Although They're Mentally ill, They're Extremely Easy to Comfort - Chapter 47

“Stop the car!” Ling Xi, holding a bag of medicine, suddenly let out a frantic shout.

Xiao Mo was startled and instinctively hit the brakes. He nervously looked left and right: “What’s wrong, what’s wrong? Did I sideswipe the car next to us?”

“No, there’s a seller of tanghulu (candied haws) at the intersection ahead. I want some.”

Ling Xi slumped in the passenger seat, pointing excitedly to the front right. Xiao Mo looked over and was so annoyed his teeth almost ground to dust: “Why all the fuss, scaring me to death! How old are you, still wanting tanghulu? What’s so great about that stuff?”

“You don’t understand, this is called being young at heart. I don’t care, I want to eat it!” Seeing the car about to pass the intersection, Ling Xi went crazy like a broken record, chanting: “I want to eat, I want to eat, I want to eat…”

Xiao Mo couldn’t stand the buzzing sound, like a swarm of flies. If Dr. Bai hadn’t repeatedly urged him to be tolerant, he would have punched the little rascal to the floor and used him as a brake pedal.

Though he thought that, it was still a spoiled bad habit he had indulged, and now he had to continue indulging it even if it hurt. Xiao Mo compromised and pulled the car to the side of the road: “Go buy it.”

Ling Xi shamelessly held out her hand, blinking her eyes: “Give me money.”

Xiao Mo was so angry that he lost his temper instead. He patted himself all over and finally dug out a ten-yuan bill.

“It’s five yuan per stick. Do you want one?”

“No, hurry up. We can’t park here for too long.”

“Then I can eat two sticks! Yay…” Thrilled to eat by herself, Ling Xi jumped out of the car and skipped towards the tanghulu seller.

Xiao Mo leaned on the steering wheel, staring at that slender back, then looked at the large bag of medicine on the passenger seat. The immense contrast hit him, spilling out a bittersweet pang of sadness.

“Your master and I will be away for at least half a year for this field study. Ling Xi is also studying abroad. The house can’t be empty. Come over often to water the flowers and clean up. I’ll bring you back something nice then.”

“Master, the place you and Mistress are going for archaeology is too remote. You should prepare more practical things. How about I ask a friend to get you a satellite phone so we can keep in touch?”

“This is a secret investigation. We signed a non-disclosure agreement, so we can’t reveal anything to the public… But don’t worry, it’s not the first time we’ve traveled far. It’s just that the conditions there are a bit tough, but it’s not a big problem.”

“You need to sober up! I promised Master and Mistress that I would take good care of you. How am I supposed to explain this zombie-like state you’re in?”

“Are you really not going to eat?”

A large string of bright red tanghulu, carrying a hint of boastfulness, was shaking in front of his eyes.

Ling Xi’s cunning inquiry jolted Xiao Mo out of his memories.

He waved his hand distractedly, looking at Ling Xi’s smiling face. He returned her smile with a pat on her hat: “From now on, whenever you want tanghulu, big brother will buy it for you.”

That single word, “brother,” made Ling Xi’s eyes widen. She stood there foolishly holding the tanghulu, unable to move.

Perhaps only God knew how heavy those two words were, heavy enough to shake Ling Xi’s cold heart.

Tenderness transformed into light, bringing a glow to her eyes.

Pretending not to care, she tore open the packaging and took a big bite of the candied hawthorn. The sweet and sour taste brought satisfaction for this brief moment of happiness.

“Where are you planning to go? How about coming to my studio to sit for a while, or should I just take you home to rest?”

Xiao Mo was only asking as a routine. Based on his understanding of Ling Xi’s sloth-like nature, the answer would undoubtedly be to go home and sleep until dark.

Ling Xi made a decision without thinking, following her true intention: “I want to go to Jiatai.”

Xiao Mo exclaimed in disbelief: “Jiatai? You’re going to see Qiao Bo’er?”

“Is there a problem?”

