My Sweet Little Flower Turned Out to Be a Sinister Ghost - Chapter 22

Time passed minute by minute. The mechanical ticking of the wall clock echoed distinctly in the silent corridor, amplifying everyone’s anxiety.

All eyes were fixed on the operating room. When the minute hand steadily pointed to the number six, the “Surgery in Progress” sign above the operating room, which had been lit for so long, suddenly went dark.

Almost simultaneously, everyone in the waiting area rose from their seats. Bai Qingyu took half a step forward, her body trembling slightly. Song Yuehua quickly supported her arm and said softly, “Don’t worry, the surgery will definitely be successful.”

Shortly after, the operating room door creaked open. Head Surgeon Li, dressed in green surgical scrubs and wearing a mask, was the first to emerge. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead, and as he removed his mask, his face showed clear exhaustion but also a sense of relief.

“Head Surgeon Li!”

The group immediately rushed forward.

Bai Qingyu asked, “How is my mother…”

“The surgery was very successful,” Head Surgeon Li interrupted her. “The procedure went smoothly, and all indicators remained stable during the operation. With proper post-operative care, she should recover quickly.”

His words acted like a calming pill, instantly easing everyone’s tension.

Song Yuehua turned to Bai Qingyu and said, “That’s wonderful! Your mother is fine now.”

Bai Qingyu’s tightly wound nerves finally relaxed. She let out a long sigh and nodded.

Standing further back, Bai Qingyuan felt her tense body suddenly go weak upon hearing the news. She quickly reached out to lean on Qin Zhen’s shoulder for support.

Auntie Qin expressed her gratitude to Head Surgeon Li, “Thank you, Doctor. Thank you so much.”

“No need to thank me. It’s our duty,” Head Surgeon Li waved his hand dismissively, his tone serious. “However, post-operative care is crucial. The patient has just undergone major surgery and is physically weak. She will need round-the-clock care, preferably from a professional nurse experienced in post-operative recovery. They can monitor her breathing and heart rate and assist with rehabilitation massages to prevent complications.”

Bai Qingyu nodded in understanding.

“Don’t worry about that!” Auntie Qin immediately patted her arm, her tone cheerful. “I know a few nurses who have been working in post-operative care for five or six years. They’re very experienced. I’ll message them right away to check their availability.”

Seeing that they had a plan, Head Surgeon Li nodded in relief and pointed toward the end of the corridor. “The patient will be moved to the monitoring room shortly. Family members can take a look through the glass, but don’t get too close. If all her indicators are stable by tomorrow morning, she can be transferred to a regular ward.”

Bai Qingyu followed his gaze and saw two nurses slowly pushing a hospital bed out. Her mother, still unconscious, lay on the bed with a relaxed expression. Though her face was pale from the surgery, she looked far more peaceful than the tense state she had been in before the operation.

Bai Qingyu quietly moved closer, watching silently through the glass. This time, she didn’t shed any tears, feeling as though the heavy weight in her heart had finally lifted completely.

Song Yuehua patted Bai Qingyu’s shoulder and said, “Alright, now that your mother’s surgery is over, you can finally relax a little.”

Bai Qingyu turned her head to look at her and replied, “Mm.”

Early the next morning after the surgery, Auntie Qin sent over the contact information for the nurses, even attaching a voice message that clearly detailed each nurse’s years of experience and areas of expertise.

Bai Qingyu carefully compared the options and finally chose an auntie surnamed Lin.

Under the joint care of Auntie Lin and Bai Qingyu, Bai’s mother recovered quite well and was able to return home after just a few days in the hospital.

The Bai family lived in an old residential complex. The apartment had been bought by Bai’s mother when she was young, using money she had painstakingly saved over the years. Even during the toughest times, she had never once considered selling it.

Since Bai’s mother had stayed in the hospital for quite a few days, she had accumulated quite a few belongings, which filled three cardboard boxes.

On moving day, Song Yuehua also came to help. A taxi brought them and the boxes to the foot of the building, and the rest had to be carried upstairs by themselves.

Bai’s mother stayed at the hospital for one more day, waiting until everything at home was settled before being brought back.

The old residential complex had no elevator, so they had to take the stairs. The Bai family’s apartment was on the sixth floor.

Auntie Qin had work to attend to, and although Qin Zhen wanted to help, Bai Qingyuan persuaded her not to.

So, it was Bai Qingyu, Song Yuehua, and Bai Qingyuan who moved the boxes.

Bai Qingyu carried one box and walked ahead, while Bai Qingyuan followed behind with another.

Although it was already winter, Song Yuehua still broke into a light sweat on her forehead after carrying the boxes upstairs.

