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The mood in the car is icy. The steering wheel creaks under Jingyi’s grip, and Mingjue is half afraid the boy will break something.
“Want to stop for ice cream?” Mingjue asks, though he immediately regrets his words when Jingyi turns and gives him a death glare. “Yeah, you’re right. Sorry.”
Jingyi does not reply.
This might be the worst car ride he’s ever experienced, up to and including when he taught Huaisang to drive, but Mingjue knows that Jingyi texted Jiang Cheng from the doctor’s office, and he knows the conversations waiting at home will be worse.
Of all the times for his own car to be in the shop! And it’s not like Mingjue would lie to A-Cheng or the kids about his visit. He just wanted a little time to process the news first. Anyway, he’s fine! He will be fine! He will be fine for many years to come! Doctor Lo is a gruff, no-nonsense woman who reminded Mingjue of his favorite auntie, and they would have come up with a good plan. They will come up with a good plan, and everything will be fine.
Jingyi pulls into the driveway, and Mingjue curses under his breath. Lily is in the front yard with Mochi, their Australian shepherd, running through the agility course they set up. She waves when she sees them, and Mochi comes to heel by her side like the goodest of boys.
Before Jingyi can get out of the car, Mingjue puts a hand on his arm. “Can you please try to look less murdery for a few minutes? I want to talk to A-Cheng before we talk to Lily.”
Jingyi glares at him again, but he nods curtly, takes a breath, and schools his expression into something akin to mild annoyance, and Mingjue sighs. Well, it’s better than nothing.
“Thank you.”
Jingyi gets out of the car without a word. He does stop to give his sister a kiss on the top of her head and to pet Mochi before stomping into the house.
Mingjue gets out and braces himself as Lily runs at him and leaps into his arms. Mingjue laughs and swings her around once, even though at eleven, she is almost too big for him to hoist up.
“How’s my little magpie?” Mingjue asks as he sets her down. He retrieves a paper bag from the car and shuts the door.
“Good. Mochi is still having trouble with the weave poles, but he’s getting better.” Lily takes his hand and pulls him along to the yard. “Why is Jingyi so mad, Papa?”
Mingjue sighs. “Jingyi is worried about me, and it’s coming out as anger.” He crouches down beside Lily. “We’ll have a family meeting about it after dinner, okay?”
“Oh.” Lily puts her hands on Mingjue’s shoulders and peers at him. “Are you okay?”
“I am. You know I had a doctor’s appointment today?”
Lily nods.
“Well, I got some serious news. I am okay right now, and I will be okay for a long time, if I have any say in the matter. We’ll talk after dinner. I promise I’ll answer all your questions, but for now, I need to go talk to Daddy.”
Lily nods again. She studies him again for a long moment, but she asks no questions. She hugs Mingjue and kisses his cheek and whistles for Mochi to follow her inside.
Mingjue finds Jiang Cheng in their bedroom. He closes the door and sits on the bed, motioning for Jiang Cheng to sit beside him.
“Jingyi wouldn’t say anything except to tell me that if you die, he’s going to bring you back to life and kick your ass,” Jiang Cheng says.
Mingjue hands him the paper bag. Inside is a new prescription for an ACE inhibitor.
“It’s not that bad,” Mingjue starts, and he holds up a hand when Jiang Cheng glares at him. “Really! It’s totally normal — not normal,” he concedes when Jiang Cheng smacks him in the arm, “but common. I have high blood pressure, and Doctor Lo has prescribed medication. We’ll be meeting in a couple weeks to see how that goes, and we’ll make a plan to implement some lifestyle changes.”
“But you’re in good shape,” Jiang Cheng says. “I mean, yeah, we’ve gained a few pounds over the years, but we get regular physical activity. You don’t smoke, you barely drink.”
“I do. I also have some family history of hypertension.” Mingjue takes the bag from Jiang Cheng so he can hold his hands. “Look, I’m going to take this seriously, but also? It’s not that big of a deal. Jingyi, unfortunately, spent his time in the waiting room reading up on statistics about heart disease, and it got him spooked.”
Jiang Cheng swallows hard, and Mingjue immediately pulls him into his lap.
“What are you — stop!” Jiang Cheng tries to sound gruff, but he’s laughing.
“Stop what?” Mingjue says as he trails kisses along Jiang Cheng’s neck.
“We are having a serious conversation!” Jiang Cheng puts up a weak fight, surrendering almost immediately when Mingjue pulls him down onto the mattress. “Dinner’ll be ready in five minutes.”
“Aw, I wanted to start my vigorous exercise regimen!”
“Nie Mingjue!” Jiang Cheng wrenches out of Mingjue’s grip and sits up. “Stop trying to deflect! Your son is scared, and to be honest, I’m a little afraid, too.”
“I’m not thrilled to be reminded of my mortality either, my heart. And I’m not looking forward to the family meeting after dinner. Lily is bound to have a lot of questions.”
“Shit, yeah.” Jiang Cheng scoots over to lean against Mingjue, and Mingjue puts his arm around Jiang Cheng’s shoulders. “She was too young to really understand what was going on when Jin Guangshan died, she never knew her mother’s parents, and we haven’t lost anyone else in the family yet.”
“No,” Mingjue says, “we have been very lucky that way.” He kisses Jiang Cheng. “Listen, can you take care of dinner? I want to talk to Jingyi for a minute.”
“Of course.” Jiang Cheng stands and helps Mingjue to his feet. Before he lets Mingjue go, he places his hand against Mingjue’s chest. “You always call me your heart,” he says. He looks at Mingjue. “But in case you didn’t know, you are my heart as well. So we’re gonna take good care of you, okay?”
“Okay.”
Mingjue takes a moment to collect himself before he goes and knocks on Jingyi’s door.
“Come in.”
Mingjue finds Jingyi sprawled on his bed, an arm over his eyes. He sits at the foot of the bed, searching for the right thing to say, but Jingyi speaks first.
“I have a degree in psychology, and I am almost finished with my masters. I am twenty-five years old. I know that people die. I know that you will die, some day. But I guess I didn’t really know it until today.”
“Jingyi.”
Mingjue’s beautiful, brilliant, amazing son sits up and crawls into his lap.
“I’m sorry,” Jingyi says against Mingjue’s shoulder, “I’m being stupid, I know, but—“
“You’re not being stupid. To be honest, I’m a little scared. But Doctor Lo is a great doctor, and with her help, I’m going to do everything I can to stay here as long as possible.”
“You better,” Jingyi sniffles. He sits back and wipes his eyes. “When are you going to tell Lily?”
”Tonight. Family meeting after dinner.”
Jingyi’s expression turns thoughtful. “Can I take notes? I have an idea for a paper for Professor Suliman’s class.”
Mingjue laughs. “Using your family for psychological experiments? Don’t we need to sign a waiver or something?”
Jingyi scoffs. “Please, I’ve been running experiments on you since sophomore year of college. Why do you think we never have quiche for family brunch anymore?”
Mingjue frowns. “We don’t… did you … did you actually experiment on us?”
“Of course not! That would be unethical. Although I did get the highest grade in my class that semester.”
“Lan Jingyi, what did you do?”
Jingyi clambers out of Mingjue’s lap. “I think Dad called. I better go see what he wants.” He dashes out of the room, ignoring Mingjue’s calls.
As Mingjue follows his son downstairs, he can’t help but laugh. At one time, he worried that this kid would be the death of him, but now he knows. Jingyi, Lily, and Jiang Cheng — they are the reason he is alive.