Chapter 13 Unexpected reunion

Stacy's world was a whirlwind of emotions and responsibilities. She had been sitting close to her mother in the dimly lit room, and the night had already fallen.

Her mother hadn't woken up, and both Jin and Yuan Yuan had left after spending some time with her. Stacy had insisted her dad return home and go to the company, which was in a critical state.

With a sense of duty, Stacy gently used a warm towel soaked in warm water to clean her mother's body.

As she carefully attended to her, she couldn't help but get lost in her thoughts. Stacy was supposed to be off duty by now, but she simply couldn't bear to leave her mother alone.

Her phone chimed, a message appeared on the screen: "Stacy love, meet me at the airport." She read the message and felt very reluctant to leave her mother in this condition.

However, just as she was contemplating what to do, the door to her mother's room swung open, and An Xin entered with a small, comforting smile on her face.

"You need to rest," An Xin advised, walking closer and gently squeezing Stacy's shoulder. She had been looking after her mother for quite some time her body needed to rest.

Stacy wanted to refute her, but before she could say anything, An Xin cut her off. "Don't worry, I will take care of her."

Stacy felt a mixture of relief and gratitude. "Thanks a lot, An Xin," she replied, standing up and picking up her bag.

She quickly responded to the message, confirming her plans to meet at the airport. She had been holding back for too long, and this might be her only chance for a brief respite.

Leaving her mother in An Xin's capable hands, Stacy made her way to the airport. The bustling terminal was a stark contrast to the hushed stillness of the hospital room.

She arrived at the designated meeting spot and saw a group of people with their backs to her.

From behind, they seemed familiar, and when they finally turned around, Stacy was struck with surprise and disbelief. It was her friends from Cambridge University, the same group of friends who had been her closest companions during her time at school.

The rush of emotions upon seeing them was overwhelming, and Stacy couldn't help but be shocked at the unexpected reunion.

*Flashback*

Stacy found herself within the colossal walls of the university, surrounded by towering buildings and a bustling crowd of students.

It was her first day at this distant institution, far away from her motherland, and everything felt so foreign. The campus was abuzz with students trooping in and out of buildings, each with a purpose of their own.

Amid the sea of unfamiliar faces, Stacy's eyes settled on a massive building where a line of students had formed, patiently waiting their turn.

They were entering and exiting an office within that building, and a sign on top of it read, "Admission Block." Stacy noted the writing but couldn't comprehend its meaning. Yet, her instincts guided her, and she decided to join the line with her fellow peers.

The line moved steadily, and eventually, it was Stacy's turn to stand in front of a lady who sat behind a desk in the office. Stacy smiled at her, hoping to convey her friendliness.

The lady spoke in English, "What's your name and your faculty?" However, Stacy couldn't understand the language, and she looked lost, her gaze fixed on the lady.

Impatience grew in the lady, and she repeated, "Can't you understand me? What is your name?" But Stacy remained silent, her confusion evident.

"Get out of my office, next person, please!" the lady snapped, raising her voice, she was already losing her patience.

At that moment, a young girl who had been standing behind Stacy earlier entered the office. She appeared American and noticed Stacy's lost expression.

"Leave now!" the lady yelled once more, but Stacy continued looking around, unsure of who she was addressing.

The girl realized that Stacy might not understand the lady and probably couldn't speak English.

She observed Stacy and recognized that she appeared Asian but couldn't pinpoint her specific country of origin.

The girl, named Hayley, had been studying international relations as an online course and was proficient in various languages, including Chinese.

She took the file from Stacy's hand, searching for Stacy's name, and found it: "Feng Bai." That's when she realized Stacy was Chinese.

Fortunately, Hayley spoke Chinese and immediately stepped in as a mediator. She introduced herself in Chinese, "Ni hao, wo jiao Hayley, ni ne?" which meant, "Hi, I'm Hayley, what about you?" Stacy was relieved to have found someone who could understand her.

With Hayley's help, they bridged the communication gap and completed their registrations. Together, they walked out of the office as newfound friends.

In the days that followed, Hayley assisted Stacy with every aspect of her admission, from course selection to understanding university procedures.

Their friendship blossomed, and they soon became lodgemates. Hayley took it upon herself to teach Stacy the English language to help her communicate effectively in this new environment.

As time passed, they both resumed attending lectures in their respective departments, gradually acclimating to the academic rigors of their new university life.

Stacy's grasp of English improved, thanks to Hayley's patient guidance, and she felt more confident navigating her classes and interactions on campus.

One fateful day, after a particularly exhausting day of lectures, Stacy and Hayley decided to head back to their hostels. Unbeknownst to them, a notorious group of bullies, three of the campus's infamous girls gang, had been lurking in a lonely alley.

They were fueled by jealousy because one of the most handsome guys on campus had shown interest in Stacy. Enraged by this, they had set out to teach Stacy a lesson.

As Stacy and Hayley walked through the alley, the bullies confronted them, their intentions clear. They began to harass and threaten the two friends. The situation escalated, and the bullies were about to get physical.

Just when things were taking a dangerous turn, two guys passing by the alley intervened. Aaron and Jayden, also students at the university, came to Stacy and Hayley's rescue. They stood up to the bullies, scaring them away with their courage and determination.

Aaron and Jayden introduced themselves as fellow students at the university and offered to accompany Stacy and Hayley to their hostels to ensure their safety.

The bond of friendship deepened, and this chance encounter paved the way for new connections and protection in an unfamiliar place.

"Present"

As Stacy and Hayley turned around, their eyes widened in disbelief. What Stacy had initially thought was just a surprise visit from Hayley turned out to be an even more delightful reunion with Aaron and Jayden.

The sight of her two close friends warmed her heart, and she couldn't contain her excitement. She rushed forward to hug them, her face lit up with a radiant smile. They had a special place in her heart and always had the ability to brighten her mood.

Hayley, who was a year older than Stacy, had a distinct appearance. Her blond hair framed her round face, adorned with cute, puffy rosy cheeks.

She had a small gap between her teeth, which added to her endearing charm, and her figure was slightly curvy. Her bright green eyes sparkled with curiosity and warmth.

On the other hand, Jayden had a completely different look. His dark blue hair complemented his hazel eyes.

He had a slender, model-like figure with long legs that made him stand out. Jayden had a playful and easygoing personality, often the life of the party.

Aaron, the final member of the group, was the epitome of masculinity. He had dark brown hair that accentuated his striking features.

His dimples appeared when he smiled, accompanying his red, rosy lips. Areon's bright blue eyes held a certain depth, and his demeanor exuded maturity. He had harbored a secret crush on Stacy for quite some time, but his feelings had remained hidden.

"I didn't know you guys came along," Stacy exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine happiness. She had missed her friends immensely, and their unexpected presence was a wonderful surprise.

Jayden flashed a charming smile, showcasing his set of perfect white teeth. "I wouldn't miss the chance to see my cute bunny," he remarked playfully, affectionately referring to Stacy.

Araon's deep, smooth voice resonated with sincerity. "I missed you a lot, Stacy." His eyes held a certain depth that Stacy found it hard to maintain prolonged eye contact with him, often causing her to blush. Aaron had a captivating charm that was impossible to ignore.

The group embraced the joy of their reunion as Hayley ushered them into her car, and she took the wheel. With the airport fading in the rearview mirror, Hayley couldn't help but exclaim, "Let's go party!"