Chapter 287: Chapter 277: Lin Xiuxiang is to be taken away by force


    The cookies were freshly baked that morning, still warm, and theirforting heat seemed to travel from Qiao Jing’s palm straight into her heart.


    Images of the children appeared in Qiao Jing’s mind, bringing a soft smile to her face.


    “I just wanted to do that, I don’t need anything in return, as long as they are happy and joyful, that’s enough for me,” she said.


    Xu Moqian didn’t bother them further, as he had to think more about how to implement his n. He bade Qiao Jing farewell.


    “Sister Jing, I’ll be going first, you two take your time chatting,” he said.


    Qiao Jing nodded gently in response.


    ...


    Lin Xiuxiang smiled and took out her phone.


    “Qiao Qiao, I want to show you some videos and photos the kids asked me to take for you,” she said.


    The first item in the photo album was a picture of the children from the orphanage.


    As she handed her phone to Qiao Jing, Lin Xiuxiang reminded her, “They insisted that you watch all of them.”


    Seeing the children’s innocently bright smiles, Qiao Jing couldn’t help but smile along with them.


    Upon opening the first video, several little girls were huddled together, holding flowers they had picked from who knows where, their faces filled with concern.


    “Sister Qiao, please take good care of yourself and get well soon, and remember to eat the cookies we made,” they said.


    “And also, we miss you so much, when will you have the time toe see us?”


    “Remember toe visit us, okay?”


    “…”


    Qiao Jing let out a quietugh and continued watching another video involving a group of little boys before moving on to a group photo of everyone.


    After she had looked at all the photos and videos, she meant to give the phone back to Lin Xiuxiang but noticed that her friend was staring nkly at the bag of cookies.


    Qiao Jing could sense that Lin Xiuxiang’s mood had suddenly dropped while she was preupied with the phone, her mind drifting away.


    “What’s wrong?” asked Qiao Jing.


    Upon hearing Qiao Jing’s voice, Lin Xiuxiang’s thoughts snapped back, but her facial expression was still somewhat dazed as she hadn’t had time to adjust it.


    “It’s nothing, I just probably didn’t sleep wellst night,” replied Lin Xiuxiang.


    Qiao Jing took back her gaze and returned the phone to Lin Xiuxiang.


    Having known each other since childhood, they were both deeply familiar with each other’s personalities.


    Qiao Jing knew Lin Xiuxiang must be hiding something from her, but also knew that asking would be futile.


    If Lin Xiuxiang wasn’t willing to talk, it was either because she didn’t want to worry Qiao Jing or didn’t want to burden her, so she definitely wouldn’t divulge anything.


    Without pressing the issue, they chatted about other matters concerning the orphanage.


    Eventually, Lin Xiuxiang nced at the time and pped her forehead.


    “I almost forgot, I have a ss soon, I need to go, Qiao Qiao,” she said.


    “Okay,” replied Qiao Jing.


    Qiao Jing escorted her to the door of the ward and watched her walk away. Once Lin Xiuxiang was out of sight, she pulled out her phone.


    She found Tang Yan in her contacts and dialed his number.


    “How has Xiuxiang beentely?” she asked.


    Tang Yan was curious about why the boss was suddenly asking him this, but he couldn’t answer her question.


    He had promised Xiuxiang he wouldn’t tell Qiao Jing, but he didn’t know how to avoid spilling the truth and hesitated during his response.


    “No… Xiuxiang has been pretty goodtely,” he said.


    From Tang Yan’s reply, Qiao Jing understood that something was definitely being kept from her, and she guessed that Lin Xiuxiang had asked Tang Yan not to tell her.


    “It’s Xiuxiang who asked you not to tell me, right? I know she doesn’t want me to worry, so she won’t talk about it with me, but the less she tells me, the more worried I be,” she said.


    “I’ve always treated Xiangxiang as my sister,”


    “I know her personality, and she likes to keep things to herself, but I don’t want her to always have to shoulder everything on her own.”


    Tang Yan also began to feel troubled, he felt that Qiao Jing was right.


    Besides, this wasn’t a trivial matter, and Qiao Jing would find out eventually no matter what. Thinking of how Xiangxiang had been troubled by this for several days made him feel even more distressed.


    When Qiao Jing realized there was no sounding from the phone, she continued speaking.


    “She and I are family, her issues are my issues,”


    “no matter what it is, I won’t find it bothersome. I don’t want her to see me as an outsider!”


    In the end, Tang Yan sighed and spoke.


    “Xiangxiang’s family hase to find her, they want to take her away.”


    Qiao Jing had not expected this, and her face showed a momentary nkness.


    Tang Yan continued.


    “Xiangxiang’s home is far from the capital, her family was here to talk business and they wanted to take Xiangxiang back home on the way.”


    “But Xiangxiang doesn’t want to go, she told me that she can’t bear to leave the welfare institute, the children, and especially not you.”


    Hearing thest sentence, Qiao Jing’s heart raced a few beats faster, and a warm current flowed through her, softening her voice.


    “I understand.”


    The call ended there.


    The next day, against Zhan Qipei’s objections, Qiao Jing went through the hospital discharge procedure.


    Zhan Qipei nagged Qiao Jing all the way to the welfare institute.


    “Are you really okay now? Do you feel ufortable anywhere? I’ll go buy some more stomach medicine for you.”


    Thinking about those stomach medicines gave Qiao Jing a bit of a headache, and she helplessly rubbed her forehead.


    “The doctor said I could observe for two or three days at home, I’m not ufortable anywhere, no need to buy medicine.”


    Zhan Qipei knitted his brows, his tone full of worry.


    “After you get to the welfare institute, are you going to work at the institute? Why not rest one more day?”


    Qiao Jing slightly nodded, she had also thought that if she went to the welfare institute today, she might stay until the afternoon before going home, and would likely not have time for the institute.


    Moreover, when the experts at the institute heard she was hospitalized, they all said her health was the most important, telling her to rest at home and that they would contact her if there were any questions.


    Especially Xu Hongzu, who upon hearing she was hospitalized, immediately phoned her, telling her to rest at home for a month before returning and warning her if she sneaked in to work, he’d have someone send her back home to rest.


    But she was clear about her own physical condition that she could continue working, and Qiao Jing gave Zhan Qipei an answer.


    “I’ll go back to work tomorrow.”


    Zhan Qipei’s expression finally eased a bit, and he stopped the car in front of the welfare institute.


    “I’lle to pick you upter. Contact me immediately if you feel ufortable anywhere.”


    Qiao Jing hummed in response and closed the car door.


    “I’ll take a taxi back, you go to work.”


    When Qiao Jing arrived at the welfare institute, she immediately saw Lin Xiuxiang, who was sweeping the floor.


    She was clearly daydreaming, and the broom in her hand moved sporadically, even sweeping dust onto her own shoes without realizing it.


    A little boy kicking a ser ball identally sent it soaring in an arc through the air, eventually hitting Lin Xiuxiang on the head.


    The boy ran scared to Lin Xiuxiang’s side, picked up his ser ball, and bowed deeply before standing up straight again.


    “I’m sorry, teacher! I didn’t mean to, does it hurt? I’ll go get some medicine for you.”


    Lin Xiuxiang lifted her head; her eyes looked somewhat vacant as she shook her head at the boy.


    “No need, go y.”


    The boy then left with his ser ball to y further away.