My Sweet Little Flower Turned Out to Be a Sinister Ghost - Chapter 18.3

Bai Qingyu was about the same height as Song Yuehua, and from this angle, she didn’t seem at a disadvantage in terms of presence.

Worried that Bai Qingyu might be at a disadvantage, Song Yuehua hurried over.

As she approached, she saw Song Yuelan’s face, which looked even more unpleasant than during their previous encounters. Her gaze toward Bai Qingyu was filled with pressure.

It was unclear what Bai Qingyu had just said, but Song Yuelan’s expression darkened further. She let out a cold snort from her throat, clearly having been verbally cornered.

She seemed about to lose her temper, but after glancing at the “Quiet” sign on the hospital room door and remembering where she was, she ultimately bit her lip. Her footsteps were quick and heavy, radiating pent-up frustration.

As she passed the end of the corridor, she caught sight of Song Yuehua rushing over. A flicker of confusion passed through her eyes, but she didn’t stop. She merely frowned at the bag of fruit in Song Yuehua’s hand before stepping into the elevator without a backward glance, not even bothering to ask a question.

“Qingyu!” Ignoring Song Yuelan’s departure, Song Yuehua hurried to Bai Qingyu’s side. “Did my sister give you trouble again?”

Bai Qingyu’s brow furrowed slightly, her lips pressed together in a pitiful expression. Her voice softened as she said, “President Song, she…”

She hesitated, pausing before continuing, “She asked me to be with her. She said if I agreed, she would cover all my mother’s surgery costs.”

“But haven’t we already raised enough money?” Song Yuehua was taken aback, then quickly realized there was more.

“It’s not just about the money. She said Director Zhang’s schedule is tight, but she has connections at the hospital. She promised that if I agreed to be with her, she could get Director Zhang to perform the surgery sooner. But if I refuse…”

Song Yuehua felt a stifling pressure in her chest as she recalled Song Yuelan’s unpleasant expression. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. “She’s taking advantage of our situation! We’ve gathered enough money, we don’t need her contribution, and now she’s trying to stop us? I’m going to confront her!” With that, she made a move to rush into the hallway, intent on catching up to Song Yuelan and arguing with her.

“Don’t!” Bai Qingyu quickly grabbed her wrist. “This is a hospital, it’s not a good place to cause a scene. Besides… President Song has a terrible temper. Arguing with her will only make you angrier.”

Bai Qingyu felt a pang of regret. How had she let Song Yuehua see her talking to Song Yuelan? She had never intended for Song Yuehua to have any further dealings with Song Yuelan.

When it came to persistent, arrogant pursuers like Song Yuelan, the best approach was to…

Though dark thoughts swirled in her mind, Bai Qingyu maintained a gentle demeanor as she tried to calm Song Yuehua.

Pulled back by Bai Qingyu, Song Yuehua halted her steps, stamped her foot in frustration, but softened her tone. “But we can’t just let her bully you like this!”

“These things really aren’t a big deal. Don’t let yourself get so worked up,” Bai Qingyu said softly, patting the back of Song Yuehua’s hand. “I know what I’m doing, I won’t get involved with her. As for the surgery, I’ll figure something out. There’s always a solution.”

Song Yuelan had managed to make Director Zhang comply, likely through short-term incentives, perhaps an academic sponsorship or a few high-profile patient referrals. But what if those “favors” were met with something of more tangible value?

Song Yuehua’s shoulders slumped. “But I feel so useless… We’re sisters, yet she’s so capable, able to pull strings at the hospital effortlessly, while I can only stand by and watch as she threatens you, unable to help at all.”

“Everyone is different,” Bai Qingyu said gently, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind Song Yuehua’s ear, her eyes filled with tenderness. “Even though you share the same parents, your life paths have diverged significantly. It’s not about being ‘useless’ it’s about what each of you values. And besides,” she paused, a faint smile curling at the corners of her lips, “compared to someone as formidable as President Song, I prefer someone like you, someone who worries about me and wants to help.”

Song Yuehua’s ears grew warm at these words. She pursed her lips and glanced up shyly, then suddenly remembered something.

Wait… parents?

Her eyes lit up instantly, and her voice rose with excitement. “I’ve got it! I can call Mom! She wouldn’t just stand by and let Song Yuelan do this, would she?”

Bai Qingyu watched as Song Yuehua clenched her fists, her face bright with the conviction of having found a solution. She didn’t have the heart to dampen her spirits.

She simply nodded gently. “Give it a try. It might just work.”

After all, if their family hadn’t always indulged Song Yuelan, she wouldn’t have developed such an overbearing personality.

As she spoke, Song Yuehua pulled out her phone, her fingers swiftly scrolling through her contacts in search of “Mom’s” number.

But as she scrolled, her finger suddenly froze. The name was right there on the screen, yet her heart inexplicably began to race, and her throat tightened.

It seemed like it had been a long time since she had last dialed this number.

Her finger hovered over the screen for a few seconds. Taking a deep breath, Song Yuehua finally tapped the number.

The moment she pressed the dial button, she suddenly felt a bit dazed, her fingertips trembling slightly.

After the call connected, Song Yuehua inexplicably lowered her voice.

It was as if deep down, her relationship with her mother had never been very good.

Although the book didn’t explicitly describe the nature of Song Yuehua’s relationship with her mother.

