The next day, Han Shuangshuang left Xiao Bai alone at home and met up with Zhou Jiang to go to the hospital.
In Han Shuangshuang’s eyes, Xiao Bai was perfectly capable of staying home alone.
The last time she had been worried was because Xiao Bai had been injured.
This time, since Lin Ci had returned to his hometown, she might have otherwise entrusted Xiao Bai to him.
Xiao Man didn’t insist on going this time.
She had gained quite a bit of weight and was no longer the skinny figure she used to be.
Carrying her was strenuous, and it wasn’t convenient for her to stay in the backpack anymore.
On the way, Han Shuangshuang filled in many details she hadn’t had time to mention earlier, including the mystery caused by Xiao Man waking up once in between.
Zhou Jiang listened but didn’t pay much attention.
She was preoccupied with wanting to see Xiao Man as soon as possible.
After arriving at the hospital, Han Shuangshuang explained the situation to the doctor in advance and took Zhou Jiang to the special care ward.
When Zhou Jiang saw the familiar figure lying on the hospital bed, her steps faltered, and she quickly walked to the bedside.
Han Shuangshuang stood at the door for a moment, then turned and walked into the hallway, not wanting to disturb them.
She thought that perhaps if Xiao Man’s best friend talked to her more, it might help her wake up.
They seemed to have a very close relationship.
Zhou Jiang held Xiao Man’s hand and smiled as she looked at her face:
“Look at you, how did you end up like this without me by your side….”
Zhou Jiang stayed in the room for over half an hour before coming out with red eyes.
Seeing Han Shuangshuang, she forced a smile:
“Thank you for taking care of her all this time. Let me treat you to a meal!”
Zhou Jiang couldn’t defy her parents, but she still had a strong personality.
Han Shuangshuang couldn’t refuse and had to go.
Meanwhile, Xiao Man, left at home, ate the dog food Han Shuangshuang had prepared and then paced around the room out of boredom.
Eventually, she lay down and fell asleep.
A vivid dream came once again.
A familiar, refreshing voice seemed to whisper in her ear—
“Look at you, how did you end up like this without me by your side? I was planning to invite you for a drink until we were both drunk, but now you’re the one lying here.”
“Xiao Man, I regret it. When we graduated, you advised me to think more carefully before going back. I should have listened to you then. Work is boring, men are boring, and even kids are boring.”
“It’s so annoying, XiaoMan. Every day it’s the same old stuff, it’s really annoying.
Actually, being like you now isn’t so bad. You don’t have to think about anything, it’s so peaceful.”
“I’m so miserable, but I don’t know who to talk to. Everyone tells me that my job is easy, my salary is good, my husband is a good match with no bad habits, and we even have a cute, healthy kid… I don’t dare complain to you about these things.”
“You warned me back then, but I couldn’t stand up to my parents and just followed the path they set for me. I don’t dare face you, XiaoMan. Do you know, sometimes I think living this kind of life is worse than being like you, with no one to control me.”
“I decided to come here on a whim yesterday. It wasn’t anything big, but in the afternoon at work, my husband suddenly texted me asking what we should have for dinner, and then my mom called to urge me to have a second child.”
“I don’t know what came over me, but my mind just went blank. By the time I realized what was happening, I was already on the high-speed train to see you.”
“Looking back, they didn’t really say anything wrong. My husband asked because he wanted to pick up groceries on his way home. Even though I’m the one who cooks, he does the dishes.”
“My mom has been pushing for a second child since three months after I had my first. I’ve always just let it go in one ear and out the other, but yesterday, it felt like the string in my brain just snapped.”
“Xiao Man, if you were awake, would you scold me and say I deserve this? I don’t want to be like this, but I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I just told my family group chat that I needed some time away, and then I blocked all their calls and messages.”
“I don’t dare unblock them. I’m so scared they’ll scold me for being so irresponsible at my age……”
When Xiao Man woke up, she lay still for a long time, feeling depressed.
She thought that Zhou Jiang seemed to be sick.
When they graduated, Zhou Jiang wanted to return to her hometown.
Xiao Man had advised her against it out of a bit of selfishness.
Zhou Jiang was her only close friend, and if she left, Xiao Man would be alone.
But over time, things got better.
When Zhou Jiang first went back, they still chatted frequently, almost every day.
Zhou Jiang would talk about how hard she was studying for her exams, how her parents prepared balanced meals with meat and vegetables to help her focus, and even sent photos of the fruit they cut and prepared for her.
After Zhou Jiang passed her exams, she started an endless series of blind dates.
After each one, she would complain to Xiao Man about the guy, until one day, Zhou Jiang shyly told her that the guy she met that day was her type.
Xiao Man still had the complete chat history on her phone.
During that time, Zhou Jiang was constantly sharing sweet moments with her new boyfriend, who later became her husband.
When they got married, Xiao Man attended the wedding.
The guy was indeed handsome, had a good personality, and was polite and respectful to her as Zhou Jiang’s best friend.
After that, Zhou Jiang started complaining about her mom pressuring her to have kids.
Later, Zhou Jiang got pregnant unexpectedly and had the baby.
From then on, the frequency of their chats dropped sharply.
Xiao Man thought back over the past few years.
Every time they entered a new stage they had once looked forward to, there were unexpected complaints, but there were still moments of happiness and joy.
She had always thought Zhou Jiang’s life was peaceful and happy.
Zhou Jiang must have liked this kind of life, because back then, if Xiao Man hadn’t sensed that Zhou Jiang was leaning toward returning to her hometown, she wouldn’t have just casually advised her against it.
