Phi-Fic Chapter 37 An Olive Branch of Fate
Chapter 37 An Olive Branch of Fate
The surgery was a success.
Shi Shui's mother has successfully passed the critical period and will be fully recovered after a period of recuperation.
"Thank you so much, young lady. I don't know how to repay you."
Shi Shui's mother held Bai Li's hands, her eyes filled with gratitude. She wanted to sit up and thank Bai Li, completely disregarding the fact that she had just undergone surgery.
Shi Shui's mother's face resembled Shi Shui's by at least 70%, though not 80%. Her large, watery eyes gave her a gentle and charming appearance, without any sharpness. Her Jiangnan accent was soft and gentle. If it weren't for the marks of time, she would have been a stunning beauty in her youth.
Bai Li held the other person's hand with one hand and patted their shoulder with the other to help them lie down, gently advising, "Auntie, don't move around too much, be careful of your wound."
“Miss…” Shi Shui’s mother slowly lay down after hearing Bai Li’s words, she had too many questions in her mind.
Over the years, she has witnessed too much of the coldness and warmth of human relationships.
When you're successful, everyone you meet seems like a good person; when you're down on your luck, everyone you meet seems like a bad person.
She no longer believes in the existence of unrewarded giving.
This girl is exceptionally beautiful and has an ethereal air about her. Moreover, she is followed by several tall and imposing bodyguards. With such a presence, the girl's identity must be extraordinary.
She simply couldn't understand how a girl from such an extraordinary background had come to know her son. What was she after? Why had she helped her? More importantly, how could she repay this life-saving debt?
But for a moment she didn't know how to ask, and just rambled on about other things.
As Shi Shui led Shi Hua in, they saw this scene: her mother had just undergone major surgery, her face was pale, her lips were slightly chapped, she had a ventilator on her nose, and various monitoring tubes were inserted into her body.
Even so, she held Bai Li's hand tightly, her eyes sparkling with excitement, and they were chatting enthusiastically.
Looking at her mother's bright eyes and slightly flushed cheeks, Shi Shui breathed a sigh of relief; her mother seemed to have recovered well.
When Shihua saw her mother whom she hadn't seen for several days, she could no longer suppress her longing and called out "Mom" in a clear voice, running over to her like a cheerful little bird.
She carefully avoided the medical equipment and gently hugged her mother's arm, remembering her brother's words of caution.
The mother and daughter looked into each other's eyes, and tears welled up in their eyes at the same time.
Bai Li watched this heartwarming scene quietly, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart as well.
The girl with pigtails was none other than Shi Shui's younger sister, Shi Hua, from the phone call. She was extremely sweet and cute, and looked quite young, but her eyes sparkled with cleverness.
Shi Shui placed the large and small bags of daily necessities she was carrying on the table to the side. The bags were filled with fresh fruit, soft towels, comfortable pajamas, and other things needed for hospitalization.
Bai Li walked over to Shi Shui's side, looked at the mother and daughter who were exchanging pleasantries, and asked softly, "How old is your sister?"
While tidying up her things, Shi Shui answered, "7 years old, starting elementary school."
Shi Hua had already noticed the unfamiliar older sister in the room. While she was getting close to her mother, she would occasionally peek in Bai Li's direction, her eyes filled with curiosity.
Tina! Who is this beautiful lady?!
Bai Li noticed Shi Hua's cute little eyes, and waved to her with a smile: "Hello, little flower, I'm Bai Li."
Shi Hua blushed with excitement. Ah! So this pretty lady is the one from the phone call!
She shyly clutched the hem of her skirt, then timidly greeted, "Sister Bai Li~"
At this moment, Shi Shui's mother also saw Shi Shui appear in the room. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, and she said as if waking from a dream, "Ah, Xiao Shui, you're here. I was just talking about you."
Shi Shui felt inexplicably nervous, and he asked somewhat apprehensively, "You're not saying bad things about me, are you?"
The mother replied with a smile, "You're just saying nice things about me."
Bai Li nodded in agreement.
Shi Shui's mother did indeed speak well of Shi Shui.
