The next morning, Jasmine is woken up by the doctor's regular rounds. She opens her eyes to see
Bridget sitting on the bed and helping Cyrus with breakfast.
In a daze, she gets up and calls, "Mom." Her head is still not clear from sleep.
"You're up." Bridget points at the millet porridge, boiled eggs and bread on the table, "I bought you
breakfast. Wash your face and eat it while it's hot."
Knowing that she is rather exhausted these days, Bridget doesn't wake her up this morning when she
sees her sleeping so soundly.
Jasmine nods and quickly washes up. She sits down at the table to eat breakfast.
Cyrus' heart stings at Jasmine's dark eyes. He sighs, "Bridget, I don't think it's good to keep Jasmine in
the hospital all the time. Maybe let her go back to school."
Jasmine has never slept in school in order to do part-time jobs.
Bridget thinks the same way as Cyrus. But ever since she finds out Jasmine's relationship with Pehry,
she has been very worried.
Seeing Jasmine sleeping in such a small bed every night, her heart aches more than anyone else. But
she would rather let Jasmine endure this than let her go the wrong way.
"She is not registered for dormitory. Besides, there is a curfew. She won't be able to get in if she returns
so late at night." Bridget doesn't tell Cyrus about Pehry to save him from more worries.
Recovery is the priority for him now.
Cyrus still can't be reassured, "Then why don't we let Jasmine stay at Hilary's for a few days?"
Hilary is Jasmine's aunt. Bridget immediately objects the proposal, "We've already troubled them a lot,
now you want Jasmine to stay at their house...."
"We're families, aren't we? Besides, I can't think of any other way." Cyrus insists, "She stays in the
school and eats in the canteen by day, only stays at their house for the night. It's better than sleeping
here. I don't want Jasmine to become sick when I'm fully recovered."
The more he says, the more excited he becomes. His stirred emotion suddenly makes him cough after
a moment's choke.
Jasmine hurries to the bed, "Dad, I'm fine. Calm down."
"You're not!" Cyrus can't bear to let her be so exhausted. In his eyes, Jasmine is still a child who hasn't
grown up. "You don't want to stay at your aunt's?"
The sudden question makes Jasmine subconsciously glance at Bridget's face. She hesitates for a
while without figuring out anything to say, afraid that her parents will quarrel over her.
In the end, Bridget cannot remain silent any longer and makes a concession, "Alright, if you want
Jasmine to go to Hilary's, then be it so. Just say it, why so emotional? You must keep away from anger
since you are sick, you know?"
Cyrus is calmed down by Bridget's resignation, "Jasmine, you stay with your aunt at night for some
time. When I get better, you don't have to come to the hospital every day."
"Ok, Dad." Although Jasmine doesn't want to go, she nods obediently, "Don't be angry. I'm young and
healthy, so it's nothing to run around a little bit."
Jasmine's docility doesn't lessen Cyrus' guilty.
As her parents, they not only can't give her a good material life, but also let her take care of
themselves. Cyrus feels ashamed of himself both as Bridget's husband and Jasmine's father.
Nearly fifty years old, he has always been an honest but reserved man who is terrible at revealing his
inner feelings and saying nice words. He keeps everything to himself, anxious to recover as soon as
possible and lessen the burden upon Jasmine as much as possible.
After lunch, Jasmine leaves the hospital for school. She walks out of the hospital and waits for the bus
at the bus stop. In her pocket, her phone is turned mute and she forgets about it.
Ten minutes later, a black Mercedes-Benz is parked on the roadside. It doesn't attract her attention until
a familiar face appears after the window is lowered.
Isn't this ... Winfred of the Red Club?
Jasmine is a little surprised, "Winfred?"
"Miss Jasmine, Mr. Pehry asks me to pick you up. Please get in the car." Winfred says with a polite
smile. His attitude cannot ne any kinder.
A car behind is honking impatiently. Having no time to ask further, Jasmine opens the door and get in
the back seat quickly.
When the car starts again, she asks from curiosity, "How did you know I was here?"
Winfred is a little awkward, "Mr. Pehry told me that you had class at 1:30 p.m., and specifically ordered
me to drive you to school. I was waiting at the back door, but didn't see you for a long time. And you
didn't answer your phone. So, I drove to the front door."
Jasmine takes out her phone hastily, and finds seven or eight missed calls on the screen.
She hurriedly apologizes, "Sorry, I was lost in my thought and forgot about my phone."
"No, no, no. Never mind." Winfred doesn't dare to accept her apology, and says quickly, "Fortunately I
got you. I'm just worried about failing my job."
As soon as he finished speaking, the screen of her phone lights up again. Jasmine lowers her head
and sees that it's from Pehry.
Right on time, isn't he?
Jasmine put the phone to her ear, "Hello?"
"He got you?"
"Yeah." Jasmine looks at the passing bus outside the car window. Through the big window of the bus,
she sees the students in school uniforms going to school at noon, and the grown-ups going to work. All
of them are crowding the bus with tired faces.
She should have been one of them if it was not for Pehry.
"I'm going to the hotel for a meeting later, otherwise I should be driving you myself."
Jasmine opens her mouth and tries to say something, "... It's Ok. I can go to school myself."
She feels that it doesn't matter, but Pehry is a little disappointed. Their relationship starts not very long
ago, he wishes to spend every second with her. Any time spent not with her is only waste.
"I wish you weren't so independent." Pehry sighs silently. Although it's her independence that attracts
him at first, now they are in love, he prefers a more fragile Jasmine who will rely on him more.
Jasmine bites her lips, not knowing how to answer him.
Actually, she isn't that independent. She is just afraid that her willfulness will upset him.
However, she won't allow herself to give such an explanation, as if she is asking for praise and proving
something.
Pehry waits for a while but gets no answer. He could only say, "I'll wrap things up early here to pick you
up, and drive you home after movie and dinner."
"Alright." Somehow, Jasmine feels a little depressed. She is stirred by Pehry's words.
"Then see you later."
"Don't..."
Surprised, Pehry stops hanging up the phone and puts it back to his ear again, "What's is
it?"
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