Daily Life in the Countryside After Being Reborn-Chapter 254 - 40: Returning Home (Third Watch)

"What’s going on, the exam is over?" Wang Ke groggily opened her eyes and saw that her classmates were all looking at her with amused expressions, and the invigilating teacher’s face had turned iron blue as they snatched away her test paper which only had her name written on it.

On the same day, the natural science teacher complained to Wang Ke’s class teacher, "What’s wrong with your student, Wang Ke? Sleeping during an exam and submitting a blank paper. How could such a person be awarded at the end of the year?"

Having no choice, the class teacher had to cancel the certificate of merit which was originally to be awarded to Wang Ke. The quota for the outstanding student council member was also revoked. For this, Wang Ke even cursed behind their backs, saying who cares about those lousy certificates, in the future, she plans to study abroad and will not need those rotten things.

After her father found out about the situation, he too was worried that A-substance had affected his daughter’s health. He urged Wang Ke to have a full body check-up at the hospital. Just as Xiao Xian predicted, utilizing modern medical facilities, it was impossible to detect any adverse effects of A-substance on Wang Ke.

"Dad, don’t get overly suspicious; I know my own body. After the youth basketball league early next year, I won’t have to deal with the looks of those teachers and classmates from school again," Wang Ke planned to go to a language school right after finishing junior high, and then continue high school in the United States.

On the day of the final exams, Zhang Yiyi couldn’t wait to pack her luggage and go back to Tianjin for the winter vacation. Mr. Zhang was already waiting outside the school early and after greeting Xiao Xian and the others, he took his daughter to catch the train. Zhang Yiyi had already forgotten about the small pharmaceutical factory incident.

Xiao Xian’s luggage wasn’t much, her home was close by, and knowing that Zhuo Feng was still busy going back and forth to the hospital taking care of Bai Juyi, she didn’t announce her departure for the end of the term. Carrying a small luggage bag, she headed home alone. As she passed by the teaching building, she suddenly remembered the Narcissus.

Generally speaking, Narcissus would have grown their buds by the winter season, waiting for temperatures to rise slightly to bloom.

She was too busy during the final exams and had neglected the Narcissus. Before going home, she thought about leaving it at school with no one to take care of it; fearing it wouldn’t survive a month, she decided to bring it home, which would also let Bai Juyi know that the Daffodil had already sprouted.

Holding the flower pot, with her small bag in tow, Xiao Xian left the school gate. Only a few steps out, a car horn sounded from behind. Zeng Xuerou poked her head out and waved at her. Upon hearing that Xiao Xian was going to the hospital to visit someone, she did not hesitate to drive Xiao Xian there. Before leaving, she arranged with Xiao Xian to visit the small pharmaceutical factory together in two days to discuss the hangover medicine.

The hospital was well-heated. As soon as Xiao Xian entered, she took off her cotton coat and held the pot of Daffodils against her. She hadn’t walked far when she saw a doctor and a nurse quickly running into the ward. Zhuo Feng came out of the ward, his face pale as snow.

"Cousin, what happened?" Xiao Xian hurried over. The ward was in chaos, with the doctor and nurse trying to save Bai Juyi.

"Just now, Master Bai had a heart attack. It’s all the fault of a new patient next door who kept a pot of Daffodils. This morning, when Mr. Bai got up, the Daffodils in the bed next to him had bloomed, and since then, Master Bai has looked a bit trance-like." Over the winter month, Bai Juyi’s condition had fluctuated greatly, and Zhuo Feng and the others had even planned to accompany him for the New Year in the hospital if his health improved, but now...

"How could this be," Xiao Xian disregarded the obstruction of Zhuo Feng and the nurse and rushed into the ward.

The hospital bed was stuffy and hot. Bai Juyi was clutching his chest in agony, his face swollen and purple. His other hand was clenched into a fist, pointing towards the Daffodils on the next bed. The white Daffodils with their tender yellow stamens were pure and ethereal, just like the first time he saw Mei Xiang.

"Mr. Bai, look, look, the Daffodil left for you by Granny Mei has already sprouted. You can’t give up. Just wait, when spring comes next year, it will certainly bloom." Xiao Xian placed the pot of Daffodils in front of the bed and at this moment, she truly wished the Daffodil would bloom immediately, even if it were just one single flower, just one would be enough.

"Mei... Narcissus," Bai Juyi could see numerous shadows in white coats moving in front of him. He loosened the hand that was clenching his clothes and tried to grab the Daffodil pot.

After touching those newly grown leaves, decades of suppressed tears flowed down his cheeks, tracing his nose. The old man’s hand rested on the Daffodil. Mei Xiang, in the end, he couldn’t see Mei Xiang again. From beginning to end, he hadn’t understood his wife’s true intentions.

"Bloom, please bloom," Xiao Xian mustered all her strength, holding the pot of Daffodils, tears falling from her eyes onto the Daffodil’s leaves, sparkling like crystals. Through her blurred teary eyes, the Daffodils seemed to undergo some change.

The tear seeped into the leaf, and Bai Juyi struggled to lift his hand for quite a while before it finally fell onto the bed edge. His breathing stopped. On his face, there was no pain, only a hint of regret.

The nurses and doctors shook their heads, persuading Xiao Xian to step back, and covered the old man’s face with a white bedsheet.

Zhuo Feng came in, holding Xiao Xian, and started crying softly. When Feng Xing arrived, the old man’s body had already been pushed into the mortuary, waiting for family members to come and sign for cremation.

Outside the ward window, the sky was gloomy. Xiao Xian tasted death for the first time, and this winter felt exceptionally cold to her.

At the Capital’s international airport, an airplane was landing. A few flight attendants on board were whispering and pointing at a handsome male passenger in the seats and one of them, bolder than the rest, deliberately walked over to remind him about the landing.

The male passenger did not respond, merely nodding politely. Four years had passed, and he had finally returned to his homeland.

**

The Chapter is a little emotional, publishing this first, tearfully. (To be continued. If you like this work, I welcome you to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation tickets, monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation.)

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