Teacher Zhao had the same dilemma. Choosing a guardian, especially for a girl was an important matter. He wanted to pick someone with good morals, well-off enough to provide for her, and not take advantage of her.
Honestly, it was like picking a son-in-law.
Teacher Zhao didn't want to recommend any of his female colleagues or acquaintances. All of them were married with their own family and wouldn't be able to spend time or money on Lu Mian. Moreover, he wasn't sure if their families would approve of that arrangement.
His mind went back to the name he was considering - his most promising student. No matter what anyone said, or what he heard, he knew that boys' character.
He should be about 25 now - I recall he had a fiancee in college. And he recently saw him with a child on the news. He should be old enough and be responsible - there would be no backlash on Lu Mian.
Making up his mind, he sent out a text.
"Beep Beep".
Huo Shen's phone vibrated. Not bothering to check it, he went back to re-assuring his mother, who was still going on a full blown rant sitting by his bedside.
"Seriously, why didn't they even let me visit. Usually we have at least one visit when your treatment is this long. I tell you they are all a bunch of quacks."
Huo Shen smiled gently at his mother, allowing her to fuss over him and vent her hidden feelings she had to control for so long.
"But isn't it all for the best? Look, I am all better now. I can be back home tomorrow!" he patiently coaxed her.
"I was secretly relieved with what happened at the army. I thought, with you being an ordinary soldier, things would be better… but now…" she trailed off seeing her son's rather stiff face.
"I mean… I… Shen'er, mom didn't mean anything else…" before Su Wanqing could explain herself further, a gentle knock interrupted her.
"Madam Huo, Captain Huo, Doctor Gu has arrived" murmured Bai Renzhou politely. As a qualified assistant, he had perfected the art of intervening whenever his bosses' thoughtless family crossed the line. Really, the incident at the army, how did they even have the face to bring it up?! He scoffed silently. However, his face was a perfect mask of professional politeness and showed none of the disdain he felt.
"Then mother, I will see you tomorrow at home" Huo Shen smoothly caught on to the excuse.
"But. Shen'er I want to talk to the Doctor…" his mother tried again.
"I am capable of handing this mother" Huo Shen refused. "You know how it is - this is just a mere formality at this point" he reminded her.
"Madam Huo, don't worry - boss is doing a lot better now" piped up Bai Renzhou. "I will make sure he comes home tomorrow, don't worry". And with a few practiced excuses Su Wanqing reluctantly turned to leave.
"Duoduo missed you a lot. He is looking forward to seeing you again" she said quietly and left.
Huo Shen was her youngest son, born to her and her husband so late, he had nephews who were as old as him.
It created a weird family dynamic, where Huo Shen couldn't get along with his siblings, and wasn't part of the younger generation either - because he was rightfully an uncle.
It didn't seem to matter to him, however, because her Huo Shen had a formidable mind.
With his startling intellect, he outstripped his peers and could even hold his own among his siblings who were atleast a decade older than him. Despite the jealousy that spawned he was still a loving, approachable child.
However, things changed with the Black Lotus coup two decades back.
Her Huo Shen, who was a mere 6 yr old child then, suddenly became extremely withdrawn. His illness started, and she could feel him distancing himself from her.
And, the incident at the army a few years back didn't help. She thought him being a father would make him softer - but it hardened him.
The internal strife at home finally bubbled up and her Shen'er decisively drew a line with them - even declining his position at the Huo Corporation.
Now, as Su Wanqing watched her son from outside the glass doors of the hospital - the first time in weeks, she felt he had moved even further away from her. He seemed to be thinner too and was oddly despondent.
"I am sorry Shen'er mom didn't do a good job" she murmured quietly, and headed home.
She didn't know how to patch up the relationship anymore. But she resolved to keep trying. Maybe something will change, maybe, if she found him a partner, he would feel a little more connected to the world.
She wasn't sure if a woman could open her son's heart again, but she prayed there would be someone who could care and love her son. With a renewed resolve at matchmaking, Su Wanqing walked away with a heavy heart.
Inside the ward, the atmosphere was a bit lighter.
Gu Qingze had walked in with the practiced calm of a man accustomed to emergencies. The white coat over his dark shirt made him look both scholarly and formidable. Under the hospital's cold lights, his features were refined but alert, eyes bright with the focus of someone who saw anatomy and equations in the world around him.
"We carried out all procedures exactly as you instructed" he reported. As the youngest son of Gu Tianrong, and was a number one doctor.
He was perhaps the only doctor who specialized in trauma surgery and neuropsychology - the exact two conditions Huo Shen frequently needed help with.
As his friend, his responsibility doubled. He unquestioningly covered for the true whereabouts of his friend whenever he came in for an extended convalescence.
The hard part was that Huo Shen really did have an illness - and Qingze was already at his wit's end trying to balance and control it while he was mysteriously away.
"They didn't notice anything suspicious. At least now you have bought yourself some time" he continued and motioned for Huo Shen to undress.
