Bai Heng brushed the young lady's hair straight: "Don't cry, don't cry. Shall we bring Yan to eat fried chicken next time we go home?"
The military doctor pulled Bai Heng away: "Yan, go back and keep sleeping, we're leaving!"
Sui Yan secretly wiped her tears until she could no longer see the two of them before closing the door.
Bai Heng hid outside and glanced towards home, then frowned at the military doctor: "Why did you come out so quickly?"
The military doctor also felt sorry for Sui Yan: "You don't understand, the more you don't leave, the harder it is for the child to let go."
Bai Heng finally shut up. He sat in the passenger seat and closed his eyes to rest, while the military doctor wore a grim expression as he drove.
Ti Zi leaned against the window, watching the car drive away.
It turned around and looked at Sui Yan curled up in the corner, slowly approaching her.
Sui Yan choked back her tears, saying softly: "Ti Zi, I'm becoming greedier and greedier."
Ti Zi did not make a sound, only gently tugging at Sui Yan's clothes with its mouth.
Sui Yan wiped her tears and, supported by the armrest, slowly stood up and walked into the room.
The people at the research institute probably knew that Bai Heng and the military doctor were leaving today, so they didn't call Sui Yan to go to the institute. They only sent her a message, telling her to rest well at home first.
Sui Yan wrapped herself entirely in a blanket and fell into a drowsy sleep.
Ti Zi lay under her bed, quietly keeping watch over her.
After some time, in her semi-conscious state, Sui Yan vaguely felt as if someone had tucked in her blanket.
She instinctively grabbed that hand: "Ti Zi... no, don't leave..."
The man in white standing beside the bed looked at her with tender affection, gently grasping her hand: "Yan, I won't leave."
Sui Yan seemed to be dreaming, tightly clutching the man's hand, her voice trembling: "I was wrong... I'm sorry... don't leave me."
The man carefully wiped the sweat from the young lady's forehead: "Yan, you did nothing wrong, don't apologize."
The girl on the bed was pale, tears streaming down her face as she slept: "Ti Zi... they don't want me..."
The man gently coaxed her: "Yan, you still have me. I will never leave you."
Sui Yan clung tightly to the man's hand, nuzzling his arm like a spoiled child, before falling back into a deep sleep.
The man let Sui Yan hold onto him, tenderly stroking her hair with an increasingly affectionate gaze.
Perhaps due to the distress, Sui Yan remained in a semi-conscious state the whole day.
She truly regained consciousness only when night had fallen.
She sat up in bed, looking bewildered, and said to Ti Zi lying on the floor: "Ti Zi, I think I had a dream."
Ti Zi seemed tired, gently nuzzling Sui Yan's leg before closing its eyes to rest.
Sui Yan felt sorry: "Ti Zi, you must not have slept at all? You can't do that again, okay?"
Unusually, Ti Zi lacked the energy to play with Sui Yan, instead resting wearily.
Sui Yan didn't disturb Ti Zi further, slowly making her way to the kitchen for food.
Someone must have come earlier to deliver meals, as the table was now laden with delicious dishes.
Sui Yan reheated and ate a few dishes casually, her mood somber despite the quick passage of the day.
The next day, Ti Zi still seemed a bit listless, so Sui Yan crouched in front of it and stroked its head: "Ti Zi, do you want to come with me to the research institute? Or shall I take leave to stay home with you?"
Ti Zi shook its head and walked towards the door.
Sui Yan followed Ti Zi and slowly made her way out.
A white car was parked outside their door, sent by the research institute to pick up Sui Yan.
Upon arriving at the institute, Sui Yan saw Zhu Yue looking around at the entrance.
Sui Yan and Ti Zi had difficulty getting out of the car, and Zhu Yue quickly walked over: "Yan, be careful!"
She helped Sui Yan out of the car, worriedly looking at her leg: "Yan, are you okay?"
She knew that Bai Heng and the military doctor had returned to their unit yesterday.
Sui Yan lowered her eyes: "I'm fine."
Zhu Yue patted Sui Yan's head and greeted Ti Zi: "Ti Zi finally came too. We just finished renovating the rest area yesterday."
Sui Yan's gaze softened as she looked at Ti Zi: "Thank you, Zhu Yue."
Zhu Yue took the young lady's hand: "Don't be so formal with me. Maybe one day we'll all have to rely on you."
Sui Yan gave a slight smile, but didn't take such words seriously: "Zhu Yue, you go ahead. Ti Zi and I will go to the rest area first."
Zhu Yue hesitated: "Will you be okay by yourself? I'll wait for you in the lab then."
Sui Yan pursed her lips and nodded: "Okay."
She looked down at Ti Zi: "Ti Zi, let's go."
Though lacking energy, Ti Zi obediently followed Sui Yan.
Sui Yan leaned against the wall to rest every few steps, her expression rather cold, until she had settled Ti Zi in the rest area. Only then did she realize in a daze... that perhaps this was how her peaceful days would be from now on.
She shook her head slightly and, supporting herself against the wall, headed towards the lab.
"Brother Qi, look at her! She's the one who..."
Not far away, someone seemed to be mentioning her name. Sui Yan turned her head slowly, only to unexpectedly see Qi Linhan standing beside Lu Yunling.
Qi Linhan looked at Sui Yan with a complex gaze, then turned away coldly and said to Lu Yunling: "We've already given you a chance, but you failed to cherish it. And stop meddling in other people's affairs!"
He had never intended to help Lu Yunling, only agreeing due to pressure from his family.
Moreover, after the White family had openly disgraced him because of Lu Yunling, he naturally had even less regard for her.
Watching this scene, Sui Yan felt a sinking feeling in her heart.
He had already forgotten her... Well, to him, she was probably just an insignificant person.
Sui Yan forcefully knocked on her head, forcing herself not to dwell on such nonsense.
"Yan, why did it take you so long to come over? I thought someone might have bullied you!" Zhu Yue rushed over from the direction of the lab, looking anxious.
"Sister Zhu Yue," Sui Yan said with a strained smile, "I can't walk too fast."
Zhu Yue patted herself with regret, "It's my fault for forgetting. Let's go together now."
She slowed her pace to match Sui Yan's speed. As they walked, Sui Yan couldn't help but ask, "Sister Zhu Yue, did Lu Yunling come to the lab again today?"
Zhu Yue frowned slightly, "You just ran into her, didn't you? Did she bully you again? She only came this time to process her departure paperwork. We don't need to bother with her."
