Thud!

Li Xiuying heard a whiny female voice.

Female voice: "Li Xiuying I was so, so, so very worried about you. What were you thinking? Did you forget about your family?"

Li Xiuying scowled as she thought 'Why did the voice make me want to throw up?'

The annoying female voice again: "Li Xiuying, you scared us all to death! Do you know how worried we were?! How can you just disappear without telling us? Do you know dad had to run around in order to take care of all the appointments you missed? Mum couldn't even sleep during this time because she was so worried. Why did you run little sister? Was it just to get attention? Do you feel we don't spend enough time together lately?"

Li Xiuying's eyelids felt heavy. She tried to open them but no matter how hard she tried all she could see was black.

A female voice whined: "Li Xiuying, how could you just go and get sick like this? What about all the surgeries you promised to do? You have to keep your word. Remember what uncle said, Your word is your bond." It was a sickly sweet feminine voice.

Female voice spoke sharply: "Little Xiuying, look at big sister when I'm talking to you!!!"

Li Xiuying's eyes opened instantly. She was staring into the face of Li Yu Yan. Li Yu Yan was so close that Li Xiuying felt like she could see her pores opening and closing.

Li Yu Yan: "Little Xiuying, how could you run off? Don't worry I won't tell mommy and daddy as long as you do a few things for me. The director of the medical program at Northwest University needs a knee replacement. The manager of Future Enterprise needs his gallbladder removed. My friend Shi Ning wants her eyelids done, our cousin Li Na wants a rhinoplasty...he needs a ... she needs ..."

Li Xiuying watched as the room was spinning before her eyes 'What's happening? How am I back here? How did they find me so soon?! What rubbish is Li Yu Yan spouting, do they know that I've run away or don't they?'

Li Yu Yan continued listing names and procedures as Li Xiuying grabbed her head.

Li Xiuying shouted: "This can't be happening!!!"

Li Yu Yan: "Li Xiuying why are you shouting whilst big sister is talking? That's so rude. Big sister was in the middle of listing things for you. You know I don't like it when you interrupt me. I'll have to start all over again. Little Xiuying make sure you remember everything I'm going to tell you, otherwise mommy and daddy might just find out about your little escape act. Also if you're extra good I'll let you have a look at the goodies I bought whilst I went shopping! I bought these beautiful limited edition high heels; the ones in the magazine I showed you the other day. I also bought the outfit designed by X. I know how much you enjoy spending quality time together, I'll give you all the attention you want from now on okay."

Li Xiuying stared in horror at the face of her torturer.

Li Yu Yan had a pleased look on her face: "Okay let me start again from the top. The director of Northwest's medical program needs a....."

Li Xiuying Screamed: "AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!" She punched Li Yu Yan in the face while screaming.

....

THUD.

Li Xiuying's eyes flew open with the impact of falling. She was on the floor with her arms and legs akimbo.

She gathered herself and pushed herself up into a seated position. She leaned back against the bed, her legs were stretched out in front of her, her hands were in her hair.

She had sweat dripping down her face. Her heart was beating so fast and hard, that it felt like it would break through her ribs. Li Xiuying started taking deep calming breaths. She closed her eyes and let her taut muscles slowly relax.

Li Xiuying whispered: "It was only a dream. It was only a dream. It was only a dream." She felt herself slowly calming down.

Li Xiuying then started chuckling to herself. 'Even when I escape my family in real life they still appear in my dreams. I bet even if they died they would haunt me as ghosts. Will they always have a hold on me so much so that I can never see through the illogical actions in my dreams?'

Li Xiuying opened her eyes again and started looking around the room, well as much as she could in her current position seated on the floor. 'I remember fainting at the hospital, this can't be a room on the private wing because there's no medical equipment so someone must have saved me and ...taken me home?'

She continued to survey her surroundings, whoever had brought her here would reveal themselves in time. It was quite a large room, the walls were a light grey color. There was a black bedside cabinet on her right. Some shelves were present on one of the walls with various books and a tiny potted cactus.

Next to the shelves, there was a large two-meter window. It was framed by grey and white striped curtains. There was a ray of sunlight streaming in through the tiny gap between the curtains. A black chest of drawers was sitting in the corner.

Li Xiuying then looked at the floor it was white wooden flooring. She touched a knot on one of the floorboards with the tip of her index finger.

Li Xiuying heard footsteps approaching the room.

"Tap-tap-tap-tap"

The door handle was pulled down and the door was swung wide open.

Li Xiuying quirked a brow.

It was Qin Zhen. The little bun was wearing a set of baby blue pajamas and carrying a very small glass of water in one hand.

Little 4th was about to greet Li Xiuying happily when he saw her sprawled on the floor: "Big Sister YingYing... why are you on the floor?"

Li Xiuying: "Shouldn't you be resting?" Usually, a child takes one week to completely recover from an appendectomy. It was only one-day post-procedure, Qin Zhen should be getting more bed rest. However, children have the remarkable ability to bounce back and everyone's recovery time and response to surgery was different.

Little 4th: "I've already rested yesterday but today is already tomorrow. So I've rested for 2 days, you've been sleeping for a long time. Our family doctor said you were provably exhausted and getting over something. So I've rested enough."

Little 4th had a small grin on his face his big sister YingYing was so silly.

Little 4th did actually feel a little weak and his tummy was a little painful. His mother initially wanted him to stay in bed longer but he had begged to be allowed to see his big sister. He had to reassure her for 30 minutes that he was fine.

Little 4th's tiny face scrunched in confusion: "Why are you on the floor?"

Li Xiuying: "Fell after punching the face of my enemy. Their face was thicker than the Great Wall." Perhaps Li Xiuying didn't realize that she was particularly talkative when facing the little bun.

Little 4th's cute little face looked even more confused.

Li Xiuying: "Have I really been sleeping for 24 hours?" 

little 4th: "That's why my Elder brother called for the family doctor. 

Li Xiuying nodded 

Little 4th: "Oh and don't worry big sister YingYing, don't worry I'll protect you from the enemy even if they have faces thicker than three Great Walls cemented together." Little 4th puffed out his little chest and tried to make himself look reliable.

Li Xiuying: "Hey Qin Zhen just who is your big sister YingYing? Call me Li Xiuying or Dr Li."

Little 4th: "You don't like big sister YingYing well what about big sister XiuXiu? You only get these two options." He emphasized this by showing two little fingers to Li Xiuying.

Li Xiuying "..." 'Can she not choose either?' 'Why am I being bullied by this soft white bun?'