The nurse nodded, "Xiao Ling has been with you all along. She just went downstairs to buy you some fruit."
Just as the nurse finished speaking, a girl who looked like a high school student with a ponytail walked in.
Seeing the man sitting on the bed, she was both surprised and delighted, rushing to the bedside, "Dad, youâre awake?"
The man smiled and nodded, reaching out to touch his daughterâs long black hair, "Xiao Ling has lost weight recently..."
This kind of nagging Xiao Ling used to be very impatient with, until Dad got sick and hospitalized, spending far more time unconscious than awake, no longer having the energy to discipline her.
Only after Dad fell ill did Xiao Ling realize that being nagged by her father was actually a type of happiness.
She smiled and nodded, "When Dad gets better, make braised pork knuckles for Xiao Ling, stew old hen soup, and fatten Xiao Ling up again!"
The man just smiled and didnât speak, suddenly asking, "Have you visited your mom recently?"
Xiao Lingâs face dropped, "She has a family and children now, why would I go and cause trouble?"
From the look of her expression, it was apparent her relationship with her biological mother wasnât good.
The man was a bit anxious.
His own parents died early, and he had no siblings; if he were to go, Xiao Ling would surely have to stay with her mom.
He urged, "After all, she is your mom. I see she always misses you. Xiao Ling, you should try not to be willful in the future..."
Xiao Ling blinked and looked at him, "As long as I have Dad, thatâs enough. Dad spoils me, Mom has a family and children, but Dad only has me."
Her words almost brought tears to the manâs eyes.
He forced himself to hold back the bitterness and looked at his daughter, "Xiao Ling, my dear, Dad canât stay with you forever..."
His demeanor was too obvious, and the teenage girl seemed to realize something.
Her eyes immediately reddened, "No! Dad will always be with Xiao Ling, I donât want to find Mom, I only want Dad!"
She clung tightly to the manâs waist, as if this way, he wouldnât leave her.
Gu Shengyin watched this scene with a calm, unperturbed expression; three minutes remained.
The nurse at the side couldnât help but start crying.
Only the man maintained a peaceful demeanor. He gently patted his daughterâs head, his eyes full of deep reluctance, "Xiao Ling, no matter where Dad is, heâll always be watching over you."
The daughter in his arms had already lost her voice from crying, only knowing to hold on to his waist, constantly shaking her head.
As if by doing this, she wouldnât hear what Dad was saying or have to accept that kind of outcome.
The nurse suddenly stepped forward and said, "Mr. Yuan, let me do another check-up for you...â
She knew it was all in vain, but she still wanted to do something.
The man shook his head. He looked at the nurse, "I know my own body, donât bother."
When he said this, his face was very serene, as if what he was about to face wasnât something hard to accept.
A minute and a half remained.
The man started to find it a bit difficult to breathe.
He tried hard to appear as though nothing was wrong, speaking to the daughter in his arms, "Xiao Ling, you need to listen to Dad: In the future, donât be willful, go find Mom, and listen to Momâs words. Also, in the cabinet of your room at home, thereâs something Dad left for you, take good care of it, donât easily let others know..."
His consciousness was already starting to blur.
In the end, he took a last look at his daughter in his arms, and uttered the last words in this world, "...Dad loves you."