Cao Wei Guang's words, "You can be discharged from the hospital," finally put Su Rao's heart at ease.
Su Rao's discharge also meant Su Qing could go to school normally.
It also meant no more money need spent.
Su Rao desperately wanted her daughter to neglect her studies because of her.
After returning home, Su Qing wanted to stay home with Su Rao for a few days, but Su Rao wouldn't let her, forcing her to go to school.
Su Qing, the top student in the grade, took almost two weeks off after taking first place. The entire senior class knew about this person.
The usually low-key Su Qing had become a revelation, something that made her quite uncomfortable.
"Did you see that? That's the top student in the senior year."
"She's just normal face I heard she's Jiang Sui's ex-girlfriend..."
"Shh, keep your voice down. Don't let anyone hear."
"What's wrong with hearing? What's wrong with being a good student? How shameless! Using the latest phone and receiving a scholarship."
These words seemed free, and Su Qing heard a lot of them, but she mostly chose to ignore them.
As long as no one was clearly provoking her, Su Qing chose to endure them. Fortunately, those people didn't seem to do anything else.
Perhaps it was because Su Qing had been away from class for a long time, and those people had forgotten about her.
She came to class, but Hu Yifan and Jiang Sui didn't seem to be there.
Hu Yifan seemed to have joined the basketball team.
And Jiang Sui...
Was he really playing a fake match in an underground court?
Had he really been kicked out by his family?
Su Qing didn't dare to think, nor did she dare to ask.
All these doubts lingered in Su Qing's heart, afraid to address them, only letting them hang in the air.
The school was devoid of that boy's presence, as if something had been missing.
Ever since that chance encounter at the hospital, it seemed as if they had truly ceased to have any contact.
Su Qing calmed down and focused in her studies. Fortunately, she had already asked her teacher for a desk change, so she now sat alone.
Regardless of other opinions, Su Qing simply wanted to catch up on the missed classes.
Fortunately, it wasn't a lot.
Liu Ranran had called early, saying that she hadn't been allowed to visit her mother in the hospital before, but now that she was discharged, she had to go see her at home.
Su Qing couldn't refuse, so she let her come.
The weekend arrived quickly.
Liu Ranran found Su Qing's home with familiarity, carrying fresh fruit. Having not seen her for over half a month, Liu Ranran looked thinner than before, her round cheeks now adorably pointed, and her almond-shaped eyes, smiling sweetly, made her even more adorable.
"Ranran, whatever you want to eat, Auntie will cook for you today."
Su Rao was very fond of this girl; her clear eyes were full of joy.
Liu Ranran waved her hand and peeled an orange.
"No thanks, Auntie. I came here today to see you and to borrow Qing Qing to go shopping with me."
Liu Ranran smiled at Su Rao. Knowing Su Rao's condition, she naturally couldn't let Su's mother cook.
Su Rao didn't know what Liu Ranran was thinking, but she simply felt it was time for Su Qing to get out and about. She'd been stuck inside with her all day, either studying or taking care of her.
"Okay, fine. You guys can hang out as long as you want. Just get out of here and stop getting in my way."
Su Qing hadn't originally wanted Su Rao to cook. While her cooking wasn't great, she could still make something edible. She'd already planned to cook today, but when Liu Ranran mentioned going out, she refused without a second thought.
Su Rao's condition had just stabilized. Although the doctor said she was fine, Su Qing was well aware of the dangers of this type of illness, so she wanted to stay by her side as much as possible.
To the point that she had recently skipped her self-study classes and was studying at home.
"Qing Qing, go out for a walk. Mom will call you if anything happens."
Su Rao knew Su Qing was worried about her.
She had never imagined she would become a burden to her daughter.
At Su Rao's repeated requests, Su Qing finally followed Liu Ranran out.
Perhaps it had been a while since Liu Ranran had felt free, so she took care of everything from buying drinks and milk tea to snacks for Su Qing.
Su Qing's mind was momentarily blank.
During lunch, Liu Ranran glanced at Su Qing several times, hesitant to speak.
"Qing Qing..."
She wasn't one to hold back, and her eyes constantly betrayed something she was hiding.
"Ranran, is there something you want to tell me today?"
Ranran didn't seem like someone who didn't understand Su Qing. It seemed like she knew her well enough to know she wouldn't come out, so she deliberately made an appointment with Su Qing in front of Su's mother.
Especially when Liu Ranran was about to say something but didn't dare, she'd eat like crazy, her stomach completely bloated.
Naturally, she looked at Su Qing with some trepidation, her almond-shaped eyes gazing at her in shock.
"Qing Qing, how did you know I had something to say..."
She hadn't even said it yet, and yet she already knew what she was about to say.
Su Qing pursed her lips, a look of understanding. Liu Ranran smacked her lips.
"Okay, I'll tell you then."
Su Qing nodded.
"Go ahead."
But Liu Ranran was still torn, unsure whether to speak. She took another deep sip of her milk tea, mustered her courage, and spoke again.
"I really did."
She blinked, her eyes blazing at Su Qing.
Su Qing nodded patiently.
"I really did..."
Liu Ranran's anxious expression and her struggles were all captured in Su Qing's eyes.
Su Qing pinched her fingers under the table.
"Are you going to tell me about Jiang Sui?"
Liu Ranran's mouth dropped open in shock.
"Qing Qing...how did you know?"
Liu Ranran cursed Hu Yifan a thousand times in her mind. Qing Qing's reaction clearly didn't match his words.
She regretted accepting the offer.
But Hu Yifan offered her tickets to the New Moon Band's backstage performance...
And she seemed to sense that Qing Qing liked Jiang Sui, so it wasn't really a betrayal of her best friend.
She consoled herself with this.
But now, seeing that Su Qing had spoken out without a second thought, she had guessed right at the beginning.
For a moment, Liu Ranran didn't know how to continue.
"Qing Qing, do you like Jiang Sui..."
Forgetting her original purpose, Liu Ranran brought up a topic that made Su Qing's heart clench.
Her eyelashes trembled, and she lowered her eyes...