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Join the ServerA flicker of surprise crossed the female doctor’s face as she regarded Song Qinghuan and Lin Shishi. Then, with a practiced smile, she said, “Alright, I’ll take care of it.”
She worked quickly, swiped the card, and printed out the receipt.
Lin Shishi stared at the payment confirmation, her rigid shoulders finally relaxing. Yet her eyes grew a bit misty.
Song Qinghuan took the receipt and card, turned around, and gave Lin Shishi a meaningful smile.
That smile practically screamed, “You’ll have to repay me with your body tonight.”
Lin Shishi’s face instantly flushed crimson, like a ripe apple. She shyly lowered her head but couldn’t help sneaking another glance at Song Qinghuan.
After paying, the two girls returned to the ward.
Lin Shishi sat by the bed and took Lin Mo’s hand. “Mom, the money issue is solved. Just focus on recovering. Don’t worry.”
“Solved?”
Lin Mo was stunned. She looked at her daughter. “Where did you get so much money? Forty thousand yuan is no small amount.”
“Um… Mom, rest assured, this money… it’s legitimate.”
Lin Shishi felt a pang of guilt and avoided her mother’s probing gaze. Her cheeks flushed, and her voice dropped.
Under Lin Mo’s stare, Lin Shishi’s social anxiety flared up.
Her heart raced.
Her face turned even redder.
She looked like someone who had done something wrong.
“Legitimate?”
Lin Mo’s brow furrowed again, her tone turning serious. “Shishi, tell me clearly. You’re a student. How did you earn so much money? That’s almost two years of my salary! You can’t be… doing something…”
Seeing her mother getting more agitated and gripping her hand tighter, Lin Shishi blushed even deeper. She stammered, unable to explain, only repeating weakly, “It really is legitimate…”
“Auntie,”
Song Qinghuan reached out in time and gently patted Lin Mo’s tense shoulder. “Please don’t worry. I lent the money to Shishi. We’re good friends, and friends help each other in times of need. I also told her she can pay me back slowly after she starts working. What matters most now is your health. Focus on recovering—that’s the most important thing. We can worry about the money later.”
Hearing this, Lin Mo’s tense body relaxed slightly.
She turned and gave Song Qinghuan a long, deep look.
The tall, beautiful girl before her had clear, honest eyes. Her demeanor was proper and gracious, her tone neither humble nor arrogant. She truly seemed reliable.
Lin Mo’s stern expression softened into gratitude and a weary gentleness. “I see… You’re a good child. Thank you.”
She paused, then looked at her daughter, who still had her head down, and sighed softly. “Shishi, having such a good friend is your blessing. Remember her kindness. In the future… get along well.”
“I will, Mom.”
Lin Shishi quickly nodded, but her mother’s words “get along well” stirred a strange ripple in her heart.
In Song Qinghuan’s eyes, though Lin Mo looked haggard from injury and age, her features still showed traces of the beauty she once possessed.
Her delicate face, though lined and pale, had excellent bone structure. One could imagine how lovely she must have been in her youth.
Soon, a nurse pushed a cart in, carrying several boxes of medicine.
She sorted them efficiently, her voice flat. “These are for internal use, take after meals. These are external plasters, change once daily. Family members, please remind and assist.”
“Okay, thank you.”
Lin Shishi quickly responded, watching the nurse’s movements carefully.
The nurse deftly unbandaged part of Lin Mo’s leg and replaced the plaster on her calf.
Lin Mo winced in pain, a fine sheen of sweat on her forehead.
Lin Shishi felt a pang of sympathy, her small hand clutching her skirt.
After changing the dressing, the nurse packed up and looked at Lin Shishi. “Are you her daughter?”
“Yes.” Lin Shishi nodded.
“Mm. The patient has a fractured shin. She needs at least thirty days of hospital observation and care. Are you staying with her alone?”
Before Lin Shishi could answer, Song Qinghuan stepped forward and said clearly, “We’ll both stay with her.”
