That sentence, "Jiang Sui, do you know you stink?", kept the boy in the bathroom for over half an hour.
The boy, already a germaphobe, nearly collapsed.
Before returning home, Su Qing went to the hairdresser. Her face was covered in too many scars to leave her like that, so she found a hairdresser and had a makeup artist apply to hide the marks.
She looked in the mirror, seeing nothing wrong, and then went home.
Su Rao always wake up early, as usual. Su Qing closed the door and saw Su Rao sitting in the living room, knitting a sweater with a faint smile on her face. Perhaps she had heard the door open, so Su Rao turned her head and saw that Su Qing was unharmed. She felt a quiet sense of relief.
"Mom, I bought you some fried dough sticks. Would you like some?"
"Qing Qing is back. Mom won't eat them. Put them in the kitchen. We'll have them this afternoon."
As if she were returning from her breakfast trip, Su Qing, upon hearing Su Rao's voice, took the fried dough sticks and put them in the kitchen. The kitchen was a small room separated from the side room, a bit small. After Su Qing put the fried dough sticks in the kitchen, she noticed the dregs of decoction medicine nearby.
With a frown on her face, the young girl left. Su Rao saw that her daughter had returned safely. Knowing that Su Qing was always a self-assured person, she didn't ask any questions as long as the child was well.
"Mom, our teacher said we're leaving for Sucheng this afternoon."
Su Qing poured herself a glass of water and drank.
"So soon? Then hurry up and pack your bags. Don't worry about Mom. Just study hard for your exams."
Hearing they were leaving this afternoon, Su Rao felt a little anxious. She didn't know what to prepare, so she went to the kitchen and looked in the refrigerator.
"Mom, you don't have to take anything. I've already packed my luggage. As for you, I'll be away for the next two days. Take good care of yourself. I'll take you to the hospital when I get back."
"A thorough checkup."
Su Rao's expression hardened for a moment when she heard about the checkup, but she nodded to reassure Su Qing.
"Just study hard for the exam. Don't think about anything else. Call Mom if you need anything."
Su Qing nodded, her brows soft as she leaned against Su Rao's shoulder.
Su Rao lowered her eyes, a lingering sadness in them. But she was an adult after all, and she still noticed that the girl looked like she was wearing makeup.
"Nannan?"
"What's wrong, Mom?"
"You're wearing makeup?" Su Qing didn't object, but it didn't seem like Su Qing's style.
"Oh, that, Mom, that classmate insisted I put it on. Does it look good?"
As she spoke, Su Qing moved further away, as if to let Su Rao see more clearly. However, she suddenly felt nervous, worried that Su Rao might notice something different.
"That girl from last night had a nice voice. You should get along with her."
Thankfully, Su Qing was slowly changing, and the girl's once indifferent face was now beginning to show a hint of a smile, so Su Rao didn't pursue the matter.
After all, she wanted the child to be well.
She knew her fate.
She was worried about Su Qing, the only person she was so worried about.
Waking up in the morning, her mouth, after taking the medicine, felt a hint of bitterness.
"Qing Qing, is your living allowance enough? I'll get you some more."
Her eyes filled with soft light, and for some reason, Su Qing felt so reluctant to leave Su Rao. She nodded.
Enough said.
The girl thought, she must take good care of her mother.
That tender yet unwavering mother who protected her.