Chapter 28 - A Crystal Rose

Reaching her house, Bao Zhai greeted her softly,

"I hope you've been feeling well today. I made some ginger chicken soup and rice for you, why don't you eat it while it's hot?"

Smiling, Mei nodded, exhausted with her day, she held on to her bag tightly.

Carefully locking the door to her room, she took out her reports, pursing her lips.

Inside the folder were three strips of pills that she stared at intensely.

Placing them on her desk, she stood up, picking a half-used box of pills, throwing it in her bin.

"It's not like any of these work anyways."

//

Following Hien around, Mei took a deep breath, stepping into a room with an elderly lady waiting for them.

"Good evening Mei Ling, how are you doing today?" smiling at Hien, she assured her, "I'll take it from here now, thank you for bringing her here."

Focusing back on Mei, she introduced herself, " My name is Da Xia. It's really nice to meet you, please take a seat."

Nodding her head, she sat down, not knowing what to say, she looked around the extensive space.

The walls were painted a light blue color and right behind her couch was a large window with bamboo trees all around.

The lighting was just right, making Mei feel more comfortable with each passing second.

A large light turquoise rug placed beneath her feet helped her conceal the tapping sounds of her leg bouncing in nervousness.

Da Xia noticed her strain, commenting,

"I know you must be tensed right now, so why don't we talk about whatever you want, to simply start by? How do you like the room? is it to your liking?"

"It's very tidy."

Slightly chuckling, Da Xia beamed at her,

"Oh, thank you very much, how would people think if a therapist doesn't keep their counseling room tidy? It just adds up pressure instead of making you feel at ease."

With a slim frown on her forehead, Mei stated,

"Doesn't seem like everyone follows that ideal."

Placing her hands on her knees, she asked, "Does that mean you've been to therapy before?"

"What? No, I haven't."

Feeling her heartbeat race in her chest, her mind screeched,

'PATHETIC LING. Now everyone will know you're mad. Even counseling didn't help you the tiniest bit, nor did your miserable medicines.'

Squinting her eyes, Da Xia examined her behavior, apologizing,

"I'm sorry, let's change the subject. I heard you are a new trainee in Group A of the Liu Academy. Do you like your group?"

Trying to mask her thoughts and emotion to herself, she smiled back at her, "A lot, yes. It's been one of the best feelings in a long time," softly murmuring, "It was worth it."

"Made any friends?"

"I think one perhaps," looking down, she mumbled, "I'm not sure."

"Why do you think that?"

"Think what?" she scoffed, "I joined three days ago. It takes time, you can't pounce upon anyone forcing them to be close to you."

Crossing her hands, Da Xia's eyes crinkled, clarifying,

"I never said that, Mei Ling. Is that how you feel?"

Fidgeting with her fingers, a hint of a frown on her, "I guess?"

"It's difficult trusting someone in so little time, don't you think so?"

Clenching her jaw, she bit her lip.

Starting to scratch her neck in aggravation, her nostrils flaring, she felt herself getting lightheaded.

Paying attention to her actions, she offered her a glass of water,

"Do you want to tell me what you're thinking, Mei?"

Lifting up her face to nod no, her gaze darted back down, her mouth dry as she gulped on the water.

Deciding to let her calm down, Da Xia crossed her legs, her eyebrows elevated, evaluating Mei.

Her fists were clenched, forehead dripping with visible sweat when she kept flinching at unexpected sounds in fear.

Rubbing her chin, she thought, sympathizing with her,

'What did you go through?'

After some minutes, Mei glanced at her, inquiring if she could finally leave.

Tucking her tongue into her cheek, Da Xia reluctantly agreed.

"Sure you can, but let's end this session on a more joyful note now? Shall we?"

Hesitating before speaking, she gestured a yes.

Getting up from her seat, Da Xia walked to her desk, fumbling around her drawers after finding something.

As she sat beside Mei, she handed her a tiny crystal rose.

"This is one of the favorite flowers in my collection. So be sure to bring it back with you next time you come."

//

Her lips pressed into a thin line, Mei laid down on her bed, staring at the petite pink clear rose in her palm.

"Now I'll have to go back next week to give this back to her."

Spouting disparaging remarks, she set the flower on her dressing table.

"Ugh, I don't want to go for another stupid session but I can't keep this thing with me."

Exasperated, she paced around the room, glaring at it in a condescending manner.

"Who has such a weird collection anyways?"

Hearing the phone in her room ring, she realized Bao Zhai was waiting for her in the kitchen.

Strolling into the dining room, she saw a large bowl of steaming soup and a plate of rice next to it.

Her stomach rumbling, she rushed to the table, filling up her mouth with the soft warm rice.

"Hot Hot!" she waved her hand over her face.

She noticed Bao Zhai heading towards her, with a tray holding another bowl of soup and rice.

"Oh? You're here already. That was actually kept out for Jian. He just received a call so he stepped out for a minute."

Choking on the food as she heard that, Mei coughed, responding,

"Wasn't the ginger soup made for me? Why would he eat something so light? Is he sick too?"

Setting the table for Jian, Bao Zhai grinned,

"Oh no no, don't worry. He said he didn't feel like eating anything else if this was your dinner. I insisted that he should have a proper meal but he stayed adamant about having the same food as you."

Her swallowing exaggerating, she scarfed her soup down quickly, trying her best not to be swayed by her thoughts,

'Why did he not get himself anything good? What does she mean he didn't feel like having a different meal if I was eating this?'

Mei stood up, bowing while thanking Bao Zhai for the food, she hurried back to her room,

'I really don't have the energy to face him today.'

Her head down, she bumped into Jian who was heading in through the other side.

"Seriously? Look where you're going Ling, always hitting your head on me when you walk around," he groaned.

With a stony stare, she cocked her head at him,

"This was the first time it happened."

Shaking his head in disagreement, Jian opened his mouth, about to say something as he winced back, rapidly blinking.

Not uttering another word, he swiftly moved past her, leaving Mei with a confused gaze on her face.

"What just happened?"