Although They're Mentally ill, They're Extremely Easy to Comfort - Chapter 98

Ling Xi sat obediently by the hospital bed, watching Qiao Bo’er busy packing the luggage and preparing for discharge. “Are you sure you don’t need my help?”

“I’ll handle it. You just sit still and don’t move.”

Hearing Qiao Bo’er’s command, Ling Xi immediately covered her nose and breathed cautiously, her small expression holding a touch of her “dog thing” soul.

Amused by Ling Xi’s adorable gesture, Qiao Bo’er walked over to her and rewarded her with a small kiss: “I spoke directly with the principal. He gave you a whole month of vacation. Where do you want to go and play?”

“Flo… uh… I don’t want to go anywhere…” Ling Xi almost blurted out “Florence” but quickly changed her mind.

A careful listener, Qiao Bo’er smiled and rubbed her head: “You want to go to Florence?”

“I…”

Qiao Bo’er sat beside Ling Xi, intertwining their fingers, and gently explained: “Regarding Qiao Di, regarding the past, I will tell you everything. But now is not the time. I begged Dr. Bai for a long time for you to be discharged. She’s not at ease, and I signed a guarantee letter. So, please give me—and yourself—a little time, okay?”

“Mm!” Ling Xi nodded heavily, wanting Qiao Bo’er not to worry too much about her.

“Let’s go home, back to our home.” Qiao Bo’er slung Ling Xi’s backpack onto her own shoulders and extended her hand.

Ling Xi grinned foolishly, firmly taking her hand: “Okay, let’s go home.”

“During this time, I will take good care of you.”

“But your work is so busy, won’t it take up too much of your time?” Ling Xi hooked her arm through Qiao Bo’er’s as they walked out of the ward. She didn’t want Bo’er to be torn between work and love.

Qiao Bo’er’s eyes were full of indulgence; she wished she could immediately cover her “dog thing’s” small mouth with her own: “How could it delay me? I’ve been wanting to make up for the pitifully few interactions we’ve had…”

“Bo’er…”

Ling Xi suddenly paused and called out softly. Qiao Bo’er was puzzled: “Hmm? What is it?”

“These past few days… you haven’t blamed me. Why didn’t you blame me?”

“Are you still thinking about what happened that day? My Xixi was sick and took too much medicine, which is why she did that silly thing. Why would I blame Xixi?”

“But I almost killed you… I don’t know how to face you… and my friends…” Ling Xi pouted, hanging her head like a student who had made a mistake: “See… they didn’t even come to pick me up.”

“You know you worried them? But everyone still loves you very much…” Qiao Bo’er comforted Ling Xi, pulling her to quicken their pace toward the parking lot.

“But they didn’t come to get me…”

“Who says that? Look over there.” Qiao Bo’er had already arranged a discharge surprise for Ling Xi.

Ling Xi looked into the distance. The initial confusion in her eyes was replaced by a dazzling sparkle as she spotted several figures, finally turning into ecstatic joy!

She pulled Qiao Bo’er and sprinted towards her friends: “You guys!!”

Xiao Mo and Su Yunjin stood on either side of the car’s trunk, looking a little silly as they held a red banner with big yellow words that made people want to laugh and cry: “Congratulations to the Dog Thing on Her Second Chance at Life!”

As Ling Xi approached, Qiao Bo’er pressed the button on her car key to open the trunk.

As the car door slowly lifted, Ji Nancen took the lead, with Chu Xi and Qu Ye on either side, pulling party confetti cannons.

With a bang, glitter flew everywhere. Ji Nancen blew a big horn: “Woo…”

“Congratulations, Dog Thing! Congratulations, Dog Thing!”

Ling Xi didn’t forget to drag Qiao Bo’er over, insisting on taking a selfie in front of the banner as a keepsake.

The moment the shutter clicked, Ling Xi turned her head and kissed Qiao Bo’er’s cheek. The others had various expressions. But it must be said, everyone was extremely happy at that moment.

Only Qin Yun, sitting in the driver’s seat, looked disgusted. Who celebrates a discharge so grandly right outside the hospital? Only this group of people would.

The first lesson after discharge: a group meeting.

Back at Ling Xi’s home, Chu Xi helped Ling Xi clean her laundry. Qin Yun and Qiao Bo’er, like two heads of the household, sat upright on the sofa, directing Ji Nancen and Qu Ye to clean the house.

Xiao Mo and Su Yunjin were in the kitchen, preparing a rich afternoon tea.

Only Ling Xi sat honestly on a low stool, tilting her head to watch her friends busily working.

“How about… I go and lend a hand?” Ling Xi wanted to leave the stool, but Qiao Bo’er commanded: “Don’t move.”

Qin Yun leaned lazily against the sofa, eyes half-closed, remaining impassive.

Only when the group had finished their various tasks did they return to the living room to gather.

Su Yunjin brought out tea and fruit, and Xiao Mo also took a seat on the sofa. Now it was a scene of three heads of the household gathered.

“Alright, since everyone is here and the food and drinks are ready, let’s begin.” Qiao Bo’er clapped her hands as a signal. Everyone became solemn, sitting or standing as appropriate.

Ling Xi was surrounded by the group, hunched over like a pitiful little chick, thinking that a critique session was about to start.

“You guys…” Ling Xi stammered, confused.