In this mother's eyes, her son is probably the most outstanding person in the world.
"She was a well-behaved and sensible child from a young age. She never cried or made a fuss and always quietly did her own thing."
"Exceptionally intelligent and academically outstanding, he consistently ranked at the top of his class in every exam, especially in the college entrance examination that year, where he became the top science student in his city."
Unfortunately, a family tragedy occurred later. Shi Shui's father was swindled out of his entire savings and debts while starting a business and investing elsewhere.
After that, the father couldn't bear the pressure, abandoned them, and disappeared without a trace.
Not only have I been unable to get back all the money I gave to others back then, but some people have even taken the opportunity to kick me when I'm down.
All my close relatives and friends from the past have disappeared.
Later, she paid off part of her debts by selling her dowry and family property and working day and night.
She thought things would gradually get better, but soon misfortune struck again when she fell seriously ill.
To take care of her, Shi Shui gave up his chance to go to university, thus changing his originally hopeful life trajectory.
Whenever she thinks about these things, it feels like her heart is being pricked by countless needles, and she feels extremely painful. She feels that she has dragged her son down and caused him to lose the bright future he should have had.
"Xiao Shui, I'm so sorry, if it weren't for me..." The mother said, tears welling up in her eyes, her voice choked with emotion.
Shi Shui quickly interrupted, "It's all in the past now. Why don't you rest for a bit? Don't talk about it anymore, Mom."
Shi Shui's mother is not usually this talkative. She has never seen her mother talk so much before. And Xiao Hua and Bai Li are still here... Why does she have to say everything?
Shi Hua was also seeing her mother like this for the first time, and her mother said so many things that she had never heard before.
She held her mother's hand tightly, listening intently, her small eyes sparkling with complex emotions.
Shi Shui tried to distract her mother by feeding her water and food, but her mother was like a chatterbox that could not be shut up.
Although Bai Li didn't show any impatience, Shi Shui still felt very apologetic. He said somewhat embarrassedly, "I'm sorry, sister, the anesthesia effect on Mom shouldn't have worn off yet. Don't take what she said to heart."
Bai Li smiled nonchalantly: "It's nothing."
A mother's feelings for her child are like this.
Bai Li had never experienced maternal love. In her world, family affection was always somewhat distant and vague, so listening to others made her feel warm inside.
This mother is truly lovely, possessing a simple and pure quality born from maternal love.
If she could, Bai Li would like to stay here a little longer, but unfortunately tomorrow is her company's first public recruitment event for live streamers, which is extremely important for the upcoming group live streaming plan. As an important figure in this recruitment event, Bai Li has to leave.
However, she was still worried about Shi Shui.
Bai Li pondered for a moment and then had an idea. She looked at Shi Shui and asked, "Shi Shui, I have an idea. I wonder if you would be willing?"
Hearing Bai Li's serious tone, Shi Shui stopped what she was doing, looked up at Bai Li, and said with eyes full of trust, "Sister, please tell me."
Bai Li looked at Shi Shui's mother and said, "Auntie's illness requires long-term care. The medical conditions here are limited. I have some resources in Shanghai, so I'd like to send someone to pick you up after your mother has recovered a bit."
Before Shi Shui could answer, her mother had already refused, saying, "Miss, this is unacceptable."
Although the effects of the medication hadn't worn off, her logic was still intact; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to speak so clearly.
Her face was full of anxiety: "We can't cause you any more trouble."
Bai Li patted Shi Shui's mother's hand reassuringly: "Don't worry, the medical team is my private team anyway, taking care of one more person won't add any burden."
Bai Li was not lying about this.
For the safety of future group broadcasts, a medical clinic was specially set up in the group broadcast base, and a professional private medical team was hired for this purpose.
The equipment inside is state-of-the-art, and the medical conditions are top-notch, better than 90% of professional sanatoriums outside. It can take care of a person without any problem.
“There’s more,” Bai Li added, “of course, what I’m providing isn’t free. My company happens to have a suitable job for Shi Shui, and he’ll need to work to repay the debt in the future. This time, the medical expenses can also be repaid through his work.”
