Chapter 5

A familiar scent he had not smelled in years once again lingered beneath his nose, and Cheng Yu's heart, as though soaked in ice water, suddenly warmed. Even his steps at the doorway hesitated. Then he saw Chen Simiao coming out from the living room to greet him. The sight of that familiar face and smile made Cheng Yu's eyes sting.

Seeing her little grandson standing obediently at the door, lost like a kitten unable to find its way home, Chen Simiao's heart softened. "Yu, you're back. You must be hungry. Come eat. Your grandma cooked your favorite sweet-and-sour ribs herself."

Cheng Yu nodded. He blinked away the soreness in his eyes and silently went to wash his hands. By the time he returned to the dining room, Lin Sufen had even served his rice.

The old couple watched Cheng Yu sit down and eat without a word. They exchanged looks for a while before Lin Sufen finally broke the silence and casually asked, "Your father just called. He said you went to the hospital, and the doctor said you have moderate bipolar disorder?"

Cheng Yu's chopsticks paused slightly as he silently shoveled rice into his mouth. Then he nodded almost imperceptibly. His face remained lowered over his bowl, and he did not raise his head.

The old couple looked at each other. Chen Simiao cautiously asked, "Is it serious? Did the doctor say why you got this illness?"

Cheng Yu shook his head. "It's not serious. Don't worry. As long as I take my medicine on time, I'll be fine."

Cheng Yu did not want his grandparents to worry. But this was not something the elderly could truly stop worrying about just because he downplayed it with a few reassuring words.

Following Cheng Yu's lead, Lin Sufen asked, "What exactly does moderate bipolar disorder mean? What symptoms do you have when it acts up? What should you watch out for normally?"

Cheng Yu patiently explained, "It's nothing much. When it acts up, my mood gets elevated, I think faster, and I like joking around and playing pranks. I get angry easily when provoked, and I don't like people arguing with me or saying bad things about me. I have lots of energy, and my mind becomes extremely sharp, but I can't stick with anything for long. I can't focus on one thing. Under special circumstances, I can become extremely excited."

The usual symptoms of bipolar disorder included elevated mood, racing thoughts, and increased drive and activity. Cheng Yu did not want to frighten his grandparents, so he lightly mentioned only the less alarming clinical symptoms.

As Chen Simiao and Lin Sufen listened, they nodded in agreement. "That does sound a little like how you usually act. But aren't there lots of people like that? Are they all mentally ill? That's ridiculous. Those doctors are just making a fuss and trying to scare people."

Chen Simiao added, "If you want to control your temper and cultivate yourself, there's no need to take all that random medicine. Every medicine has some toxicity. Don't ruin your health at such a young age. Just like when you were little, get up at five every morning and practice the Taiyi Mysterious Gate Sword with me."

Lin Sufen chimed in, "Exactly. When I heard your father's call, I thought it was something terrible. I knew it—our Yu is so smart and lively. How could he possibly turn into a lunatic?"

"But being too lively isn't necessarily a good thing." Chen Simiao tapped her grandson's little head. "I heard you got into another fight with that boy from the Pei Family? You've practiced swordsmanship and martial arts since childhood, and you don't know how to hold back. Be more careful from now on. If you really hurt someone badly, we won't be able to explain it to their parents."

Cheng Yu chuckled and nodded. "I won't fight anymore."

Chapter 5

At five in the morning, Cheng Yu slowly opened his eyes to the soul-rending blare of his alarm clock. He stared blankly at the ceiling, at the bedroom whose furnishings were excessively familiar yet strangely unfamiliar. Only after a long while did he realize that he was still dreaming and had not woken up.

Has my illness gotten worse again? Cheng Yu scratched his cheek with a strange expression. He knew that many patients at the sanatorium suffered from auditory and visual hallucinations, but he had never experienced them even once.

But if becoming seriously ill meant he could see his grandparents in his hallucinations, as well as the deceased Cheng Kaiyun and Chen Lingyun, then that was not so bad—although Chen Lingyun still glared at him coldly and treated him with utter disdain in the hallucination.

Realizing this, Cheng Yu felt a little happy. He eagerly climbed out of bed, casually changed into sportswear, and went downstairs. Chen Simiao was practicing her sword in the back garden. Seeing Cheng Yu approach with a spring in his step, she could not help but laugh. "You really got up."

Cheng Yu said with a smile, "I promised Grandpa I'd do morning exercises with you."

Chen Simiao nodded. "Our Yu has always kept his word. He never breaks a promise. You're a little man now. But don't forget that you promised your grandma and me last night that you wouldn't fight with people anymore."

Cheng Yu thought that he had already been locked away in a sanatorium, so where would he find the chance to fight outsiders? Besides, he was already twenty-eight. After managing C&C Jewelry for so many years, he had long passed the age when he would throw punches at people over every little thing.

Thinking of that, Cheng Yu promised solemnly, "Don't worry, Grandpa. I'm already this old. I'm not some hot-blooded young man anymore. How could I fight with people at the drop of a hat? We use our brains now."

Seeing her little grandson put on such a serious face, Chen Simiao nearly burst out laughing.

"Fine, fine. Our Yu has grown up. You've become mature and steady, and you won't fight anymore." As she spoke, Chen Simiao tossed the Taiyi Sword resting on the stone table to Cheng Yu and said with a smile, "Then, Mr. Cheng, would you accompany Grandpa in some sword practice?"

Cheng Yu nodded solemnly. He held the scabbard in his left hand and drew the sword with his right, smoothly flicking it into a flourish. The sword pointed up from the right side of his body, while his left hand formed two fingers above his head. He stepped forward with his right foot and turned left, then spun his sword to the right, raised his left knee and lifted his leg. As he sank into a bow stance, his right foot planted firmly while his left toes lightly touched the ground. The beautiful, precise opening stance made Chen Simiao's eyes light up, and she could not help applauding and cheering.

The corners of Cheng Yu's lips curved up. His footwork shifted slightly as the sword in his hand wheeled, chopped, thrust, and swept. Azure Clouds Emerge from the Sea, Parting Clouds to Reveal the Sun, Purple Swallow Through the Forest. Early autumn sunlight poured over the youth, draping Cheng Yu in a thin layer of pale gold. His sword moved like a roaming dragon, his figure free and graceful. With every strike, he was like a clear breeze with no sword in sight. His movements were so dashing that they were even more beautiful than a professional performance.

Chen Simiao stood to one side, enthusiastically applauding and cheering. Seeing Cheng Yu complete the entire sword routine from beginning to end without the slightest stumble, she could not help persuading him, "My dear grandson, when your Grandpa Tong holds the Sword Forum again, why don't you perform with Grandpa?"