The morning sun was now fully peeking over the mountains, painting the campsite in warm golden light. Yichen couldn't stop staring at Zhiyuan, who was still half-asleep, his hair sticking up in seven different directions.
"You look like a baby bird," Yichen said, grinning.
Zhiyuan squinted at him. "It's too early for your nonsense."
"It's never too early." Yichen stood and walked over, wrapping his arms around Zhiyuan's sleepy form. "You're cute when you're grumpy."
"I'm always cute."
"Wow, someone's confident this morning."
Zhiyuan mumbled something unintelligible into Yichen's chest. Yichen just held him tighter, swaying slightly, kissing the top of his messy head.
Guo Lian watched them from the stove, a small, wistful smile on his face. He turned back to the boiling water, giving them privacy.
The tent behind them rustled. Xiao Xue emerged like a tornado, hair even messier than Zhiyuan's, eyes barely open.
"Coffee," she croaked, stumbling toward them. "Need coffee. Now."
Miss Zhang followed at a more dignified pace, looking surprisingly put-together. "She's been like this since we woke up. Help."
Yichen pointed to Guo Lian. "Coffee master over there."
Xiao Xue shuffled toward Guo Lian, holding out her mug like a beggar. "Please."
Guo Lian, startled by her intensity, quickly poured her some coffee. "Here."
She grabbed it and took a long sip. "Ahhhhh. Life returns."
Miss Zhang accepted her coffee more gracefully. "Thank you, Guo Lian."
He nodded, a little overwhelmed by the morning chaos.
Another tent unzipped. Dr. Shen emerged, looking well-rested but a little tense. His eyes found Guo Lian immediately, then darted away.
"Morning, everyone," he said quietly.
"Morning, Uncle Shen!" Xiao Xue chirped, already revived by caffeine. "Sleep well?"
Dr. Shen hesitated. "Fine. You?"
"Like a baby! Miss Zhang snores though."
"I do NOT snore."
"You totally do. It's cute."
Miss Zhang's face went red. Xiao Xue just grinned.
Zhenlong's tent finally opened. He stepped out, looking grumpier than anyone.
"Who's making all that noise at—" he checked his watch, "—seven in the morning?"
"Seven is not early, old man," Xiao Xue said boldly.
Zhenlong's eye twitched. "I'm not old."
"You just called yourself old man yesterday."
"I was being dramatic."
Dr. Shen snorted. "Dramatic is your default setting."
Zhenlong glared, but there was no heat in it. "Make yourself useful, Doctor. Start breakfast."
"I'm not your servant."
"You're the only one who can cook without burning things."
Dr. Shen sighed but walked toward the supplies. Guo Lian immediately stood, moving to help him.
"I'll assist," Guo Lian said quietly.
Dr. Shen glanced at him, something soft flickering in his eyes. "Okay. Thanks."
They worked side by side, chopping vegetables and preparing eggs. Neither spoke much, but the silence was comfortable. Their hands brushed once when reaching for the same knife. Both paused. Neither pulled away immediately.
Yichen noticed, nudging Zhiyuan. "Look."
Zhiyuan watched them, a small smile forming. "They're cute."
Xiao Xue, now on her second cup of coffee, bounded over to the cooking station. "What's for breakfast? I'm starving! Can I help? I'm a great helper!"
The last time Xiao Xue "helped" cooking, she nearly set a kitchen on fire. Everyone knew this.
"No," said five voices simultaneously.
Xiao Xue pouted. "You guys are mean."
"We're practical," Miss Zhang corrected, pulling her away. "Sit. Drink coffee. Be pretty."
Xiao Xue perked up. "You think I'm pretty?"
"Don't push it."
By the fire, Zhenlong settled into his chair, watching the chaos with something that almost looked like contentment. Zhiyuan sat nearby, Yichen perched on the arm of his chair, leaning against him.
"Not bad," Zhenlong said quietly.
Zhiyuan looked at him. "What?"
"This." Zhenlong gestured vaguely at everything. "Family. Chaos. Annoying people cooking breakfast."
Zhiyuan smiled. "Yeah. Not bad at all."
Yichen kissed his temple. "Best camping trip ever."
Near the stove, Dr. Shen and Guo Lian worked in sync. Guo Lian handed him ingredients before he asked. Dr. Shen smiled each time, small and private.
"Thank you," Dr. Shen murmured.
"For what?"
"For being here.."
