Maybe Meng Ying was busy or did not have her phone with her, but she did not answer.
Huo Yao stopped trying and sent Meng Ying a text instead. Meng Ying only replied to her during the second period after lunch.
[Sorry, I just saw your text. Dad got into a traffic accident, and I had to take care of him.]
After Huo Yao saw the text, she stepped out of the classroom to call Meng Ying even before the class was over. This time, Meng Ying picked up quickly.
Meng Ying’s choking voice came over the phone. “Yaoyao, the doctor said that Dad suffered serious injuries and might become… a vegetable…”
Huo Yao held the phone and kept listening to Meng Ying cry. When Meng Ying was almost done, Huo Yao asked her. “Where did your father get hospitalized?”
Since Meng Ying was on the verge of breaking down, she answered everything Huo Yao asked, blankly.
After Huo Yao obtained the hospital address, the school bell rang. She said, “Don’t be too sad. Uncle will be fine. I’ll come by after school. I have to go to class now. See you later.”
Huo Yao narrowed her eyes after she hung up and headed back to class.
Meng Ying put her phone away. She smiled sadly as she looked at her mother standing anxiously outside the ICU. She hoped her father would be able to recover, but the doctor’s words had heartlessly shattered all their hopes.
**
After school, Huo Yao hailed a cab straight away and headed to the hospital.
Meng Ying looked like a lifeless doll when Huo Yao found her. She was sitting on a chair outside the ICU. Her face was bereft of color and her eyes were swollen. She regained some life when she caught sight of Huo Yao.
“Yaoyao, you’re here.”
“Mhm,” said Huo Yao as she looked at the pitiful Meng Ying. She subconsciously touched Meng Ying’s head before she asked unhurriedly. “How is your dad doing?”
There was something soothing about Huo Yao’s bright, unsullied eyes. It did not cross Meng Ying’s mind that it was pointless to tell Huo Yao about her father’s condition since she was not a doctor. Instead, she held Huo Yao’s left hand and told her everything that the doctor said.
After Huo Yao heard the details, her expression relaxed a little.
His injury was not as serious as it seemed.
Mrs. Meng came in from outside and saw her daughter talking to a tall, slender girl about her husband’s condition. She suppressed her sadness and walked over to interrupt Meng Ying. “Ying, don’t worry your friend by telling her so much.”
Mrs. Meng turned to look at Huo Yao and was stunned when she finally caught sight of her.
She recalled how her daughter often talked about her stunning and brilliant deskmate. Meng Ying’s words of admiration had aroused her and her husband’s curiosity. Her husband had told his daughter to invite her friend over to their home in the coming days.
Thinking about her husband, made Mrs. Meng sad again. She smiled forcibly in a polite manner and said, “I’m sorry. Meng Ying is simply too upset.”
Then she paused for a moment and added. “Meng Ying’s father is still in ICU and is not ready for visitors, but thank you for coming over to the hospital to see him.”
Huo Yao nodded. “Auntie Meng, it’s no trouble at all. I’m sure Uncle Meng will recover soon.”
The rims of Mrs. Meng’s eyes turned red. She was afraid that she might cry in front of the girls, so she said, “I’ll leave you two to chat.”
