Serena looked at him in surprise. "You... really don't mind?"
"Oh my god! If your concern is a burden, then I'm willing to spend the rest of my life carrying that burden every single day!"
A sweet warmth rose in her heart.
Lowering her head slightly, a little shy, she muttered, "You're talking nonsense again. I don't want you living in stress your whole life!"
Xavier's eyes lit up. He gazed at her for a few seconds, then suddenly opened his arms and pulled her tightly into his embrace.
"Serena, you can't even imagine how happy I am at this very moment!"
Just then, the phone casually tossed on the bedside table rang.
Unwillingly, he let her go, reached over for the phone, glanced at the caller ID, and walked out of the room before answering, pretending to stroll casually.
"How is it?"
On the other end, Dr. Wale reported respectfully, "Young Master, a black Mercedes van has arrived outside the clinic. I went out to greet them, but the man driving is wearing a mask and refuses to take it off. I... I couldn't be sure who he was, so I didn't let him in and decided to report to you first."
"He's wearing a mask?"
Xavier's lips twitched in a helpless smile.
In this hot weather, wearing a mask outside-who else could it be but Christan?
Every time he goes out, he has to be fully disguised. Otherwise, if fans recognize him in public, they'll swarm him, and he won't even be able to walk.
Ah, occupational hazard-can't shake it off even now.
"Yes, Young Master, the man had a mask. He said he's not the patient-there's a young girl lying in the back seat of the van who is."
"Got it. They're my friends. Let them in right away. Do everything possible to save her!" He paused and frowned. "This must be kept quiet. Only people you absolutely trust can be involved in the treatment. Not a word must leak out-otherwise, I'll hold you personally responsible!"
"Yes, Young Master. I understand!"
After hanging up, Xavier stood there for a moment before turning around and heading back to the master bedroom.
It was during this short gap that he missed the slight sliver of the door left ajar-along with the fleeting shadow of a creamy-white figure that had been behind it.
When he pushed open the door, Serena was still sitting on the bed, looking down at the tablet, just as when he had left.
Seeing him return, she squinted playfully and said, "Hey, you're acting suspicious. You had to step out just to take a call?"
Xavier paused slightly, then smiled with ease and replied casually, "Just a work call-too boring. I figured you wouldn't want to hear it."
"Really?"
"Mhm."
He turned his eyes away deliberately and focused on his phone, avoiding her gaze.
Serena didn't press further. "If it's really something urgent, then go ahead. Don't let me hold you up."
"Then... I'll head out first. Be good and rest at home. I'll come right back once I'm done!"
"Okay."
As soon as she watched him walk out the door, Serena quickly turned back into the bedroom, changed into a fresh outfit at lightning speed, and slipped out of the house as well.
...
Exclusive Clinic.
By the time Xavier arrived, Christan and his mother were sitting side by side on the hallway sofa outside the emergency room. Both wore serious expressions and said nothing.
Hearing footsteps, they both looked up.
Christan frowned but said nothing.
His mother didn't know that the online news storm surrounding Celia had been orchestrated by Xavier. So she was genuinely grateful toward him.
When he approached, she stood up and politely said, "Xavier, we really owe you this time. Thank you for helping Celia get a peaceful place to be treated!"
Xavier didn't quite know how to respond.
He gave a sheepish chuckle. "Auntie, you're too kind. Christan's my brother-of course I'll help him however I can!"
"Heh!" A cold laugh came from behind him.
Xavier pressed his lips together and paused for a moment before turning around.
He walked over to Christan and lowered his voice. "Can we talk somewhere?"
Christan glanced at his worried-looking mother and then at the lit-up emergency room doors. His face was dark as he stood.
"Mom, I'll talk with Xavier for a bit. Stay here with Celia. If there's any news, just call me-I'll come back right away."
"Alright, you two go ahead."
Before they left, she reminded him again, "Make sure you properly thank Xavier. He's really helped us a lot this time!"
"..." Clenching his fists, Christan barely managed a strained smile. "I know."
They walked to the end of the hallway and turned the corner.
Leaning against the window and looking outside, Christan asked blandly, "When my mom thanked you just now, how did you have the nerve to accept it?"
Xavier sighed. "Christan, I never wanted things to get this bad for Celia. I just wanted her to apologize to Serena. I didn't expect she'd..."
"I told you long ago-Celia was spoiled all her life. She's emotionally fragile."
"But she's in the entertainment industry. Dealing with gossip is part of the job. Her mental resilience is far too weak!"
Christan shot him a cold glare. "You think she did it because of the gossip?"
"Didn't she?!"
"Heh!" Christan let out a bitter laugh. "She did it because of you!"
Xavier froze, stunned for a moment. "Then that's your fault! If you hadn't told her I was the one behind the news, she wouldn't have taken it so hard!"
"Who told her?! You think I'm that stupid-pouring oil on fire and triggering her further?"
"Then how did she know it was me?!"
"She didn't know. But she still tried to kill herself-for you!"
"What do you mean?!"
Hands in his pockets, Christan gazed distantly out the window. "Celia always got everything she wanted-except for you. You're the only person she couldn't have. And in her heart, you mean more than you realize."
"When this scandal broke and spread like wildfire, she was terrified that you'd misunderstand her. That you'd think she was really that kind of promiscuous woman. She thought dying was the only way to prove her innocence."
"So in the end, the real reason she tried to kill herself... is you. And you, Xavier, are the one who has to take full responsibility for what happened!"
***