“I think you’re seriously ill. You’ve been bullied so badly, why are you walking right into that crazy woman’s crosshairs?”

“Tsk, you don’t understand! Qiao Bo’er’s office has a whole wall of collectibles. Last time, she threw two good pieces at me and told me to play with them. Anyway, I’m just idling, so I want to go and scout for a few more to broaden my horizons.”

“But aren’t you the one who loves idling the most? Wait, Dr. Bai just said someone was chasing you. Was it Qiao Bo’er?”

Xiao Mo asked knowingly, trying to trick her into talking. Ling Xi immediately flared up: “Why are you, a grown man, so gossipy? Are you taking me or not?”

“I’ll take you, I’ll take you! It’s not every day I get to hitch a ride with such a gorgeous and wealthy patron. You need to do me proud! Anyway, one sentence: ‘Don’t forget me when you get rich!'”

Standing at the entrance of the Jiatai Building, just like last time, Ling Xi tilted her head and foolishly counted the floors.

The bag of medicine was cleverly tied around her waist. She held another perfectly packaged stick of tanghulu in her hand. From afar, she looked like a lost adult-sized child looking for her mother.

Blowing her bangs away from her forehead, Ling Xi skipped cheerfully into the lobby.

When she reached the elevator, she was dumbfounded.

All the elevators were shut down, and a sign indicating maintenance was placed on the floor.

Looking at the tanghulu she had managed not to eat, two little Ling Xis suddenly popped up in her mind—

The Slacker: Heavens, are you thinking of climbing dozens of floors just to deliver some kindness? Qiao Bo’er is crazy, but are you going to follow suit?

The Little Doctor: There are so many, many collectibles upstairs! You can’t have come all this way for nothing!

The Slacker: What if you get heatstroke climbing the stairs in this heat? Isn’t lying down at home more comfortable than climbing?

The Little Doctor: Give the tanghulu to Qiao Bo’er and extort a meal from her. You definitely won’t lose out…

The Slacker: Eat an ice cream, eat a watermelon, hurry home and lie down!

The Little Doctor: Climbing stairs builds strength, and collectibles are waving, waiting for you!

Ling Xi: You’re even making up rhymes. Both of you, shut up!

Ling Xi turned and looked at the eerie green sign of the fire escape. She shivered and decided to turn back home.

But after only two steps, she held up the tanghulu, smacked her lips, and changed her mind again. She brought a guest gift, she couldn’t come for nothing. Maybe she really could snag a free meal!

This was probably the first time since her Slacker persona took over that Ling Xi decided to do something truly strenuous.

Gritting her teeth, she plunged into the dark fire escape stairwell.

Five minutes later—

Looking at the sign for 7F, Ling Xi took off her hat and laboriously wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Leaning against the wall, panting heavily, she finally couldn’t help but curse: “Qiao Bo’er!! Why don’t you have your office on the first floor!!”

And so, her pathetic cry of complaint echoed throughout the fire escape.

Ten minutes later—

Ling Xi was sprawled all over the stair railing, drenched in sweat. The climb made her feel like she had a serious kidney deficiency, weaker than weak.

The bag around her waist felt like a heavy bomb. She weakly adjusted her waistband and continued forward at a snail’s pace.

The Slacker: Serves you right for not listening, serves you right!

The Little Doctor: Hold steady, we can win!

Ling Xi’s small frame was already swaying. Being in the middle floors was awkward; she couldn’t go up or down.

Suddenly, she began to cry. Yes, the child was crying again.

“Wuwuwu… If you’re sick, take your medicine. Why torture yourself?”

“Ling Xi, you must have been bored and slammed your head in a door… Wuwuwu!”

“…”

“With you by my side singing in this wilderness—the wilderness becomes paradise.”

She had been cursing herself the whole way, but for some unknown reason, the line of poetry Qiao Bo’er recited suddenly resonated in her mind.

That ethereal voice was like a tranquilizer calming her frenzy. Ling Xi pursed her lips and finally settled her agitation.

