Disobedience To Control chapter 56
Are You Still Embarrassed?
Li Ke hadn’t taken a long vacation for many years. This time, Song Siheng approved him for a month of paid leave.
The secretary position was vacant again, and Song Siheng promoted a senior executive from the Human Resources Department to be his temporary secretary to handle some daily affairs. However, Li Ke’s seat remained empty, and the temporary secretary only handled some miscellaneous matters online.
Spring came to Jiangcheng vigorously. After the end of rainy days, the temperature kept rising. Just entering April, the office buildings had to turn on the air conditioning.
Two weeks ago, Yang Xiaobei went to the hospital to have his stitches removed, leaving a long brown scar on his chest.
In the end, Song Siheng still sent him to that rehabilitation center. This rehabilitation center was a project collaborated with an overseas research institute, with a complete solution for athletes’ heart problems rehabilitation.
He didn’t explain to Yang Xiaobei that this institution was booked for him by Song Qin before. Letting Yang Xiaobei focus on rehabilitation without distraction was more important than many other things.
On the first day at the rehabilitation center, the doctor conducted a comprehensive monitoring for Yang Xiaobei. His postoperative physical function recovery was relatively good, and his basic indicators were mostly within the normal range. The respiratory test also passed smoothly.
The training hall at the rehabilitation center looked somewhat similar to a gym, with stationary bicycles, treadmills, parallel bars, and various resistance training equipment.
However, unlike a gym, rehabilitation here required specific electrocardiographic monitoring equipment. Under the supervision of doctors, each movement’s impact on the heart and lungs was tested.
Song Siheng didn’t interfere much with his training, just occasionally visiting the rehabilitation center to watch him train, mostly sitting in the adjacent rest area.
When the doctor wasn’t around, Yang Xiaobei would secretly add some strength training.
But he still couldn’t compare to his pre-surgery self; building muscle was much more difficult now. There was still a long way to go before he could return to the swimming pool.
Being young helped; apart from the scar on his chest, Yang Xiaobei looked normal in daily life. When the weather got hot, he only wore a sleeveless sports shirt and shorts in the training hall. There were many people coming and going in the rehabilitation center, both men and women. Song Siheng often saw people asking Yang Xiaobei for his WeChat.
Yang Xiaobei would chat with them, grinning widely, but whether he actually gave out his WeChat ID, Song Siheng didn’t know. Deciding not to watch anymore, Song Siheng believed out of sight, out of mind.
Song Siheng was somewhat interested in the rehabilitation center’s equipment. When the head of the center saw him, he politely entertained him.
“Do you have the possibility of implementing home monitoring with this set of rehabilitation equipment?” Song Siheng asked.
“There is currently no such development plan domestically. The main difficulty lies in integrating with mobile devices. Our equipment is expensive and takes up a lot of space, making it unsuitable for home installation.”
“Ah,” Song Siheng nodded. “Have patients or their families consulted you about this?”
“Consultations are quite common, after all, not everyone can afford to come here for rehabilitation every day. The journey is also far, and most patients have underlying conditions, so commuting every day is inconvenient.” Seeing that he seemed knowledgeable, the head of the center didn’t hesitate to chat with him. “Currently, domestic rehabilitation is only in the first or second phase. Some top rehabilitation centers internationally have entered the third phase, which is what you mentioned as home monitoring. They will collaborate with some smart wearable device companies to produce a series of portable monitoring devices tailored for patients. For example, watches, wristbands, and head-mounted detectors with electrocardiographic monitoring, combined with the patient’s daily exercise curve, to monitor the patient’s rehabilitation progress.”
Song Siheng raised his eyebrows. “Do you have a business card?”
The person opposite him hesitated for a moment, then quickly pulled out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Song Siheng. “Yes, do you have any needs?”
Song Siheng picked up the business card and glanced at it, then took out one of his own business cards. “This is mine, Song Siheng. Perhaps we can collaborate in the future.”
Song Siheng showed a social smile to the opposite party.
The head of the center saw his business card, and his pupils dilated for a moment, but before he could speak, Yang Xiaobei had finished training.
“Ready to go?!” Yang Xiaobei’s voice now sounded full of vitality.
