Sydney Sawyer was still mulling over the female doctor when his words brought her up short. She froze for several seconds.
DING— The elevator had arrived.
"Hm?" Sebastian Lockwood leaned down, lowering himself to her level to meet her gaze. He hummed softly, the sound making her heart flutter once more. "Want to come over?"
"Your place… Are you sure it's okay?" Sydney Sawyer felt as if happiness had struck out of the blue.
Sebastian Lockwood chuckled. "We're just going to see the cat. What could be inconvenient about that?"
At that moment, Sydney Sawyer was just thankful she was wearing a mask. Otherwise, he would have surely seen the smile she couldn't suppress.
Doing her best to suppress the restless, giddy feeling in her heart, she followed him out of the elevator and to his front door.
Sebastian Lockwood keyed in the code on the keypad lock, and the door clicked open.
The apartment layout was the same as hers, but the color scheme here was more austere. Smoke-gray was the dominant tone, and the design was striking. One wall was decorated with numerous vinyl records, and a few potted plants added a touch of life to the room.
A light-blue cat bed and a gray, enclosed litter box in the corner of the living room immediately caught her eye.
When Timmy Lockwood saw Sydney Sawyer, he ran out of his bed but didn't dare to get close. He watched her from a distance, then looked at Sebastian Lockwood and meowed twice.
"I don't have any women's slippers here. You can wear mine." Sebastian Lockwood handed her a pair of slippers.
Sydney Sawyer took off her hat and mask. It had gotten stuffy under them, and she had broken out in a light sweat. Wisps of hair stuck to her forehead. She fluffed her hair, trying to give the flattened strands a bit more volume.
As she bent over to change her shoes, she asked, seemingly casually, "You live alone?"
"Mhm."
"The apartment is pretty big. I thought you might have a roommate, or live with a girlfriend or something. I was worried about causing any unnecessary misunderstandings." Sydney Sawyer asked nonchalantly, but her heart was pounding.
Sebastian Lockwood tilted his head to look at her. "I don't have a girlfriend, and I've never been married."
He then added, "So far, you're the only woman who's ever been in this apartment."
After all, even his cat was male.
Sydney Sawyer murmured in response and slipped on his slippers. The soft texture felt like she was walking on clouds.
'So that female doctor is just a friend after all.' And she was the first woman here. The anxiety she had suppressed the entire way finally dissipated, and she could breathe a sigh of relief.
Timmy Lockwood had now rubbed up against her feet. Sydney Sawyer bent down, scooped him into her arms, and cuddled him close, ruffling his fur. "Do you even remember me?"
"Sit anywhere. Since you're having an allergic reaction, I'll just get you a glass of plain water, okay?" Sebastian Lockwood said.
"Thank you." Sydney Sawyer sat down on a loveseat.
She even deliberately adjusted her posture, silently trying to find the most flattering way to position her legs. While stroking the cat, her gaze slowly shifted to Sebastian Lockwood.
He had taken off his jacket and tie. The top two buttons of his white shirt were undone, allowing the collar to fall open and reveal a hint of his collarbone. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. He looked both austere and casual as he got a glass and poured some water.
Timmy Lockwood, feeling neglected, nuzzled insistently against her in her arms.
"There, there. Be good." Sydney Sawyer quickly smoothed his fur to soothe him.
Sebastian Lockwood brought the water over. With a single glance from him, Timmy Lockwood struggled out of Sydney Sawyer's arms and ran back to his bed.
Sydney Sawyer raised an eyebrow.
'He really… has a way with cats.'
"The more you give in to him, the more he'll act up. Don't spoil him." Sebastian Lockwood handed her the water.
"Thanks." Just as Sydney Sawyer took the glass from his hand, a phone suddenly vibrated. She subconsciously reached for her pocket.
But Sebastian Lockwood had already answered his phone. "Hello, Mr. Chandler… Yes, I'll be right there."
'He's leaving?' Sydney Sawyer silently put down her glass.
"I have to go back to the hospital," Sebastian Lockwood said, looking at her.
