Chapter 25: It Will Take Some Time

Bai Zhen glanced at Sang Ye and said, "Don't just stand there; please, sit down."

Mother Bai also snapped to attention and hurriedly added, "Yes, yes, you must be hungry after being in the car for so long."

Sang Ye intended to wait for the senior Bais to be seated before choosing a nearby spot, but Mother Bai took her hand and pulled her down to sit right beside her.

As soon as she was seated, Mother Bai began piling food into Sang Ye’s bowl with a pair of serving chopsticks. "I’m not sure what you like, but this fish is a specialty of Wu’s. You should try it, and this, and this one is quite good as well."

After filling the bowl until the food was mounded high, Mother Bai finally stopped, looking somewhat reluctant. "Eat more. I know girls like to diet, but you are far too thin."

Seeing that her rice was completely buried under the mountain of food, Sang Ye paused and said, "Thank you, Auntie Lin."

Bai Qi watched this and exclaimed in shock, "Mom, are you raising a pig?"

His comment caused everyone to turn and look at him.

Bai Zhen’s expression grew stern, his imposing presence instantly filling the room. "Bai Qi, is that any way to speak?"

He realized immediately afterward that he might have been a bit too harsh.

Mother Bai glared at Bai Qi and retorted, "If you call Yezi a pig, doesn't that make you a pig as well?"

Bai Qi beamed, "Even if I were a pig, I’d be a cute pig raised by you, Mom."

Sang Ye couldn't help but smile.

Seeing Sang Ye smile, Bai Zhen’s face softened, and he began to smile as well.

With Bai Qi acting as the life of the party, the meal was remarkably harmonious.

After dinner, Mother Bai took Sang Ye for a tour of the house before leading her to a room.

Mother Bai said simply, "I know you are a young woman with a mind of your own, and I don't know if you'll choose to stay here, but this room will always be kept for you. Whenever you want to come back and stay, it’s here."

Sang Ye looked at the room prepared specifically for her. The decor lacked the cloying pinks typical of a young girl's room, opting instead for a fresh, elegant style that clearly showed thoughtful consideration; it actually suited her tastes quite well.

She stared at it for a few seconds. "Thank you. I can feel the care you’ve put into this, but I think I may need a little more time."

Mother Bai replied with understanding, "I understand. There is no rush."

They had waited many years; a few more days wouldn't make a difference. As long as the child was close to them, whether she acknowledged them as parents right away was not the most important thing.

From the way Sang Ye had walked into that banquet hall alone the day before, it was clear she was a young woman of strong conviction, intelligence, and rationality.

Judging by what they had learned over the past two days, yesterday’s actions were clearly not a heat-of-the-moment decision.

Earlier or later might not have produced such an effective result. If she had acted right when Xie Yirou was first brought into the Bai family, the damage to Xie Yirou would have been minimal. But by exposing her as a fake daughter at the recognition banquet, right in front of the most prominent figures in Beijing—compounded by Xie Yirou’s own past actions—the contrast between the two was stark.

To remain calm and composed in front of so many influential people in Beijing required a level of courage and poise that few possessed, especially for a girl who had just turned twenty.

"Thank you for understanding," Sang Ye said.

Around 7:00 PM, Sang Ye suddenly received a call.

The caller sounded quite anxious. As soon as the line connected, she spoke rapidly: "Hello? Is this Dr. Sang? I was referred by Mrs. Wang. My Wangcai has been lethargic lately, refusing to eat or drink, and has no energy. Just now, it started showing signs of wanting to commit suicide. Can you come take a look?"

Upon hearing about suicidal tendencies, Sang Ye sat up straight. "Don't panic. Please tell me your address, and I will head over right now."

Seeing this, Bai Qi quickly grabbed a pen and paper for her.

Sang Ye nodded as she listened, jotting down the address, phone number, and name.

Bai Qi stood by her side and caught the information as well. "Bai Palace Apartments? That’s not far from here. Everyone living in that area is a prominent figure in Beijing; some of the guests from yesterday live there."

With a general idea of the situation, she formed a tentative plan, though she would need to see the pet to be certain.

After hanging up, Mother Bai asked urgently, "What happened?"

Sang Ye stood up as she spoke. "A client’s pet is ill. I need to go over there."

Bai Changli was about to offer to drive her, but Bai Qi had already grabbed the keys, announcing loudly and clearly, "I’ll drive you."

Sang Ye nodded, then turned to her parents. "Uncle Bai, Auntie Lin, Brother, I’ll be going now. I’ll come to visit again another day."

Mother Bai, who had stood up when Sang Ye did, responded immediately, "Yes, yes, go ahead. Finish your work and rest early; don't overwork yourself."

Bai Father added, "If there is anything you can't handle or if you need help, send us a message."

Sang Ye nodded and walked toward the exit with Bai Qi. "Don't bother seeing me out."

Mother Bai said reluctantly, "Be careful on the road."

Knowing how fast Bai Qi drove, Bai Changli gave a specific warning: "Bai Qi, drive carefully! Pay attention to safety! Don't drive too fast."

Bai Qi gave them an "OK" gesture. "Don't worry, I guarantee I’ll get Yezi there safely."

The two walked quickly toward the parking lot.

Once in the car, Sang Ye understood why Bai Changli had specifically warned him to drive slowly; Bai Qi’s speed was truly reckless.

On roads that were not highways, he hit 120 km/h!

Had they not reached the city center where traffic was heavy, he would have likely maintained that speed all the way to the clinic. Bai Qi even claimed he was already holding back. Sang Ye dared not imagine how fast he would have gone otherwise.

Because of the speed, they arrived in just ten minutes.

Since she had gone to the Bai residence, she hadn't brought her equipment. If her instincts were right, this was likely a psychological issue.

Sang Ye thanked Bai Qi and, as she unbuckled her seatbelt, said, "Be safe on your way back." She paused, then added, "And don't drive too fast."

Bai Qi, who had been slightly unhappy about her earlier distance, was overjoyed by this show of concern. His handsome face lit up as he replied, "I’ll listen to you. But I’m not leaving yet—I’ll wait for you to finish and drive you back before I go."

At that moment, a woman of about forty who looked to be in excellent health approached the car.

There was a hint of anxiety on her face, but her demeanor was friendly. "Excuse me, are you Dr. Sang?"

Sang Ye opened the car door and stepped out. "I am. You must be Mrs. Qian?"

Mrs. Qian paused for two seconds when she saw Sang Ye’s face before responding, "Yes, yes. My Wangcai is inside. Sorry to trouble you so late, thank you for coming. Wangcai is under control for now, let’s go inside."

Bai Qi stepped out of the car as well. Mrs. Qian saw him and blinked in surprise. "Bai Qi? What are you doing here?"

Bai Qi replied politely, "Auntie Qian, I brought Yezi here."

It suddenly clicked for Mrs. Qian why Sang Ye had looked so familiar.