Episode 22 The Other Sister
Yueniang could not believe her eyes when she saw Zhenzhu standing beside the counter waving at her. Immediately, she walked up towards Zhenzhu excitingly.
'Zhenzhu!' Yueniang called out as she approached Zhenzhu.
'You said my mother was very worried about me?' Zhenzhu asked calmly.
'Yes. Aunt Xiufeng needs you. Please come back to Malacca with me.' Yueniang requested again.
'Look, I'm penniless. There is no way I can afford the air ticket.' Zhenzhu claimed.
'Not to worry about the air ticket. If you promise to go back with me, I will settle everything.' Yueniang assured. Seeing Zhenzhu appearing to be considering the offer, Yueniang assured Zhenzhu once more that she would not need to worry a bit about the money at all.
Within a minute, Zhenzhu gave a nod and muttered a soft thank.
'That's great. Aunt Xiufeng will be so thrilled to see you. I will be leaving within these two days, will you be ready in time?' Yueniang said as she held Zhenzhu's hands in excitment.
Without saying a word, Zhenzhu nodded again.
'By the way, Yuzhu is actually staying in a mental care unit here in London. I will be visiting her before I leave. I think she will want to see you?' Yueniang said.
'What? Well....Fine... Let me know when you are going to visit her.' Zhenzhu said without asking about Yuzhu's condition further. Deep inside Yueniang's heart, she felt sad as Zhenzhu did not seemed to care much about her sister but Yueniang decided not to probe further in fear of risking Zhenzhu's temper.
'You are sure Zhenzhu wants to go back with you?' Chen Xi asked as he drove Yueniang to visit Yuzhu.
'I am sure. I've already gotten her ticket as well and she knows that I will be leaving tomorrow. In fact, I had just given her a call to meet at the mental care unit to visit Yuzhu together.' Yueniang replied firmly.
'Leaving tomorrow? So soon?' Chen Xi said as soon as Yueniang finished her sentence. Chen Xi had seemed to have gotten a shock as the car jerk a little.
'Yes. I've already accomplished what I need to do here and it's time for me to go back. Paul and Zuye need me.' Yueniang said.
'Just like how Libbya and the kids need you. So you are going to the hospital the first thing tomorrow morning.' Yueniang continued before Chen Xi could say another word.
'Let me see you off at the airport at least?' Chen Xi asked. Yueniang simply smiled and kept quiet.
Zhenzhu was already waiting impatiently at the unit when Yueniang and Chen Xi arrived.
'What took you so long? Make it quick, I need to pack my stuff. Didn't you said we have to leave tomorrow?' Zhenzhu complained.
Yuzhu was sitting up in her bed when Yueniang and Zhenzhu entered the ward. Although awake, Yuzhu seemed to be staring into space blankly without any facial expressions.
'Yuzhu? I'm Yueniang. I've come to visit you again. Look who I've brought?' Yueniang called out while she pat lightly on Yuzhu's shoulder.
Turning to Yueniang, Yuzhu gave the same expressionless look, staring straight through Yueniang.
'Yuzhu, look. Zhenzhu is here. Your elder sister is here to visit you.' Yueniang repeated.
'....Sis....ter.......' Yuzhu mumbled as she let out a little chuckle.
'Yes. Your sister is here.' Yueniang repeated once again. However, Yuzhu only gave Zhenzhu a quick look before turning to Yueniang and smiled.
'...Sister....Sis...ter...Yue..niang.....' Yuzhu mumbled. Yueniang merely held Yuzhu's hands tight as Yuzhu called out her name.Tears started rolling down Yueniang's cheeks as she hugged Yuzhu.
'My dearest sister,....' Yueniang cried as she hugged Yuzhu tighter hoping that the time can be reversed where Yuzhu was still her old self.
Throughout the visit, Zhenzhu never spoke a word except for showing displeasure in the long time spent in the ward. Yueniang could feel Zhenzhu's temper rising by the minute.
'Thanks for visiting Yuzhu.' Yueniang thanked as she walked out of the ward.
'What a waste of time. She can't even recognise me. Fancy calling you the sister. I think she is not only mentally ill, she must be blind as well.' Zhenzhu commented before leaving hurriedly in a fit.
To be continued