Lawless Gangster

Chapter 39

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By the time Xiao Li called, it was already the morning of the next day.

At that moment, Qi Xiu Yuan had just given the headmaster of the school a phone call to extend his leave from class. It was only after the call ended did he notice that his phone was nearly out of battery life. And, since he rushed to the hospital, it had skipped his mind to bring his battery charger. Just as he was about to ask the nurse to help him look after Han Jia so that he could head out to purchase a universal charger, he receive a call from Xiao Li.

"Xiao Li, my phone is about to die," said Qi Xiu Yuan immediately after he answered the call, "I'll call you back in a bit with the public phone, okay?"

Although they weren't speaking face to face, Qi Xiu Yuan could see that Xiao Li was smiling at those words.

"That's fine, how are you there?"

"Han Jia isn't awake yet. The doctor said there's no serious injuries. He should be awake in a day or two."

"I know. Didn't one of us went over there to see him? He already told me the situation." Xiao said nonchalantly. "I'm asking, how are you doing?"

"Me?" A smile form on Qi Xiu Yuan's lips when he heard those words again. "I'm alright. There's no problem at all looking after Han Ji so don't worry."

Noticing that Xiao Li had gone quiet, Qi Xiu Yuan spoke again. "Xiao Li."

"Yeah?"

At first Qi Xiu Yuan wanted to ask him, 'Why didn't you call me yesterday?' and 'I was really worried about you.' But, the way Xiao Li said 'yeah' sounded so instinctive, as if he had known him for a long time. There was a sense of familiarity in it; intimacy riddling that one word.

Qi Xiu Yuan was unable to say anything else. Perhaps it was the way it sounds or perhaps because Xiao Li had finally called him, and although it was just a simple inquiry of how he was doing, he felt happiness fill his head. So much so, he could feel his own heartbeat throbbing just a bit faster.

"Qi Xiu Yuan?"

Seeing as Qi Xiu Yuan was not speaking, Xiao Li asked a bit puzzled, "Don't tell me his phone is dead?"

"It's not..." said Qi Xiu Yuan. His voice was a bit hoarse before he cleared it, "It's nothing." He could sense Xiao Li smiling again from the other side of the phone.

"Qi Xiu Yuan..." Xiao Li called his name again, "Xiao Yang came to my place."

"Ah. He......are you guys......okay now?" Qi Xiu Yuan asked nervously.

Xiao Li sighs, "Why did talk to him about those things? So meddlesome......"

"I just want to help you. I......hello? Hello?" Qi Xiu Yuan glares down at his cell phone before he anxiously presses the bell at the side of Han Jia's bed for the nurse. All he could think about now was rushing out to call Xiao Li back.

The sound of the door to the room being open slowly infiltrated the room. Qi Xiu Yuan turns around while saying, "I'm sorry for troubling you. Can you help me please watch him for a second? I need to –-"

Xiao Li stood at the doorway with a warm smile touching along the lines of his lips. A sprinkle of sunlight from the window sill reflected on his body made it look like he was sparkling as he greeted Qi Xiu Yuan.

"Okay," he said warmly, "I'm more than willing to."

Seeing Qi Xiu Yuan with a pleasantly surprise expression, Xiao Li couldn't help but to let a soft laughter. He turned around to close the door behind him while saying, "I was just teasing you a moment ago. I'm really grateful towards you. Xiao Yang, he......" his voice suddenly fades. It was as if, the words were pulled out of his throat unwillingly.