“Mom…” Song Yuehua gripped her phone, her tone cautious and probing, “I have a friend whose mother is in the hospital right now, and the situation is urgent. She needs Director Zhang to perform the surgery. Don’t you know the director of the city central hospital? Could you… could you ask if Director Zhang has any openings soon? If we can schedule it, we’ll cover the surgery costs ourselves, we won’t trouble anyone else.”

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, followed by the rustling sound of papers being turned. Her mother’s voice carried its usual dismissiveness: ” Director Zhang? Isn’t that the specialist your sister dealt with before? She’s in charge of the company and has more connections with the hospital due to their collaborations. Her network is broader than yours. Let her handle it. Don’t meddle, hospital matters are complicated. What do you, a student, know about any of this?”

Song Yuehua’s heart sank abruptly, and she glanced at Bai Qingyu beside her.

Hesitantly, she said, “But… but my sister… she doesn’t seem willing to help with this…”

“Not willing?” Her mother’s voice turned icy in an instant, and the rustling of papers stopped. “How could your sister not be willing? She’s always sensible, and as the company’s successor, how could she fail to handle such a small matter? Did you pick a fight with her again? Or did your friend offend her?”

“No, that’s not it!” Song Yuehua hurriedly defended herself, her voice rising slightly before she quickly lowered it again. “My sister didn’t say she wouldn’t help, it’s just… she said my friend has to agree to something for her…” She didn’t dare say “blackmail,” veering away from the word at the last moment.

But as soon as the words left her mouth, a clear, mocking laugh came from the other end of the line. “What’s wrong with asking for something in return? Your sister is helping someone, she has to have some rules, doesn’t she? She’s not a charity; why should she help your friend for free? Song Yuehua, how many times have I told you? Your sister is far more sensible than you. Whatever she does, she has her reasons.”

“But this is a matter of life and death!” Song Yuehua argued. “And the condition she set…”

“Enough!” Her mother cut her off sharply, her tone filled with impatience and reproach. “What do you know about social etiquette? Your sister manages such a large company, how many things does she have to deal with every day? Helping your friend is a favor, not an obligation. And here you are, not appreciating how hard your sister works, but picking faults with her instead? It seems you have too much free time, wasting your days on useless trivialities instead of studying!”

“I’m not…” Song Yuehua’s eyes involuntarily stung with tears.

It felt like a very long time ago that she had received a similar response.

“Helping others depends on your own capabilities!” Her mother’s voice grew even colder. “If you had even half your sister’s ability and could actually be of help, would I need to rely on her to handle things? Don’t call me again to cause trouble, let your sister focus on her work. If I find out you’ve been causing conflicts with your sister again, just wait and see what I’ll say to you!”

“Beep, beep, beep.”

The abrupt dial tone echoed in her ears as Song Yuehua held her phone, her hand frozen mid-air.

A sharp pain seized her chest, as if squeezed by an invisible hand, so suffocating it ached. Her eyes instantly grew hot with unshed tears.

Logically, she was just an outsider who had transmigrated into this world. Logically, after leaving the orphanage, the matron would still call her every week to ask if she had enough to eat or if she was warm enough.

“Don’t be sad, Auntie might just be too busy.”

“No, she’s not!” Images involuntarily surfaced in Song Yuehua’s mind, fueling her agitation. Words spilled from her lips without conscious thought: “They’ve always favored Song Yuelan, never me! Because Yuelan is smart, capable of managing the family business and bringing them benefits, she was raised by their side since childhood. And me? I was tossed to the nanny, ignored and forgotten. They never even called, not even during holidays, I never got to see them!”

Bai Qingyu was momentarily stunned by her outburst.

Song Yuehua herself was shocked. The surge of bitterness felt so intense, so real as if she had lived through it all herself.

Gently, Bai Qingyu pulled her into an embrace, patting her back soothingly. “It’s alright, let it out… Even if no one helps us, we’ll find a way. I won’t let her succeed, and I won’t let you suffer anymore.”

Gradually, Song Yuehua calmed down. Blinking in confusion, she belatedly realized these emotions hadn’t arisen without reason. Perhaps… she wasn’t just a transmigrator in a novel.

Feeling the tension ease from the woman in his arms, Bai Qingyu gently pulled back. “Go home and rest for a while. I’ll handle the matter with Director Zhang on my own. You’ve already helped me so much, don’t worry about my troubles anymore, or I’ll feel even guiltier.”

“But…” Song Yuehua swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue and nodded softly. “Alright… but if anything urgent comes up, you must call me.”

Back in her apartment, Song Yuehua began searching through the belongings left behind by the “original” Song Yuehua.

Unfortunately, after a thorough search, she found nothing.

Except for the safe in the wardrobe…

Crouching down, she ran her fingers over the cold surface of the combination lock. Her heartbeat quickened inexplicably. She tried entering the original owner’s birthday, a beep sounded, and a red light flashed. Next, she tried Song Yuelan’s birthday, still a red light.

Neither worked.

She considered forcing it open, but after consulting a locksmith, she learned the safe was custom-made. Without the correct code, any attempt to break in would trigger a permanent lock mechanism.

Resigned, Song Yuehua gave up on the safe for now, hoping that one day she might stumble upon the right combination.

Before long, the day arrived when the hospital would announce the final surgical team.

Unable to sit still at home, Song Yuehua went to help Bai Qingyu care for his mother.

At the hospital, just as the elevator doors slid open and she prepared to step inside, she froze.

There stood Song Yuelan, dressed in a sharply tailored beige pantsuit, holding an elegant handbag. A faint, confident smile played on her lips, her eyes gleaming with the ease of someone holding all the cards.