After saying that, I couldn't help but feel drowsy. The after-effects of the alcohol were strong, and my mind was filled with sleepiness.
I thought Hugh Pei would just let me sleep in the car for the night, but to my surprise, when I woke up the next day, I was in my own bed again.
This was the second time he had carried me to my room to sleep. This trend was getting ridiculous.
My head was pounding. I got up, took a shower, changed my clothes, and only then did I start to feel a bit better. But then my stomach started to growl.
I thought Hugh Pei wasn't home, so I didn't even bother with a bra and went downstairs in a thin, breathable silk nightgown, planning to get something to eat.
Halfway down the stairs, I saw two or three people sitting on the sofa, all looking up at me.
Hugh Pei was among them, holding a few playing cards. The moment he saw what I was wearing, his face turned blacker than the bottom of a pot.
"Whoa, avert your eyes!" Lucas Lu immediately pushed another man's head down.
I scrambled back upstairs to change, mentally cursing Hugh Pei eight hundred times. Had he taken the wrong medicine or been possessed by a ghost these days? Why was he home so often?
By the time I came back down, dressed, the three of them had stopped playing cards and were chatting.
Hugh Pei had a few good friends whom I knew, but we weren't close.
There was Lucas Lu, Evan Yu, and Jake Fu.
All of them were from prominent, wealthy families. Evan Yu was a bit different; instead of working at his family's company, he had chosen to become a doctor.
All of them knew that Hugh Pei didn't like me, and in their minds, they had never considered me his wife.
In my past life, they had even helped Hugh Pei pursue Lila Wei—all except for Evan Yu.
The three of them watched me come down the stairs and walk to the kitchen without a word.
I ignored them and made myself a bowl of egg noodles.
"Let's go," Hugh Pei said, getting up.
Lucas Lu and Jake Fu nodded and followed him out. Soon, the sound of a car engine started outside. I slurped my noodles, completely unfazed by their departure.
After breakfast, I put on some light makeup and headed to the hospital.
Today was mainly for a physical check-up, and I'd also check on Julian Qi.
At the hospital, I registered and went through the check-up procedures, mainly focusing on a breast exam. Fortunately, there were no major problems, just simple lobular hyperplasia.
I took the results and prepared to go see Julian Qi.
"Dr. Yu, you're off work. Want to get dinner together?" I had just arrived at the inpatient department when I heard a young nurse's sweet voice.
Not far away stood Evan Yu in a white coat. His slender frame had a certain refined air, and his ascetic face made him stand out in Hugh Pei's circle, like a lotus blooming from the mud.
The rich young masters in that circle were all experts at wining, dining, and womanizing. Only Evan Yu had dedicated himself to the medical field. At most, he would drink or play games with Hugh Pei and the others, but he had almost never been involved with any woman.
And yet, he too would be completely captivated by Lila Wei later on. I walked past him and went to Julian Qi's room. To my surprise, Lila Wei was there again.
"Lila, your boyfriend only has a flesh wound on his leg, his hands aren't broken. He can eat by himself," Julian Qi was saying, showing off their affection as he ate the apple Lila Wei was feeding him.
Lila Wei's laughter was both crisp and gentle. "What, you don't like me being so good to you?"
"I do, I do! I love it! My Lila is the best to me!" Julian Qi beamed, his eyes fixed on the beautiful girl by his bed.
I cleared my throat, breaking their sweet moment.
Julian Qi was surprised. "Sis Zoe, what are you doing here again?"
Lila Wei quickly stood up and gave me her seat. "Sis Zoe, please sit."
Lila Wei's fair, flawless, melon-seed-shaped face was even more beautiful up close. I suddenly thought of Evan Yu, who had just left. I grabbed Lila Wei's hand and pulled her out of the room.
"Sis Zoe, what's wrong?" Lila Wei was startled and followed me as I rushed down the hallway.
How had Evan Yu disappeared so quickly? I was a little disappointed. In my past life, Hugh Pei had met Lila Wei first, and then Evan Yu had met her through him.
What if Evan Yu met Lila Wei first? Would it be different? Would he fall in love with her at first sight, just like Hugh Pei?
I sighed and gave Lila Wei a faint smile. "It's nothing. I was just going to introduce you to a doctor. His skills are excellent. Julian can see him when he comes to get his stitches out."
"Sis Zoe, you're too kind. Julian's injury really isn't serious," Lila Wei said with an embarrassed smile. "He's a big guy, he's not afraid of a little wound. He used to get banged up all the time playing basketball, he's used to it."
I nodded, but in my heart, I was thinking that I had to bring Lila Wei to Evan Yu next time.
With Lila Wei, the official girlfriend, there, I didn't have much chance to chat with Julian Qi. I stayed for a few minutes and then left.
On the way back, I went to the pharmacy again and bought a new batch of nourishing Chinese medicine.
"Leo Li, have you found the maids yet?" I called Leo Li after getting back in the car.
"Madam, I'm on my way to your house with them now," Leo Li replied.
"OK."
Half an hour later, I was back at Mapleview Manor. Leo Li had arrived before me. The maids were already at their posts, busy with their duties. Leo Li's arrangements in this regard were very much to my liking.
Seeing me return, Leo Li introduced me to the maids, who then bowed respectfully and greeted me, "Good day, Madam."
I nodded and handed the bag of medicine to the maid who looked the cleanest. "Brew this and bring it to me."
Then I went inside to rest.
A short while later, the maid brought the brewed medicine to me. "Madam, the medicine is ready," she said politely.
I looked at the dark concoction on the table, then at the maid's still-charming face. "What is your surname, Auntie?" I asked kindly.
"Madam, my surname is Liu," Auntie Liu replied quickly.
"Alright, thank you, Auntie Liu!" I gave what I hoped was my sweetest smile and then waved my hand. "You can go back to your work now."
Auntie Liu nodded and turned to leave, but my gaze was fixed on her back. Both in appearance and figure, this Auntie Liu was seven or eight parts similar to Lila Wei.
I suddenly felt that this world was truly magical, like a row of dominoes about to fall.
Trying to pick up handsome guys and ending up with Lila Wei's boyfriend. Hiring a maid and ending up with Lila Wei's mother? I sent a text asking Leo Li for the maids' information and focused on Auntie Liu's file. The emergency contact was usually a spouse.
When I saw the names in the emergency contact section, I couldn't help but smile.
Eva Liu, Victor Wei. These two names were very familiar. In my past life, I hadn't found out much when I investigated Lila Wei, but I had managed to find her parents' names.