Pei Yueran didn't apply for a sick leave, but she could guess without thinking who applied on her behalf. She felt two weeks was too much. It had been five days since the incident happened, and she felt she could resume on Monday.
Her plan was to leave Li Chuanmo's house in three days, in time to prepare for the workday.
Just as she was thinking about it, there was a knock on the door. By the time she opened it, there was nobody there, but a vase of flowers had been placed on a caster table, a card lying beside it.
Pei Yueran smiled. She gently wheeled the table into her room and shut the door. She took the card and read it.
It said, "Petunias. Respect, admiration, happiness and wellbeing. Here's to your quick recovery."
She sent him a message immediately, thanking him for the flowers. He replied, acknowledging her message and telling her he'd come visit soon.
She set the vase on her window sill before sitting down on the bed again. She called her Mum.
Director Zhou was in her office in the orphanage when her phone rang. Seeing it was Pei Yueran, she picked it immediately.
"Ran'er, how are you today?" They had been communicating through messages since she was discharged.
"I'm fine Mum. How are you?"
"I'm fine now that I have heard your voice. You didn't reply when I asked if you were able to hire a good caretaker. Don't tell me you're managing on your own, alone?"
"No Mum." As a matter of fact, she had one dedicated —if not overbearing— caretaker all to herself, and she was not even paying him a wage!
"So you got one?"
Pei Yueran sighed and just spilled the beans, "I'm in Li Chuanmo's house, and he's taking good care of me."
As expected, her mother's voice changed into a teasing one.
"So, should I start preparing for a wedding? Have you gotten a dress yet?"
"Mum!" What was she talking about?
Director Zhou laughed. "On a more serious note though, are you comfortable there? Is your relationship more ....defined now?"
"Yes Mum, I'm very comfortable here. He takes very good care of me, and before you ask, he's a perfect gentleman. His son is also fun to be with, so I'm having a good time."
"He has a son." Director Zhou digested this new information.
"Yes. His name is Li Yuchen. Xiao Chen met him when he came visiting the other time."
"Ah really?" Han Yichen had told her about the new friend he met in City M. She did not expect that his new friend was the son of her daughter's admirer.
"Yes Mum."
"Wonderful. Any changes in your relationship?"
"Let's just say we're still getting to know each other better."
"That's okay. No rush, no pressure. But should I book a wedding hall just in case?"
"Mum, stop it", Pei Yueran said, trying not to laugh. Her mother could be so comedic.
"Alright, alright. Just take care of yourself. Xiao Chen is not back from school yet, so I'll call you in the evening so we can all talk. I already told him what happened."
"Thanks Mum." Han Yichen had already sent her a message this morning, so she knew he was now aware.
"Alright, rest well Baobei."
They ended the call. She had just started on a novel when Su Qianhua's video call came in.
"Girl, where have you been? Did you fall off the face of the earth?" Su Qianhua said immediately she picked up the call. It was obvious she was not at work because she was lying down, sucking on a lollipop while holding a large bag of chips.
"Not quite, I only got stabbed multiple times and had to have a surgery."
The look on Su Qianhua's face as she sat up abruptly was so comical that Pei Yueran laughed.
"What? how are you? How did that happen? When? Are you still at the hospital? I'll come over immediately!"
"Chill! You're asking too many questions. Calm down la. First off, it happened some days ago and I've been discharged. I feel better now." She then proceeded to tell her what happened.
"But why didn't you tell me earlier? and here was I, blaming you for choosing a man over your sis."
"It's okay. I'm also to blame for not informing you earlier. It skipped my mind. And who's to say I really didn't choose a man over you?"
"Ah? There is such a thing?" Su Qianhua asked blankly.
"Ahem" Pei Yueran coughed. "I'm just joking."
But Su Qianhua's detective senses had kicked in, "Spill everything, now!"
So under her "coercion", Pei Yueran told her she was staying with Li Chuanmo.
Su Qianhua squealed.
"Aha, I knew it! I hope you're taking things easy though? Hope your wounds have not reopened due to the "intense exercises"?"
"Qianhua! You're such a pervert!" Pei Yueran was so mortified that she blushed deeply.
"I'm just giving you honest advice. Better safe than sorry. Besides, you're a pervert too since you were able to understand my meaning so quickly." Su Qianhua said as she laughed wildly, but she soon became serious again.
"So anything from the police? Have they caught the criminal? Is it someone you know?"
"Yes they have. I'm not sure I know the person. Chuanmo is handling everything because I was indisposed. I was told they have been charged to court already."
"That's good. They must rot in jail for a few years at least."
"Let's hope so."
"If this had happened in City A, I would have made sure I squeezed that criminal to death first before making sure his dead body rots in jail, literally."
Pei Yueran: "__"
Savage!
"Fine, fine. So tell me, how have you been? How come you're home in the middle of the day, still in pajamas?"
"Girl, you don't say! This is my once in a lifetime free day! I had marked it on my calendar and circled it with red ink for good luck. Now it's finally here!" Su Qianhua jumped up and did a little jiggle.
Pei Yueran laughed again. She knew Su Qianhua always had the bad luck of an emergency happening on her rare free day, so she could understand her excitement.
"Make sure you enjoy it fully then. You know it doesn't come so often."