"Well, I've seen the cat, so I should be heading home too."
"You can stay a little longer before you go." Sebastian Lockwood was in a hurry. As he left, his gaze fell on the allergy medicine on the table. "Watch what you eat, and take your medicine on time."
After Sebastian Lockwood left, Sydney Sawyer fed and gave water to Timmy Lockwood, then changed his litter. Since she had finally made it here, she wanted to stay a little longer, even if he wasn't around. Just then, her friend called.
"Didn't you say you were going to the doctor for your allergies? How did you end up at his place? Sydney Sawyer, did you finally see the light? Did you climb over his wall and crawl through his window while he was out?"
"I came in through the front door."
"Ooh, my girl is finally making moves! I'm so pleased with how fast things are moving between you two."
"…"
——
In the hospital conference room.
A patient's condition had suddenly worsened. The oncology department took the lead, inviting experts and key personnel from various departments for a consultation to discuss the best surgical plan.
Sebastian Lockwood lived close by, so when he arrived at the hospital, not everyone was there yet.
"I got the call while I was still in the parking lot. Looks like we're not going home tonight." Donovan Sheridan sat next to him, twirling a pen in his hand.
Sebastian Lockwood didn't say anything, seeming to be lost in thought.
"Thinking about the patient? I heard it's multiple tumors. The situation is pretty bad."
"I was thinking about how to make a girl happy," Sebastian Lockwood said, lightly tapping his fingers on the table.
He had no experience cheering girls up and wasn't sure if she was still feeling down.
How could he know that Sydney Sawyer was at his apartment, happily chatting away on the phone with her friend, while Timmy Lockwood lay in his bed, looking on at the excited human with a bewildered expression…
Donovan Sheridan, however, was stunned by his words. 'What the hell? I'm here talking about saving lives, and you're going on about romance?'
"Do you have any good suggestions?"
"I've been single for almost thirty years. Do you think I have any experience in that department?" Donovan Sheridan cried in exasperation.
Medical students have it rough. What was that saying again?
'Tell someone to study medicine, you deserve to be struck by lightning; tell them to study law, you deserve to be drawn and quartered.'
Although it was just a joke, it was enough to show how tough it was. How could he have time for dating? It wasn't like he was a certain someone, uniquely gifted and born to hold a scalpel.
Sebastian Lockwood pushed up the glasses on his nose. "Sorry, I forgot."
"What's wrong with being single?" Donovan Sheridan raised an eyebrow. "Single is good, single is great! You can flirt with whoever you want… I'm happy being a single dog."
Sebastian Lockwood chuckled softly. "A single dog? You're thirty. A dog can't live to your age."
Donovan Sheridan was rendered speechless, his face turning pale.
'I'm not even worthy of comparing myself to a dog now?'
How could he have forgotten? This guy had never been a nice person. The women of the Lockwood Family were fiercer than most men, and even if this certain someone now always wore glasses and formal suits, that was just a facade. You can't change what's in your bones.
'He used to be flashy and fearless, completely unrestrained. Now that he's learned to hide his true nature, he's even more terrifying!'
'A bad seed with a vicious tongue.'
'Was that girl fooled by his pretty face?'
'What's so good about Sebastian Lockwood, anyway? She should pay more attention to someone like me, who has inner beauty!'
Donovan Sheridan sighed to himself. 'That girl is so young and naive.'
**
In the days after leaving Sebastian Lockwood's apartment, Sydney Sawyer and he didn't see each other. Keston entered its rainy season, with overcast skies and rain for days on end. The season of floating plane tree catkins also came to an end in the downpour.
As a result, Sydney Sawyer's allergy symptoms also eased. After a few days of medication, the rash gradually faded.
Between the rain and her allergies, Sydney Sawyer hadn't gone out much recently. However, she kept receiving calls and texts from Andrea Wyatt. He asked after her well-being every day without fail.
Sydney Sawyer didn't know why he was so insistent on apologizing in person, but the matter had to be dealt with eventually. So, after her allergies improved, she agreed to his invitation.
The two arranged to meet at a restaurant near The Emperian.