"Did you forget what you promised President Cheng Xiuping this noon? President Cheng doesn't have your number and came to Hai Ling's place," Xiao Yun said over the phone.
"I did forget. Could you and Sister Ling apologize to President Cheng for me? How about tomorrow? I don't know where Sister Ling lives, and I can't get there now," Guo Xuyang felt that using his special ability had side effects, namely extreme fatigue. He had slept through the afternoon and still hadn't recovered.
"Should I tell President Cheng then? You haven't eaten yet, have you? Why don't we pick you up?" Xiao Yun asked.
"Ah? You're coming to pick me up? Then come. Don't tell President Cheng. Let him come along. We'll go to his house to see the elder first, and then we'll eat after we're done," Guo Xuyang said.
He hung up the phone and took a shower, feeling much more refreshed. As soon as he was ready, Xiao Yun's call came through.
"Come downstairs. We're waiting for you downstairs."
Guo Xuyang came down and saw two cars parked at the hotel entrance. Xiao Yun was in the front Volkswagen Beetle, and a Bentley was parked behind it. Cheng Xiuping stood by the Bentley's door and opened it.
He greeted Xiao Yun and Chen Hailing and got into Cheng Xiuping's Bentley.
"I'm truly sorry to trouble you, sir. It was an urgent matter, please understand," Cheng Xiuping said.
"It's alright. This was my fault. I overslept due to feeling unwell, please forgive me, President Cheng," Guo Xuyang said. "Could you tell me about your father's condition in detail? So I know what to expect. If I truly can't help, please don't blame me, President Cheng."
Cheng Xiuping explained the situation in detail.
After retiring, Cheng Xiuping's father, Cheng Liguo, returned to his hometown. He still had his siblings and nephews and nieces there. Although he had been a high-ranking official, he hadn't brought much benefit to his siblings. The only thing was that a few nephews and nieces received his help with their jobs. After all, they were from the same lineage, and it was impossible to remain entirely untouched by his influence.
His siblings were all elderly, but fortunately, they were all in good health. He stayed in his hometown for over a month, spending a few days at each of his siblings' homes. He couldn't return home every year, and he didn't know when he would return next. He was very sad when he came back, and coupled with a slight cold, he fell ill.
The illness lingered for over three months before he recovered. Since then, the old man seemed to sleepwalk at night, eating things. He was fine during the day, but at night, he had to eat. Later, when his family discovered this, they tried to stop him a few times. However, if he didn't eat at night, he couldn't get out of bed the next day, sleeping all day, not eating, not drinking, and not moving. Eventually, his family dared not stop him anymore and could only let him eat.
Later, they took the old man to various places all over the country, trying hospitals and folk remedies, but they couldn't find the cause. Seeing the old man getting fatter day by day, weighing almost three hundred pounds now, his appetite increasing, and his sleepiness worsening, if this continued, he might not have much longer to live.
They had consulted major hospitals, which stated that no instruments were useful. They had also consulted folk doctors, who said that various spiritual techniques were ineffective or that they hadn't found truly skilled folk doctors. Guo Xuyang listened and began to process the information, wondering what strange illness Cheng's father had. This was beyond his knowledge; he had never heard of such a peculiar disease. It was as if another creature within the old man's body, one with a voracious appetite, was controlling his body, constantly consuming food.
If he couldn't figure it out, he wouldn't think about it. He would see when he got there. Anyway, he had his cheat tool.
He thought for a while and then decided not to think about it. He tilted his head and fell asleep again shortly after.
Cheng Xiuping couldn't help but frown, wondering if he had misjudged the person.
The provincial capital was not small, and coupled with the evening rush hour, by the time they arrived at Songshan Villa, it was almost seven o'clock, a journey of a full hour and a half.
As the car stopped, Guo Xuyang woke up. He was stunned by the sight of the courtyard. A huge garden and lawn, spanning about three to four thousand square meters, a three-story villa about a hundred meters long from east to west, built against the mountain, and a super large swimming pool. He dared not gaze too long, fearing he might see things he shouldn't.
This villa seemed like an estate. As it was late, many things were not clearly visible.
"Mr. Guo, Sister, please come this way." Cheng Xiuping led them towards the villa.
There weren't many people in the villa, likely drivers, caretakers, and maids. Cheng Xiuping's family was nowhere to be seen.
The group went up to a room on the second floor. There was a huge bed in the room, and an old man in his seventies or eighties was sleeping soundly, his snores booming like thunder. He clearly slept soundly.
This was Cheng Xiuping's father, Cheng Liguo.
The group remained silent. Guo Xuyang focused his gaze and saw an unknown object curled up inside the old man's body, like a large bean worm. It seemed to sense that it was being observed, and its two eyes actually looked over, causing him a moment of disorientation.
Damn it, I almost peed myself.
What kind of thing is this, and why is it so sensitive? If you say it's physical, it doesn't seem like it. If you say it's a soul, it's not that either. It seems to have merged with Cheng Xiuping's father.
He had never seen anything like it. What should he do? He felt a headache coming on.
"Mr. Guo, perhaps we should wait until my father wakes up to examine him. He's in this state and won't wake up for a while."
Little ball, I've already seen him, okay? I just don't know how to deal with it.
"That's fine, it's best to examine him when the elder wakes up." He thought this, but he couldn't say it out loud.
The group turned and left the room, heading downstairs.
The old man smiled triumphantly and went back to snoring. This smile was like the bean worm mocking Guo Xuyang.
Guo Xuyang sensed something and focused his gaze, seeing the bean worm's playful eyes.
I'll deal with you tomorrow, he thought fiercely.
But how to deal with it? Birds, the natural enemies of worms, chickens? Where would one find such a large chicken for such a large worm?
"Mr. Guo, I've prepared a modest family dinner. Please don't be polite." Cheng Xiuping led them to the dining room.
"You're too kind, President Cheng. Thank you for your generous hospitality." Guo Xuyang gestured for them to sit and said.
Ten dishes and one soup, all seasonal vegetables, and four seafood dishes. After eating this meal, Guo Xuyang's energy and spirit were completely restored.
The group waited until almost ten o'clock, but the old man still hadn't woken up. Cheng Xiuping felt increasingly embarrassed and could only see Guo Xuyang and the other two out.
"Mr. Guo, my father seems to be sleeping until evening today and will wake up to eat. I'm really sorry to have made you make this trip again." Cheng Xiuping arranged for a driver to take Guo Xuyang back.
Xiao Yun had initially suggested that Guo Xuyang return with them, but Cheng Xiuping insisted that a driver send Guo Xuyang back alone, saying that he was already very sorry and could not let Mr. Guo leave with others.
If the two couldn't argue successfully, that would be that.
Cheng Xiuping and Guo Xuyang arranged to meet again tomorrow. Guo Xuyang agreed.
Upon returning to the hotel, he kept thinking of ways to lure the worm out and how to subdue this monster that resembled a bean worm. After thinking for a long time, he couldn't come up with a good solution. He then drifted off to sleep hazily.