"Bai fengyi! Yiyi?" Bai shu screamed her name multiple times but heard no replies. She didn't bother wasting her time calling fengyi's name again and decided to also go into her room.
Bai Xue headed back down to the entrance while frowning. As no one was in the elevator with her, she bit her lower lip hard before she squeezed her eyes shut.
As the elevator arrived at the entrance, Bai Xue opened her eyes slowly before strolling out the door.
Outside the apartment, Bai Xue hailed a taxi. She gritted her teeth as lines appeared in between her brows.
In the car, her eyes became teary and dull while she sniffled multiple times. The driver looked up in the rearview mirror with a smirk plastered on his face.
"Young miss, you know…. you're too young to cry over a man like that?" He looked up in the mirror again trying to see her expression, but Bai Xue frowned and glared.
"Aya! Young miss don't misunderstand my words." He peered through the mirror and smiled slightly. "It's because I often have girls as customers. They cry a lot…. you know."
"Some of them even collapse or get drunk that I have to take them to the hospital."
"I really feel so sorry for them. Girls need care and attention, but they get the opposite, it's so sad."
While the driver was uttering these words, Bai Xue felt disgusted as she raised her eyebrows with her face scrunched up.
"And with that by the way, why don't we stay in….."
"Then I guess you don't need your money." Bai Xue cut off his words.
"Huh…. You... young miss? He peered through the mirror again, but he came across an expression that shut him up because Bai Xue frowned and glared at him directly through the mirror.
"I… i'm sorry miss." He smiled sheepishly and apologized. Bai Xue rolled her eyes and rest her back against the seat before crossing her arms under her chest while frowning.
The taxi pulled up in front of a large hospital building. Bai Xue scanned the code to pay and opened the door.
"Young miss do have a lovely day." As the driver uttered these words while waving his hand, he regretted it at once because Bai Xue rolled her eyes at him as she closed the door.
She walked through the entrance of the hospital in gentle steps, mindful of the patients around her. As her eyes lit up in a slight smile.
Bai Xue pressed the button for fifth floor on the elevator. The elevator arrived at the floor few moments later. Bai Xue strolled out gently. The fifth floor has a signboard indicating the psychiatric department.
"Bai Xue? It's been a long time, so nice to see you again." Some of the nurses greeted her in chorus at the counter. They all looked up with smiles despite their busy faces.
"Yes, it's been a long time, I've been busy with my final project." Bai Xue pouted and smiled after.
"Your mother made mention of that, she said you'll be graduating soon." The nurses added with smiles on their faces.
"She's graduating soon? How time flies, you used to be so little back then." The nurses laughed after one of them said in surprise. "Our Bai Xue is a grown up now." Immediately one of nurses who looked like an adult among them uttered these words they all laughed and chuckled.
"We are rooting for you…. Always." They encouraged her with their words.
"Your mother is in her office; you can go on to see her." One of them confirmed.
"Thank you!" Bai Xue's mouth curved into a smile as she bowed before leaving.
Bai Xue unlike other children who disliked the hospital smell and never liked to visit, she's different as she inhaled the scent while smiling. She strode to her mother's office down the hallway with smiles on her face. Even her dimples weren't invisible.
She knocked on the door before proceeding to enter the office. Only to see two women seated on a task chair chatting as laughter filled the room.
"Xue'er!" "Bai Xue!" The women exclaimed in chorus as their eyes widened in surprise.
"Mom!" "Aunt Ziyu!" She called them while running and smiling towards them as she hugged their necks. They were both seated facing each other, so it wasn't hard for Bai Xue to hug them at the same time.
"I miss every scent from you mom. Same with you Aunt Ziyu." Bai Xue smiling at them.
"Bai Xue, I've missed you too. We've been busy but I ask after you all the time." Mrs Huang replied with smiles.
"Xue'er, why didn't you give me a call, I was worried. I called multiple times but no response." Mrs Bai asked with worry as her voice wasn't as cheerful as when Bai Xue came in. Her lips tightened while she massaged Bai Xue's palm.
It's just now Bai Xue remembered that she didn't check her phone for a long time now. She quickly whipped out the phone from her bag pack and gasped in shock seeing how many missed calls she has received after turning off the the do not disturb mode.
"Mom, I'm so sorry, I forgot to turn off the DND mode after my presentation." Bai Xue pleaded while rubbing her mother's arms as she blinked her eyes in a cute smile.
"More importantly, are you just coming back from your presentation? I thought you mentioned it wouldn't take much time." Her mother asked as her eyes narrowed.
"Actually… the thing is…" Bai Xue hesitated while biting her lips as she glances between her mother and Mrs Huang. The women glanced at each other before facing Bai Xue with their eyebrows raised.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?" Her mother dropped the cup of coffee she was drinking and sat up properly staring at her while her forehead creased.
"Bai Xue? What happened?" Mrs Huang asked as she separated her crossed legs.
"Well…. I wasn't able to present my final project." Bai Xue announced to them.
"What! Wh…. what happened?" The women stuttered at the same time as their eyes widened in shock.
"Is it because you didn't meet up on time? Did the professor say something about your design?" Mrs Bai asked.
"No! No! it's none of that. The thing is my project file disappeared from the flash drive. And that's because Bai fengyi drugged me to sleep and then deleted it from the drive." Bai Xue frowned.
Mrs.Bai eyes widened in shock as her daughter just announced the most disheartening news to her.
"Xiaoyu, look, I told you those people were up to no good in the first place. Now our Xue has to pay for it." Mrs. Huang folded her arms with frown on her face. "If only you didn't accept them from the very beginning."
"Xue'er, I'm so sorry it's all my fault. Please don't blame them too much." Mrs. Bai pleaded with her daughter as tears filled her eyes.
"Mom, it's okay. It doesn't matter much because I was giving a chance to make up for the presentation." Bai Xue smiled at both of them.
"What are you saying? Bai Xue, this is not just a small issue. What if you weren't given a chance? That automatically means you won't be graduating for the year." Mrs. Huang uttered with a frown on her face.
"Your mother is just too soft for this world. This is not the first time they are doing this." Mrs Huang added. "You take care of them on behalf of your husband, and this is how they pay you?"
"Sometimes I really wish he's alive to see how bad they treat you and his daughter."
"Aunt Ziyu, I'm really fine, I just have to do the program for two months that's all." Bai Xue assured. "Besides, it's a good opportunity for me to be employed after I graduate. I just have to work very hard to be productive and recognized. I'm sure this chance is worth it."
"I'm always rooting for you. Please take care of yourself dear. I'm just…. really worried about you and your…... softhearted mother here." Mrs Huang rolled her eyes at her friend.
"What are you saying? I can take care of myself." Mrs. Bai also rolled her eyes while replying to her friend.
"Wow! says someone who's been bullied at her own house." Mrs. Huang scoffed.
"You…." Mrs Bai flared up in a slight frown and sighed later.
Bai Xue watching the both of them chuckled at their actions.
At that moment she realized her mother really has good friends who support and fight for her.
When the two friends noticed Bai Xue was laughing at them, they smiled. Their worrisome feelings just wore off smoothly.
Mrs Bai and Mrs Huang have been friends since high school days. They've always got each other's backs during tough times.
As the conversation went on between the two friends, Mrs Huang received an emergency alarm on her phone.
"Xiaoyu, I have to go. A patient is seeking for my presence." Mrs. Huang stood up immediately and put on her coat.
"Oh, okay. Be careful. Don't forget what I told you to do for me." Mrs. Bai reminded her.
"Alright, I'll call him tonight. See you later." Mrs Huang pecked Bai Xue's cheek as she waved and strode off in a fast pace.