The man's thin lips twitched, and he broke into a smile. He didn't open his eyes or say a word, but his grip on her hand loosened.
Taking the opportunity, Serena quickly pulled her right hand free. She didn't even have time to rub it before she hurriedly rushed out of the examination room.
She hurried to the hospital registration desk, and by the time she arrived, beads of sweat had already appeared on her forehead.
The woman in line ahead of her glanced back and kindly stepped aside. "Miss, is your family situation urgent? If you like, you can go ahead!"
Serena waved her hand. "No, thank you, Auntie. There aren't many people in front of me; I'll just wait my turn."
"Ah, no need to be so polite! Look at your face, it's all red. You must have rushed here in a hurry. Go ahead, take your turn!"
Hearing this, Serena instinctively touched her face.
Wow, it's so hot!
Embarrassed, she smiled. "Auntie, really, it's not because I'm in a hurry..."
"Not in a hurry? Then why is your face so red?!"
"Maybe... it's the heat," Serena quickly came up with a reason, her heart still racing from the earlier kiss.
The woman didn't press further. "Are you sure you don't want to skip ahead?"
"Yeah, no need. Thank you!"
The woman nodded and turned away. Serena quickly raised her hand to cover her flushed face.
Inside, she kept telling herself, 'Serena, get a grip! The person who's sick is just like a child! It's just one kiss, to comfort him. Why are you so embarrassed?!'
But the more she thought about it, the faster her heart beat, and the hotter her face became.
By the time she finished the registration and returned to the examination room, there was still a faint blush on her soft, pale cheeks.
Xavier hadn't slept. Without Serena there, he felt restless and couldn't fall asleep.
Hearing her footsteps, he opened his eyes. "Serena, you're back."
"Yes!" Serena deliberately turned her back to him, not wanting him to see her face flushed. "I've finished the hospitalization procedure. A nurse will come by soon to give you an anti-inflammatory injection and saline. Once you've regained some strength, I'll help you to the ward."
Xavier nodded. "Okay! I'll follow your lead!"
His words hit Serena's heart unexpectedly.
In her marriage to Clint, whenever they had a disagreement, the outcome was always the same: she would listen to him.
He never compromised with her, and he had never once said, 'I'll follow your lead!'
Her phone buzzed again, pulling her back to reality. She reached for it in a hurry.
It was a string of unfamiliar numbers, with two messages sent one after the other.
Earlier, her hand had been held by Xavier, and then she had been too busy handling his hospitalization, so she hadn't seen the first message.
She opened the text and, after reading it, Serena's expression darkened.
[Serena, it's Poppy. Earlier at the café, I didn't finish what I was saying. If you're interested, we should meet again.]
[Serena, why aren't you replying?! Are you afraid?! Afraid to know about your father's dirty past?!]
Noticing her change in demeanor, Xavier furrowed his brows. "What's wrong? Why do you look upset?"
Serena quickly stuffed her phone back into her bag. "It's nothing, just some junk messages."
Xavier studied her face carefully but didn't press further.
Soon, a nurse came in with the IV medication and expertly inserted the needle into Xavier's hand.
After adjusting the drip rate, she turned to Serena. "Keep an eye on the progress. When the bag is almost empty, press the bell by the bed. I'll come by to take the needle out."
She had been referring to them as a couple the whole time.
Serena had no intention of explaining, so she nodded obediently. "Okay, I got it. Thank you!"
The nurse smiled and waved her hand. "No problem!" Then, with a sly wink, she leaned in close and whispered in Serena's ear, "Actually, I have my own selfish reason!"
Serena looked at her in surprise.
The nurse continued, "We work in the hospital and see patients in all kinds of discomfort, but it's rare to meet someone as handsome and charming as your boyfriend. I just wanted to come by more often to enjoy the view!"
"..."
Serena pursed her lips, unsure of how to respond, so she just kept quiet.
The nurse quickly added, "Don't be angry, okay? I'm just admiring beauty. Don't overthink it! You're so beautiful, and your boyfriend is so handsome, the two of you are perfect together. You don't have to worry about anyone stealing him."
Serena gave a noncommittal smile.
She might look good, but hadn't Clint still been taken away by Poppy?!
The nurse saw her smile and thought she accepted the explanation, playfully sticking out her tongue before quickly leaving the room.
The examination room, not too big or small, was now empty except for Xavier and Serena.
Serena raised her head, staring at the IV drip, looking a bit anxious.
"Stop staring at it!" A hoarse yet gentle voice came from behind, and Serena lowered her head.
Xavier had a mischievous smile on his face as he watched her, and the way he looked at her made Serena feel a little uneasy.
She looked down at her outfit, then touched her face. "Why are you staring at me? Is my face... still red?!"
"Red?" The man chuckled softly. "You just got red in the face?"
"...!" She turned her face away, no longer facing him, and mumbled, "No! I was just asking, otherwise, why would you look at me like that?!"
"My gaze, what's wrong with it?!" Xavier asked playfully.
"It's... it's just... strange..."
"Staring directly at you?!"
"...!" Serena rolled her eyes. "Don't you already know what's on your mind? Why ask me?"
"Heh!" He sighed dramatically. "In this situation, if I don't look at you like that, wouldn't that be disrespectful to you?!"
"Respectful for what?!" Serena raised her head and looked around the simple examination room. "What's so special here?!"
"The special part isn't the place, it's the people! I bet, before this IV drip finishes, no one else will come in." He glanced at the IV bag, which had just started dripping, and whispered, "I estimate this bag will take at least an hour to finish, which means we have an hour alone together."
"...Mr. Blaze, you're a patient now! Can you let your brain rest and stop thinking about nonsense?!"
"I don't want to think too much, but... it's just you and me, alone. How can I not think?"
Serena, feeling both annoyed and amused, turned her face, pretending to be angry. "If you keep talking like that, I'll leave you here all alone. Let's see who you'll be 'alone' with!"
Xavier immediately gave in, falling silent.
Thinking her threat had worked, Serena proudly stepped forward, just about to sit in the chair by the bed when a lazy, magnetic voice exploded in her ear.
"Serena, at a time like this, can you not be so cute? I... can't handle it!"
***