Maple Hotel was a name that carried with it a certain poetic charm. The owner had reportedly chosen it in honor of his late wife. They had made their vows under a maple tree, and the memory lingered in every corner of the hotel.
It was a romantic, yet melancholic story.
In the hotel room, Queenie lay on the bed, peeling off her coat, revealing her stunning figure.
"John…"
Queenie's eyes were hazy, and she whispered his name in a soft, almost delirious tone.
John's heart skipped a beat. Before he could use the filiform needle to transfer his Vital energy to Queenie, she was already moving toward him.
It was too late to use the needle now. John intended to transfer his Vital energy directly to Queenie, so he quickly grabbed her by the shoulders, trying to steady her.
As his Vital energy rushed into her body, Queenie let out a soft sniffle before falling into a deep sleep.
John quickly left to buy Queenie a new shirt. When he returned, Queenie was awake, sitting up in bed, clutching the sheets around her body, looking both fragile and pitiful.
Though she was still dazed, she had not lost all her memories. She clearly remembered some important moments.
When she saw John return, her face immediately flushed red with embarrassment.
"I can't believe I was so embarrassed in front of John… My goddess image is ruined! What will he think of me?" Queenie thought, mentally crumbling.
John walked over to her, holding up a new shirt. "Queenie, I bought you a new shirt. Try it on."
To her surprise, John wasn't making fun of her. Instead, he was being thoughtful and kind, handing her the shirt with no hint of teasing.
"Thank you, John," Queenie said, her voice soft and appreciative. She nodded gratefully and turned around to change into the shirt. It fit her perfectly.
After resting for a while, they checked out of the hotel together. Queenie wrapped her arm around John's, and they left, walking side by side. There was no hint of coldness between them—only the warm comfort of a couple deeply connected.
A few minutes after they left, a man in a suit entered the room they had occupied. He fumbled on the bed for a moment and, after a brief search, picked up a strand of long hair.
As they made their way back, Queenie began to feel a growing unease.
She never imagined that Joshua would turn out to be such a person. First, he had refused to meet her, then set a trap to lure her in. Queenie shuddered at the thought of his calculated deceit.
What hurt even more was that Monica, a former close friend from college, had helped Joshua in his scheming. It stung to realize that even her old college roommate could no longer be trusted after the poison society had instilled in them.
The fear still lingered in Queenie's chest.
But as she glanced at John, walking beside her, she felt warmth spread through her.
She was deeply grateful to him.
If not for John's quick thinking, Joshua's plan would have succeeded. If that had happened, Queenie thought, she would have preferred death.
Just then, John's phone rang. The sound shattered the moment of calm. He answered, and an anxious voice on the other end immediately spoke, "Give me the address!"
Recognizing the voice as belonging to Alton's daughter, John understood what was happening. He turned to Queenie.
"Queenie, you'll have to drive yourself back. I've got a patient in the provincial capital who's seriously ill."
Queenie nodded, concern flashing in her eyes. "Go save him. Be careful, okay?"
John gave her a reassuring nod. "Yes."
To Queenie's surprise, John then took his old bicycle off the back of the Porsche and left.
As he drove off, he spoke into the phone, "Alton, I happen to be in the provincial capital today. It's your lucky day, man!"