*This is also a throwback chapter! After Li Jun looked after her that night.*
She was at the hospital cafe.
Yueling remembered that was the first time she felt so weak. Like there's nothing exist for her to cherish or someone that can cherish her as well. "...there are many people who still love you." That's right. She had neglected this part.
She is a psychologist, she knew best the concept of denial and such. She had been telling herself that her biological parents left her because that's the last thing they would do. She was left at the park by her parents when she was five. She understood that they came from a poor family and could not afford to support her so, she had always been a good daughter. She cleaned the house, did the laundry, cooked and managed the household as her parents went to work.
One day, they brought her to the theme park. She was very excited just how a little girl would be. When she felt tired, her mother told her to sleep. However, when she opened her eyes, she was already alone. She looked for them, running back and forth, asking everyone that she saw, "Have you seen my parents? ". Many would just shook their head and turned away.
Feeling tired, she sat under a tree quietly with tears running down her cheeks pondering of her parents whereabout. "Hey, why are you crying?" Asked a boy who came out of nowhere.
"Have you seen my parents?" She looked at him.
"How do they looked like?" She described to him every single thing she could remember. Their clothes, their heights and appearances. In the end, they boy shook his head. Yueling sighed and looked down again in frustration.
"Why don't you come with me? My parents can help you to find yours."
"Really?" She followed that little boy. His family now become hers too. However, they never stop searching for her parents. Twenty three years later, only then, they found her mother's whereabout.
Delighted. Yes, that was what she felt when her biological mother wanted to meet her. She missed her mother so much.She dressed up nicely and put on some perfume just to look the best version of her to her mother. She had wanted to say 'Mum, am I not pretty as you? Look, I am a psychologist now. I've been a good girl.'
In the end, her mother left her again. In fact, she had been sold to someone whom she didn't know who. Yueling looked at her wrist. There was a silver bracelet that she always wear. It was given by her mother on her fifth birthday. She always showed it to everyone she met hoping that if she ever accidentally found her mother, she will recognise that bracelet at least. Her eyes became blurry.
"Hey, want some?" All the memories faded. Strawberry milk upon her eyes. She looked up and saw Li Jun standing in front of her. He signalled it for her to take. She was reluctance but she's not in a good mood and Strawberry is just her favourite.
"Thanks." He nodded and took a sit besides her.
"Thinking of your mum?" She half heartedly smiled.
"No, I am waiting for my brother." Li Jun glanced at her.
"Of course, what else would you be doing here, right?" She was drinking the milk he gave and looked away. 'Really, don't state the obvious, please.'
"What are you doing here?" She asked.
"Need some air. I just finished a surgery."
"Yueling, why don't you join the volunteer team in this hospital. It might help to distract you. From..you know." Distraction and move on. That's true, she needs that.
"Erm." Then, he got up saying that his time was up. After a few steps, Yueling called his name.
"Dr Zhou, do you like strawberry?" His lips curved upwards.
"No. It's because you like it." If he was using that phrase as a confession, he failed. She didn't even realise that this man got some "lovey dovey" feelings towards her.
The next day, she signed up as volunteer and frequently after that, they met again. She had been watching him sometimes when she went to his department but they occasionally spoke to each other.