After the medication’s effects subsided, Qiao Bo’er walked into the pantry to pour herself a glass of ice water.

Leaning against the table, lost in thought, a paper-thin white figure suddenly zipped past the door, instantly catching her attention.

She walked to the door to look, only to see Ling Xi panting with her tongue out. Her hair looked like it hadn’t been dried after a wash, and her white T-shirt was soaked with sweat and clinging to her body.

She was still holding up the slightly melting tanghulu. She was plastered to the door of Qiao Bo’er’s office, as if that would better dissipate the excess heat from her body.

Qiao Bo’er’s originally dull eyes suddenly lit up with joy. She couldn’t help but call out: “You little rascal?” (lit. ‘Dog thing?’)

Hearing the sound, Ling Xi turned back, still sticking out her tongue. In this state, she truly looked like a little rascal; it was quite cute.

“Qiao Bo’er!” Finally seeing a lifeline, Ling Xi cried and screamed: “Why don’t you have your office on the first floor? Climbing dozens of floors will kill people!”

Seeing Ling Xi huffing and puffing and talking nonsense, Qiao Bo’er’s sparkling eyes held a confused smile: “Huh?”

The distance between the pantry and the office was half a hallway. The hurried click of high heels betrayed Qiao Bo’er’s desire to get closer quickly.

As the beautiful woman approached, Ling Xi didn’t care about etiquette and snatched the cup from her hand.

She gulped the ice water down completely. Every withered cell in Ling Xi’s body was excitedly partying.

Seeing Ling Xi’s flushed face and messy, wet hair, Qiao Bo’er grabbed her arm and led her into the office: “What’s going on with you? You’re soaked in sweat.”

“I need to seriously criticize you, the building manager! All the elevators in the building are under maintenance. The arrangement is too unreasonable!” Ling Xi fumed. Qiao Bo’er stared blankly at the tanghulu in her hand, confused: “So… you climbed the stairs to get here?”

“Of course I did! Just to share this delicious tanghulu with you, I almost died in the stairwell at such a young age! Here, eat it…”

Ling Xi finally delivered the tanghulu to its destination. Her face actually held the solemnity of having fulfilled a mission.

“Vice Professor Ling, who finds even breathing tiring, climbed dozens of floors just so I could have a taste of a sweet tanghulu?”

Qiao Bo’er found it unbelievable. This kind of meeting was too much like a dream. The burst of happiness easily swept away the gloom in her heart.

Ling Xi impatiently urged: “Take it. Are you embarrassed?”

“Thank you.” Taking the tanghulu, Qiao Bo’er held Ling Xi’s hand firmly and walked towards the rest room: “Come with me.”

“Hmm?”

“The air conditioning in the office is very strong. The sudden change in temperature can lead to a heat cold. You should go take a hot shower first.”

“But I don’t have any clothes to change into.”

“Don’t worry, you can wear mine first.”

Inside the room, Qiao Bo’er went straight to the closet.

The closet was filled with the designer suits Qiao Bo’er wore for meetings and outings, always ready for a change, a dazzling and overly extravagant collection.

Leaning against the closet, Qiao Bo’er raised an eyebrow and generously gestured: “Pick whatever you like.”

Ling Xi looked at the clothes, which were high-profile in design and expensive in value, and awkwardly scratched her head: “Is there a possibility that if I wear your clothes, I’ll look like a child stealing their mother’s clothes? It wouldn’t match at all.”

Sure enough, the touching moment didn’t last more than a minute; the little rascal started running her mouth again.

Qiao Bo’er glared at her, took out a pure white shirt, and shoved it into Ling Xi’s arms: “Be good… This shirt of mine is more suitable for my baby.”

“You!”

Learning by example, using the little rascal’s own methods to deal with the little rascal, the effect was doubled!

“Go take a shower. I’ll prepare a drink for you. What would you like?”

“Ice coke!”

“Milk.”

“I want ice coke!”

“Iced milk. I can’t compromise anymore.”

“Ugh! Fine!”

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