Guo Lian looked at him, steady and warm. "Always"
Their eyes held for a moment longer than necessary. Then Dr. Shen turned back to the eggs, but he was smiling. Really smiling.
The morning continued, full of laughter and teasing and the smell of good food. Around the campfire, this strange family ate together, argued about nothing, and slowly, piece by piece, became something real.
And in the middle of it all, two men found each other's hands under the table, held on tight, and hoped.
Everyone was laughing at something Xiao Xue said probably something ridiculous when Zhenlong suddenly felt the world tilt.
He blinked, trying to focus. The voices around him became distant, muffled. His vision blurred at the edges.
Not now, he thought. Not in front of everyone.
He slowly pushed himself up from his chair, hoping no one would notice. Just needed to get to his tent. Lie down for a bit. It would pass.
"Zhenlong?" Dr. Shen's voice cut through the fog. "Where are you going?"
"Just... need a minute," Zhenlong mumbled, his words slurring.
He took two steps.
Then his legs gave out.
"ZHENGLONG!"
The world became chaos.
Zhiyuan was the first to reach him, dropping to his knees beside his father's crumpled form. His face was white, his hands shaking as they hovered over Zhenlong's still body.
"Dad? Dad!" Zhiyuan's voice cracked. "Wake up! Someone call for help!"
Yichen was there in an instant, checking for pulse, for breathing. "He's breathing. Pulse is weak but there."
Xiao Xue stood frozen, hands over her mouth, tears already forming. Miss Zhang wrapped an arm around her, her own face pale.
Zhiyuan grabbed Zhenlong's hand, holding it tightly. His voice was small, terrified. "Dad, please. Wake up. Please."
Zhenlong's eyes fluttered. A weak groan escaped his lips.
"Stay with us," Dr. Shen commanded, patting his cheek gently. "Zhenlong, open your eyes. Look at me."
Slowly, painfully, Zhenlong's eyes cracked open. He looked confused, disoriented.
"Wha... happened?" he rasped.
"You fainted, you idiot," Dr. Shen said, but his voice was thick with relief. "Don't you dare scare us like that again."
Zhenlong tried to sit up, but Dr. Shen pushed him back down.
"Don't move. You're staying right there until I figure out what's wrong."
"I'm fine," Zhenlong protested weakly.
"You passed out in front of everyone. You're not fine."
Zhiyuan squeezed his father's hand, tears streaming down his face. "Don't do that again. Don't ever do that again."
Zhenlong looked at his son, really looked at him. The fear in Zhiyuan's eyes was a knife to his heart.
"I'm sorry," Zhenlong whispered. "Didn't mean to worry you."
Yichen knelt beside Zhiyuan, a steadying hand on his back. "We need to get him to a hospital for proper checkup."
"Not hospital," Zhenlong mumbled.
"Yes, hospital," everyone else said in unison.
Guo Lian returned with the medical kit. Dr. Shen pulled out a blood pressure cuff, wrapping it around Zhenlong's arm.
"Your pressure is dangerously low," Dr. Shen muttered, watching the reading. "Have you been taking your medication?"
Silence.
"Zhenlong. Have you been taking your medication?"
More silence.
"You forgot, didn't you?" Dr. Shen's voice was sharp. "You've been so busy playing family man that you forgot to take care of yourself."
"I've been busy."
"You've been stupid."
Zhenlong looked around at all of them his son, his son's boyfriend, his oldest friend, the chaotic girl, her patient girlfriend, and the former enemy who was now part of their strange family.
All of them terrified. All of them caring.
"Okay," he said quietly. "Hospital."
Relief washed over everyone's faces.
Dr. Shen stood, already planning. "Guo Lian, help me get him to the car. Yichen, you drive. Zhiyuan, Xiao Xue, Miss Zhang, start packing camp. We're leaving."
Everyone moved, suddenly efficient, suddenly united.
As they lifted Zhenlong carefully, he caught Zhiyuan's eye. "I'm sorry," he said again.
Zhiyuan shook his head, walking beside him, never letting go of his hand. "Just don't do it again. We have too much left to do. Too much time to make up for."
Zhenlong nodded weakly. "Deal."
They loaded him into the car, Dr. Shen climbing in back with him, already monitoring his vitals. Yichen got behind the wheel, engine roaring to life.
Zhiyuan leaned in through the window, kissing his father's forehead. "I'll follow with the others. You go ahead. Stay awake, okay?"
"I'll keep him conscious," Dr. Shen promised.