“Let’s go.” Song Siheng nodded towards the head of the center as a sign.
………………….
Yang Xiaobei finally resigned from his job at the convenience store.
Not because of anything else, but because the doctors at the rehabilitation center advised him that if he wanted to restore his heart and lung function as soon as possible, he must rest and not work night shifts anymore.
Yang Xiaobei felt a bit sorry for his former colleagues and insisted on treating them to a meal.
“Are you going to their gathering tonight?” Song Siheng glanced at the time after getting in the car; it was already past five in the afternoon.
“Yeah, it’s at a restaurant near the convenience store. I’ll take a taxi there.”
“You’re sitting in my car, yet you’re still talking about taking a taxi?” Song Siheng was immune to his playful banter, asking him without much patience, “Send me the address.”
Yang Xiaobei grinned and then sent a string of addresses via WeChat.
Song Siheng glanced at the address and asked, “A bar? You can’t drink alcohol.”
“I know, I’ll just have an orange juice.” Yang Xiaobei nodded vigorously. “Would you like to join us for dinner? It’s on me.”
“I’m afraid you can’t afford it, I’ll wait outside for you.” Song Siheng refused his proposal, and of course, there was more than one reason.
Primarily, the two of them didn’t have any relationship that could be put on the table right now. As an adult man of ten years older, it would be awkward for him to introduce himself to part-time students. “Hello, I’m Yang Xiaobei’s former sugar daddy.”
How awkward would that be?
After driving for half an hour, they finally reached their destination. Song Siheng found a ground-level parking lot and parked the car.
After getting out of the car, Yang Xiaobei glanced at the time and knocked on the driver’s seat window. “I’ll definitely be out by eight.”
Song Siheng nodded at him and then watched him walk away.
Song Siheng didn’t sit idle in the car either; he opened his email and finished reading the documents sent by the temporary secretary during the day, then replied to some feedback suggestions. After that, he drove to a nearby gas station to refuel the car.
When he came back after finishing everything, it was almost half past eight.
On a spring night, the temperature was no longer low. He leaned against the roadside, watching the passing traffic, and glanced at his phone; there were no new work messages.
But he waited like this until half past eight, and still no one came out of the door.
Song Siheng frowned and opened WeChat to send Yang Xiaobei a message: “If you don’t come out soon, I’m leaving.”
Another five minutes passed, and there was still no response from the other side.
With patience, Song Siheng sent another message: “Where are you?”
Still no reply.
Seeing that it was almost nine o’clock, and still not seeing that familiar figure at the door, Song Siheng hesitated for a moment, then slammed the car door shut and strode across the street, pushing open the door of the bar and walking in.
However, as soon as he entered, he was startled by the noisy noise inside.
Isn’t this supposed to be a quiet bar? Why is it so noisy?
He took two more steps inside and found that there was a commotion in one of the private rooms. Two rows of people were entangled, even throwing punches at each other. The staff at the back couldn’t even get there in time to break it up.
Song Siheng pushed through the crowd to take a look and saw who was leading the fray if not Yang Xiaobei?
This guy really knows how to stir up trouble wherever he goes.
Before he could react, he saw a big brawny man from the opposite side rushing towards Yang Xiaobei with a beer bottle in his hand.
The beer bottle was about to smash onto Yang Xiaobei’s head, and Song Siheng’s anger surged. He elbowed the man’s shoulder with force.
“Damn it.” The big brawny man winced in pain, loosening his grip, and the beer bottle fell to the floor with a crash, shattering into pieces of glass.
“Hey, why the fuck are you interfering for?!” The man looked up and cursed at Song Siheng.
Song Siheng immediately grabbed the man tightly with his arm. “Watch your mouth.”
On the side, Yang Xiaobei widened his eyes, not daring to even breathe.
The big brawny man, originally intending to continue fighting, was pressed down by Song Siheng, who exerted even more force. With a loud crack from his joints, the big brawny man was immobilized and immediately surrendered.
“Sir, sir, let’s talk it out.”
Song Siheng pushed the man to the clean ground on the side and patted his arm with his shoe sole. “Get lost.”
The man immediately got up and, along with his group, ran away.
