"Young Miss, why did your meeting with Doctor Sevan end so quickly?" Bubbles perked up beside Gigi. "Did he not get your results yet?"
Gigi smirked as she glanced at Bubbles. "Why? Do I usually stay in his office for a long time? What is even my reason for coming to the hospital before the incident?"
"Miss, you're so kind for donating blood," said Bubbles. "And whenever that happens, you stay in Doctor Sevan's office for a while. I think that's why he can't move on from you."
"..." Gigi's playful smile faltered slightly. "Bubbles, can you… not say that again?"
"Say what, Young Miss?"
"That. It's weird. Since I don't remember anything from before the incident, it feels strange to know the doctor treating me has feelings for me."
"Oh." Bubbles' mouth formed an "o." "Miss, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I'm so sorry. From now on, I won't mention all the men who have feelings for you. I promise."
"Really?"
Bubbles nodded, raising a hand in a vow. But just as she looked ahead, she suddenly clasped Gigi's arm and pulled her slightly aside. Unfortunately, she wasn't quick enough to stop Gigi from bumping into someone coming from the opposite direction.
"Ouch." Gigi touched her forehead as she ran into something hard and stopped. Rubbing it, she quickly noticed a pair of black shoes standing before her. "Huh?"
Looking up, all Gigi caught was the side profile of the man as he continued walking past them. Her mouth twisted into a slight frown—only to hear another voice.
"I'm sorry about that, Miss."
Bubbles and Gigi turned toward the speaker. He had round, thick glasses, and his warm smile gave him a sweet, kind appearance.
"Did you hurt yourself?" he asked with concern.
"Didn't you hear her say 'ouch'?" Bubbles frowned and stepped protectively beside Gigi. "Mister, my Young Miss just got into an accident that caused her to lose her me—"
Before she could finish, Gigi quickly covered her mouth. Yet Bubbles kept talking through the muffling.
Gigi turned to the man and smiled awkwardly. "I'm okay. Thank you for asking."
"Heh…" The man smiled in relief. "Sorry again. My boss is just in a hurry—he has an emergency."
"It's alright. This is a hospital. A place where everything is an emergency," Gigi said, her mouth stretching into a grin. "Anyway, I'm okay. No need for compensation."
With that, Gigi dragged Bubbles away, still keeping a hand over her mouth.
As they left, the man watched them with a faint smile, but didn't linger and soon followed his boss.
---
Meanwhile…
Aqua let out a shallow sigh as she sat beside the hospital bed. Her gaze rested on the old lady who had fainted just outside the gates of Valentine Home. She wasn't even sure what had happened—she'd just acted on instinct.
Thankfully, the gate guard had witnessed it and called for a butler. They'd managed to rush the poor woman to the hospital in time.
"I wonder what she was doing out there in that heat," Aqua mumbled to herself.
A moment later, Aqua heard people entering the ward. Since it wasn't a private room, she glanced over out of habit—and saw two men entering, while others remained outside. One was tall and imposing, the other shorter with round glasses.
"Huh?" Aqua slowly stood when the men stopped near her. "Uh. You must be—"
Her words caught in her throat as the tall man gave her a cold look. His eyes were dark, like a void in the galaxy. His expression was stiff, giving off an aloof aura.
Aqua quickly clasped her hands together and offered a meek smile, lowering her gaze to avoid eye contact. She didn't notice how long Lucian's eyes lingered on her silver hair.
"Uh, Miss?" the man beside Lucian spoke. It was his assistant, Nico, who adjusted his round glasses as he stepped forward. "Were you the one who called us?"
"Uh, yes," Aqua muttered. "I found a calling card in her bag and thought you might know her."
Nico smiled and offered his hand. "I'm the one who left it there. Thank you for reaching out. My boss really appreciates it."
"I see." Aqua nodded awkwardly, sneaking a glance at Lucian.
Unlike Nico's friendly demeanor, Lucian was focused on the old lady, gently holding her hand.
"Nico, arrange to transfer her somewhere else," Lucian said coldly. He then stroked Old Madam Marcelis's forehead with the back of his hand. "Grandma… why do you always leave, especially in this heat?"
Aqua's brows lifted in surprise, caught off guard by the faint sincerity in his voice.
"Miss Aqua," Nico's voice snapped her out of it. She turned toward him. "I'm sure we've bothered you enough. Please, allow me to walk you out."
"Okay." She nodded, casting Lucian one last glance before following Nico, who expressed his gratitude again and again.
---
Later that night…
Old Madam Marcelis groaned as her eyelids fluttered. When they opened, she turned and saw her grandson sitting beside her bed.
"Grandma." Lucian leaned in. "How are you feeling?"
Old Madam Marcelis looked around, then frowned. "Where's my granddaughter?"
"Grandma."
"She was just with me!" she said, disappointed. "Don't tell me she ran off again because you were mean to her?"
Lucian sighed, seeing the sadness in her eyes. "She didn't run away. She just had something else to do."
"And what is it?" she frowned. "Lucian, does my granddaughter hate me now too?"
"..." Lucian studied her face and sighed again. "I don't think so, Grandma. I'll call her tonight so you can talk to her."
Her eyes lit up. "Really?!"
"Mhm. I'll try." A brief smile tugged at his lips before he called for someone to bring her food. As it arrived, he stepped outside.
Nico was waiting. "Is the Old Madam doing alright?"
"Mhm," Lucian hummed. "Nico, can you call Miss Aqua and let her know Grandma wants to talk to her?"
"Alright, sir."
But before Nico could make the call, Lucian raised a hand.
"Never mind. I'll do it," he said. "I have her number. Don't bother."
Nico smiled and nodded. Neither of them realized that the number Nico had… and the one Lucian had… belonged to two different people.