As the car sped away, kicking up dust, Zhiyuan turned back to the campsite. Xiao Xue and Miss Zhang were already tearing down tents with frantic energy. Guo Lian was loading the last of the supplies.
The camping trip was over.
But as Zhiyuan watched the car disappear, he knew this wasn't an ending. It was just another beginning. Another challenge for their strange, wonderful family to face together.
And they would face it. Together.
After packing up the campsite quickly, everyone piled into the cars and drove straight to the hospital. The drive was quiet, everyone lost in their own worried thoughts.
When they finally arrived, Yichen was already sitting in the waiting area. He stood up as soon as he saw them.
Zhiyuan rushed over. "What did the doctor say? Is he okay?"
Yichen put a hand on his shoulder. "Relax, bao bei. It's nothing too serious. He had a brief episode of fainting. His heart rhythm shows some irregularity, but the doctor said it's nothing life-threatening right now."
Zhiyuan let out a shaky breath. "Thank god."
"They want to monitor him overnight. He's on IV fluids and they're running some blood tests, just to be safe." Yichen squeezed his shoulder. "Most likely it's a minor arrhythmia, but sometimes these things can escalate, so observation is standard."
"Can I go inside?" Zhiyuan asked.
Yichen nodded. "Of course. He's awake. Being grumpy."
Zhiyuan smiled weakly. The others stayed behind in the waiting area, letting Zhiyuan go first with Yichen.
Xiao Xue called out, "Tell him we're all here! And that he's not allowed to scare us ever again!"
Miss Zhang pulled her back down. "Give them space."
Inside the room, Zhenlong was lying on the hospital bed, an IV line in his arm. He looked uncomfortable and annoyed, like the bed itself had personally offended him.
The moment he saw Zhiyuan, he started complaining.
"Why do I have to stay overnight?" Zhenlong grumbled. "This is ridiculous. I feel fine. I want to go back home. These beds are terrible. The food is worse. And the nurses keep checking on me every minute how am I supposed to sleep?"
Zhiyuan walked slowly to the chair beside the bed. He sat down, his face still carrying the weight of fear from earlier.
Yichen stood behind him, a quiet support.
Zhenlong saw the sadness in his son's eyes and his complaints faded. He reached out, taking Zhiyuan's hand.
"Hey," Zhenlong said softly. "I'm okay. Everyone will be fine. Stop looking so worried."
Zhiyuan squeezed his father's hand, forcing a small smile. "Just... get well soon, okay? We have a big list to complete. We were supposed to go fishing. And hiking. And all those other things we talked about."
Zhenlong's expression softened. He patted Zhiyuan's hand. "I'm all right. These doctors are idiots. They know nothing. Probably just wanted a free patient to practice on."
Zhiyuan sighed, but there was a hint of a real smile now. "Just listen to them for one night. One night. Then you can complain about doctors for the rest of your life."
"Fine." Zhenlong said it like he was making a great sacrifice. "One night. But only because you asked nicely."
Yichen chuckled from behind. "That's the most cooperative I've ever seen him."
"Don't push it, boy," Zhenlong warned, but there was no heat in it.
Zhiyuan leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his father's forehead. "Rest now. We'll be right outside."
Zhenlong nodded, his eyes already growing heavy. The medicine was making him drowsy.
Yichen stepped out of the room and quietly closed the door behind him. The others looked up expectantly.
"He's okay," Yichen assured them. "Just tired and grumpy. I'll stay here with Zhiyuan. You all should go back and rest."
Dr. Shen nodded. "Call us if you need anything. Anything at all."
"I will."
Xiao Xue tugged on Miss Zhang's sleeve. "Can we see him before we go? Just for a minute?"
Yichen smiled. "Sure. Just keep it short. He needs rest."
One by one, they filed into the room. Zhenlong was propped up in bed, looking annoyed but awake. Zhiyuan sat beside him, holding his hand.
Xiao Xue rushed to the foot of the bed. "Uncle Zhenlong! You scared us half to death!"
Zhenlong grunted. "Didn't do it on purpose."
"Well, don't do it again." She pointed at him sternly. "We have plans. Camping wasn't finished."
Miss Zhang stepped forward, more calm. "Take care of yourself. We'll bring food tomorrow. Hospital food is terrible."
"Finally, someone useful," Zhenlong muttered.
Dr. Shen approached the bedside. He placed a hand on Zhenlong's arm. "Listen to the doctors. And rest. We'll be back in the morning."
"You sound like my mother," Zhenlong complained.
