In the ward, two old men were trying to persuade Huo Rou. Outside the ward, Shen Feng suddenly stood up and looked out into the corridor.
"An An, what is Shen Feng looking at?" Ruan Ruan asked crisply.
Shen Feng wouldn't act like this suddenly. An An turned his head and followed Shen Feng's gaze.
Outside the building, a black car was parked by the roadside. The stern-faced old man who got out was someone An An recognized.
"A grandpa," An An replied to Ruan Ruan.
Ruan Ruan had been here for several days and had met Sun Zhiyuan once or twice, but now, looking at him, she hesitated to recognize him. "An An, is that Grandpa Sun?"
"Mhm," An An smiled and ruffled Ruan Ruan's hair. "It really is Grandpa Sun. Ruan Ruan is so smart."
Praised by An An, Ruan Ruan's smile became even brighter.
"But Grandpa Sun looks angry!"
She was puzzled. "His face is so sour!"
An An had also seen Sun Zhiyuan's sour expression. "When Grandpa Sun comes up later, you should say less and hide behind me, then he won't see you!"
Ruan Ruan happily agreed and started playing hide-and-seek with An An.
In a short while, Sun Zhiyuan arrived.
As soon as he stepped into the corridor, Shen Feng let out a wary bark. An An and Ruan Ruan stopped.
Ruan Ruan, as they had agreed, hid behind An An.
"An An, Ruan Ruan?" Sun Zhiyuan walked over with a smile. "Why are you two playing outside alone?"
He looked around and saw the closed ward door. After a moment of thought, he smiled and looked at An An. "Where's Dad?"
An An glanced at the closed door and took a step forward. "Dad and the others are discussing something inside."
"Grandpa, are you going in?" An An tilted his head.
Sun Zhiyuan was taken aback by his words. "Your dad is still here?"
"Yes," An An said, sounding curious. "Grandpa Sun, why wouldn't Dad be here?"
Sun Zhiyuan looked at the sky. "It's nothing. Grandpa thought he would have switched shifts with Grandma by now and gone back."
"If they are discussing something, Grandpa won't go in for now." Sun Zhiyuan could vaguely hear the voices of men and women from inside, and it seemed like there were many people, possibly arguing about something.
He looked at the guard standing at the door and gestured for him not to announce his arrival. He then casually walked towards a stool by the door.
"Grandpa will play with you for a while. I'll go in after Dad and the others finish their discussion."
Seeing him heading for the stool by the door, An An, with Shen Feng, walked up to him.
"Why don't you let Grandpa play with you?" Sun Zhiyuan looked at An An in front of him, then at Ruan Ruan hiding behind him. For a moment, he couldn't understand why Ruan Ruan was starting to fear him.
Before An An could speak, a firm and resonant voice came from inside the ward, "No! Unless I can go too!"
Sun Zhiyuan was very familiar with this voice.
He had worked with the owner of this voice for many years.
Sun Zhiyuan's wrinkled forehead creased further. He couldn't believe it. "Chen Long?"
When Chen Long left back then, he didn't even want to stay in the compound for long. He and a few others had planned to see him off, but before they could even enter, they heard he had already left.
It was at that time that Old Master Qin was also moving out, so they hadn't made the trip in vain and had gone to help a bit.
He hesitated. Although comrades meeting should be enthusiastic and exciting, it was another matter when it came to Chen Long. They didn't see eye to eye.
"An An, who is inside?" Sun Zhiyuan decided to confirm, as he hadn't seen him for so many years and wasn't entirely sure.
An An had also heard Chen Long's voice from inside, and the subsequent conversation followed. An An's eyes darted, and he said loudly, "Great-Grandpa, Dad, Mom, and Grandpa Chen are inside."
As An An's voice faded, so did the conversation from inside.
Sun Zhiyuan, hearing An An's loud voice, thought he was deliberately speaking so loudly. But looking at An An's expectant little face, he shook his head, thinking he was overthinking it.
What kind of ulterior motives could a child of this age have? He probably just wanted to perform well and get praised by adults.
"An An is a good boy," Sun Zhiyuan said with a smile, suppressing his twitching eyebrows. "Grandpa can hear you, you don't need to be so loud next time."
"Got it!" An An stood at attention with an excited expression. "Grandpa Sun!"
Shen Feng had moved away from Sun Zhiyuan's feet and was heading towards the ward door.
Ruan Ruan, behind An An, carefully tugged at his hem. "An An, An An."
She whispered in An An's ear, "Why did Shen Feng go over there?"
An An glanced at Shen Feng, who was already guarding the ward door, and secretly pursed his lips. It seemed Mom had heard his voice.
"Grandpa Sun, Dad and the others seem to have finished talking. Are you going in?" An An blinked at Sun Zhiyuan, his expression earnest.
Sun Zhiyuan was in a dilemma. Hearing An An mention Grandpa Chen, he knew it was indeed Chen Long inside. But now, given An An's previous outburst, it would seem strange if he didn't go in.
"Yes, okay," Sun Zhiyuan said with a smile as he walked over. "Thank you, An An."
An An lowered his head and smiled behind him, his voice filled with excitement. "You're welcome, Grandpa Sun."
Hmph, he had promised Mom he would keep watch outside, so of course he would complete his mission perfectly!
Sun Zhiyuan reached the door, and the ward door was opened from the inside at that very moment.