She sat on the sofa, rubbing her arms, while Bai Qingyu had already turned to tidy up the items in her mother’s room, taking out her mother’s frequently used water cup and blanket and placing them where they belonged.

The living room suddenly fell silent, with only the rustling sounds of Bai Qingyu organizing things. Sitting face to face with Bai Qingyuan, Song Yuehua couldn’t help but feel a little awkward.

Although Bai Qingyuan had just entered eighth grade, her demeanor was calmer than most kids her age. Unable to bear the silence, Song Yuehua rubbed the sweat off her palms and tried to make conversation: “Qingyuan, your sister is really amazing! Just now, she carried that box all the way up to the sixth floor without stopping once. My box was half as light as hers, and I had to stop every two floors to catch my breath.”

Their boxes had indeed been intentionally sorted. Knowing that Song Yuehua was a guest and Bai Qingyuan was still young, Bai Qingyu had taken the heaviest items for herself.

Mentioning her sister finally broke Bai Qingyuan’s silence. Her voice was soft but carried a hint of barely noticeable emotion: “My sister often helped the grocery store downstairs move things when she was little.”

Song Yuehua: “No wonder she’s so strong! I thought she looked thin, but she has such great stamina. Turns out she’s been training since she was a child!”

Bai Qingyuan lowered her gaze, but her eyes brightened slightly, carrying a unique seriousness: “I will study hard, earn money as soon as possible, and never let my sister work so hard again.”

Song Yuehua nodded in agreement.

“Qingyuan, go to the market downstairs and buy some groceries. I’ll cook lunch today,” Bai Qingyu’s voice came from the bedroom. She even poked her head out, holding a stack of her mother’s thin sweaters. “I’ve sent the shopping list to your phone.”

“Okay!” Bai Qingyuan stretched her neck toward the bedroom and replied. She gave Song Yuehua a slight nod, then turned and went to her room to get some change before her footsteps pattered away and disappeared beyond the door.

With no one left to talk to and the moving done, Song Yuehua sat on the sofa and decided to say goodbye to Bai Qingyu.

She walked to the bedroom door and saw Bai Qingyu bending over to put clothes into the wardrobe, her back straight and tense. Softly, she said, “Senior, I’ll be going now.”

Bai Qingyu straightened up, a hint of a smile in her eyes as she looked at her. “Don’t leave yet, stay for dinner. Don’t you want to try my cooking?”

Song Yuehua was momentarily taken aback. She had initially intended not to impose, but Bai Qingyu’s tone was so sincere that the words of refusal died on her lips.

“Besides, I haven’t thanked you yet,” Bai Qingyu added, walking over and gently nudging her arm. “You’ve been running around helping these past few days. What’s wrong with staying for a simple meal? Qingyuan even bought groceries with you in mind.”

Warmed by her words, Song Yuehua nodded obediently. “Well… alright then. Is there anything I can help with? I can’t just sit around waiting to be served.”

“Easy,” Bai Qingyu said, pointing to the neatly folded pile of clothes on the bed. “Just put these in the wardrobe. Everyday clothes go on the top shelf, and thick jackets on the bottom. Thanks a lot.”

“Sure thing!”

By the time Bai Qingyuan returned with the grocery bags, Bai Qingyu had already tidied up the bedroom.

The Bai family’s house was indeed quite spacious, originally meant for four people. Though the furniture was somewhat dated, it was polished to a shine, clean and orderly.

The kitchen was enclosed. Bai Qingyu found a light blue checkered apron and tied it around her waist, the thin straps forming a neat bow at her back, accentuating her slender figure.

She gathered her waist-length hair into a casual ponytail with a black hair tie, a few stray strands curling at the ends, before turning to head into the kitchen.

Song Yuehua sat on the sofa, scrolling through her phone absentmindedly.

When she approached the kitchen door to offer help, Bai Qingyu gently pushed her back with a laugh. “Just sit tight. The kitchen’s too small for two people to move around, and there’s a lot of oil and smoke, I don’t want it getting on your clothes.”

Reluctantly, Song Yuehua returned to her seat, her gaze drifting toward the kitchen from time to time.

Before long, the savory aroma of stir-fried meat wafted from the kitchen, rich with the scent of soy sauce, making her stomach growl with anticipation.

Song Yuehua immediately straightened up, ears perked, already planning to rush over and help as soon as Bai Qingyu brought out the dishes.

But instead of footsteps from the kitchen, the sound of the front door opening came first.

Bai Qingyuan stepped inside, followed closely by Qin Zhen.

“Sister Yuehua,” Qin Zhen greeted softly, her eyes sparkling and her demeanor exceptionally sweet.

The affectionate address warmed Song Yuehua’s heart. “Hey, Zhenzhen, hello.”

