Chapter 181 Move Back Together

Lindsey could not help but take the initiative to hold Zayn's hand while she held Mrs. Wendy’s hand with the other. She forced out a smile and said, "Grandpa has pulled through so many times. He even dared to climb Mount Everest, so he wouldn’t just leave us behind. Don't worry. Grandpa will surely be fine." Her words were very optimistic, but her tears were slipping down as she said them. Lindsey could also feel that their two hands were holding her tighter. No matter how minute, there was always a need to be hopeful. The surgery took four hours and the three of them stood like statues before they finally got some news. Even though the results were not great, it was still better than expected. "Old Master Guggenheim had a serious fall that nearly cost his life. Although we did our best, going forward there will still be other complications that can't be avoided. He’ll also require more care." The doctor looked tired, but he still carefully explained the situation. By the end of it, he listed all the dos and don’ts. Zayn did not say anything. Lindsey listened carefully and politely thanked the doctor. Just as the lead surgeon turned to leave, Zayn's voice suddenly sounded. "Thank you." No one expected him to say this. The doctor turned back and looked a little flattered. "Mr. Guggenheim, you’re welcome." Zayn did not speak again and only nodded gently. He did not show any expression, but Lindsey felt heartbroken when she saw him like that. "Zayn..." "Hmm?" Zayn looked at her. Lindsey held his palm and said, "If you want to cry, just let it out." Whether it was from great sorrow after the fright or tears of joy after the dust settled, if crying would make him feel better, then he should cry it out. After she said that, Lindsey reached out and to hug Zayn. Like how Zayn used to comfort her, Lindsey patted his back slowly. "It's alright. Grandpa will be fine," Lindsey said softly with a rare tenderness in her voice. The man's warm breath fell on her shoulders through her shirt with some forbearance. At some point, Mrs. Wendy had already left. Thus, the two of them were the only ones left in the empty corridor holding each other. After a long time, Zayn’s voice had a strong nasal sound as he said, “Thank you.” He wanted to thank her for standing by his side at a time like this so that he would not be alone. Lindsey’s response to him was so faint that it was almost inaudible. "It's okay." The white hospital corridor looked desolate with only the two of them standing there. As the doctor mentioned earlier, after the old man woke up, his already weak legs became limp and he could not roll over on the bed, nor could he speak properly. At the request of the old man, Zayn hired a male caregiver. The doctor said that the old man should stay in the hospital for a longer period for observation, so in the following days, Lindsey went to the hospital to accompany the old man whenever she had time. However, after the old man noticed that he could not speak properly, he became less talkative. He had been revered all his life and had built a billion-dollar family business. Now that he had to suffer such physical and mental torture, it was normal that he could not accept it for a while. Lindsey told him about the interesting things she had seen and heard lately. She also tried to find ways to make the old man feel better. That day, Lindsey was telling the old man a story when Zayn arrived. Zayn usually came by unannounced, but he came at a fixed time every day. Lindsey did not look at the time, but she knew this was not the usual time that Zayn would come over. After Zayn arrived, he first asked the nurse next to him, "How’s the situation today?" "All the vitals are stable." The man nodded gently, then turned to look at the two people at the bed. Zayn's eyes lingered on Lindsey's face for a moment before he looked away unnoticed. He said, "Grandpa, do you want to go for a walk?" The old man waved his hand to indicate no, so Zayn found a place to sit down. He no longer spoke and lowered his head, seemingly thinking about something. The room was unbearably quiet for a while. The old man's eyes hovered over Lindsey and Zayn. Even though his movements were now limited, his brain was still sharp. These days, when Zayn visited him, Lindsey was bound to be absent. Whenever Lindsey came, she would also cleverly avoid Zayn. If the two of them met, they would have very little communication and they acted like strangers. However, Mrs. Wendy said that the two of them looked like they got along that night. They also did not look like they had quarreled, but the old man could not tell exactly what was wrong between them. He laid there for a moment and coughed heavily on purpose. Seeing the two of them looking over, the old man beckoned Zayn and said, "Back...home..." Zayn refused him without thinking. "Not now. You need to stay for observation for a few more days." The old man glared at him with deep eyes. "Go do the discharge." He tried to say every word as clearly as possible, as if he was maintaining his last dignity. Zayn looked at him and the grandfather-grandson pair stared at each other silently for a long time. Finally, Zayn lost the battle and said, "Fine." After saying that, he thought the old man would be happy, but the old man raised his hand and pointed at Zayn and Lindsey as he said intermittently, "You two...move back...together with me..." Lindsey was stunned and subconsciously looked at Zayn. Her gaze met Zayn's. He also looked dumbstruck with some emotions that she could not comprehend. She wanted to refuse, but seeing the old man’s wrinkled, pale, and weak face, she could not bring herself to do so. Zayn was silent for a moment and agreed first. "Okay." After that, the grandfather-grandson pair turned to look at Lindsey. Lindsey was being watched by them and felt a burning sensation. She did not want to go back to the mansion, but she did not want to disappoint Grandpa either. She pursed her lips and rubbed her palms unconsciously. Finally, she made up her mind and said, "Grandpa, you should go home first. It's already late today. I'll pack some things and go back tomorrow." The old man only smiled after hearing her words. Next to him, Zayn’s eyes looked as if two candles were lit in the dark. The light in his eyes shone brightly. Lindsey noticed it and lowered her gaze. The fact that she said this was already a great concession, so naturally, no one dared to say otherwise. Lindsey and Zayn stood outside the ward as they waited to do the discharge procedures together. After that night, the two of them had never spoken to each other again. That was actually a good opportunity for them to reconcile, but Zayn noticed that Lindsey deliberately distanced herself, so Zayn also played along and acted like a stranger. This was clearly what Lindsey wanted, but she felt a little uncomfortable when the two of them were in this stalemate. Throughout this period, apart from that day, the two of them had only met twice.