This was just something Bai Li made up on the spot.
In reality, her company doesn't currently have a suitable position for Shi Shui. Unless Shi Shui wants to come to her base as a streamer, but that's something to consider later. Given Shi Shui's current physical condition, she's not suited for group streaming that requires a lot of physical exertion.
Moreover, if Shi Shui really was the top science student that year, Bai Li would prefer to send him back to school.
But these words certainly cannot be said now. Given Shi Shui and his mother's kind yet stubborn nature, they would feel they owe her too much and would definitely not agree.
She said that just to lure Shi Shui away first, and then plan her next move.
After all, she vowed yesterday to restore Shi Shui's good looks.
Moreover, Shi Shui has great potential; his looks score is definitely more than 82.
Why do some people enjoy growing flowers? It's because they enjoy the process of quietly waiting for the flowers to bloom, anticipating the final moment when they open, and appreciating their beauty.
Raising a person is like raising a flower. Bai Li was very curious and wanted to see what kind of person she could raise Shi Shui to be, and what kind of brilliance he could bring out with her help.
The thought was quite amusing, and Bai Li's lips curled up slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.
At this time, Shi Shui had only known Bai Li for a short time and couldn't quite understand her expressions.
After thinking for a moment, he felt it was a good idea.
The karaoke bar has closed down, and he can't find any other work for the time being. If he could work with his sister, he could both repay her kindness and provide better care for his mother, which is the best option for him right now.
But there was one problem. Shi Shui hesitated for a moment, but still refused: "Then there will be no one to take care of Xiao Hua."
"Then let's take Xiaohua with us." Bai Li squatted down, pinched Shihua's cute little face, and asked with a smile, "Would you like to come with your older sister?"
Shi Hua's eyes lit up; she really liked this pretty older sister.
Upon hearing this, she immediately raised her hand in agreement and answered without hesitation, "Yes."
"Would you be willing to leave home and go to a new place?" Bai Li asked again, wanting to confirm Shi Hua's thoughts.
Shi Hua nodded vigorously and said with a firm expression, "Home is wherever Mom and my brother are."
Although her words were naive, they moved everyone present.
Bai Li patted Shi Hua's little head happily and praised, "What a brave little flower!"
She stood up, looked at Shi Shui again, and asked in her eyes, "I really like Xiao Hua. I'll arrange a new school for her. Come with me, Shi Shui, okay?"
Shi Shui pursed his lips. He knew that fate seemed to be extending an olive branch to him at this moment.
He didn't have much time to hesitate, nor did he have many other options.
Following Bai Li may be a significant turning point for him, Shi Hua, his mother, and their entire family.
Although he didn't know what the future held, for some reason, looking at Bai Li gave him a sense of inexplicable peace.
Shi Shui finally nodded and said firmly, "Sister, I'll follow you."
"Okay," Bai Li replied.
She patted Shihua's little head again, then greeted Shishui and Shishui's mother, who was still in shock on the hospital bed, saying, "I'll send someone to pick you up when Auntie is feeling better. I'll be leaving now."
After Bai Li left the room, his mother, lying on the hospital bed, tightly gripped her son's hand. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions; this time, their family had truly encountered a benefactor.
Shi Shui's mother finally couldn't hold back her questions any longer and asked, "Son, tell me the truth, who exactly is this Miss Bai? What is your relationship with her?"
Her eyes were filled with suspicion, practically screaming "Are you being kept?"
Shi Shui didn't know how to explain it to his mother, as his understanding of Bai Li was also very limited.
Shi Shui could only give a vague answer: "I met my sister online before."
Shi Shui's mother closed her eyes, confirming her suspicions. Was it really true? She truly didn't know what to do. Was her son, with his circumstances, really a good match for Miss Bai? Wouldn't he be at a disadvantage?
She said worriedly, "Take good care of yourself."
His mother suddenly uttered a sentence without any prior cause or effect, which made Shi Shui tilt his head in confusion. He assumed that his mother was still under the influence of the medicine and her mind was a little confused, so he didn't understand what she meant and casually replied, "I know, Mom."