Chapter 244
They say medicine advances every five years through pioneers pushing boundaries. Whether Dr. Quill and her men- tor’s experimental treatment would work–she truly didn’t know. But when you have to bet everything, you give it your all. This time, she’d fight with everything she had.
Since they were leaving Canal Town the next day, they packed late into the night before returning to the hotel. That evening, Lucille checked her phone to find a message from her grandmother: “Happy birthday, Zhizhi.” Calculating the time difference, she stepped outside her room, put on headphones, and video–called her grandmother. Her grandmother, at home, beamed upon seeing her. “Zhizhi! Such a special day! What delicious treats did you have?”
Lucille described how the tour troupe celebrated her birthday at the theater.
Her grandmother gasped, “Wow! A three–tiered cake!
Our Zhizhi is truly blessed, surrounded by so much love.”
“Yes, Grandma. Zhizhi is so very happy right now.”
Her joy felt utterly genuine, radiating from her eyes and making her glow.
Finally reassured, Lucille asked about her grandmother’s wellbeing. The older woman seemed fine, and they chatted awhile until her grandmother insisted she rest, mindful of the time difference.
She knew it was late there.
“Okay, goodnight, Grandma.”
The call ended past midnight. Her birthday had passed “with a bang.”
And why not “with a bang“?
Tonight had been overwhelming–so much so that even lying down, excitement kept her awake.
Tonight, she danced before a real audience!
She stood on a genuine stage!
Many troupe members had taken photos during the celebration. Now, as everyone settled down, they sent the pictures to her. She scrolled through them, unable to suppress her smile.
Just then, Emma messaged her, a string of exclamation points betraying her excitement:
Lucille!!!
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You’re back?!
You can dance again!!!
!!!
!!!
!!!
She attached a photo of Lucille dancing–a solo moment, without Aydan.
“Where did you get this?”
Lucille texted back.
Emma sent a sly smile emoji followed by a screenshot: Cedrick’s Instagram post featuring that exact dance photo, captioned: Happy birthday to someone.
Within minutes, their high school classmates flooded the comments, mostly echoing:
Whoa, Mr. Maynard showing off his love life? Rare!
The classmates loved the bit. Soon, the thread became a sea
Mr. Maynard showing off? Rare!
One comment broke the pattern:
Happy birthday, Mrs. Maynard.
Immediately, others followed:
Happy birthday, Mrs. Maynard!
All teasing in that familiar classmate banter tone.
Except Billy, who commented:
Does she not have a name?
Who is ‘someone‘?
Who is ‘Mrs. Maynard‘?
Can’t you just say ‘Happy birthday, Lucille‘?
His words stood out sharply against the uniform replies.
Emma and Cedrick only shared high school mutuals, so these were all common friends.
Emma asked: Did Cedrick find you?
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Lucille: Yes. No idea how.
Emma sent a sighing emoji: No clue what’s up with you two. You’ve been close since high school–it’s been a long journey. But I’m on your side, always.
This time, Lucille replied with a barrage of question marks:
Close in high school? Since when?
?
?
?
She hadn’t even spoken much with him!
How could anyone think they were close?
Emma: Isn’t that true?
Back then everyone whispered about you and Cedrick dating.
Lucille: ?
?
?
No way!
Absolutely not!
She admitted having a crush on Cedrick, but he’d always been ice–cold toward her. Where did this rumor even start? Besides, in high school, if any boy and girl showed the slightest hint of puppy love, classmates would’ve teased them mercilessly. Even getting called on together by the teacher would spark roaring laughter. Yet she and Cedrick never faced that!
Nobody ever joked about them.
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