I've saved many people, but only you make me feel alive. — Caleb Lockwood
September, Northwood.
Three in the afternoon in Northwood was rather hot, the sun glaring, and even the air was quite dry. There weren't many people on the street, and occasionally you could hear the sound of car horns on the main road.
Serena Sutton had just left school when she received a call from Brandy Quinn. Brandy was quite loud on the other end, and she sounded a bit agitated.
"Damn it, that jerk is unbearable. He actually dared to push me. I was blind to ever like him!"
Serena paused in her steps upon hearing Brandy's words, furrowing her pretty eyebrows with concern, she asked, "Where are you now? Are you okay?"
As soon as these words were out, Brandy's reaction grew even more intense: "How could I be okay? I've got a gash on my head. I've never been so wronged from childhood till now. I'm getting stitched up at the hospital right now, sob sob sob..."
Northwood Central Hospital.
Serena got out of the taxi and headed straight towards the emergency department.
Brandy had just called saying she was in emergency.
Northwood Central Hospital is the best hospital in Northwood City, with a lot of patients at any given time. Departments like emergency, which are very mixed, are even more bustling with people coming and going.
Serena walked into the emergency room, looking around to find Brandy. The sound of an ambulance echoed outside, urgent and loud.
She looked around but didn't see Brandy.
Where did that girl go? She's not picking up her phone either.
Could it be that her condition worsened and she was taken to the operating room?
Just then, a cool voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Unequal pupils bilaterally, unstable blood pressure, semiconscious state. Subdural hematoma, which has already caused brain herniation. She needs surgery immediately."
The man speaking wore a clean, well-pressed white coat, standing tall and straight. The collar of his white coat was neatly turned, with the buttons fastened meticulously. His skin was fair, his nose high, and his thin lips were slightly pursed. His facial features were well-defined, with a distinct jawline and a prominent Adam's apple.
His well-jointed hands were holding a CT scan, his gaze calm.
Serena stared at him without blinking, suddenly feeling her heartbeat accelerate, with a little deer inside her bumping around recklessly, leaving her momentarily entranced.
The emergency doctor beside him immediately responded, "The operating room has been informed."
"Are you the surgeon?"
"Yeah." The man replied indifferently, preparing to leave.
Yet, perhaps sensing Serena's heated gaze, the man slightly turned his eyes, and for a moment, their gazes met.
Serena was taken aback and quickly turned her face away.
The man's eyes flickered briefly, but he merely lowered his gaze nonchalantly and walked away briskly.
To him, it was as if everything never happened.
Serena snapped back to reality, watching his figure gradually disappear from her sight.
Her heartbeat slowly calmed down, and she reached out to touch her cheeks, which were burning hot.
Without a doubt, her face must be very red now.
But that man was really handsome, both in appearance and temperament, perfectly fitting her aesthetic.
Serena, why are you so timid? Why didn't you ask for his contact information just now?
Serena patted her head, muttering quietly, "I should've gotten closer to look at his name tag."
Right then, Brandy's call came through.
"Sorry babe, I just asked the doctor to bandage me up. Have you arrived yet?"
Serena looked around and frowned, "I'm in the emergency room now, where are you?"
"In patient department, neurosurgery, bed 124."
-
Serena has no sense of direction.
Since young, she's hated when people tell her directions like "north, south, east, west," or "clock directions."
Because she simply can't find her way.
The world for those with no sense of direction is very simple because they only know up, down, left, and right; anything more complicated is just difficult.
Serena finally found neurosurgery and, under the guidance of the nurse, found Brandy's bed.
Brandy's bed was in the hallway, an extra bed.
The person on the bed had her head wrapped in bandages like a mummy, only showing her eyes, nose, and mouth, half-lying in the bed, holding a phone, playing King of Glory.
She was engrossed in her game and hadn't even noticed Serena.
"Brandy... Quinn?"
Serena looked her over, her pretty almond eyes narrowing slightly: "Did that jerk really beat you up this badly?"
Brandy heard her voice, looked up and smiled at her, but accidentally pulled on her wound, gasping, "It's actually not that bad, just a minor cut."
"Then why are you bandaged up like this?" Serena sat beside her, reaching out carefully to touch her head.
Brandy glanced around and said in a low voice, "I did it on purpose. I am sort of a public figure, and if anyone recognizes me, it would be so embarrassing. I'd lose face."
"A public figure? A beauty blogger with less than 60,000 followers? I walked through here just now; all the inpatients are older people; no one knows you."
Serena mercilessly exposed her, but Brandy just shook her head.
Fiercely, she said, "I have to give myself a lesson; in the future, I need to be more discerning. Hugo Yates is just a piece of crap. How dare he cheat with two people and still have the face to hit me? When I get out of here, I'll definitely skin him and let those two jerks know that I'm not one to mess with."
"Young people are spirited, keep it up!"
An old man in a wheelchair passed by them, giving Brandy a thumbs-up gesture.
Only then did Serena realize that quite a few people were watching them.
She quickly covered Brandy's mouth: "Keep it low-key, let's talk about something happy."
Brandy waved at the passing old man, her eyes turning as she looked at Serena: "Like what?"
"I just saw a handsome doctor in the emergency room but forgot to ask for his contact information." Serena's eyes glittered with light, her tone full of regret.
Because… in any case, she's now full of regret, terribly regretful, utterly and heartbreakingly regretful.
Brandy suddenly turned serious, staring directly at her.
Staring so much that Serena felt a little unnerved.
"Serena Sutton, I think you've changed."
Serena: "What?"
"In the past, so many handsome guys confessed to you, and you didn't even bat an eye. Now you're fangirling?!"
"Are you joking? Who was it that said looks didn't matter?"
Serena, this girl, is very pretty, with delicate and exquisite features, clear and spirited eyes, recognized by everyone as a fairy.
So from elementary school, boys have been giving her love letters. Until now, in her junior year of college, she hasn't liked even one.
"Serena Sutton, you're done for."
Brandy was silent for a while, finally coming to such a heartfelt conclusion.
"These doctors here must be excellent, surely they have families, meaning your crush is doomed to be unrequited."
"Ah~ sorry, I'm really bummed out right now."
Saying this, Brandy lay down on the pillow, starting to silently lament.
Serena opened her mouth to say something but felt Brandy was right.
She pressed her lips together, her gaze dimming, playing with her fingers.
No way… does he really have a family?"