abcnovels
Chapter 64
Chapter 64
Chapter 64
Yu Shu returned home, where Dou'e greeted her at the door, excitedly jumping up and down and drooling for a pat.
Shen Youlin was not there. The housekeeper poked her head out from the kitchen, busy cooking, and said when she saw Yu Shu return: "Mr. Shen left you a note on the coffee table."
Folded on the coffee table was a slip of paper with Shen Youlin's flamboyant handwriting: "The annoying old guy found this place and came over, so I went abroad to hide. Help me keep an eye on the silly dog, I'll reward you handsomely when I get back."
The signature was a simple pictogram of a small head with a stylish, wind-blown fringe, surrounded by flashing stars.
Shen Youlin. She didn't know his birthday.
Yu Shu shrugged indifferently. She wasn't as disappointed as she thought she would be.
While walking the dog that night, Yu Shu received a call from Yu Feng. Speaking haltingly, Yu Feng circumspectly conveyed Ye Ping's wish to see her.
Now the only person who could make Yu Shu feel anxious and stressed was Ye Ping. The conditioned reflex she had developed over the years made her just want to avoid Ye Ping, but her nature made her hesitate.
Sometimes she really hated the unbreakable ties of blood relations.
After tossing and turning for two days, Yu Shu still went to the Sixth Hospital. Before seeing Ye Ping, she met with Ye Ping's attending physician.
The doctor didn't ask much, just chatting with her about Ye Ping's condition: "It's a very complicated condition with multiple illnesses manifesting, and she's been suffering for quite some time. Over the years she must have been in great pain too. The chaotic mind caused memory and logical thinking impairments. It's hard for healthy people to understand those feelings. You can simply think of it as your brain being occupied by negative emotions and painful memories, fighting world war inside your head."
"However, the recent treatment has been very effective. Your mother has recalled many past events, and become much clearer mentally. The physical symptoms caused by the mental disorders have also been relieved. She seldom feels pain, palpitations, chest tightness and so on now."
Yu Shu thanked the doctor. He comforted and encouraged her for a bit before leaving. He knew well the trauma and pain suffered mentally by the families of psychiatric patients was no less than that of the patients themselves.
Yu Shu had imagined all sorts of scenarios of meeting Ye Ping in her mind, but when she actually saw Ye Ping, all those scripts vanished instantly.
Ye Ping was smiling, just like that rare gentleness when she returned home after a long absence.
She exclaimed, "You lost so much weight, and became so pretty!"
Not knowing why, Yu Shu blurted out sarcastically, "Yeah, ready to find a husband now."
Ye Ping's smile froze. "I won't force you anymore. You...just be happy."
I was very happy until I came to see you.
Yu Shu opened her mouth, but didn't utter those words in the end.
"I've always been muddled all this time, barely conscious most of the time. Only a few thoughts were clear, and I tried desperately to grasp them, becoming obsessed and unreasonable. I..." Ye Ping pinched and rubbed the hem of her clothes. "I'm not trying to excuse myself..."
Ye Ping started sobbing, crying in a way that annoyed Yu Shu yet made her heart ache too.
After a long while, Ye Ping looked up at her, eyes full of remorse: "I'm sorry, mom's sorry..."
Yu Shu's eyes instantly turned red. She wanted to say "It's okay," but the words got stuck in her throat.
The "I'm sorry" she received always came after she gave up hope.
Ye Ping reached out, trying to touch Yu Shu's shoulder, but Yu Shu took half a step back to dodge.
Ye Ping's hand hung in midair, drew back awkwardly, and asked chokingly, "Does it still hurt?"
She remembered now how Yu Shu's left shoulder burn scar came to be, she was the culprit.
Yu Shu said in a flat tone, "Don't remember."
She was the sort who forgot the pain once the wound healed. Each time she was hurt by Ye Ping, she hated and avoided her, but as soon as Ye Ping displayed a little warmth and maternal love, Yu Shu would desperately get close to her again.
Over and over.
Commonly known as "asking for abuse".
"I'm sorry," Ye Ping said again.
"Mm."
They looked at each other speechlessly. Unable to tolerate the oppressive atmosphere, Yu Shu said a quick "bye" and hastily left.
The moment she got into the car, she called Shen Youlin. She suddenly wanted to hear his voice very much, or see him. She was in low spirits now, Ye Ping could easily affect her mood.
Not being able to control one's emotions felt awful.
No one picked up the call. Yu Shu didn't redial.
Don't call a man twice if he doesn't pick up the first call.
Instead of Shen Youlin's callback, Yu Shu received a call from Lin Fangyu. Over the phone Lin Fangyu wailed, "Shu Shu, I got cheated on! That bastard cheated on me with his ex!"
Hearing her cry cleared away Yu Shu's gloominess. She asked, "Did you suffer a loss?"
Lin Fangyu instantly stopped crying. Calmly, and even a bit proudly, she said, "Of course not! My uncles and cousins broke his legs. And I sent his affair video to all his relatives. Everyone's on the moral high ground condemning him now!"
"Well done! You're awesome!" Yu Shu couldn't help applauding her. "What about the shop? How are you splitting the shop?"
That bakery was opened together by Lin Fangyu and Chen Xiao. Lin Fangyu's parents also poured in quite a bit of money.
"Don't know yet. My uncles and dad are in talks with their family. They definitely won't let me get the short end of the stick. They told me to get out and distract myself a bit, so I've come to you. I'm almost at Rongcheng now."
"Send me the address. I'll come get you."
"I want to go eat at that super popular Hunky Hotpot place!"
"Eat up! Dinner's on Ms. Yu tonight!"
"Yay yay!"