"Let's finish the check up and patch you up." Without fail, Huo Shen came back with near-life threatening wounds from his missions. And, without fail, he had to find a creative way to patch him up 'quickly' before his home visit the next day.
Gu Qingze swore half his mastery in medicine was because of Huo Shen - because he was constantly asked to treat extreme wounds that regular doctors just did not encounter.
"Sorry to disappoint you this time Doctor Gu" Huo Shen smiled "I am all fine, really". Gu Qinqze swore he saw a fleeting emotion in his friend's eyes. Before he could catch it, it had already passed.
"Can't take your word for it" he rejected sharply. Huo Shen could be at death's door and he would claim to be 'just fine'. He could function like a regular human - no one would be able to tell the difference. In Gu Qingze's eyes, Huo Shen was simply not human!
"At least let me do a routine check - to assess your illness" he pleaded. Huo Shen had disappeared for weeks again and he had no idea if his illness had relapsed.
Maybe hearing the genuine concern in his voice, Huo Shen allowed himself to be examined.
Gu Qingze's practiced hands quickly set Huo Shen up with multiple sensors that ran diagnostics. While machines hummed in the background, his eyes spotted the excellent suturing and care.
He grunted in approval, glad his friend had the help he needed. He reached out to take his pulse and paused.
"That's new - and old" he commented, looking at the odd bracelet his friend was wearing.
"Get on with it" Huo Shen commanded gruffly, uncomfortable with the extra scrutiny.
But Gu Qingze was no longer listening. His attention was focused on his friend's pulse and all the vital signs the machine was monitoring.
He gave a small frown and did a few more calculations. Supremely unbothered, Huo Shen buttoned up his shirt.
"That doesn't look right" murmured Gu Qingze.
"Oh no, is his condition worse? I can get the medicine on standby and push back his appointments further" jumped in a worried Bai Renzhou. He knew how bad his boss's condition actually was.
"That's not it" denied Gu Qingze. "What changed? Did you do anything different this time?" he questioned urgently.
"Your vitals have not deteriorated. For the first time since I have been helping you, there genuinely seems to be progress!"
Huo Shen froze. "What do you mean?" he asked, his tone without any inflection.
"I mean there's hope. Something has helped you along - this time, your body has bounced back really well." Gu Qinze didn't dare believe it. Was there finally a cure?
Huo Shen thoughtfully retrieved the prescription she had prescribed him and handed it to Gu Qingze. "I had some medicinal porridge. And had a couple of doses of this prescription. My team doctor okayed it."
Gu Qingze eagerly grabbed the prescription and his breath caught.
The handwriting was elegant, the ratios precise. Dang gui offsetting huang qi to balance qi and blood; sheng di tempered with wu wei zi to nourish yin without suppressing yang; trace-level modulation that only a master clinician would dare.
"Genius" he breathed. "Second Brother, did you meet the divine doctor?" he asked abruptly.
Gu Qingze was ecstatic. He had been trying to connect with the Divine Doctor for a long time now. There had been whispers of his prescriptions working miracles and Gu Qingze badly wanted to try it for his friend.
He had even put an Ad on the darknet a couple of days back, hoping it could turn up some clues. All it did was give him a load of quacks and Qingze, extremely frustrated, had given up.
Who knew his friend would have better luck?! "Was it the doctor who patched you up? I knew it - this is far better than standard military procedure."
Huo Shen shot him a cold stare. Ignoring his questions, he said slowly "I met them by chance - didnt think it would help. Is the prescription really that good?" he asked slowly.
"This is the best hope we have had for you so far" admitted Gu Qingze frankly. "The adjustments are so well made, it exactly helps your wounded state and illness."
"Then if boss continues taking it he would be cured?" asked Bai Renzhou, hardly daring to believe it.
Gu Qingze regretfully shook his head."No - this prescription is precisely to help him with his wound and manage the illness at this specific time. However, I am guessing if they could diagnose you again, he can give you a prescription that can help. Can you.."
"No" denied Huo Shen flatly before he could even finish the question. There was no way he was involving her in the quagmire that was his life.
"But Second brother…" tried Gu Qingze.
"I met her by accident. I cannot find her again. And I will not bring her into my life" denied Huo Shen firmly. He doesn't have that kind of blessing, he thought ruefully.
Gu Qingze paused. He knew when not to push. As his friend's therapist, he also knew this was different for his friend. It must be a girl he realized with a flash of intuition.
And, judging by the way his friend now used the bracelet to ground and center himself, she must already be special! Suddenly, Gu Qingze was even more excited to find her.
"And you better not act on your own" warned Huo Shen. He knew the people around him. While their concern touched him, he also had strict boundaries.
Maybe that's why Gu Qingze was determined to find her. His friend, who so fiercely guarded others, and faithfully kept his promises, needed a guardian too.
Would he allow himself that luxury? Gu Qingze hoped so - and resolved to help his friend.