In the afternoon, Han Shuangshuang returned alone.
She hugged Xiao Bai, burying her face in the short fur that had just started to grow.
After a while, she said,
“Xiao Bai, I’m so envious.”
She didn’t specify what she was envious of, and Xiao Man couldn’t ask.
Han Shuangshuang lifted her head slightly and took out her phone, scrolling through her contacts.
Most of them were people she knew from work.
She realized she couldn’t confide in anyone.
She hugged Xiao Bai tightly and murmured,
“You’re the best, Xiao Bai.”
Xiao Man paused for a moment, then raised her paw and gently patted Han Shuangshuang’s back.
She didn’t know much about Han Shuangshuang, but since she had become a dog and spent every day with her, she had never seen Han Shuangshuang call her family or visit them during holidays.
It seemed this young girl also had her own story and wasn’t as fragile as she appeared.
Han Shuangshuang’s back stiffened for a moment, feeling a mix of emotions but also warmth.
She had seen Xiao Bai comfort Zhou Jiang before, but now it was her turn…
She had always thought Xiao Bai could understand human emotions!
As the two were sharing this tender moment, a phone rang.
Han Shuangshuang instinctively reached for her phone, but then realized it was still in her hand and wasn’t the source of the ringtone.
She froze for a second, then realized it was Xiao Man’s phone ringing.
She quickly dug through her bag and found the phone.
It was an unknown number.
She hesitated for a moment but answered it.
As soon as the call connected, an anxious woman’s voice came through:
“Is this Xiao Man? I’m Zhou Jiang’s mom. Has Zhou Jiang come to see you? Oh, this child, she just said she needed some time away and left without even taking care of the kids. The whole family is worried sick!”
Han Shuangshuang nervously replied,
“Hello, Auntie. I’m not Xiao Man. Xiao Man is in a coma due to an injury. You should try contacting your daughter directly.”
She wasn’t sure if she should tell the woman that Zhou Jiang was here, so she suggested she reach out herself.
The woman angrily said,
“That girl blocked us all, otherwise I wouldn’t be asking around! Wait, what did you just say? Xiao Man is in a coma? Since when? Did Zhou Jiang go see her because of that?”
“Oh, that’s good, that’s good. I knew my daughter wouldn’t just run off for no reason. That would be so irresponsible. I didn’t raise her to be like that! She’s really causing so much worry!”
Han Shuangshuang felt suffocated listening to this.
She couldn’t hold back and hung up the phone, not caring about politeness anymore.
She sent a message to Zhou Jiang about what had just happened, sighed, and put her phone down.
She tugged at the loose skin on Xiao Bai’s face and said,
“Xiao Bai, why couldn’t we have met good parents? Xiao Man’s parents died early, so that’s understandable, but Zhou Jiang’s mom sounds so harsh, treating her like a child, making it hard to breathe.”
“And my parents, they don’t care about me, but they expect me to support my brother……………………….”
Xiao Man bared her teeth at Han Shuangshuang-stop pulling on my old skin, it’s already loose!
Han Shuangshuang wasn’t scared of Xiao Bai’s teeth.
She giggled and pretended to be frightened, then let go and vigorously rubbed Xiao Bai’s face:
“At least I have you, Xiao Bai. You’re my only family now!”
Xiao Man rolled her eyes and let her rub away, feeling sorry for her lack of love.
A message notification sounded.
Han Shuangshuang glanced at it-Zhou Jiang had replied:
“Got it. I’ll call them back.”
Han Shuangshuang breathed a sigh of relief.
First, it would reassure Zhou Jiang’s family, and second, it would prevent them from worrying too much and possibly calling the police, which would only complicate things.
Xiao Man walked around the room for a bit, then lay down on the sofa.
Still feeling uneasy, she jumped off the sofa, ran to the door, grabbed the leash, and signaled to Han Shuangshuang that they should go out.
Han Shuangshuang, who understood Xiao Bai’s meaning:
I just got home not long ago!
But she still got up, changed her clothes, and took Xiao Bai out.
This time, Xiao Bai was the one leading the way.
They first went to a small supermarket outside the neighborhood, where Xiao Bai raised her paw and pointed at the alcohol.
Han Shuangshuang: “? Uh, dogs can’t drink alcohol, right?”
Xiao Man slapped Han Shuangshuang’s calf – just buy it, stop asking questions!
Han Shuangshuang somehow understood Xiao Bai’s meaning.
Under the strange gaze of the supermarket owner, she quickly bought a few cans of beer and some snacks Xiao Bai had pointed out.
Then she was dragged by Xiao Bai to the entrance of Xiao Man’s apartment.
She felt that Xiao Bai’s intelligence had reached a human level, which was a bit scary.
But… Xiao Bai was her family.
As long as she didn’t overthink it, everything would be fine!
Han Shuangshuang knocked on the door, and after a moment, it opened.
Zhou Jiang appeared at the door, holding a can of beer.
Zhou Jiang had been drinking alone for a while and her face was slightly flushed.
She looked surprised to see Han Shuangshuang, who quickly explained awkwardly,
“It’s Xiao Bai. She insisted I come.”
Zhou Jiang crouched down to meet Xiao Bai’s gaze.
Her eyes flicked to the transparent plastic bag in Han Shuangshuang’s hand, noticing the same brand of beer she was holding.
She was startled, then laughed:
“Did Xiao Bai also pick this beer for you?”
Han Shuangshuang also noticed the brand of beer in Zhou Jiang’s hand and said in surprise,
“What a coincidence.”