"Someone has to." Dr. Shen smiled. "Get better old man"
Guo Lian simply nodded at Zhenlong, a gesture of respect. Zhenlong nodded back. Between them, that was enough.
They filed out, leaving only Yichen, Zhiyuan, and Zhenlong.
The room grew quiet. Zhenlong stared at the ceiling, unable to sleep despite the medicine. Zhiyuan watched him, not wanting to leave.
"Can't sleep?" Zhiyuan asked softly.
"Hospital beds are terrible," Zhenlong grumbled. "And it's too quiet."
Zhiyuan smiled. "Want to talk? Keep your mind off things?"
Zhenlong looked at him, then nodded slowly. "Yeah. Okay."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment. Then Zhiyuan spoke.
"Tell me more about Dad.. Not big things. Just... small things. What he liked. What he hated. What he was really like."
Zhenlong's eyes softened at the name. A small smile crossed his face.
"Wenhao..." He thought for a moment. "He was really different. Complicated."
"How?"
"Well..." Zhenlong chuckled softly. "He was kind of a bully, actually."
Zhiyuan blinked. "Dad? A bully?"
"Not mean bullying. More like... he knew what he wanted and he made sure he got it. In school, if someone was picking on a smaller kid, Wenhao would step in. But then he'd bully the bully into being nice. Does that make sense?"
Zhiyuan nodded, intrigued.
"He was competitive too," Zhenlong continued. "Hated losing at anything. Board games, races, arguments. If he lost, he'd pout for hours. But he never cheated. He wanted to win fair or not at all."
Yichen chuckled from his chair. "Sounds like someone I know."
Zhiyuan shot him a look but was smiling.
"What else?" Zhiyuan asked.
"He loved mornings." Zhenlong's voice grew softer, more nostalgic. "Couldn't sleep in to save his life. He'd wake up at sunrise, make tea, and just sit watching the world wake up. Said it was the most peaceful time of day."
"That's... really sweet."
"He was sweet. Under all that stubbornness." Zhenlong smiled. "He hated mushrooms. Wouldn't eat them no matter what. If I cooked them, he'd pick them all out and stack them on the side of his plate like little mushroom towers."
Zhiyuan laughed. "I hate mushrooms too."
"See? You really are his son."
Yichen grinned. "The mushroom hate is genetic."
Zhenlong continued, warming to the memories. "He was terrible at dancing. Absolutely no rhythm. But he loved music. Would sing in the car, completely off-key, not caring who heard."
"That sounds embarrassing," Zhiyuan said.
"It was. I loved every second of it." Zhenlong's eyes were distant, happy. "He was also really smart but pretended not to be. Would act confused about things, then solve them perfectly when no one was watching. He didn't like showing off."
Zhiyuan listened, drinking in every word. These small, ordinary details painted a picture of his father as a real person, not just a memory.
"Did he have any friends? Besides doctor shen" Zhiyuan asked.
"Besides Dr. Shen? Not many. He was picky. Said he'd rather have one real friend than a hundred fake ones." Zhenlong paused. "He was loyal. Fiercely loyal. If he loved you, he loved you completely. No half measures."
They sat quietly for a moment. Then Zhenlong spoke again "He was scared of thunderstorms. Would never admit it, but when it stormed, he'd find excuses to be near someone. 'Oh, just checking if you're okay.' 'The power might go out, better stay close.' "
"Really?"
"Really. First time I realized, I didn't say anything. Just made sure I was there when storms came." Zhenlong's voice was soft.
"He sounds amazing," Zhiyuan whispered.
"He was." Zhenlong looked at his son. "And so are you. Every good part of him lives in you. Don't ever forget that."
Zhiyuan's eyes glistened. He nodded, not trusting his voice.
Yichen stood and walked to the window, giving them a moment. Outside, the city lights sparkled in the darkness.
"Get some sleep, Dad," Zhiyuan finally managed. "We'll talk more tomorrow."
Zhenlong nodded, his eyes finally growing heavy. "Okay. But you two should rest too. That chair looks uncomfortable."
"It's fine," Yichen said, returning to his seat. "I've slept in worse places."
"Show-off."
Zhiyuan laughed softly. He leaned over and kissed his father's forehead. "Sleep well Dad."
As Zhenlong's breathing evened out into sleep, Yichen pulled Zhiyuan close in the cramped hospital chair. They sat together, watching over the man who had finally become a father, grateful for every small, ordinary moment they still had left to share.