Chapter 157 Chapter 157: Belated Pain
Chapter 157: Belated Pain
It felt like a very, very long dream. What did she dream of, you ask?
She couldn't quite remember.
“But it was truly a comfortable sleep!”
Su Tao clasped her hands together and stretched lazily, a long stretch that greatly eased and reduced the fatigue in her body, leaving her feeling relaxed in a way she rarely experienced.
A round of morning sun streamed in through the window. The already frozen glass pane reflected a halo of light, some of its dazzling rays refracting into the room, making Su Tao instinctively squint her eyes.
The young nurse, who had been specifically instructed by Professor Su, had been keeping an eye on the surveillance of Su Tao’s ward.
Seeing that she had woken up, she immediately came to the ward door and asked carefully, “Miss Su, you’re awake. How… how do you feel?”
Su Tao first looked at the young nurse with a puzzled expression, then offered a relaxed smile. “I just collapsed from being too busy and tired. After a good sleep, I feel much better.”
“Really?” The young nurse still looked a little worried. “But your complexion still looks a bit poor.”
“Does it?” Su Tao turned sideways and, using a mirror on the nearby table, looked at her face.
Her eyes showed a hint of fatigue from the long sleep, and her pink lips were slightly pale. Without makeup, her natural face couldn't hide the weariness.
Her dark, lustrous hair clearly showed signs of having been cared for, but it was also slightly curled due to her poor sleeping posture, with a few strands of bangs falling over her right eye, making her look a little eerie.
Su Tao touched the skin on her face and chuckled softly. “It’s nothing. I think I had a nightmare and didn’t rest well enough, that’s why my complexion is a bit off.”
She glanced at the young nurse. “Speaking of which, can I be discharged directly? Little Cheng is still waiting for me at home to cook for her.”
The young nurse’s mouth slightly parted upon hearing this.
Her face flashed with a hint of shock and disbelief.
“I… I’ll go call Professor Su over!”
Leaving that sentence behind, she quickly ran out of the ward.
Su Tao was left behind, looking puzzled. “There’s no need to be so rushed, is there? Though it does feel like I slept for too long; I’m a bit tired.”
She shook her head. Noticing two small potted plants and a watering can by the window, she curved her lips into a faint smile.
She walked over, picked up the watering can, and slowly watered the two small flowers.
The trickling sound reached her ears as water droplets formed lines, striking the petals. The flowers gently swayed with the impact of the water flow.
This sight was very therapeutic for Su Tao. “Little Cheng used to quite like growing potted plants at home. How about I buy two on my way back later?”
She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Little Cheng seems to like white lily of the valley. Besides Da Wang, the house really does lack a bit of vitality…”
Su Tao tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, seemingly anticipating Chi Xiaocheng running up to embrace her when she returned home.
Her lips couldn’t help but curve upwards. Streaks of morning sun poured through the window onto her. Dressed in her hospital gown, she looked exquisitely beautiful at that moment.
Her haggard expression perfectly embodied a modern-day fragile beauty.
Professor Su hurried to the doorway, then slowed her steps before entering. Seeing Su Tao watering the flowers, she first observed her complexion, then let out a sigh of relief. “It’s truly wonderful to see you back to normal. Miss Su hasn’t had breakfast yet, has she? I’ll have someone bring some over shortly.”
“Oh, no need,” Su Tao smiled at Professor Su. “I plan to go back soon. Little Cheng can’t cook, so I need to go home and make her breakfast.”
“Go home?”
Professor Su froze for a moment.
The girl watering the flowers nodded gently. “Yes, Little Cheng can’t cook, so what can I do? I’ve always been the one to make food for her. Right now, that girl is probably still asleep, I’ll probably have to go back and wake her up again.”
“But Professor Su, even though taking care of Little Cheng like this can be a bit busy, I really enjoy seeing her cute expression when she eats. It always feels very therapeutic.”
Su Tao glanced sideways, then scratched her cheek self-consciously.
Noticing Professor Su’s expression, she paused slightly. “Professor Su, what’s wrong? You look so upset.”
Professor Su was silent for a moment. “Miss Su, do you remember why you were admitted to the hospital?”
“Why?”
Su Tao tried to recall, but then covered her head in pain, drawing in several sharp breaths.
She then shook her head abruptly. “I… I think I was admitted because I fainted from exhaustion, right?”
“I don’t really remember.”
Professor Su heard this and fell silent for a moment, instantly understanding Su Tao’s current condition.
When people suffer a major blow, their brains may enter an automatic protection mode that they can’t accept, leading directly to unconsciousness.
At that moment, the brain goes blank, abandoning thought—what is commonly known as a system crash.
A person’s emotions might vanish in an instant, refusing to accept such events, gradually becoming indifferent.
Or, as in the current situation, protective amnesia.
She hadn't forgotten that person; she simply didn't want to recall that past. Her brain had enacted a protective measure to prevent her from a self-collapse.
Professor Su stood at the ward door, her expression conflicted and hesitant.
She was debating whether to reveal what had happened to Chi Xiaocheng.
Her mind was instinctively refusing to remember; if she brought it up herself, the sudden outburst of emotion could truly drive a person insane.
However, while she was hesitating, Su Tao was already searching around. “Huh? Where’s my phone? Professor Su, did any of you touch my phone while I was sleeping?”
Your phone… it’s still at your house, it wasn’t brought here.
Professor Su sighed. “What do you need your phone for?”
“To call Little Cheng!” Su Tao smiled, and even though her face was haggard, she was still as radiant as a blooming flower.
Those pure eyes pricked Professor Su’s heart.
Even if she didn’t tell her the truth now, what would happen when she actually went home?
To find Chi Xiaocheng wasn’t there, and then frantically search for her?
Such a thing simply couldn’t be kept secret forever.
Professor Su didn’t know how many times she had sighed. “Su Tao, please try to compose yourself. There’s something I need to tell you.”
Su Tao nodded. “Go ahead, Professor Su.”
“Your Little Cheng… she’s already dead.”
Upon hearing this, Su Tao tilted her head, her smile somewhat stiff. “Professor Su, what kind of joke is this? Isn’t Little Cheng at home? How could she be dead…”
“Dead.”
She slowly uttered the last word, her pupils gradually losing their color.
The watering can in her hand remained half-tilted, and water slowly overflowed from the potted plant.
However, Su Tao seemed to freeze in place, her lips trembling as she turned her eyes to Professor Su. “Professor, what did you just say? Little Cheng… what happened?”
“She’s dead.”
Professor Su turned her head away, her eyes flashing with reluctance, yet she dared not meet Su Tao’s gaze.
Hiding it from her would only cause her greater pain.
Sudden memories, like a tidal wave, began to surge into Su Tao’s mind.
Unable to accept such an event, her brain and body had instinctively initiated self-protection.
However, some things could never be forgotten.
Her pupils continuously constricted, and her lips and body trembled gradually.
Scene after scene flashed through her mind, finally settling on Chi Xiaocheng’s serene face just before she died.
“Thud—!”
The watering can she had been using fell to the floor.
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