Sitting in the Hospital ward, Haruko waited for a while but didn't hear Ichiko's reply.
She smiled even more happily.
But the old voice produced by the False Voice skill carried some distraction and disbelief, "Xiao... Ritsuko, Haruko she... did something happen to her?"
A Mother sees her daughter as her only one.
But couldn't get any news from her daughter.
It felt like the sky had fallen.
And was pressing down on Ichiko.
This White Moonlight female lead quickly showed a smile and comforted her in a lighthearted tone, "Auntie, what are you saying? Of course Haruko is fine. It's getting very cold in Kyushu City, and Haruko just fell asleep not long ago because of a cold. Her phone is on silent."
The old voice on the phone breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good, that's good. Haruko's brother has been gone for so long without sending any news. Haruko she... if something else happens to Haruko, your Uncle and I don't know what we'll do."
Ichiko's smile gradually stiffened.
The old voice didn't stop. Old people like to repeat meaningless words, "Ritsuko, it's really great to have you by Haruko's side."
"This child has had a bad personality since she was young and is easily bullied. The two of us old folks only know how to farm. We've already disappointed Haruko's brother. If it weren't for you, we really don't know what we'd do."
"Ritsuko, thank you for being a pillar and always being by Haruko's side for her to rely on. I'm at ease leaving that child with you."
Listening to the relieved tone, Ichiko's stiff smile gradually turned bitter, "You don't need to thank me, Auntie. You and Uncle raised me when I was little. As a sister, of course I'll take good care of Haruko."
"Did you just coax Haruko to sleep?"
Ichiko: "Yes."
"That child, she's really the same as before, she has to hold you to sleep, right? She's really a girl who won't grow up."
Every word was filled with memories and happiness, which made Ichiko feel even more bitter in her heart.
She was afraid.
She wanted to escape.
She wanted to forget everything and live an easy life alone, which seemed good too.
But in her heart, she could never quite let go of that small figure.
It was like a thorny rose. If you held it in your hand, you would be constantly pricked and hurt.
Even with Haruko, Ichiko had the idea of escaping, but only Father Chi and Mother Chi made her dare not think that way.
As a low-income household, raising two people, Yuna and Haruko, was already very difficult.
But when Haruko brought her home, the two elders still accepted her without hesitation.
Because of her, the whole family was often talked about by neighbors and fellow villagers.
Even though she was an outsider, the two elders still raised her like their own daughter.
They bought her clothes, toys, and supported her education, allowing her, who had been an orphan since childhood, to feel the warmth of a home and family.
Only Father Chi and Mother Chi, Ichiko couldn't let them down, and didn't dare to let them down.
In her ears, another heavy man's voice sounded.
It was Father Chi's somewhat hoarse, smoky voice: "It's a pity Ritsuko isn't a boy, otherwise it would be good to marry Haruko to her."
As soon as these words came out, Mother Chi scolded him, "Old man, what the hell do you know? We have Yuna for carrying on the family line. Do you really want to marry Haruko off like this? I'm willing to raise both daughters together even if it's for a lifetime!"
After scolding him, her voice towards Ichiko softened, "Ritsuko, don't listen to your Uncle's nonsense. You decide your own matters, okay? I won't bother you anymore."
"It's okay, you're not bothering me."
"Okay, okay, then I'll hang up first. Ritsuko, I'll leave Haruko to you, okay?"
With that, the call ended.
Ichiko sat down on the sofa in a daze, her mind filled with Mother Chi's last words.
—I'll leave Haruko to you, okay?
The old people's care, expectations, satisfaction, and happiness were all poured onto her.
"Ichiko, such heavy love, do you really want to disregard me?"
After hanging up the phone and putting it down, Haruko's lips curved into a happy smile.
She thought she should be able to see Ichiko in this ward soon.
Although the hacker tools the System drew out weren't high-level, borrowing the original owner's Mother's number was still very simple.
Just as the call said.
As for me, I've entrusted myself to you, Ichiko.
And Ichiko, sitting in the living room, leaned against the sofa and closed her eyes. The various complex feelings towards Haruko that were originally hidden in her heart were brought out again by a phone call.
What should she do now?
She took out her phone and scrolled through the content blankly, not knowing what she was looking at, just scrolling randomly.
Haruko was still watching the confused girl through the surveillance.
She took out her phone again, "Kai, what do you think Ichiko needs most right now?"
[Your host's comfort? Or your normal side?]
"I've always been very normal." Haruko corrected the System's slip of the tongue and said slowly, "What Ichiko needs now is a fulcrum, a belief, a goal to move forward."
"To make her take responsibility for me, the pressure from the original owner's parents isn't enough. Even if she comes to the Hospital like that, she'll just be 'forced' to come and take care of me."
"She must be proactive."
[Then what should we do next?]
Haruko smiled lightly, "Of course, it's time for Doctor Kai to appear."
"Ichiko has a heart problem, it needs to be treated!"
Just as she was feeling confused, a 'ding' sounded, and a familiar person replied.
Ichiko sat up abruptly, her face filled with joy.
Doctor Kai: "Sorry, I've been busy all day. How is your friend Orange doing now?"
Mimi: "Doctor Kai, let me tell you what happened first."
Since they were online and didn't know each other, their realities could never overlap.
Plus, Doctor Kai had helped Ichiko a lot before, so she subconsciously trusted the other person completely.
She told Doctor Kai the whole process of what happened between Haruko and Sento in detail.
After she finished speaking, Doctor Kai didn't reply, as if in silence.
The waiting time was agonizing for Ichiko. Three minutes felt like half an hour.
Doctor Kai: "So, you don't know what to do now?"
Ichiko: "Yes, I... with her like that, I'm a little afraid of her. Doctor Kai, think about it, this time she hurt herself to make me break up with Sento, so what about next time, the time after next?"
Ichiko: "I even thought just now, why not just let it go and not care? I can't easily tell others about this kind of thing, and it's so hard to keep it bottled up."
Doctor Kai: "I think I understand what you mean."
Ichiko urgently sent a message: "Doctor Kai, do you have any ideas?"
Doctor Kai: "She makes you feel pain, confusion, depression, fear, and even difficulty breathing, right?"
Ichiko swallowed, "Yes, I know she didn't do it on purpose, but... she just gives me a lot of pressure invisibly. I... I don't know what to do."
Doctor Kai: "(Yellow bean sigh)"
Doctor Kai: "If you continue like this, you will collapse first. I only have one suggestion."
Doctor Kai: "Send her to a mental Hospital."
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