What Was Worth A Heart

Chapter 71: A Warm Advice

🧀🥩🥓🍗🍖🍔🌭🥪🥞🥫🍝🥘🥙🌯🌮🍕🍟🥣🥗🍲🍛🍜🍣🍤🍱🍚🍙🍢🥟🍡🍥🍘🍪🍩🍫🥧🍰🍮🍦🍳FOOD.

Charles set down the half empty cocktail glass on the table with a soft clack as they all continued to converse. From time to time, plenty of eyes fell onto him, presumably from the princes who never thought that he would be involved this much. Without a word, Charles stood up from his seat and left the private dining room towards the huge balcony of the restaurant. The restaurant had two floors, including the ground floor. On the top floor, there was a balcony that stretched throughout the edges of the whole building. Any customer seeking fresh air could come out, even the ones in private dining rooms like the one they had previously taken. Since it was far enough, whatever they discussed inside couldn't be heard from the outside. Similarly, what happened on the outside couldn't be heard from the inside.

"Where are you going?" Principle Evan asked.

Charles stopped in his track as they all stared at his back. Unaware of the expression he had made, Charles paused for a few long seconds before answering "Outside. Getting some fresh air. Nothing major".

"Make sure you don't wander off. We'll return to the hospital again after this" Evan stated.

"....Sure." With that, Charles went outside.

As he stepped to the railing of the balcony, he looked over the buildings up ahead. Below were street lights and may other tall buildings in sight. Cars went past one by one, never really resting. Plenty of citizens were also taking a midnight walk.

That's right. Now should be midnight.

Resting his elbows on the railings, Charles inhaled deep, closing his eyes, taking in the cold air of the night. Then, he let ot out slowly.

"What are you doing to me, Shao Long?"

"You seem troubled." a voice came from behind him. Charles turned around towards his uninvited guest with a small smile.

"Am I so obvious that a stranger could tell?"

Before him stood a man in his 60s judging by the creases on his forehead. He had this warm smile on his face, accompanied by small eyes that dug onto his sockets. He was wearing a brown leather coat that made him look fat, although Charles new that he wasn't. In fact, this man was quite tall. He reminded him of his own grandfather.

Charles looked around and saw a dining room a few rooms away from where he came from. In there, there were lively sounds of children and laughter, like a family reunion. He smiled, thinking that this old man might've come out for a smoke.

"Happiness is easy to come by, sorrow follows after it. Whatever the world throw at you, you just know that you're meant to overcome it sooner or later. So, young man, it's not good to sigh to heavily. Whatever it is that bothers you, I'm sure it's nothing" the old man laughed.

Charles was stunned for a while, then shook his head with a smile "What makes you think so?"

"I've walked this earth for 65 years now. Today is my birthday so my family came to celebrate. Over the years, people come and go. I listen to their stories, I watch them as thet went through their life. Someone with your temperament, it's so obvious that you're doing great with your life?" the old man stood beside him, taking in the view of the city lights and took in a deep breath.

Charles glanced at him, then asked "Am I? Somehow though, I feel like....I messed up real bad. And I don't even know how to fix it. Now, the one I love is in danger, and I'm still standing here, chilling."