“Come and eat,” Bai Qingyu called as she emerged from the kitchen carrying a dish. The cola-braised chicken drumsticks glistened with a deep brown glaze, steam rising and carrying a sweet, meaty aroma that teased the senses. Even the edges of the plate were dotted with tantalizing drops of sauce.

Bai Qingyuan immediately stood up and went into the kitchen to bring out the remaining dishes.

Song Yuehua hurried to fetch the utensils.

By the time she returned, Qin Zhen had already pulled out the chairs around the table, so everyone could sit down and eat right away.

Though Bai Qingyu had prepared simple home-style dishes, the enticing aroma made mouths water.

“Dig in,” Bai Qingyu said, picking up her chopsticks and placing a cola chicken drumstick in Song Yuehua’s bowl. “Last time when we went camping, we were short on seasonings and tools, so the food was a bit rough. This time, with all the ingredients, see if it suits your taste.”

“Not at all, even the simple dishes last time were delicious,” Song Yuehua replied, taking a big bite of the drumstick.

As her teeth broke through the crispy skin, the sweet sauce burst forth, and the tender meat fell off the bone effortlessly. Even the crevices of the bone were infused with rich flavor, without a hint of dryness.

Her eyes instantly lit up as she chewed the meat and praised indistinctly, “Wow! This is seriously delicious!”

Bai Qingyu smiled.

“Zhenzhen loves this too. You two have quite similar tastes.”

Only then did Song Yuehua notice that Qin Zhen was holding a cola-braised chicken drumstick with her chopsticks, her lips stained with a bit of dark sauce, her cheeks puffed out as she chewed in small bites.

Beside her, Bai Qingyuan was already preparing to place another cola-braised chicken drumstick into her bowl.

Hearing Bai Qingyu mention her, Qin Zhen paused her chewing, secretly glanced at Song Yuehua, then quickly lowered her head, the tips of her ears turning faintly red.

“Your sister Yuehua doesn’t like cilantro either, and she can’t handle spicy food, just like you,” Bai Qingyu added.

Qin Zhen slowly looked up, shyly curling the corners of her mouth, her voice soft: “I think cilantro and chili have a weird taste.”

“Exactly! Me too!” Song Yuehua immediately put down her chopsticks, as if she had found an ally. “And carrots! Don’t you think they’re both sweet and hard, and the color is so glaring? They feel so strange to chew!”

Qin Zhen’s eyes brightened even more. She set down her chicken drumstick and nodded slightly, her voice a bit louder this time: “Mm! My mom always makes me eat them, saying they’re good for my eyes, but they make me want to throw up.”

“And celery!” Song Yuehua leaned in closer, lowering her voice to complain, “Don’t you think it has this earthy, fishy taste? Chewing it feels like eating grass!”

“Yeah!” Qin Zhen also leaned forward, whispering in response, “The first time my mom cooked celery, I accidentally took a bite and immediately spat it into the trash. My mom scolded me for it.”

…

The once timid Qin Zhen seemed to have found a kindred spirit, gradually becoming more talkative, from the “weird taste” of cilantro, to the “earthy flavor” of celery, and even to how “annoying it is to peel crayfish.”

The two of them went back and forth, their tones growing more and more animated, until they finally reached a consensus: “It’s totally normal not to like these foods! It’s not like we’re picky eaters!”

Bai Qingyu and Bai Qingyuan: …

After the meal, Qin Zhen stayed behind to do homework with Bai Qingyuan.

Song Yuehua, however, couldn’t stay for long. Bai Qingyu wanted to walk her downstairs, but she smiled and gently pushed him back. “No need to see me off. You should go rest for a bit, you still have to sort through your mom’s things this afternoon.”

Song Yuehua walked toward the entrance alone.

The old residential complex was lined with aged sycamore trees. In winter, most of the leaves had fallen, leaving bare branches against the gray sky. The wind rustled, sweeping dried leaves across the ground.

As she walked, kicking a small pebble, she caught sight of an advertisement board on the wall near the entrance out of the corner of her eye.

It was a weathered metal sign plastered with small ads for drain unclogging and appliance repairs, but one notice, written in bold red ink, stood out: “For Rent.” The characters were large and thick, impossible to miss.

Song Yuehua paused, stepping closer to take a better look.

The handwriting on the ad was a bit crooked but clear: “Third-floor, two-bedroom apartment within the complex, move-in ready, cheap monthly rent. Interested parties, please contact XXX…”

Her eyes fixed on the words “within the complex” and “third floor,” and her heart suddenly skipped a beat, as if a tiny firework had gone off inside her.

That’s it! If Bai Qingyu couldn’t move to her place, then she could just move closer to her!

The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. She quickly pulled out her phone, snapped a picture of the rental ad, and saved the contact information.