✓ Fourth Hospital Patient Exchange Forum

185

185: Little Treasure
Translator: InkyDragon

Was she truly too naive? A right laugh, thought Zhao Lan, dragging herself out of sleep and into the harsh glare of a new day.

A quick scroll through her social media feeds confirmed it - the internet was awash with praise for the beauty in the painting, yet not a single soul recognised the face staring back at them. *Her* face. How could she expect to find someone when no one knew who to look for?

A shrill ring cut through her thoughts. Her supervisor. After the obligatory pleasantries about her health and discharge, he cut to the chase: when could she grace them with her presence back at work?

A pang of envy stabbed at Zhao Lan as she sighed. Yu Xiao had it made. One day, she vowed silently, she too would know the sweet freedom of idleness and overflowing coffers.

"I'll need at least another month," she told her supervisor, her mind already made up. The post-discharge patient gathering wasn't until then, and she wasn't going to miss it. "Doctor's orders, still recovering."

A chipper "Rest well then!" chirped down the line before he hung up, clearly relieved to have a return date. Typical.

The house was still and quiet as Zhao Lan padded out of her room. Smiley and Precious were still sound asleep.

Stepping onto the balcony, she tossed her clothes into the washing machine, the morning sun warm on her face. Yu Xiao's words about the hospital window framing nothing but a fake world echoed in her mind. She couldn't recall what had happened, but standing here, feeling the wind on her skin... it all felt strangely unreal.

A quick rummage through the pantry revealed the usual suspects: rice, red beans, and a sad collection of dried dates. Red bean porridge it was then.

Face washed and a steaming bowl on the stove, Zhao Lan headed out to grab some breakfast, the quiet hum of the city already rising around her.

"I wish I could live another five hundred years..."

The insistent ringing dragged Yu Xiao from sleep. It was her mother. Always glamorous, she could have passed for forty even though she was pushing fifty, her life a constant parade of self-fulfilment.

"Smiley," her mother's voice was surprisingly gentle. "You didn't tell me you were discharged! Are you at your father's or at your flat?"

Truth be told, Yu Xiao rarely bothered calling her parents. Their insincere, long-distance concern used to grate on her. What good were empty words? But today, fresh from the hospital and soothed by the sound of her mother's voice, an unexpected calm settled over her.

"I'm at a friend's. I'm fine, don't worry."

Her mother, clearly picking up on the change in her tone, sounded delighted. "Oh, a friend's! That's good. You need proper rest, no need to rush back to school. Eat well! Do you need any money?"

"I'm good."

While she no longer felt the urge to cut the conversation short, she had nothing to say either. It was pointless; her mother didn't even ask where this friend lived, or offer to visit. Just if she needed money.

*Which was fine*, Yu Xiao thought. At least her mother was good for cash, unlike those stingy parents you saw on TV.

She got out of bed and opened the door. The aroma hit her immediately - Misty must have cooked something delicious.

Yu Xiao's mood lifted instantly. "Really, I'm fine. If I need anything, I'll let you know."

"Oh." Her mother sounded reluctant to hang up. "Does your father even know you're out?"