The Strongest Dandy in the City-Chapter 400 Hope

The hospital director of the military region, Duan Nan, left the intensive care unit, and once again the room fell into silence.

Lying on the hospital bed, Bai Hongfang’s eyelids trembled slightly before he struggled to open them. Once his vision cleared and he could see his surroundings, his thoughts became coherent, and with a weak sigh, he said, "Everyone has to die eventually. I’ve come to terms with that a long time ago. Go help me with the discharge procedures. I can be treated at home just as well. I don’t want to die in a hospital when my time comes."

"Dad, you absolutely cannot be discharged right now. You should stay in the hospital for treatment!" Bai Yanxin, the eldest son, tried to persuade him.

"Dad, big brother is right. Your current health condition is very grim. It’s safest to stay in the hospital for treatment," said Bai Yanping, the second son, with a worried expression that was most likely feigned.

"Yes! Dad, please listen to the three of us and get well in the hospital. Once you’re better, won’t you be able to go anywhere you want?" Bai Yanjun, the third son, was no less skilled in acting than Bai Yanping.

"Nonsense, do you think I’ve gone senile? Do you think I don’t know my own condition? If you three are really my sons, then go and start the discharge process right away. For me now, being treated at home or in the hospital is no different. It’s just a matter of living a few more days or a few less," Elder Bai bellowed with a thick neck. After his outburst, he began gasping for breath, struggling for air as if he might pass away at any moment.

"Grandpa, please don’t get angry! The most important thing for you right now is to recover," Bai Xueling implored upon seeing Bai Hongfang’s frail state.

After calming down for a moment, Elder Bai quieted down and said, "Xueling, Grandpa isn’t angry. I just don’t want to die in a cold hospital, that’s all."

Then, Bai Hongfang turned his gaze to his three sons and said, "You all know my current condition. Can staying in the hospital cure my illness? If it can, I promise I’ll stay here peacefully. But the hospital is out of options for my disease. So, why can’t you let me spend the last leg of my life in peace, leaving this world like an ordinary person?"

"Grandpa, if you’re really set on being discharged, Xueling still hopes you can stay and receive treatment in the hospital," Bai Xueling said with genuine concern.

Elder Bai, with effort, raised his withered palm to wave it off and said, "Enough, I’ve made my decision. Don’t forget that I am still the one in charge of the Bais. Can’t you grant me this last wish of mine in my life?"

After a moment of contemplation, Bai Yanxin finally chose to compromise. As Elder Bai had said, even if he stayed in the hospital, it would not cure his illness, so there really was no difference between staying there and being at home. At that point, all that was needed was to hire a few doctors with excellent medical skills to stay on call at the Bais’ home twenty-four hours a day.

"Dad, I’ll go take care of the discharge procedures right now," Bai Yanxin said decisively as he turned and strode out of the intensive care unit.

Neither Bai Yanping nor Bai Yanjun had any objections to Bai Yanxin’s decision. After all, both of them coveted the position of the second-generation family head of the Bais. Only after Elder Bai passed away could they make their move, and perhaps they even wished for Elder Bai to depart this world sooner.

Elder Bai motioned Bai Xueling to come sit by his bed, "Xueling, I’m afraid I won’t be able to wait until your wedding day. You’re just too stubborn. You need to work on tempering your disposition."

"Grandpa, what are you talking about? You will definitely be there for my wedding. Otherwise, Xueling will never forgive you for the rest of my life. So, you must keep fighting and live on. I’m still waiting for you to help me hold your great-grandchild in the future!" Bai Xueling’s eyes were red, and tears swirled ceaselessly in her eyes.

"Good, good, good, I must live to see you get married, Xueling, and I must help you hold your great-grandchild," Elder Bai’s gaunt face revealed a smile. However, from the look in his eyes, one could discern a flash of desolation. Who in this world isn’t afraid of dying? Elder Bai was afraid too, but since the situation couldn’t be changed, he chose to leave the world with equanimity, not leaving too much sorrow for the living.

...

After Bai Yanxin had completed the discharge procedures, the Bais brought Elder Bai back to their home in Capital City, and Elder Bai was taken to his room to rest. The Bais would arrange for someone to look after Elder Bai around the clock, of course.

In the main hall of the Bais’ residence, Bai Yanping addressed Bai Yanxin, "Big brother, with father seriously ill and bedridden, we still need to handle the family affairs. We must first select a new Family Head to take care of the day-to-day matters of the Bais."

"Big brother, I think the second brother makes a lot of sense. Dad definitely wouldn’t want to see the Bais in disarray all the time, so let’s settle this matter sooner rather than later!" Bai Yanjun immediately seconded the suggestion, indicating that he and Bai Yanping had reached a certain understanding in private. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

"Big brother, you must be exhausted from taking care of dad these past few days, right? Why don’t you rest at home for a while, and let Yanjun and me handle the Bais’ affairs. What do you think?" Bai Yanping asked Bai Yanxin, looking at him.

Bai Yanxin’s eyes were cold as he stared at his two younger brothers and said, "Are you two really so eager to take control of the Bais? Can’t you wait a bit longer? Do you know that if dad truly passes away, our family’s influence in Capital City will crumble, and even if you assume the position of the Bais’ Family Head, what would be the point then?"

"As the eldest brother, I have never wanted to vie with you two for anything, and even the position of the second-generation Family Head of the Bais was forcefully arranged by dad himself. Since you two want to control the Bais, then, by all means, go ahead and do it thoroughly! These days, all I want to do is to spend quality time with dad." Disappointed with his two younger brothers, Bai Yanxin rose from the sofa in the main hall and headed towards Elder Bai’s room on the second floor.

Bai Xueling hurriedly followed Bai Yanxin’s footsteps, equally dissatisfied with her two uncles.

After Bai Yanxin and Bai Xueling had left, Bai Yanping, feeling annoyed, said, "I refuse to believe that our big brother doesn’t want to sit in the position of the Bais’ Family Head. What right does he have to lecture us like this? It’s utterly ridiculous."

"Second brother, now the Bais are practically in our hands. We need to take advantage of these days to quickly make the Bais ours. Even if our big brother wants to fight us later on, he’ll ultimately be defeated miserably," Bai Yanjun said with a laugh.

The two men felt no shame at all from Bai Yanxin’s recent remarks.

...

In Elder Bai’s room on the second floor of the Bais’ residence, the caregiving staff voluntarily exited the room after Bai Yanxin and Bai Xueling entered.

Elder Bai, leaning against the bed, looked at Bai Yanxin and asked, "Yanxin, have your two brothers begun to make their moves? You don’t have to hide it from me. They are also my sons; how could I not guess what’s on their minds? They are too eager for power, which is a good thing, but they are too impetuous. If the Bais fall into their hands, it will only be a matter of time before our family is completely ruined."

"So, Yanxin, you must promise me that only you can take up the position of the Bais’ Family Head. Only then can I leave this world with peace of mind," Elder Bai said with a furrowed brow and a solemn expression.

Standing by her side, Bai Xueling felt an immense pain in her heart, as if her grandfather was dictating his last will, and tears could not help but stream down her cheeks. In that moment, though, the image of Ye Chenfeng flashed through her mind. She had personally witnessed Ye Chenfeng performing acupuncture to save someone at the charity event in Tianhai. According to what she had learned from Zhao Wanting, Zhao Qihua, Zhao Wanting’s father, had been in a comatose state for several months, and many authoritative doctors had been helpless, yet it was Ye Chenfeng who had awakened him. What did this mean? Perhaps... (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to cast your recommendation and monthly votes at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)