Sneaky Ginny

One by one, Lin Que picked up the dropped snacks from the vending machine. As he approached Lily's room, he overheard Toby's words to Lily.

Toby: "Child, it's bad for your health. Your grandmother wouldn't want to see you like this. Not just her, but everyone in the family as well. If you continue this mindset, your mentality won't improve. You'll suffer a relapse every year."

Ginny, who was standing by the door caught the two figures eavesdropping by the door. A grin appeared as a thought popped up in her mind. 'If none of us could help untie the knot in Lily's heart and release her burden, maybe he can. Hmm...'

Smiling, she said, "Doctor Lin! Alan! You guys are here with snacks. Come in quickly." Her voice sounded natural as she waved at them. Seeing the snacks in Lin Que's arms, she quickly snatched the discharge papers from his grip.

Winking, she softly whispered, "Shhh.."

Taking a peek at the paper, a confident smile matched her twinkling eyes. Lin Que handed the snacks to Lily while Lily glared at Ginny for pushing her task to someone else.

Of course, Ginny chose to turn sideways to avoid her death glares. While Lily was busy talking with Lin Que, Ginny whispered into Toby's ears. "Auntie, if you want Lily to have a chance of recovering from relapse, then tell her that you forgot you had something important to do on Monday and can't go. Trust me."

Toby nodded and said, "Okay."

Waving the paper in her hand, Ginny said, "Oh! Your discharge papers! Ah, so Doctor Lin does have a soft spot for you~ He approved for you to leave the hospital Monday, but you must be back by eight at night. No problem. No problem. We'll take good care of her."

Lily smiled and thanked him for permitting her to leave that day. She understood that there were complications on his side, but he still allowed her to do what she needed to do.

"Oh shit! I forgot I can't make it on Monday. I have to attend a job interview, and I must take some exam in person. I just checked Monday's date and realized I mixed up the dates! I'm sorry!" Ginny purposely showed her phone screen calendar towards Lily's direction. Indeed, her schedule on Monday was marked.

Ginny hid her phone from behind and called Toby's number. She nodded towards Toby and hung up the moment Toby picked up. Remembering Ginny's words, Toby improvised on her own.

"Hello? Yes. Yes. Oh no. But Monday..Ah.. Okay. Then I guess I will have to come. Alright. Bye." Within two minutes, her fake phone call was completed.

Lily noticed her mom's frown, "What's wrong?"

Toby felt guilty for lying, but for Lily's sake she could only continue with this act. "I got a call from one of the clients that she booked her flight to leave on Tuesday morning. She said that she can only meet me on Monday. We originally planned to meet on Friday, but I guess something happened to her family."

Her voice trailed off and Lily replied, "Is that all? Then you could go to meet your client. I could go by myself."

"Of course not!" Ginny shouted.

"Why not?" Lily tilted her head to meet her friend's flaming eyes.

"You just had a hundred- and three-degrees Fahrenheit fever! Who the heck would drive you? Yourself? Or a driver? How dangerous would it be if you collapse in the backseat and the driver robs you while you are unconscious? Plus, you are going there from the hospital. If your mom and I can't come to even pick you up, how do we drop you off?"

Ginny's points could not get any more validated. Rubbing her temples in annoyance, "This can't do and that can't do. Then what do you want me to do? Walk there? It's like a twenty-five minutes' drive!" Lily felt a stirring headache sucking her in deeper like a whirlpool.

When Ginny arrived earlier, she asked about Lin Que's schedule. Therefore, she knew that he would be off Monday after eleven in the morning. "Doctor Lin, are you free on Monday? Since you're so worried about Lily running off or getting sick while she's away from the hospital, then how about you go with her? That is if you are free."

Lin Que's lips curved up slightly; a grin only Ginny had caught in her eyes. "I have work until eleven in the morning on Monday. I drive to work anyways, so I have a car. If Miss. Jiang doesn't mind, then I wouldn't mind accompanying her."

Before Lily could reject his offer, Toby stood up from her seat and clapped, "Great! I was getting so worried about her going alone. If anything happens, at least Doctor Lin will know what to do. I'm sure he wouldn't take advantage of you. Ah, my heart feels more settled now. Then, it's settled. Lily, you should let Doctor Lin go with you."

Hearing her mother's words almost made her spit out blood. She wondered if they were trying to sell her to the market or something. Should she wear a peacock sweater and give him a chicken dance that day as well? Sigh.

Ginny added, "Right! If possible, can you help us buy a bouquet of flowers for graveyards? Lily will pay you back for it. Pink Carnations are fine."

"Sure, no problem." Just like that, a visit to the graveyard for her grandmother's death anniversary became a whole different thing. Lily covered her eyes as she didn't want to see how shameless Ginny's requests would get.

Finally, visiting hours came to an end. Alan walked alongside Ginny and Toby. Since Lin Que had to attend one of his patients, he bid the crowd good bye. Not long after they had separated, Alan received a text from him saying: "Tell Ginny I said thank you."

Alan said, "Lin Que told me to tell you thank you."

"Heh, then tell him he owes me a big meal." She jokingly answered.

Instead of typing her response to him, Alan nervously remained quiet. Once they walked out of the elevator, Toby realized she had left her cellphone in Lily's room. Hence, she went back upstairs to retrieve it.

After the elevator door had closed, Toby took her cellphone out from her purse and smiled. "I have pretty good eyesight. Heh, take your chances, young man. I've already created the opportunity for you."

Ding

The doors opened, and she was back on Lily's floor. "Mrs. Jiang? I thought you left already." Lin Que said as he saw Toby walking out of the elevator.

She smiled at him and said, "Perfect timing. I have something to ask you. Are you free to talk for a few minutes?"

"Sure," he led her to his office and closed the door.

Currently, in the lobby, Alan gathered up his courage and said, "Um, I still owe Lin Que a meal. So, if you don't mind, how about I treat you to the meal instead of him?"