It felt like I had a very, very long dream. You ask what I dreamed about?
I don't remember some of it.
"But, I really slept comfortably!"
Ichiko clasped her hands together and stretched languidly. The fatigue in her body was greatly relieved and reduced, making her feel relaxed in a way she rarely did.
A round of morning sun shone in from outside the window. The frozen glass window reflected a halo of light, and some dazzling rays refracted into the room, making Ichiko subconsciously squint her eyes.
The nurse, who had been instructed by Professor Su, had been monitoring Ichiko's room.
Seeing that she had woken up, she immediately came to the front of the room and asked cautiously, "Miss Su, you're awake. How does your body... feel?"
Ichiko first looked at the nurse in confusion, then showed a relaxed smile. "I just collapsed from being too busy and tired. I feel much better after sleeping."
"Is that so?" The nurse was still a little worried. "But your complexion still looks a bit poor."
"Does it?" Ichiko turned sideways and saw her face using the mirror on the nearby table.
Her eyes looked a little tired from the long sleep, and her pink lips were slightly pale. Being bare-faced without makeup, she couldn't hide the haggardness on her face.
Her dark hair clearly showed signs of being cared for, but it was also a bit curled due to her poor sleeping posture, with a few strands of bangs hanging over her right eye, making her look a little unsettling.
Ichiko touched the skin on her face and chuckled softly. "It's nothing, I think I had a nightmare and didn't rest well, that's why my complexion is a bit poor."
She looked sideways at the nurse. "Speaking of which, can I be discharged directly? Haruko is still waiting for me to go home and cook."
The nurse's mouth slightly opened when she heard this.
A trace of blankness and disbelief flashed across her face.
"I... I'll go call Professor Su over!"
Leaving behind these words, she quickly ran out of the room.
Leaving the bewildered Ichiko behind. "You don't need to be so anxious, do you? But it does feel like I slept too long, I'm a little tired."
She shook her head and, seeing two small potted flowers and a watering can by the window, she smiled faintly.
She walked over, picked up the watering can, and slowly watered the two small potted flowers.
The trickling sound entered her ears. Water droplets gathered into streams and hit the petals, and the flowers gently swayed with the impact of the water flow.
Seeing this scene was very healing for Ichiko. "Haruko seemed to quite like planting potted plants at home before. How about I buy two pots when I go back later?"
She tapped her chin in thought. "It seems Haruko likes white lily of the valley. Besides Dawang, the house does lack a bit of vitality..."
Ichiko tucked away a strand of her hair, seeming to anticipate Haruko running up to hug her when she returned home.
The corners of her lips couldn't help but lift. Strands of morning sun shone on her through the window. Wearing a patient's gown, she looked so beautiful at this moment.
Her haggard expression was clearly that of a modern-day fragile beauty.
Professor Su hurried to the door, then slowed her steps before entering. Seeing Ichiko watering the flowers, she first observed her complexion, then breathed a sigh of relief. "It's great to see you back to normal. Miss Su, you haven't had breakfast yet, have you? I'll have someone send a portion over later."
"Ah, no need." Ichiko smiled at Professor Su. "I plan to go back in a little while. Haruko can't cook, I need to go home and make breakfast for her."
"Go home?"
Professor Su was taken aback for a moment.
The girl watering the flowers nodded gently. "Yeah, Haruko can't cook, there's nothing for it. I've always cooked for her. Right now, that girl is probably still sleeping, I guess I'll have to wait until I go back to wake her up."
"But, Professor Su, although taking care of Haruko like this makes me a bit busy, I really like seeing her cute appearance when she eats. It always feels very healing."
Ichiko looked sideways, then scratched her cheek awkwardly.
Seeing Professor Su's expression, she was slightly taken aback. "Professor Su, what's wrong? Your expression is so poor."
Professor Su was silent for a moment. "Miss Su, do you remember why you were admitted to the hospital?"
"Why?"
Ichiko wanted to recall, but she clutched her head in pain, taking several sharp breaths.
Then she violently shook her head. "I... I think I was admitted because I was too tired and fainted, right?"
"I don't quite remember."
Professor Su fell silent upon hearing this, and immediately understood Ichiko's current situation.
After a person suffers a major blow, they cannot accept it, and the brain activates automatic protection, leading to immediate unconsciousness.
At that moment, the brain goes blank, abandoning thought, which is commonly known as crashing.
A person's emotions might disappear in an instant, they will not accept such things, and gradually become indifferent.
Or, like now, protective amnesia.
She didn't forget that person, she just didn't want to recall that past. After the brain enacted protection, it prevented her from collapsing on her own.
Professor Su stood in front of the room door, her expression conflicted and hesitant.
She was thinking about whether or not to tell her about Haruko.
Her instinct was refusing to recall. If she brought it up herself, the emotions could suddenly erupt, and it really might drive a person insane.
However, while she was hesitating, Ichiko was already looking around. "Huh? Where's my phone? Professor Su, did you move my phone while I was sleeping?"
Your phone... was at your home and wasn't brought here.
Professor Su sighed. "What are you looking for your phone for?"
"To call Haruko." Ichiko smiled. Even though her face was haggard, she was still as radiant as a blooming flower.
Those pure eyes made Professor Su's heart ache slightly.
Even if she doesn't tell her the truth now, what about when she actually goes home?
Discovering Haruko isn't home, and then frantically searching for her?
This kind of thing cannot be hidden forever.
Professor Su didn't know how many times she had sighed. "Ichiko, could you please calm down? There's something I want to tell you."
Ichiko nodded. "Professor Su, please say it."
"Your Haruko... is already dead."
Upon hearing this, Ichiko tilted her head, her smile a little stiff. "Professor Su, what kind of joke are you making? Isn't Haruko at home? How could she be dead..."
...be dead?"
She slowly uttered the last word, and her pupils gradually began to lose color.
The watering can in her hand still maintained a half-tilted posture, and the water in the potted plant gradually overflowed.
However, Ichiko seemed to remain frozen. With trembling lips, she looked sideways at Professor Su. "Professor, what did you just say happened to Haruko...?"
"She's dead."
Professor Su turned her head away, a flicker of unbearable pain in her eyes, yet she didn't dare to meet Ichiko's gaze.
Hiding it from her would only cause her more pain.
Sudden memories, like a tide, began to flood into Ichiko's brain.
Because she couldn't accept such a thing, her brain and body had instinctively enacted self-protection.
However, some things can never be forgotten in a lifetime.
Her pupils constantly contracted, and her lips and body were gradually trembling.
Scene after scene flashed through her mind, finally freezing on Haruko's peaceful face before she died.
"Thud—!"
The watering can she was using to water the flowers fell to the ground.
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