Demons Beside You

“Granny, we’re here.”

Ethan opened the door and immediately hugged the old hunched woman with a cane and thick glasses. Ethan was fat and at least three times the size of the woman.

“D*mmit, did you drink before coming here? Let go… The smell is getting to me.” The old woman looked to Chen Zhao, standing behind Ethan. “You didn’t tell me that you’ll bring a handsome boy here. I didn’t even dress up.”

“Ethan, you didn’t tell me we’re meeting such a beautiful woman either.”

“Lad, I like you. What’s your name?”

“Just call me Chen. Do I have the honor of knowing your name?”

“You can call me Wright, or you can call me Granny like Ethan does too.”

“It’s hard to believe that you’re Ethan’s grandmother. How about I just call you Wright?”

Chen Zhao hugged the old woman, their faces pressing against each other. Ethan offered up the flowers.

“This is for you.” Chen Zhao gave the tablet to the old woman.

“Thank you. It’s just what I need. Lad, you really understand people. If I’m 60 years younger—no, 50 years younger, I’ll definitely flirt with you crazily.”

“It’s not too late yet.”

“I paid for that,” Ethan added. “Granny, you should compliment me.”

A 50-year-old man was shameless enough to fight with Chen Zhao for compliments.

“Come in, come in.”

The home’s interior design had a darker tone. All the furniture looked quite old, but they were all clean. The lighting was quite good too and wouldn’t make them feel stuffy.

The old woman had already prepared some fruit. “Lad, are you Chinese?”

“Yes. How did you know?”

“I was once a professor at Nanjing University. During that time, I learned Chinese. ‘Chen’ is one of the most common surnames in China, but Chinese is the most complex language I’ve ever learned. I have a Chinese name too. Li Chuntian, or Spring Li.”

“It’s a beautiful name, both your birth name and your Chinese name.”

“Ethan, learn from Chen. You don’t know how to say nice things.”

“I only speak the truth.”

“Chen, what’s your job? You aren’t Ethan’s lackey, right? This bastard is the worst of the worst.”

Clearly, Wright knew some things about Ethan too and her impression of Ethan was stuck on that.

“I’m a doctor.”

“You two sit. I’ll go prepare lunch for you two.”

“Granny, remember to make meat. Don’t give me too many greens.” Even a 50-year-old middle-aged man would act like a kid before his grandmother.

When Wright went into the kitchen, Ethan went to Chen Zhao’s side. “So is my granny alright?”

“Not really.”

“But she looks spirited.”

“She’s just pretending for us.”

“Then what can we do? What’s wrong with her?”

“It’s just some conditions common for seniors. They’re unavoidable. However, I saw her skin below her collar. There seems to be some spots.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Remind me when she comes out of the kitchen.”

Chen Zhao walked to the shelf on the side and looked around. He saw the medicine there.

“How is it?”

“She might have cancer. I found some medicine used for suppressing cancer cells, but I can’t be sure if it’s malignant or benign. It might be in the lungs or stomach.”

Cancer?! Ethan’s expression turned serious. Even if he didn’t have any medical knowledge, he still knew what cancer meant.

Wright was clearly excited because Ethan and Chen Zhao were here. The sumptuous lunch was practically a feast.

At a certain age, even hardened and independent women would start feeling lonely. Wright just didn’t express it. She couldn’t say it out loud, but she was clearly happy that the two were here.

When Ethan went to the bathroom, Wright smiled and said, “Chen, did Ethan bring you here to help diagnose me?”

“Wright, seeing how vibrant you are, I think Ethan did all this for nothing. But if you want coffee, you can call me. This is my number. I’ll be at your beck and call.”

“How did you meet Ethan?”

“I was a homeless stray until Ethan took me in and gave me a job.”

“Watch him for me. He’s not old now, but he still doesn’t know how to take care of himself.”

“I refuse. He even charges me a dollar for a hamburger.”

“F*cker!” Ethan had come back out. “I charge you a dollar, but I have to give you can of soda. You know that a can costs more than a dollar.”

“Since you’re already not making money, you shouldn’t take my money even more.”

“In your dreams.”

“Wright, do you see? You think I’ll take care of a bastard like this?”

After lunch, the three chatted on the porch.

Chen Zhao and Wright teamed up to bully Ethan. Under Chen Zhao’s urging, Wright revealed many embarrassing things about Ethan, which pissed him off. It was obvious that Wright was happy though.

Ethan had disappointed her before, but he was still her grandson.

The two didn’t get up and bid farewell until three p.m.

Chen Zhao hugged Wright. “Wright, don’t forget my number. I’d love to have a candlelit dinner with you.”

“Of course, handsome boy.”

After going downstairs, Ethan grew serious. “Have a plan?”

“Patience. I can’t just require her to get a checkup, right? She clearly doesn’t want you to worry.”

“Then what should we do?”

“Get closer to her. I’ll find some time to meet her again.”

“Okay, God bless.”

Chen Zhao could only say that he would try his best. It was cancer, after all.

“Is she still working?”

“She’s a professor at UCLA and still insists on lecturing.”

“What department?”

“Medical school.”

“F*ck. You want an unlicensed doctor to treat a medical school professor? Are you sure I’m more skilled than her?”

“But you’re the only doctor I know.”

“I suddenly feel so much pressure. Can I reject this request?”

“Then you’ll never get free hamburgers.”

“You never gave me free ones before.”

“You at least got free drinks.”

“Fine, I’ll try my best because of the free drinks… But Ethan, she should be clearer about her own body than anyone else. I’m afraid I can’t do much.”

“I know. Just try your best.”