After finishing his stance training, Wang Xiaoliang wiped his face with a towel and went over to sit on the sofa. Fan Qishan was still holding his stance, utterly motionless.
He got up, poured a glass of warm water, and carried it upstairs.
Before he reached his room, the phone in his trouser pocket vibrated.
He took it out and looked-Huang Xueli.
Wang Xiaoliang quickened his pace, pushed the door open, closed it behind him, and answered.
"Morning, bro."
The voice on the other end wasn't Huang Xueli's.
It was a woman's.
"Xiaoliang, this is Lu Sining. Xueli's... wife. You should know who I am, right?"
Wang Xiaoliang's Adam's apple bobbed.
"Of course I do, sis. My brother's always praising you."
He gripped his phone, keeping his voice as relaxed as he could.
Lu Sining paused on the other end.
"Xueli didn't wake up this morning."
Wang Xiaoliang said nothing.
He could feel his heart rising into his throat.
"I've called an ambulance. It should be here soon." Lu Sining's voice was remarkably steady. "He told me before-if one day he didn't wake up, I should call you and ask you to let your friends know."
Wang Xiaoliang set the glass of warm water on his bedside table.
His hand didn't shake.
He slowly sat down on the edge of the bed.
"He asked me to tell you," Lu Sining continued, "that he will definitely wake up. Please don't worry."
Wang Xiaoliang clenched his back teeth.
"I understand, sis. He definitely will."
He paused for two seconds.
"What... are you planning to do?"
"I'll go to the hospital and stay with him."
"Won't the hospital... be too dangerous?"
"They haven't found how it spreads yet. The proportion of people affected in hospitals is about the same as outside. With doctors