Awake

Hazel Mo woke up with a parched throat. The first thing she saw upon opening her eyes was the white ceiling. Her eyes blinked a few times when she saw the unfamiliar scene.

This place was not her bedroom or her uncle's office.

Hazel tried to move and winced upon feeling a slight pain in her throat. She looked around and panicked once she figured out where she was.

This was the hospital.

She could still remember sleeping on the sofa in her uncle's office. But why was she here?

Hurriedly, Hazel tried to get off her bed. However, someone tugged at her hand and when she turned around, Hazel was surprised upon seeing that it was her classroom teacher. Her eyes went wide and Hazel continued to stare at her and wonder if she was having a dream.

"You're awake," Edith smiled. She stood stretched her hand to touch the little girl's forehead and breathed in relief upon finding that Hazel's temperature had gone down. "Fortunately, your fever has gone down." She then stood up to stretched her body before she helped Hazel to tidy her hair.

Last night, because she was having a high fever, Hazel had held on her teacher's hand and had refused to let her go. In the end, Edith had no choice but to accompany Hazel at the hospital for the night.

Though President Mo was worried that he would trouble her, Edith had convinced him that she did not mind to stay and look after Hazel.

Anyway, as a woman, it would be much convenient for Edith to look after Hazel.

"Teacher Qian," Hazel managed to spoke. "Why are you here?" Her eyes wandered around the room. "Why am I here?"

Edith turned to pour a glass of water for Hazel. She heard Hazel's slightly hoarse voice and figured that the little girl was having a sore throat. "You're in the hospital. You had a fever last night and your temperature was very high. Your uncle bought you here." She urged Hazel to drink the water. "I came here because I was worried."

Hazel took the glass from her teacher and drank the water with a dazed expression.

Edith waited until the girl had finished drinking her water. Then, she put the glass aside and leaned forward. "How are you feeling now? Any discomfort?"

"No." Hazel shook her head. She had a slight headache before she took a nap in her uncle's office, but after a long sleep, it had disappeared.

"Hazel, why don't you say anything if you're not feeling well?"

Hazel lowered her gaze and not saying anything.

"Your uncle was really worried and I was worried," Edith said.

"Sorry." Hazel bit at her lips.

Yesterday, she had realized that her body was feeling a little bit uncomfortable. She did not want to trouble her uncle knowing that he was busy with his work. She had thought that she would recover soon after she took a quick nap and had never thought that it was so bad that she had to come over to the hospital.

Edith stretched her hand again and this time, she ran her hand on the little girl's head. "Next time, when you are in pain, you have to let the adults know, understand? Hazel, you are only a five-years-old. You don't have to bear with everything in silence. If you don't let us know that you are hurting, then we will only worry about you."

Hazel listened to her teacher's words and nodded her head once in a while. "Teacher Qian," she called out after keeping in silence for a while. "I need to go to the restroom."

Edith froze for a few seconds. Then smiled. "Alright. Come over. I'll help you off the bed. Can you manage by yourself?"

Once her feet touched the ground, Hazel nodded. "I can."

"Then, I will wait for you here," Edith said as she flicked the bathroom light on. "If there is anything, you can call me."

Edith watched as Hazel entered the bathroom and heaved a long sigh. Then, she turned around and grabbed her phone to check for messages. A chuckle escaped her upon reading her friend, Lily's messages.

She had thought that she was going to spend a night at her friend, Lily's place, but after Hazel had refused to release her hand, Edith had to tell her friend that she had to stay around to accompany the little girl.

Of course, upon hearing that her friend was going to spend the night around President Mo, Lily was suddenly excited and her imagination started to run wild.

Fortunately, Edith had set her phone to silent mode and texted her friend that she will tell her everything later.

However, that did not stop Lily from attacking her with missed calls and messages.

A chuckle escaped her as Edith read the scenarios in Lily's text.

She had stayed in the hospital to look after her Hazel, how did this become a romance scenario in her friend's head? She was worried about Hazel and had woken up every few hours to check on the girl's temperature. Where would there be a scene where a budding romance would appear?

Besides, she had urged Neil Mo to go home and let her stay the night at the hospital. There was not much interaction between them.

Edith could not help but think that her friend was reading too much novel.

At this time, there was a knock on the door. When Edith turned around, Neil appeared at the door with a bag in his hand. He looked around the room and finally, his gaze stopped at Edith.

"Where is Hazel?"

"She's in the bathroom," Edith said. Her gaze shifted towards the bag he was carrying. "Did you bring Hazel's clothes with you?"

Neil nodded. "I brought everything you asked."

Edith had volunteered to look after Hazel in the hospital and had urged him to go home and rest. When he had declined to rest at home, Edith had reminded him that he needed to pack up Hazel's clothes. Due to her fever, Hazel's clothes were all wet from sweat and it would be uncomfortable for her to wear her dirty clothes again.

The bathroom door swung open and Hazel came out. She looked at her uncle and was surprised upon finding him there. Afraid that her uncle was going to scold her, Hazel lowered her head and shrunk her neck.

"Hazel," Neil walked over to her. He crouched beside her and put his hand on her forehead. "Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"

The little girl blinked as she saw her uncle's concerned look. Her posture eased when her uncle did not scold her. "I'm fine."

Neil breathed with relief. "Fortunately, you're alright." He leaned to kiss the girl on her forehead and smiled.

"Uncle," Hazel called. "Can I leave this place? I don't like it here." Her voice weakened.

Neil paused and his expression grew softer as he guessed at his niece's thought.

The last time she came to the hospital, her grandparents had told her that her parents had passed away and she could not see them again. Ever since then, Hazel did not like the hospital or the smell of it. Hospital would always bring her a bad memory.

"Alright." He nodded. "I will ask the doctor to let you leave the hospital."