After finishing the phone call with Su Xiaomeng, Eric brought dinner inside.

As Yin Shixiu’s condition continued to improve, it was crucial to keep up with nutrition, so Eric specifically hired a nutritionist to prepare meals in accordance with Yin Shixiu’s recovery.

He had actually arrived a while ago but overheard Yin Shixiu and Su Xiaomeng on the phone outside and chose not to interrupt.

Thinking to himself, it was just three hours ago they were on a video call, and now they’re on the phone again.

Do these two insist on tormenting people endlessly?

Upon entering, he saw Yin Shixiu looking out the window with a somber expression, full of thoughts.

"What’s going on? Why so serious?"

Eric asked.

Yin Shixiu let out a long breath, naturally recounting the incident of his being seen by the siblings during a video call to Eric.

He spoke calmly, yet Eric was startled and almost dropped the thermal food container.

Yin Shixiu took the container, placed the meal on the table on the bed, and began eating with a knife and fork, unconcerned that Eric was still in shock.

"Shuangshuang and Huang Huang saw you? Then they..."

"You can imagine, they were quite excited..."

Yin Shixiu responded.

"So... how do you comfort these siblings?"

Eric swallowed, thinking that controlling three-year-olds is truly unpredictable.

"I promised them, within seven days, I would return home."

"Doesn’t it bother your conscience to deceive them like this? As a dad, will you have any credibility left in the future?"

Eric didn’t really take Yin Shixiu’s words seriously, reacting just like Su Xiaomeng when she first heard it.

At most, it was just to placate the kids...

Yin Shixiu drank some vegetable soup, not lifting his head, he directly said,

"I’m not deceiving them; I do plan to return to Beijing in seven days."

"..."

"..."

"Are you crazy!"

Eric was stunned for a moment, and upon seeing Yin Shixiu’s expression, realized he was not joking, he immediately jumped up!

"Seven days?! Now you can talk, laugh, and even analyze the stock market on your computer, do you think you’ve grown wings and can fly?!"

"Yin Shixiu, don’t you know your own physical condition?! How long can you stand after getting out of bed? Huh?! You still need to be constantly monitored with an ECG, and you think you can fly to Beijing?!"

"What can be done in seven days? Huh? Run to Beijing to tell everyone you’re alive, then what?"

"In your current state, who can you fight against?!"

"Even if you have a high IQ, a quick mind, dealing with these people will drain your energy! It’s a significant expenditure, don’t you understand?!"

"The third stage of surgery hasn’t even begun! Not only can you not stand up, but your continued existence is also uncertain, you—"

"But they need me."

Yin Shixiu’s spoon paused, his gaze falling on the exquisitely prepared dinner, and he said.

Eric’s expression turned extremely unpleasant.

He was most annoyed by Yin Shixiu’s calm demeanor; just one sentence from him rendered all of Eric’s objections valueless.

Each of Eric’s inquiries had the clearest answers in Yin Shixiu’s mind, and he was aware.

The timing wasn’t right; he was already trying to compress time, already attempting to plan as much as possible.

But who could have anticipated that the siblings would see him?

No matter how Su Xiaomeng relayed to him how much the siblings missed him, regardless of how he imagined them longing for him in his silent dreams...

None of it compared to the real feeling of facing them through the camera.

The siblings, in their small ages, were already carrying sorrow and longing that exceeded their little bodies.

There were so many reasons to oppose his decision, but one single reason was enough to make him determined to carry it out.

They need him.

Eric clenched his fist, murmured something under his breath, and then stormed out, slamming the door.

The loud "bang" signified the deep anxiety and concern Eric felt inside, along with anger towards Yin Shixiu’s reckless decision.

But what made Eric most upset was that despite his disagreement, he would still comply, still do whatever it takes, to make him fulfill a father’s promise.

Sitting on the bench in the VIP area corridor, Eric leaned his elbow on the backrest, tilting his head slightly against the wall.

His blue eyes stared at the ceiling, after a while, he took out his phone.

Seven days, it meant every second must be fought for.