Me After Meeting You

Calvin just looked at Amber dumbstruck. It was because marriage was just a thought that had popped into his head, and the rest-he hadn’t thought about it at all.

He couldn’t even tell her to not overthink it, because Amber was very seriously planning their future. After she finished speaking her thoughts, she even looked at him seriously, waiting for his response.

But he couldn’t even answer her first question about the banquet. It wasn’t that he was unwilling, or that he couldn’t, but just that he wasn’t sure if his mother would prevent it.

All he wanted to do was get married, just the two of them, and after properly (in truth, secretly) getting their marriage certificate, they would move in together; his plans didn’t account for anyone else.

Amber was still looking at him, waiting for his answer.

He smiled. “Amber, do you really want to get married?”

“I wouldn’t object to it.”

‘Yes, no objections, but not a commitment either.’ Calvin thought she would have been shy and pleasantly surprised about it, or even astonished and unpleasantly surprised.

However, Amber displayed neither of these two sets of emotions. Instead, she theorized coolly about the future, her words like a cold basin of water that had splashed him awake.

Only then did he realize his own hurry and carelessness-he didn’t even have a ring with which to propose to her.

After being silent for a moment, he asked, “Then when are you free? I’d like to bring you to meet my mother.”

This time, it wasn’t like skipping school, because he wouldn’t give up on his plans so easily.

Amber agreed. “Alright.”

Calvin left with a heavy heart, but only when he reached the lobby did he remember that it was time to leave work; hadn’t he come here to fetch her?

But how was he to return now? Ha, all it would do was clearly show Amber how careless he was towards marriage.

In truth, Amber really hadn’t noticed his carelessness, because she had been focused on herself-Calvin’s proposal made her realize a very surprising thing, which was that, even after they had become a couple, she didn’t really want to get married.

She had never planned on being single for the rest of her life like her professor, but in her current plan for the future, she hadn’t really thought about marriage, and she wasn’t looking forward to it at all.

This really made her quite vexed. Amber caressed her forehead and sighed, only breaking out of her reverie when the nurse came in, looking for her.

After Amber dealt with the nurse’s request, she contacted a few of her friends, specifically, the ones who were still single at Trysta’s marriage, and asked them to go out.

One responded, “I’m at my boyfriend’s house.”

Another, “I’m not free today. I’m going on a blind date.”

Only Silvia laughed loudly upon picking up. “Wahaha, I’m finally not single anymore. Did you call because you found out and are planning on celebrating with me?”

“Why don’t you secure your own affairs first?”

Unable to help herself, she even tried calling Trysta, who had just gotten married, but she was also busy, with a business trip as her excuse.

Everyone was preoccupied with their own affairs.

With no other option, Amber could only make herself busy as well. Coincidentally, Ian’s grandfather called her just then. “Could we trouble you to come over? My wife’s gone home to rest because she was exhausted, and our grandson’s unwilling to eat.”

So Amber went over, bumping into Ian’s father on the way there. When they met, he stopped and asked, “Are you really Ian’s friend?”

Amber blinked, and Ian father’s expression warmed up several degrees from its previously frosty state as he nodded appreciatively at her. “Given his temper, it must have been hard on you.”

“….”

Only upon seeing Ian’s grandfather did she realize the whole story. The old man was yelling at his son in front of a few young men. “Don’t you have any patience? All you do is keep flaring up. Ian’s body is weak, so isn’t it normal for him to be unable to eat?”

After she walked closer, she found that most of these people were actually already familiar: Billy, Ansell, and someone she didn’t seem to know. When Billy saw her, he introduced the third person to her. “This is Simon.”

Amber thought back long and hard until she finally remembered something. During the first time she had played mah jjong with Billy, it seemed as though a man had had to cancel on them, which was why she had to stand in for him in the first place.

Simon looked pretty average, but his smile was cordial. “In the few months while I was out, yours was the name that I heard the most. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

Amber was somewhat embarrassed, and she didn’t bother asking what he had heard about her, instead exchanging a few pleasantries before quickly saying, “I’m going to go inside to look at him first.”

This was her way of hiding. She much preferred working with her patients over social interactions.

Billy and the rest exchanged a knowing glance with each other behind her back. Simon said, “This doctor seems so gentle. Can she really do anything?”

Ian’s grandfather trusted her completely, and nodded confidently. “Of course she can. I’ve never seen Ian so obedient before.”

Everyone grew even more curious, but unfortunately, the door to Ian’s ward was tightly closed. In general, visitors weren’t allowed in; Ian’s father had only been allowed in because Ian had refused to speak or talk to anyone. However, he had gotten so angry that he had been forced to leave.

***Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

Amber again put on her mask and isolation suit before entering. Ian was sleeping peacefully, a sumptuous and nourishing meal by his bedside.

The nurse was watching him from the side of the room. Upon seeing Amber, she quietly said, “He refuses to eat anything. This isn’t good for his recovery.”

Amber smiled understandingly and walked over. Actually, Ian was only pretending to sleep when he heard her footsteps, he opened his eyes.

“Do you want to eat something?” Amber pretended to not know anything, and asked this question naturally as she sat down in front of his bed.

Ian didn’t respond, only looking at her.

“Why don’t you have something. Won’t it be nice to get out of here earlier? How terrible it must feel to be cooped up in here.”

She took a bowl of porridge and held a spoonful up to his mouth.

The two stayed still until Ian finally relented, opening his mouth-it truly was quite uncomfortable to stay here. He felt trapped in this pure white room, which was too small and hard to bear.

But after seeing her, it didn’t feel as hard to bear anymore.

He finished the bowl of porridge and ate some of the other dishes as well. Throughout the whole process, Amber kept talking about random things, like how much his grandmother was worried about him, how often his grandfather thought of him, and how she had met Billy and the rest, including a man called Simon.

Her voice was very pleasant to the ear, neither hurried nor slow, and neither anxious nor impatient. It was soft and gentle, like a relaxed spring breeze.

But Ian could still detect something off in her voice. He looked at her, suddenly asking, “Are you unhappy?”

“….”