The nurse gave Song Qinghuan a proper once-over, then looked at Lin Shishi clinging to her side, taking in her overly “striking” outfit. A flicker of knowing understanding crossed her eyes, but professionalism kept her from asking questions.
“Alright. Do you need a folding bed?”
“Yes, please.” Song Qinghuan nodded.
The nurse pulled a narrow blue folding bed from the lower shelf of the cart and set it up against the wall.
“This is the only one.”
“That’s fine,” Song Qinghuan said casually. “We can share it.”
The nurse paused, looking at them, then at Lin Mo on the hospital bed, a look of surprise on her face.
Even Lin Mo was clearly taken aback, her gaze shifting between her daughter and Song Qinghuan.
“That… doesn’t seem appropriate?” Lin Mo said tactfully. “The bed is too small. Two people sleeping on it will be very uncomfortable. Qinghuan is kind enough to help; I can’t have you squeezed in there.”
She turned to her daughter, arranging things. “Shishi, why don’t you just lie down next to my bed for the night? You can make do.”
Lin Shishi’s face was already bright red. She didn’t dare respond, just stared at her toes.
But Song Qinghuan laughed. “Auntie is right. I wasn’t thinking.”
Lin Mo sighed in relief, her fondness for Song Qinghuan growing. “Good child. Sorry for making you suffer.”
“No hardship at all. It’s the least I can do.” Song Qinghuan smiled.
Outside, the sky gradually shifted from bright to dark.
The last rays of sunset cast a warm golden glow over everything in the ward.
“Auntie, are you hungry?” Song Qinghuan’s voice was gentle and caring.
Lin Mo was indeed feeling hungry. She nodded. “A little.”
“Then Shishi and I will go get some food from the cafeteria.” Song Qinghuan stood up.
She naturally took Lin Shishi’s hand. “Let’s go, Shishi.”
“Okay.” Lin Shishi obediently rose, their fingers intertwining.
Watching the two girls leave the room with their intimate posture and coordinated movements, Lin Mo sat back against the bed. A complex smile tugged at her lips.
She sighed inwardly: ‘Daughters never stay with their mothers forever…’
She was a woman of experience. That unique eye contact and body language between lovers—no matter how much they tried to hide it, it was obvious.
The way Lin Shishi looked at Song Qinghuan—the dependence, the shyness, the occasional sparkle of light.
And Song Qinghuan’s casual yet possessive touches and attention toward Lin Shishi… It was all too clear.
***
The hospital corridor was wide and bright, the smell of disinfectant stronger than in the ward.
The two walked hand in hand toward the cafeteria.
“By the way,” Song Qinghuan suddenly spoke, her tone light and chatty, “has your mother ever talked to you about what kind of partner she hopes you’ll find? Or has she been anxious to arrange a marriage for you?”
Lin Shishi’s face turned crimson, like a ripe apple.
She frantically shook her head, her twin ponytails swaying. “N-no… not at all…”
“I don’t believe you.”
Song Qinghuan tilted her head, a teasing smile on her lips.
She glanced at Lin Shishi’s reddening ear tips and darting eyes. “You’re so pretty, and so… cute. Surely some girls have pursued you? There must have been.”
“Th-there were a few.”
Lin Shishi’s voice was barely a whisper, her head drooping even lower.
She looked down at her dainty feet in high heels, stepping alternately as they walked.
“But Mom… Mom didn’t say much. She just said that who I want to be with in the future is my own business, but I have to find the right person, and see clearly. Otherwise… if I meet the wrong person, I’ll be bullied for life, and that would be terrible.”
“Pfft—”
Song Qinghuan couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Her clear laughter seemed a bit out of place in the quiet corridor.
She leaned close to Lin Shishi’s ear, lowering her voice, her warm, moist breath brushing against her sensitive earlobe.
“That’s not right, you know. My little pet… don’t you especially like being bullied? If I don’t bully you, you get upset… You contradictory, wicked little pigtailed brat.”
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