A White Cloud (GL ABO) - Chapter 72.2

Su Jue entered the house with soy sauce.

The door’s sound prompted Xiang Ming’s scolding.

“Xiao brat, it took you forever to buy soy sauce. Sneaking off to eat again?”

“What?” Jiang Meng, hearing Su Jue ate out, stormed from the kitchen with a spatula.

Xiang Ming followed, calming her while fanning the flames.

“Hey, Xiao Meng, don’t get mad,” he said.

Su Jue, used to this scene, rolled her eyes but coughed to interrupt.

“Grandpa, don’t accuse me. I brought your guest,” she said.

“Guest?” Xiang Ming paused.

The couple noticed a young woman at the door.

Jiang Meng beamed at Xiaomi.

“Xiao Man’s here! Come in, sit,” she said.

Xiaomi had visited before, and Jiang Meng adored the poised, articulate girl.

“Grandpa, Grandma, sorry to disturb you again,” Xiaomi said.

“No trouble, come in,” Jiang Meng replied, shoving the spatula at Xiang Ming and ushering Xiaomi inside.

“Jue Jue, get Xiao Man some slippers. Don’t just stand there,” she added.

Su Jue stayed silent.

Inside, Xiang Ming had Su Jue store Xiaomi’s gift box, asking gently about Elder Xiao’s health while glaring at Su Jue.

“Don’t loiter here. Help Xiao Meng,” he said.

Su Jue, arranging a fruit platter, stayed silent.

What a double standard, old man.

“What’s that glare?” Xiang Ming snapped, glaring back.

Su Jue huffed, biting her second popsicle, heading to the kitchen.

No ice cream for Xiaomi!

In the kitchen, Jiang Meng scolded her.

“Dinner’s soon, and you’re still eating!” she said.

“So what?” Su Jue teased, sticking out her tongue at her grandmother.

Jiang Meng raised her spatula, threatening.

“Finish my dishes tonight, or you’re not leaving!” she said.

“Hehe, you just miss me, making all this food,” Su Jue said, clinging to her grandmother shamelessly.

Jiang Meng elbowed her away.

“Who misses you, heartless brat? Get lost, so annoying,” she said.

Despite her words, dinner featured Su Jue’s favorites.

Xiaomi, unable to decline, stayed to eat.

At the table, Xiang Ming and Jiang Meng learned the two knew each other privately.

Su Jue didn’t mention Xiaomi was her patient, respecting her privacy.

Jiang Meng’s ears perked up, her gaze on Xiaomi growing fonder.

By the time Su Jue noticed, she was kicked out to escort Xiaomi home.

Xiaomi saw her hesitate at the door, lacking her usual hospital confidence, and offered a solution.

“Just to the gate, then come back,” she said.

Su Jue reluctantly agreed.

She’d be a fool not to see what the old couple was scheming.

Crazy! Her and Xiaomi? Impossible.

Beyond their doctor-patient bond, Xiaomi’s clingy ex, Yuan Jin, was enough to kill any interest.

That relationship was a mental breakdown waiting to happen!

“Uh…” Su Jue started, planning to speak as they walked to the parking area, but Xiaomi cut in.

“Will finding Xiao Hua make me better?” she asked, thinking of the call, a flicker of hope in her voice.

She felt like a wilting flower, any news of Yuan Hua her nourishment.

Seeing Su Jue’s joyful family earlier, guilt consumed her.

If not for her, the Yuan family’s table might have been as lively.

“Xiao Man, Xiao Man,” Su Jue called, snapping her out of her daze, her hand hovering behind her, sighing in relief.

“Sorry, Aunt,” a child said, head bowed, apologizing for nearly hitting them with a skateboard.

Lost in thought, Xiaomi hadn’t noticed.

Su Jue pulled her aside, kicking the skateboard to redirect it.

“You okay?” Su Jue asked.

Her warm breath was close, carrying a sandalwood scent—rich, not cloying, easing Xiaomi’s mental fatigue naturally.

“I’m fine, thanks,” Xiaomi said, stepping out of her protective circle quietly.

Su Jue, unaware, crouched to lecture the reckless kid.

“Just because this aunt doesn’t mind, you can’t run wild. You could hurt someone or fall and hurt yourself, got it?” she said.

The neighborhood had standalone homes, and the kid’s origin was unclear.

Su Jue warned him about safety and let him go.

At the visitor parking lot, Su Jue recalled Xiaomi’s question.

Standing by the driver’s door, she offered advice.

“As your doctor, I’d say, if possible, face this in a healthy environment. Past tragedies shouldn’t be reasons to give up on yourself. Only you can save you. I can only help as much as I can,” she said.

Xiaomi’s obsession with finding Yuan Hua bordered on pathological, clouding her judgment.

Su Jue hoped she could step away from her current environment, confronting it without self-harm, rather than staying closed off.

Until she relearned to love herself, her state would remain fragile, like a paper castle, vulnerable to any breeze.