Peter was completely confused. He blinked his big eyes and stared at him. "Sir, what do you mean? I... don't understand at all."
"You really wasted that big foreign brain of yours!" Xavier suddenly sat up and looked at Peter strangely. "Don't you want me to be strong and healthy, without a single problem?"
"Of course I do!"
"Then if you help me with a small favor, I'll instantly be bouncing off the walls. Are you willing to help?!"
His sinister smile sent a chill down Peter's spine. He couldn't help rubbing the goosebumps on his arm and replied hesitantly, "It's not that I don't want to, but..."
Before he could finish, Xavier suddenly lunged forward and grabbed his hand. "Good! I knew you were loyal to me and the Blaze family!"
"Uh..." Peter scratched his head, a sense of doom rising in his chest. He tentatively asked, "Sir, what exactly do you need me to do?"
Xavier gave a devilish grin. "Very simple. Just do exactly as I say."
With that, he leaned in and whispered in Peter's ear.
Two minutes later, after explaining the plan, he straightened up, raised his eyebrows, and asked, "Well?! Am I a genius?!"
Peter's face was scrunched up in distress. "Sir... I don't think this is going to work. What if we get caught...?"
"My plan is flawless! If you follow every step, how could anyone find out?!"
"But..."
Xavier's expression darkened. He lowered his voice threateningly and asked, "Are you trying to back out?"
Before Peter could respond, Xavier continued coldly, "You just promised me you'd help! You know that our family values integrity above all else. If you go back on your word, then I don't think you're the kind of talent we need. You might as well pack up and go home!"
Peter was horrified.
This job at the exclusive clinic was cushy and high-paying-a dream job for most.
When the Blaze family members weren't sick, all he had to do was stay on call.
And given the family's professional diet plans and generally excellent health, it wasn't unusual to go a whole year without a single cold.
So most of the time, he just clocked in and out and got paid.
And that pay? A five-figure monthly salary. No one in their right mind would walk away from that.
Most importantly, he had gone through a brutal selection process to land the job. He couldn't afford to lose it now.
Puffing out his chest, Peter put on a righteous face. "Don't worry, Sir. I keep my word-I won't go back on it. I'll go get everything ready right now!"
"Great!" Xavier nodded in satisfaction. "Move fast. You've got fifteen minutes!"
Peter dared not delay and bolted out the door.
Fifteen minutes later, the door to Xavier's VIP room opened from the inside.
Peter walked out solemnly with his hands behind his back, followed by a tall nurse.
The two of them headed straight for the clinic entrance.
As they passed the reception desk, they ran into Dr. Wale, who was coming in from outside.
He looked curiously at the pink-uniformed, masked nurse following Peter. "Dr. Hale, heading out?"
Peter froze, then stiffly turned around. "Uh... Dr. Wale, yes, I need to step out for a bit."
"Oh? Is something wrong?"
"Well..." Remembering Xavier's instructions, he replied, "Mrs. Blaze is feeling dizzy, and I need to go check on her at home."
"Oh?" Dr. Wale's sharp little eyes widened in alarm. "Mrs. Blaze isn't feeling well? Then hurry! And if anything's wrong, report to me immediately. If she needs to be admitted, I'll start making arrangements."
"Got it! I'll head out now!" Peter hastily answered and quickly led the nurse out of the clinic.
Dr. Wale took a few steps inside but suddenly felt something was off.
He turned and walked to the front desk, asking the on-duty nurse who was busy writing, "The nurse who just left with Dr. Peter-she new?"
The nurse looked up. "Director, what nurse? I was busy writing and didn't see anyone."
Dr. Wale's eyes narrowed, and he shook his head. "Oh, never mind, maybe I imagined it."
With that, he turned and headed toward his office.
Peter left the clinic in his personal car.
About ten minutes later, the 'nurse' sitting in the back suddenly said, "Alright, stop here, pull over."
Peter obediently parked the car. He turned around and asked cautiously, "Sir, what now? Where are you headed? I can drive you."
Xavier ripped off the nurse's cap. "Who needs you to drive?! Get out!"
"Get out?!" Peter looked out the window helplessly. "It's hard to catch a cab around here..."
"Quit whining!" Xavier glared at him. "Can't get a cab? Walk! Look at all that flab on you-go get some exercise!"
Peter looked down at his midsection. Even under his clothes, his abs were clearly defined. "Do I... have flab?"
By then, Xavier had already gotten out and walked around to the driver's side.
Yanking the door open, he asked impatiently, "You getting out, or do I have to drag you?!"
"Uh... I'm getting out!"
A minute later, a champagne-colored BMW roared off into the distance, leaving Peter standing there watching the exhaust fumes, his face scrunched like he was about to cry.
Back at Mr. Kim's mansion-
Serena, Grandpa Bryan, and Mr. Kim had already been drinking tea for half an hour.
Most of the conversation was between Grandpa Bryan and Mr. Kim.
Since she wasn't very familiar with them yet, Serena spoke very little.
Every few minutes, her eyes would involuntarily drift to her phone on the table.
As the seconds ticked by, she grew increasingly anxious.
What if he couldn't get away? What if Uncle Blaze caught him and punished him? When would he arrive?!
She had lost count of how many times she'd checked the time when Grandpa Bryan finally couldn't hold back anymore.
"Miss Knowles, do you have something urgent going on?"
***