“Pfft, don’t be afraid. At Miss Bo’er’s request, we’ve decided to give you a 360-degree, all-inclusive explanation about Qiao Di.”

The mention of Qiao Di momentarily stunned Ling Xi. She looked foolishly at Qiao Bo’er: “Qiao Di?”

“The man in the video.”

At the mention of the video, Ling Xi shrank into a ball, hugging her knees and picking at her fingers: “Bastard…”

“Relax, he’s dead already.” Ji Nancen simply sat on the floor next to Ling Xi. This time, Ling Xi showed no signs of distaste, turning her head to stare suspiciously at Ji Nancen: “Truly dead?”

“Yup, we ganked him ourselves.”

“You guys?”

“The story begins with… &#&%” Ji Nancen began to tell, with great vividness, how they bravely fought Qiao Di.

Of course, to highlight her own crucial existence, she added color and exaggeration.

Ling Xi felt more like she was listening to a story of reality and magical realism, listening intently, clapping her hands occasionally, and sometimes holding her breath in suspense following the plot.

“Tsk, I’m telling you the truth, why are you listening like it’s an audiobook?” Ji Nancen poked her cheek in annoyance.

Ling Xi swatted her hand away, eager to know what happened next: “And then? And then?”

“To find out the rest of the story, please purchase the VIP access.” Ji Nancen teased Ling Xi, causing a burst of laughter.

Qiao Bo’er’s expression was serious, but deep down, she was satisfied with Ji Nancen’s performance. It seemed that having her explain everything in a lighthearted way was the correct choice.

“What Nancen said is true, so… I thought that with Qiao Di’s death, the old matter would be put to rest. I didn’t expect him to have a trick up his sleeve for causing discord, Ling Xi…”

Qiao Bo’er explained earnestly, pausing for a long time. Her friends dared not interrupt her speech.

Ling Xi looked seriously at Qiao Bo’er. She also understood that Bo’er needed time.

“I’m sorry… about your parents, I am truly sorry.”

Ling Xi sighed sadly. Since the matter was done, her innocently murdered parents could not come back. Listening to Qiao Bo’er’s sincere and regretful apology, she managed a bleak smile: “This isn’t your fault. I’ve never blamed you.”

“Let’s go back to Florence, and retrieve Mom and Dad’s urns.” Qiao Bo’er gathered her courage and finally spoke her mind.

Xiao Mo chimed in at the right moment: “Go. Everyone should go together. I also want to bring Master and Madam back. On this trip, Ling Xi needs to properly say goodbye to her past self, okay?”

“Yes, we should all go. Let’s make it a team building trip, a revisit to a place we know—it’ll be great!” Ji Nancen also managed to get herself a trip and cooperated by cheering loudly.

“Xiao Mo’s suggestion is good. Ling Xi can go see Bo’er’s hometown, and see the place where she grew up. Everyone will be there with you.” Qin Yun finally spoke, also seemingly anticipating this group trip.

That phrase, Everyone will be there with you, quietly struck Ling Xi’s heart.

That’s right, she wasn’t alone, never had been. Xiao Mo and Su Yunjin had loved and protected her like an older brother and sister since the very beginning.

Now Bo’er had become her lover, bringing a group of new friends into her lonely life. Everyone was silently protecting her, filling the void of the family life she lacked.

What more could she be dissatisfied with?

Ling Xi looked at the hopeful, inclusive smiles of everyone in front of her. Her crying came abruptly.

She cried heartbrokenly, and then it gradually turned into tears of joy. Her body felt light. It was as if something heavy, the painful burden she had kept deep in her heart, was slowly being withdrawn.

Qiao Bo’er pulled out a tissue and walked in front of Ling Xi, crouching down to gently wipe away Ling Xi’s tears: “Sweetie, why are you sad? Are you missing Mom and Dad? We’ll go soon, and we’ll find them. Please don’t cry, okay?”

Ling Xi grabbed Qiao Bo’er’s hand, shaking her head silently, sniffing, and then starting to smile foolishly again: “I’m crying because I’m happy.”

“Are you very happy right now?” Qiao Bo’er pinched her nose, soothing her.

“Mm, because everyone loves me… Bo’er, let’s go to Florence. The pain started there; let’s go there to end all the pain, and then truly begin our brand new life.”

Ling Xi slightly lifted her head, the corners of her eyes damp and flushed. The crystal-clear tears fell onto Qiao Bo’er’s heart, clearly conveying that she was trying hard to let go, to accept, and to take that difficult first step.

Hearing Ling Xi agree to the trip to Florence, Qu Ye, who was standing behind the sofa, quietly pulled out the last confetti cannon from his pocket. He had planned to save it for watching the finale of a TV series at home, but now it was put to good use.

Bang! The loud pop startled everyone, and then scattered glitter drifted out.

Qu Ye’s face was expressionless, but he still expressed his current happiness.

“Qu Ye!!” Ji Nancen roared: “Weren’t you tired from cleaning? Go clean up that mess!”

“Hahaha…”

“Alright, it’s decided perfectly, then. Everyone eat and drink as you wish, feel free. As for when we depart, we’ll wait for the word from Bo’er.” Su Yunjin gently clapped her hands.

“Yay!!” Ji Nancen cheered, already digging into the snacks and drinks on the coffee table.

Support