CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 36: PARTING WAYS FOR MUTUAL PEACE

Old friends?

She was taken aback, not expecting him to introduce himself like that to his girlfriend.

Well, it makes sense. After all, it’s better not to let the current girlfriend know about an ex.

Feeling weak, her voice seemed soft and gentle.

"We all work at this hospital," Mia said enthusiastically, "Feel free to let us know if you need any help."

She forced a smile, "No need, I don’t need any help."

After saying this, she turned to Lucy and Robert, "Let’s go."

Watching them walk away, Mia muttered, "John, your old friend seems to have quite a temper."

"You go wait in the car, I’ll ask about the situation," John said urgently.

Mia held him back, "Ask what? Didn’t you hear what they just said? There’s nothing to ask, don’t meddle in people’s business who don’t appreciate it. Let’s go eat first."

He stopped the elevator from closing and grabbed Mia’s wrist, saying to her, "I’ll be down soon."

Mia hesitated but ultimately said nothing more, "I’ll be waiting for you."

"Okay."

John walked down the corridor, just noticing a few figures entering a ward.

He approached slowly, meanwhile calling the front desk to inquire about Mia Townsend’s department, and then called the department doctor to ask about her condition.

Upon learning that all three of them were bitten by animal attacks, with Mia Townsend being the most seriously injured, his heart tensed up.

After confirming that after proper recovery, there would be no serious issues, he hung up the phone.

Arriving at the ward door, he hadn’t gone in yet when Robert came out; he went to see his wife.

Robert didn’t know the relationship between him and Mia Townsend, just thought they were classmates, nodded briefly, and left.

The nurse also came out afterwards.

He then went in and closed the door.

Mia Townsend saw him and wanted to say something, but didn’t know how to start.

John, wearing a white lab coat, stood by the bed, close to her, and said nothing.

Meeting once again felt somewhat like a lifetime had passed.

Both of their eyes were wet and hot, silent as if speaking.

On the bed beside, Lucy Eaton saw the situation and proactively asked, "Could I borrow your phone? I didn’t bring mine, and I want to call my friend to come over."

"Sure." He took the phone out of his pocket and handed it to her.

Lucy took it and said to Mia Townsend, "I’ll go make a call."

"Okay," Mia replied.

Lucy went out afterwards, leaving the two of them in the ward.

"I heard you’ve been doing quite poorly."

"Who did you hear that from?"

"Middle school classmates."

Mia chuckled lightly, "What they said isn’t true. I haven’t been in touch with them for a long time, how would they know how I’m doing? I’ve always been good."

John didn’t respond, he pressed his lips tightly, silent.

He knew well what she said wasn’t the truth but didn’t expose her.

After nearly a minute of silence, as if knowing nothing, he asked, "Are you married?"

"No, what about you?"

"I’m not married either."

Mia didn’t look at him, her head down with her eyes drooping, because of excessive loss of blood, her face looked somewhat sickly and tired.

"I want to sleep for a while, you go ahead and busy yourself."

She closed her eyes, issuing a dismissal.

"Alright, you rest well, I’ll come see you tomorrow."

"No need to come again," Mia had no intention of having any more dealings with him, "In these eight years, all I’ve learned is to forget you. We aren’t suitable for communication anymore, let it be like before, no more meetings, let’s part and go on with our lives separately."

John’s heart clenched tightly, certain words buried deep within him couldn’t be spoken at this moment.

Lucy finished the call and came in to return the phone to him, "Thank you."

"You’re welcome."

As soon as he said this, the phone rang, it was Mia calling.

John glanced down at the phone and then went out.

Hearing the door close, Mia, who had her eyes shut tight, opened her eyes wide, with tears swirling but forcibly not letting them fall.

Lucy sat by the bedside looking at her, "He’s your first boyfriend, John Green."

"You know that too?"

Though they had been together for a few months, Mia never mentioned John’s name, only briefly talked about the breakup then.

"Of course I know."

"I want to escape," Mia looked at her, "I want to leave the hospital immediately, if I don’t, I will meet him again, and I don’t want to see him."

"What are you fleeing from?" Lucy replied, "Look at him, he can face you openly, yet you want to escape like a child who did something wrong, you did nothing wrong, why fear meeting him? Don’t avoid, let things be natural, every day should be like this."

These words hit home for Mia, "I’ll listen to you."

Lucy continued, "Remember I told you your father might kill you?"

"I remember."

"Don’t go back to live later, the million you earned risking your life, your parents will definitely take it all away, give it all to them, not leaving any for yourself. They pushed you to the brink for money, this already shows money is more important than you. Now, without that money, they won’t attach to you, which might be good for you, maybe your father will give up on the idea of killing you because of this. But there’s one catch: move your household registration out of the village. You’ve done your part for your parents, help if you want, or break ties, don’t hold back. You’ve lived for your parents and brother for so long, it’s time to live for yourself."

Breaking ties with parents, Mia had never considered before, but now seeing through everything, she had understood life.

"But where can my registration be moved to?"

"Of course to my place, my registration only has me, we’ll use one booklet, do you think that’s good?"

Mia’s eyes filled with tears, "Of course that’s wonderful, Lucy, you’re really good to me, truly, in these eight years, only you have been so good to me, I admire your courage, bravery, loyalty. Meeting a friend who shares hardship like you, I’m fortunate through three lives, I’ll also live for myself like you."

"Actually, you’re really great, in the four months of training, regardless of any injuries or hardships, you never complained." Lucy smiled, "Quite impressive."

Mia said bashfully, "Because the three of you persisted and worked hard, I couldn’t give up easily either."

The two chatted for a while, then James Foster brought her suitcase over.

Upon hearing the whole story, at this moment, he finally knew where Lucy had been for the past few months.