After a long night of exhaustion, it was almost dawn when Lydia finally leaned back in her chair for a brief rest. She glanced at the man lying safely in the hospital bed and couldn't help but pump her fist in the air. She hadn't even been this attentive to her own family. This guy was lucky!
While trying to relax, her father kept calling, urging her to hurry to the central hospital. Lydia brushed him off with a few excuses. Not only was she unable to leave, but even if she could, she had no money left to pay for Sophie's surgery.
With a frustrated glare at the hospital room, she turned and went downstairs to the cafeteria to buy breakfast. As she returned, her pale fingers touched the door handle, and she noticed something was off through the gap.
Pushing the door open, she saw a tall figure standing by the window. The simple hospital gown couldn't hide his impressive physique. The morning light streamed in, wrapping around him and making his silhouette appear even more elegant and defined.
Noticing the bandage on his head, Lydia felt a bit more at ease. She walked over and placed the breakfast on the table. The slight noise startled the man, who turned slightly, his deep, mysterious gaze locking onto her face.
At that moment, Lydia got a clear look at him, and her previously calm expression froze, replaced by shock. His handsome face, cold and aloof demeanor, and piercing eyes were sharp and unyielding. His thin lips curved slightly downward, giving off an air of scrutiny and distance. It was the same face that, four years ago, had worn an expression completely opposite to the current coldness. Lydia's eyes twitched as memories of heated breaths and entangled nights flooded back, making her blush even now. How did she end up meeting this guy here?
Perhaps her strange gaze lingered too long, causing the man to frown in displeasure. A cold snort escaped his nose. "Are you the one who saved me last night?"
While she was out, he had learned from the nurse about the events of the previous night. The deep voice pulled Lydia back to reality. She glanced at him once more, then turned and bolted out of the room. Damn it! How did she not realize sooner?
No wonder his ID looked so familiar last night. For someone like her, who's seen countless faces, it takes a moment to recall even a one-night stand, right? Reflecting on the past, Lydia was filled with regret. She had only wanted a man to have a child with, never expecting to run into the father again!
"Hey stop right there!" A deep voice called from behind her. But with her mind set on escaping, Lydia had no time to pay attention. She just kept her head down and charged forward.
A shadow swiftly caught up beside her, and suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her wrist. She yelped as she was pulled back and slammed against the wall, her head throbbing from the impact.
Frowning, she glared at the man in front of her. He seemed equally displeased with her glare, leaning in closer with his towering frame, looking down at her as he spoke, "Why are you running?" Lydia rolled her eyes internally. Was she supposed to wave and greet him cheerfully instead of running?
"It's my business if I run. If you're so capable, then don't chase me!" she retorted, pushing him away and preparing to leave. Before she went, she added, "Let's pretend we never met today. Forget the past ever happened. Bye!"
She waved her hand and started to walk away.
"The past? What are you talking about?" The man's deep, puzzled voice stopped her in her tracks. She turned back with a strange expression, testing the waters, "You... don't recognize me?"
"Heh..." He let out a cold laugh, his handsome face made even more striking by his smile, though it radiated an icy distance. "That pickup line is a bit old-fashioned, isn't it? If you're trying to seduce a man, can't you come up with something better?"
His words made Lydia narrow her eyes. She couldn't detect any flaw in his expression. Either he was an incredibly skilled actor, or... he genuinely didn't remember her!
But she quickly figured it out. A man like him, who frequents nightclubs, probably isn't a saint. With countless women around him, he might have already forgotten the insignificant ones. He likely thought she was just another woman trying to get close to him!
Realizing this, she felt a heavy weight lift from her heart, and a sly glint appeared in her eyes.
"Sorry, I made a mistake. You just look a lot like someone I have a grudge against, so I wanted to run..." Lydia said.
Sylvie's face lit up with an innocent smile as she asked, "Is your head feeling better? You just woke up and ran out with me. If something happens, it won't be good. You should go back and rest!" Without waiting for James's response, she moved closer to help him. James looked at her with a strange expression, a hint of reluctance in his eyes, but he didn't push her away. They returned to the hospital room, and Lydia helped him back onto the bed. She then turned to grab the breakfast she had just bought and waved it at him. "Are you hungry? Want something to eat?"
James watched her warily and replied coldly, "No."
"Oh..." Lydia slowly put the breakfast back, pacing around the room a few times, calculating her next move. She couldn't help but glance at the man on the bed. "Um... do you remember what happened yesterday? You know, when you were knocked out in the alley?"
He didn't speak, just stared at her with eyes as deep as a predator's gaze, making Lydia swallow nervously. She braced herself and got to the point. "I mean... I covered your medical expenses yesterday. Could you pay me back?" She smiled awkwardly, rubbing her sweaty palms together.
James eyed her, seemingly expecting her request, and scoffed, "Alright, how much?"
Lydia's eyes sparkled, ready to blurt out the amount, but she reconsidered and added two more fingers to her initial three, "Fifty thousand!"
This subtle move didn't escape James's sharp observation. A glint flashed in his deep eyes as he reached into his coat hanging on the cabinet and pulled out a checkbook and pen. He swiftly wrote a check and tossed it to the eager Lydia.
Lydia picked up the check and was stunned, "Wow! You're so generous, thank you!" She asked for fifty thousand, but he gave her a hundred thousand. If helping people was this profitable, she'd be doing good deeds on the street every day!
Before she could celebrate, her phone rang again. Glancing at the caller ID, she answered quickly, "Dad, I know, I know. I ran into some trouble last night... How's Sophie's surgery?"
On the other end, her father's voice was almost a roar. "You have the nerve to ask? The hospital said we owe too much in medical bills. No payment, no surgery! If you don't want your daughter to die, get here fast! Otherwise, we'll be thrown out onto the street this afternoon!"
Lydia slammed the table in frustration, "These doctors have no humanity! I'll be there right away!" She hung up in a hurry, her joy plummeting into despair. She was ready to rush out the door.
At the hospital where Sophie was, she paused for a moment before turning back to greet the person on the hospital bed. "Hey, Rich Guy, I've got to run for an emergency. You should call your family to come take care of you. Thanks for the money!" She waved at James and turned away, not noticing the cold glint deep in his eyes.
Family?
He hadn't had one in a long time.