At this moment, Sophie also arrived and stood at the door of her office, saying, "Susu, the way you've tied your scarf looks odd. Why not try a different knot?"
"No need. It's getting late, and I have to rush to RJ," Susu said, immediately covering the scarf around her neck with her hand.
Sophie quickly added, "Susu, let me go with you. As an assistant, I might be able to help."
Susu replied with a hint of hesitation, "But I've already told Shishi to accompany me."
"Shishi? I saw her in the restroom just now. She seemed to have an upset stomach."
"Oh, why would she have an upset stomach so early in the morning?" Susu said, dialing Xu Shishi's mobile phone.
Before Susu could speak, Xu Shishi said uncomfortably, "Susu jie, I might not be able to go with you for the signing. I... I was fine when I left home this morning, but I don't know why I started having diarrhea as soon as I arrived at the studio. I think I need to go to the hospital."
"Is your diarrhea that severe? Alright, then go to the hospital quickly," Susu said.
"Mhm, the materials you asked me to prepare are on my desk. I'm going to the hospital now." After saying this, Xu Shishi's stomach churned again, and she rushed into the restroom.
Susu turned to Sophie and said, "It seems only you can accompany me. Sigh, this girl must have eaten something bad this morning. She even said she wanted to go with me to see the world, but now it looks like she can't."
Sophie smiled and replied, "As long as we sign with RJ, there will be plenty of opportunities to visit RJ in the future. She'll have her chance to see the world at RJ."
"That's true. Let's go," Susu said, preparing to retrieve the documents from Xu Shishi's desk.
However, Sophie took out a folder from her handbag and said, "Shishi's prepared documents are here. I've already gotten them for you."
Susu froze for a second, then said, "You really are efficient."
But she felt a little strange. Xu Shishi had just said the documents were on her desk, and Sophie had already obtained them. Was she clairvoyant?
The two of them went to RJ and successfully signed the contract with Lily Zhou. Afterward, Susu and Lily Zhou had a very engaging conversation, discussing ideas for RJ's next season's designs.
Lily Zhou also informed Susu about the fashion direction and trends the headquarters were aiming for, asking Susu to ponder them further upon her return.
Sophie couldn't interject at all. Even when she occasionally offered her own thoughts, Lily Zhou would simply brush them aside, making Sophie feel that Lily Zhou completely disregarded everyone else except Susu.
Susu also seemed to admire Lily Zhou greatly. Their mutual appreciation made Sophie feel jealous.
Why did Susu value Lily Zhou more than her now?
She felt an inexpressible sense of frustration and displeasure.
After their conversation with Lily Zhou, they left RJ. Susu asked Sophie to take the contract back to the studio first, while she herself planned to go directly to the hospital.
Sophie couldn't help but ask again, "You're going to the hospital? Let me go with you. I also want to see the child and help you with your charity."
Although Susu knew Sophie meant no harm, she didn't want too many people to know Xiaoxiao's background, as it was a form of protection for Xiaoxiao.
"No need. The intensive care unit at the children's hospital only allows one visitor at a time. You should return to the studio and scan the contract for archiving," Susu said, hailing a taxi for her. After watching Sophie get into the car and leave, Susu drove to the hospital herself.
Sophie returned to the studio alone. She intended to put the contract in Susu's office but found the door locked.
She asked Zhang Ting what was going on. Zhang Ting directly told her, "Ever since someone tampered with things in Susu jie's office, Susu jie instructed me to lock the office door whenever she's not here."
"That's not possible. You're acting on your own initiative," Sophie said, suddenly feeling as though everyone was targeting her, everyone wanted to separate her from Susu!
"Whether Susu jie instructed me or not, you can find out yourself by asking her," Zhang Ting felt this person was strange, but couldn't pinpoint why.
Sophie glared at Zhang Ting and returned to her office in annoyance, tossing the contract aside. She felt that despite spending more time with Susu now, Susu seemed to be guarding against her.
She couldn't help but shrink back in her chair, suddenly wondering if Susu disliked her.
They said they would help her, treat her well, but who would truly be good to someone as tainted as her?
What should she do? What should she do? Even Susu disliked and hated her. How could she win back Susu's heart?
At that moment, her phone emitted a piercing notification sound. She hugged her knees, staring blankly at the flashing phone screen. After a long while, she picked up her phone to check it.
The message was from the kind uncle: "How have you been lately? Are the methods I taught you working?"
Her fingers trembled slightly as she replied, "They're working, but she's still not as good to me as before."
"Are you free tonight? Let's meet at our usual spot. I'll help you then."
Sophie replied with a "Good" and resumed her curled-up posture, hugging her knees. A smile curved her lips, and she murmured to herself, "Susu, you'll be disappointed with all men too. Men are all bad... Only when we are together are we the purest and most innocent..."
...
Susu arrived at the hospital room. Qin Tianyi hadn't arrived yet, and Xiao Anjing was also absent due to other matters. Only a nurse was taking Xiaoxiao's temperature.
"What relation are you to the child?" the nurse asked when she saw Susu.
"I am, I am..." Susu was momentarily stumped, unsure of how to identify herself in relation to the child.
The nurse prompted her, "Are you here to visit a patient? Have you come to the wrong room?"
Xiaoxiao, seeing her, was no longer shy and babbled happily at her.
Susu recovered and immediately said, "I'm her aunt. See, the child recognizes me."
The nurse looked at the child's reaction and believed her, saying, "Oh, an aunt? Where are the child's parents? For such a serious illness, I haven't seen her parents come to the hospital even once. Is she an orphan?"
Susu had to say, "The child's parents are abroad and too busy. They will be back."
"Parents like that, too busy to even care about their child's life and death," the nurse said sternly. "The man who was taking care of the child earlier also claimed to be a distant relative. Since you are the child's aunt, you are closer to the child than him. You should notify her parents to return to the country as soon as possible for a bone marrow match."
Susu asked, "Can't we match with the bone marrow bank?"
The nurse gave her a sideways glance and said, "Do you know how scarce the samples in the bone marrow bank are? To truly rely on matching with the bone marrow bank, even if it's successful, there will be a queue and a wait. The child's current condition cannot afford to wait. Your relatives should all come to the hospital for matching as soon as possible. The parents' compatibility will definitely be higher. Matching and transplanting from family members is the best and fastest way."