ready to face his father or anyone after what had happened. Of course, he never intended that to happen. He just could not help but antagonize his father every time they meet; Niu Yizhang did the same to him as well.

"You don't remember me, do you?"

Guan bit his tongue after blurting out the question. His mind was occupied with other things but his mouth blurted something he shouldn't say. Was he this thoughtless before?

"Pardon?"

Liu Yang is baffled by what he had asked – if that was even intended for her.

"Oh?"

Guan turns to her and is surprised as their eyes meet. This time, even at a safe distance, he could clearly see her face, unlike at the time in the bookstore. They were separated by the counter and she kept on avoiding his eyes.

So, she has this tiny and angelic face but, through those glasses, her eyes tell different. It's as if they are telling him to back off.

Liu Yang stares down at this handsome man sitting on the bench. Yes, she admits that he is handsome but, where had she seen him before? Is he an actor or model to have this familiarity with her?

"Don't tell me…you!" the man from the bookstore? It was him? She remembers now! He is also that man whom Amy calls Brother! And also, the President's brother. It is him!

"So, you remembered," Guan grins, noticing how her expression changed from impassive to shock. "It's nice to meet you, again."

Liu Yang looks at the hand held in front of her then back to his face in confusion. About this man's identity? If he is the President's brother, why is he managing the bookstore and not in the headquarters?

She is ready to accept his hand when…

The door to the private room opens – out came Amy in a glaring red dress, witnessing the scene between the two staring at each other. She narrows her eyes and approaches them with her stilettos clicking every time it kisses the floor.

"What are you two doing?" she puts her hands on her hips with her face forward – between the two.

It feels like a thread has been broken as they both retract their hand and intense stare at each other.

Guan glares at Amy at the missed opportunity. He immediately withdraws his hand and hides it in his pocket while clearing his throat.

Amy grimaces and rolls his eyes at him. Not today Brother, she thought.

"Sister Yang, did you wait long?" Amy snakes her hand around Liu Yang's arm, leaning her head on her shoulder.

"No, it's fine. I didn't." Liu Yang tries to smile. Her eyes can't focus on Amy because if she did, she would catch a glimpse of the man sitting down nearby.

"Okay. And you!" Her sweet smile turns into a pout, looking down at Guan. "Uncle is already awake and he is looking for you."

Guan's face darkened as Amy kept on eyeing him nonstop. "What? Say it."

"You!" Amy leans closer, out of Liu Yang's earshot, "Stay away from Sister Yang. She is an innocent person. I know you!"

"I don't need your lecture, brat," Guan simply says, arrogantly smiling. He braced himself before pushing the door open to enter the room.

Liu Yang watches as his back fades in the view. What a weird and mysterious man, she thought.

"Sister Yang, let's go."

She returns to her senses when Amy tugs her arms.

"Yeah."

"Oh, you're leaving?" Su Bin, who just arrived, asks them with a bright smile on his lips. He pats Amy's head as a greeting, saying, "You did a great job."

"Huh?" Amy skeptically looks at him then back at Liu Yang. "What did I do?"

Not answering her and still brimming with a smile, he continues to pat her head.

Amy shrugs it off and continues on their way with no idea what he was talking about.