"If you don't have a bun in the oven yet, don't play games!" Amy Harper chimed in with a grin.
"We don't have one either. If Evie really is pregnant, we'll be thrilled for her!
When Mr. Sterling is happy, maybe we'll all get a fat bonus!" Chloe Parker shot back with a smile.
"Wouldn't that be nice!" Ella Baker agreed.
Everyone laughed after that.
That's how the workplace works. When morale is high, people work harder.
At noon, Evelyn changed out of her sterile scrubs and headed to the ward to see her mother-in-law.
Eleanor Sterling was awake. Her eyes were clear, but she couldn't move. She looked a bit subdued.
"Mom—" Evelyn went to the bedside and called softly.
Eleanor's eyes drifted over. When she saw Evelyn, she managed to mutter a word.
"Stuffy!"
"It really is stuffy in here!" Evelyn said after looking around.
Eleanor nearly choked.
She needed comfort right now. She didn't need her daughter-in-law to agree with her!
After agreeing with her mother-in-law, Evelyn looked down at her and continued.
"So if we want to get out of the hospital early, we'd better go home. It's much more comfortable there.
The osmanthus trees in our garden are all in bloom. You can smell the fragrance from far away!
Mom, when you're discharged, I'll take you for a walk.
Or we could move the tea table under the osmanthus tree. We can smell the flowers and make tea at the same time. How lovely would that be..."
Evelyn kept talking.
She knew her mother-in-law had just had surgery. She was still very weak and tired.
So she couldn't talk too much. That would be exhausting.
But staying in the hospital was really boring for her mother-in-law.
She said more interesting things to cheer her up.
Of course, the best thing was to get her to cooperate with the treatment and leave the hospital as soon as possible. So she had to say things that would give her something to look forward to.
Later, after leaving the hospital, Eleanor complained to her youngest son.
"Your wife talks too much. In the hospital, I couldn't stand the noise. I just wanted to get out of there!"
But there was a spoiled smile on her face.
Alexander replied.
"That's right. Anyway, the hospital isn't a good place. We should stay as little as possible!"
"Is Evelyn free tomorrow?" Eleanor asked again.
"She should be. She doesn't have to go to work tomorrow!"
"Then let her come make tea with me. All the things I told you about before haven't happened yet!"
"What things? How am I supposed to remember what you asked your daughter-in-law?"
Alexander went back to Sterling Manor and told Evelyn about it.
Evelyn thought for a long time. She couldn't figure out what she had promised her mother-in-law that hadn't happened.
Later, Evelyn found out it was about making tea under the osmanthus tree.
Ten minutes passed quickly. Evelyn felt like she hadn't said much when the nurse came in and reminded her that the patient needed more rest.
Evelyn said goodbye to her mother-in-law and left the ward.
Eleanor wasn't angry. She thought she would rest. She was bored.
Because Eleanor recovered very well, she was quickly moved out of the intensive care unit.
In the VIP ward, there were small apartments, family beds, and a better environment and equipment.
Whether it was for Eleanor or the family members staying with her, it was much more relaxing.
At that moment, Evelyn was peeling an apple. Eleanor couldn't eat solid food yet. She could only have liquids.
Evelyn peeled the apple, cut it into pieces, juiced it, and then fed it to her mother-in-law.
"I don't like apples!" Eleanor muttered as she drank the apple juice.
"I don't like them either!" Evelyn said with a smile.
"Then why are you making me eat them!" Eleanor said angrily.
"But apples are nutritious. The doctor said you need one vitamin a day.
You can think of it as medicine!" Evelyn comforted her.
"Can't you say something nice!" Eleanor protested like a child.
"Mom, apples are not only nutritious, but they're also antioxidants.
Antioxidants slow down aging. If Mom eats more apples, she'll get younger every day!"
"Then I'll turn into an old monster!" Eleanor said, but she couldn't help laughing.
"How can being young make you a monster? It just means we take good care of ourselves!" Evelyn said with a smile.
Every day, Evelyn chatted with Eleanor to pass the time. Eleanor felt that her days in the hospital weren't so bad.
After being discharged home for follow-up treatment, Eleanor asked Alexander to help her with the discharge procedures directly.
Eleanor was discharged from the hospital. The nurse and Chloe Ward accompanied her. Evelyn went back to work.
Eleanor felt it was better in the hospital. Evelyn chatted with her to pass the time.
After being discharged, back home, it was more boring.
Besides paying attention to her physical condition, the nurse didn't talk much.
Chloe was busy stewing nutritious food for her. She would chat with her when she had time, but it wasn't as interesting as Evelyn.
Thinking about it, Eleanor couldn't help sighing.
"Ma'am, what's wrong?" Chloe asked with concern.
"No discomfort. I'm just bored!" Eleanor said.
"The doctor says you can't go out yet. Or I could push you to the garden."
"Has Evelyn been back for a long time?"
"I'll call and check! Ma'am, please wait a moment!" Chloe said, then called Sterling Manor.
Lily Thompson answered the phone. She said the young lady hadn't come back yet. The young lady usually left work between six and six-thirty. She got home between seven and seven-thirty, unless she worked overtime.
After the call, Chloe reported to Eleanor truthfully. She said the young lady hadn't gotten off work yet. If she didn't work overtime, she might be back between seven and seven-thirty.
Eleanor looked at the time. It wasn't even five o'clock yet!
She would wait.
Evelyn was working in the secretary's office. She felt itchy, like someone was thinking about her.
She called her mother's house. Her mother said nothing, just told her to come home when she had time. She would stew something for her.
Evelyn agreed. Every time she went back, her mother would stew a bunch of tonics for her.
It was like she was being abused at home.
As a result, her waistline was a few centimeters bigger.
After calling her mother's house, Evelyn called Chloe again to check on her mother-in-law.
Chloe said the old lady was fine, but she thought it was boring staying in the room.
Evelyn said she would leave work early in the evening and then go to the main house to keep her mother-in-law company.
After the call, Evelyn went back to the secretary's office and continued working.
At the end of the workday, Evelyn walked to the lobby. Alexander and his group were just coming back from outside.
Alexander was talking to Grace Miller about something.
Whether it was telepathy or something, Alexander turned his head and saw Evelyn standing nearby. He nodded and continued chatting with Grace. He didn't stop walking toward the elevator.
Evelyn thought Alexander was busier than before. She couldn't help sighing.