Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
All good things must always come to an end, and although reluctant, Pei Ge eventually had to send Tang Xiaoyu to the airport.
Her holiday, which was neither short nor long, also came to an end.
That morning, she specially took a half-day leave to bring her good friend to the airport.
“Auntie, I’m leaving now; you take care of yourself.” Tang Xiaoyu hugged Zhang Manhua as she endearingly bid her goodbye.
Zhang Manhua’s eyes rimmed red as she nodded gently. “Alright, you take care of yourself overseas as well. Send my regards to your parents, okay?”
“Mhm!” she affirmed and then, remembering something, quickly added, “Oh, yes, Auntie, when you receive your medical result today; you have to let Ge Ge message me what it says no matter what.”
“I got it. Auntie’s health is very well, so there’s nothing to worry.” She showed a smile thick with emotion.
Once they had all said their farewells, Tang Xiaoyu followed Pei Ge out of the house with her belongings and hailed a cab toward the airport.
Pei Ge refused to let go of Tang Xiaoyu’s hand as they watched the steadily retreating scenery outside.
“Ge Ge, I will come back,” her best friend said lightly.
She pursed her lips and looked at her with red eyes. “Mhm, I will miss you.”
“You; don’t get bullied while I’m not around. Be smart!”
“Mhm!”
“Also, be mindful of your second uncle’s family. I feel that something is off with them.”
“Mhm.”
“And, and that cousin of yours is no good. Don’t let her off just because she is your relative.”
“Mhm.”
“Aside from ‘mhm’, do you have nothing else to say?! Jeez.”
“I know.”
“Ugh. I really don’t know what to do with you. I worry for you…”
It was with this loving nagging that they arrived at the capital’s airport.
Alighting from the taxi, Pei Ge accompanied her friend into the airport with moist eyes as she looked at the people passing by.
Once Tang Xiaoyu checked in, her eyes brimmed with tears as well.
“Xiaoyu, I don’t want you to go.” She hugged her friend tightly as unabated tears rolled down her cheeks.
“What are you crying for?! We can easily talk on the phone nowadays, so don’t cry! Still crying like a child at this age.” Feeling helpless, Tang Xiaoyu consolingly patted her back.
She, however, did not notice the quiver in her voice as she consoled her friend.
Collecting herself, Pei Ge wiped her tears away and said, “You must call me the moment your flight lands.”
“I will!” Her best friend smiled.
“And if that boyfriend of yours bully you, don’t hide it from me. You must tell me about it.” She sniffled as she looked at her seriously.
“Mhm-kay. I will tell you.” Her friend nodded, feeling amused.
“If he bullies you, I’ll definitely go to America to teach him a lesson,” she said firmly.
“Yes, I’ll definitely tell you.” Her friend smilingly nodded again.
“Then… go in; we’ll talk on the phone.” She reluctantly let go.
Tang Xiaoyu was reluctant to part with her as well and stared at her for the longest while before finally saying lightly, “Mhm. Auntie’s medical report should be out by the time I arrive in America. You must tell me about it when we talk on the phone later.”
“You are so anxious about my mom’s medical report. Don’t worry; she’s very healthy.” Their tearful exchange was interrupted by her friend being a worrywart.
Pei Ge eyed her with amusement. Her friend had insisted on having her mother undergo a full-body checkup.
Afterward, she pestered them about its result.
“What do you know? Your mother is gaining on in years. My father also looks healthy every day, but upon getting a checkup, we learned that he has many ailments. You’d better take her health more seriously.” She rolled her eyes reproachfully at her.
Contrite, she nodded and promised. “Mhm-okay. I will.”
The two chatted for a while more before separating when the airport called for passengers to board the flight Tang Xiaoyu was also meant to take.
Only when she could no longer see her friend’s back did she leave the airport and traveled home by transferring buses twice.
However, when she reached home, she found that her mother was not there.
“Yi? Did mom collect the medical report by herself?” she mumbled as she took out her phone and dialed her mother’s number.
The call quickly connected and her mother’s voice came through.
“Hello, Ge Ge.”
“Mom, did you go to the hospital?” she asked.
“Yes, I’m waiting for the release of my medical result. It’s crowded here today.” She chuckled.
“Mom, didn’t I tell you that I’ll go with you to the hospital to get it?” she asked with a hint of reprimand.
“Oh, never mind that; it’s no big deal, and I can do it alone. You just rest well at home,” she replied with a shrug.
Pei Ge ended the call once she deemed that she had nagged at her mother enough.
“Ah, what should I do on such a rare half day?” she muttered, suddenly at a loss on what to do.
Seeing that there were still three hours until lunch, she decided to take a nap.
After her beauty sleep, she was surprised to learn that her mother was still not at home.
She yawningly picked up her phone and dialed her mother’s number again.
“Hello, Mom, why aren’t you back yet?” she asked in a sleepy voice.
“Oh, I’m not done yet.” Her mother’s voice seemed to tremor.
Unfortunately, the half-asleep her failed to notice this.
“Why is it taking so long?” she complained.
“Didn’t I say that the hospital is especially crowded today?” she explained.
“Ah, I’ll prepare our lunch, then.”
“Alright, I’ll hung up now.”
“Mhm.”
In the end, when she finished lunch and was about to leave for work, her mother was still not back home.
“Yi, could it be that there are many collecting their medical reports today?” she asked to no one in particular and dialed her mother’s phone once more.
This time, the dial tone sounded for a long time before it connected.
“Hello, Mom, why aren’t you back yet? I already had lunch without you,” she questioned, her voice filling with worry.
“You go to work first; I’m on my way home now.” In the background, she could vaguely hear the rumbling sound of a bus.
An ominous feeling crept into her heart, but she paid it no heed and merely bid her mother a safe trip home before hanging up to leave for work.
