Chapter 4 : Children''s Hospital

Donald''s expression was priceless.

The driver behind them also braked hard, cursing as they overtook them on the left, not forgetting to flip them off through the window.

Donald, still shaken, slowly pressed the gas pedal, looking at Austin with a mix of shock and confusion. "When did this happen?"

Austin thought for a moment. "Probably after you went abroad."

Donald: "..."

The golden retriever in the back seat, oblivious to everything, enjoyed the breeze, looking quite content.

The wind blew in through the window, making Donald feel disheveled. After a while, he asked in a trembling voice, "So... who''s the mother?"

Austin replied, "I''m not married."

Donald looked even more horrified. "So... it was an accident?"

Austin almost choked on his own saliva, laughing and crying at the same time. "What are you thinking? The kid doesn''t have a mom."

It was indeed a long story. After saying that, Austin realized he was only making things more confusing. After thinking for a while, he added, "It''s complicated..."

Donald looked at him with suspicion, his face alternating between pale and flushed, clearly imagining some dramatic soap opera scenario in his head.

Austin knew he couldn''t help but overthink, but he didn''t explain further. He generally didn''t like talking about this matter, even with close friends. When asked, he would brush it off with a few nonchalant words, as if the child was just a leaf he picked up from the roadside.

Of course, Austin cherished that leaf dearly.

Just one more street and they would reach the children''s hospital. Now out of the commercial area, the streets were gradually empty, with only a few cars speeding by occasionally.

"Go to Gate 3," Austin said.

Donald, lost in thought, responded with a distracted "Hmm," not sure if he even heard it. When it was time to turn, he suddenly blurted out, as if he had been holding it in for a long time, "Bro, are you with some guy?"

Austin looked at him like he had seen a ghost.

Donald paused, then continued with a grim expression, "I remember you never liked getting close to women. I thought you were just being proper... Is the child from a surrogate or adopted?"

Austin realized that Donald might have concocted an entire emotional saga in his head that no one else could understand, completely beyond his comprehension and logic. What on earth inspired this genius to think in that direction, so wildly off the mark?

Who would have thought that after studying in the United States, Donald would come back with such an open mind—his imagination running wild like a runaway horse.

"No, no," Austin felt he had to stop Donald before he started thinking up a sequel, "You''re way off, it''s not that dramatic."

"Then..."

Before he could finish, Donald had already driven to the children''s hospital''s Gate 3. It was the smallest gate, only wide enough for one person, almost abandoned, next to an old newsstand.

"We''re here," Austin put on his sunglasses and hat, holding the white butterfly orchid Donald gave him, and got out of the car. He patted the car roof, "Thanks, it''s late, you should go home and rest."

"Wait!" Donald quickly unbuckled his seatbelt, "I''ll go with you."

"No need... It''s too late, you should go back. I''ll take a cab later."

But before he could finish, Donald had already gotten out of the car, took the flowers from Austin''s hands, threw them back into the car, locked it, and grabbed Austin''s shoulder, leading him inside. "Just let me keep you company."

Austin: "..."

The golden retriever pitifully pressed its face against the car window, watching its owner and the other man walk through the iron gate, shoulder to shoulder. "Awoo..."

Mr. Jones, who Austin had been talking to on the phone, was waiting for them by the emergency exit at the back of the hospital building. He saw Austin, dressed in a restrictive suit, running over, followed by a tall young man.

The white coat reflected the streetlight, making it stand out like a beacon in the night. Christian waved at them, and Austin quickened his pace, wiping the sweat from his neck. He took off his sunglasses and said, "Mr. Jones, thank you... This is Donald, you''ve met before."

Donald extended his hand, "Nice to meet you."

Christian, Austin''s high school classmate, looked scholarly with his glasses. He didn''t shake Donald''s hand but instead handed him a folded lab report with a blank expression. "Bruce''s lab report, nothing major, just a bit of respiratory inflammation... Wearing sunglasses at night, aren''t you afraid of tripping? Ever heard of ''the more you try to hide, the more you expose''?"

Austin glanced at the lab report, which looked like gibberish to him, and frowned, "Where is she?"

Christian replied, "In the infusion room, getting an IV. The nanny is with her. You should go to my office first to complete the paperwork, and I''ll explain her condition to you."

Before turning around, he added, "Take off your hat too."

Austin: "..."

Austin was the type who hated trouble. Taking off his face-covering gear in the empty stairwell made him feel incredibly uneasy, as if the gaze of the security camera in the corner was piercing through him.

He walked with his head down, like a guilty schoolboy following his teacher, afraid that other kids might see him. Fortunately, Christian''s office was close to the stairwell. Austin asked Donald to wait outside while he went in with Christian.

Christian had arranged for the pharmacy to deliver the prescribed medication in advance. After briefly explaining the situation to Austin, he pointed to a small box of medicine on his desk. "The medicine is in there. Take it for three days as per the instructions."

Austin put down his pen and picked up the box, squinting at the tiny print on the label. Christian was very ethical in his prescriptions, always opting for the least amount necessary, knowing that all medicine has side effects, and a child''s body can''t handle too much.

Just as he was about to thank Christian, the latter suddenly said, "You really do care a lot about this kid."

Austin was taken aback.

Christian continued, "You''ve done a good job keeping it a secret, but have you thought about what will happen when the kid grows up?"

Austin forced a smile. "The kid is still young..."

Christian cut him off mercilessly, "They''ll grow up eventually."

Austin felt a reflexive resistance to this, as if old, buried thoughts were being stirred up, muddying the clear waters of his mind.

He tried to argue but found himself at a loss for words.

To be honest, he hadn''t really thought about the future.

"Alright, go see her," Christian finally decided to let him off the hook. "The new movie trailer looks good, but the director''s taste is a bit tacky."

Christian''s abrupt change of topic left Austin unsure whether to thank him or defend Mr. Smith.

So he just smiled politely.

After leaving Christian''s office, Austin noticed Donald was nowhere to be seen. He pulled out his phone, which had a lucky cat charm, and called him. "Did you go back?"

"No," Donald''s voice sounded odd, as if he had sighed. "I''m in the infusion room. I saw your daughter... She looks just like you, like she was carved from the same mold."

Before Austin could figure out what was off about Donald''s tone, Donald added, "So she really is your biological daughter, huh."

Austin: "Yeah."

Donald sighed again on the other end of the line.

Austin frowned, puzzled.