The staff in the bar were also stunned. Before they could even dial the police hotline with the phone in their hands, the chaotic situation had already dispersed.
Five minutes later, amidst inexplicable applause, Song Siheng dragged Yang Xiaobei out of the bar.
“Could you please stop causing trouble?!” Song Siheng was annoyed. “Do you have any idea about your current situation? Do you think you’re Schwarzenegger, able to take a beating like that?!”
Yang Xiaobei scratched his head. “Um, it’s just that…”
“What? I saw it with my own eyes; someone almost cracked your skull open with a beer bottle. Aren’t you afraid of ending up in the ICU again?!”
Yang Xiaobei exclaimed, “Hey, it’s just that that guy was being handsy with one of our female colleagues, and I couldn’t just stand by…”
Song Siheng finally looked at him, remained silent for a few seconds, until he calmed his breath, then spoke, “Next time, call the police if there’s trouble, don’t be a hero.”
Yang Xiaobei immediately seized the opportunity to counter, “Hey, you’re blaming me now? Who was the one who flew into a rage and went to throw punches? Aren’t you afraid of causing someone’s death…”
“I am who I am, and you are you!” Song Siheng ignored him and turned to walk towards the parking lot across the street.
“But you’re quite good at fighting, aren’t you? Can you usually resist the urge to punch me?”
Song Siheng reached the car and turned to look at him. “It’s been quite hard.”
Instead of immediately getting into the driver’s seat, Song Siheng took out a small box from the armrest compartment and asked, “Can I smoke?”
Feeling inexplicably irritable, he hadn’t touched a cigarette in months. This sudden mood made him want one.
“Go ahead.” Yang Xiaobei nodded.
As Song Siheng lit up the cigarette, his fingers accidentally grazed the broken bottle on the ground, causing a thin, long cut on the back of his hand. It wasn’t deep, but a drop of blood oozed out.
Yang Xiaobei finally noticed his wound. “Let me go to the pharmacy across the street to buy some iodine and adhesive bandages for you.”
“No need.” Song Siheng took out a tissue from the car and wiped away the blood. “By the time you come back, it’ll be healed.”
The two stood side by side under the street lamp, smoke wisps curling from Song Siheng’s lips.
“Keep your distance from me.” Song Siheng pushed Yang Xiaobei away.
Thinking he was still angry, Yang Xiaobei leaned over and asked with wide eyes, “What’s wrong?”
Song Siheng shook his head but kicked him, “Second-hand smoke is bad for your lungs!”
Yang Xiaobei didn’t move away, so Song Siheng had to crush the cigarette butt on the nearby trash can and dispose of it.
He turned to look at Yang Xiaobei again. “By the way, when are you going for your follow-up check-up?”
After settling Song Qin’s affairs, Fu Xuehua rested at home for two weeks. Once her condition stabilized, she returned to work. Last week, she called Song Siheng, saying that Yang Xiaobei hadn’t come back for a follow-up examination after being discharged from the hospital. It would be best for him to go to the hospital for a complete check-up.
Yang Xiaobei hesitated for a moment before finally admitting, “I haven’t decided when to go for the check-up yet.”
“Why do you need to think about it? You’re on extended leave now, not attending classes or training. You can go anytime.”
Yang Xiaobei showed a hint of embarrassment. “Well, it’s a bit awkward.”
Song Siheng was puzzled. “You’re still embarrassed?”
Yang Xiaobei took a deep breath. “There’s something I haven’t told you.”
“What is it?”
“Well…it’s a bit embarrassing to bring it up… When I came out of surgery that day, the intern next to me told me that when I was still under anesthesia, I kept pulling on Doctor Fu’s sleeve and talking nonsense.”
“What did you say?”
“I said, ‘Jie, I don’t want to die, save me.'”
“… ” Song Siheng was speechless.
“So, you see! Why didn’t you tell me earlier that she’s your mom! If it were a stranger doctor, I could have let it go, but now, how do I face her?!”
Song Siheng sighed. “What else did you say that day?”
Yang Xiaobei squinted, pondering for a few seconds. “Nothing much. She probably doesn’t know I’m hitting on you.”