Rowan's phone displayed a string of unfamiliar numbers, making her wonder who it could be. Rolland, looking at the map with her, also noticed the unsaved number on the screen.Curious, Rolland asked, "Who is this?"Shrugging her shoulders, Rowan admitted she didn't know and boldly guessed, "It can't be a harassing phone call, right? These days, hardly anyone calls seriously, except for salespeople. Oh, should I not answer it?"Ignoring Rolland's advice, Rowan swiped her finger and pressed the answer button, raising the volume to hear better."Hi, hello, may I ask who you are?" she greeted.The other person responded kindly, "It's me."Even through the phone, Rowan could imagine the smile on the person's lips.Her face lit up, and she smiled, "James, it's you!"James affirmed with a soft "um" and inquired, "Are you busy now? Did I disturb you?""No, no, I'm on the road with my friends. Nothing to disturb," Rowan assured.Then, a clear and crisp sound of a dog barking came through the p
Rolland is a straightforward person who openly shows his likes and dislikes. He expressed his hope that Rowan and James would develop and get to know each other, and he sincerely shared his thoughts.Upon arriving at the meeting place, he quietly gave Rowan a thumbs up, showing approval.Rolland had a positive first impression of James. James drove them around nearby neighborhoods, discussing the distances to and from work. James also pointed out suitable communities and even took them to a real estate agent.During the journey, Rolland asked James about his family, income, siblings, and whether he had a girlfriend. Some questions made Rowan feel uncomfortable, as it seemed more like a blind date than a helpful gesture.Luckily, James had a good temperament. He politely answered Rolland's questions, gracefully changed the subject when needed, and maintained a friendly demeanor throughout the day.While Rolland's lively personality and kindness made for a harmonious interaction, Rowan'
After being away for almost two weeks, Rowan returned to her community, where the artificial lake still shimmered peacefully, surrounded by lush green trees. The increasing heat drew more people to the lake in the evenings, seeking shade and relaxation.Carrying numerous bags of different sizes, Rowan sat on a wooden bench in the Huxin Pavilion, standing out from the casually dressed crowd passing by. Curious glances from her neighbors made her feel uneasy, as she always felt nervous when others stared at her, fearing she might have done something wrong.The attention from others made her stomach churn uncomfortably. She tried to soothe it by rubbing her abdomen gently, worried that she might feel nauseous. The discomfort in her stomach added to her unease, and she anxiously waited for it to pass.At that moment, James arrived at the scene, a bit late, with Bingo in tow. The dog seemed to remember Rowan and excitedly barked, wagging its tail, eager to run towards her.James, being per
It wasn't because Rowan was afraid of Flora that her heart beat faster, It's just that she and James's posture at this time is a little ambiguous, and it's just a subconscious reaction.The hand that was holding James's arm to stop him from going forward suddenly let go as if he had been burned.The whole person took two steps back, widening the distance between them. "Wow woof!"When Bingo came to a strange environment, she was a little uneasy at first, and a stranger suddenly appeared in the room, so frightened, she immediately clamped her tail and screamed wildly.James squatted down and put his arms around Bingo's neck, and kept smoothing his fur to soothe his emotions. "Don't be afraid, it's fine." Bingo gradually calmed down.But still staring at Flora closely, a low growl came out of her throat, as if warning her not to act rashly.Flora was taken aback by the sudden appearance of the dog at first, eelieved, he raised his eyebrows and began to look at the two people who ente
After Rowan finished her shower and was getting ready to go to bed, she received a call from James.After hesitating for a couple of seconds, she decided to answer it."Hello? James?" She got straight to the point, then quickly apologized for the delay."I've troubled you for the past two days, especially today. I didn't expect her to show up here suddenly, otherwise, she wouldn't have asked you to come back with me.""It's okay," James replied gently.Avoiding the topic, she asked with concern, "Has Miss Flora left?""Yeah, she's gone.""Did she cause any trouble for you?""No, everything was fine.""That's good! By the way, are you still feeling unwell?"Rowan paused for a moment, remembering the evening incident when she felt sick in the Huxin Pavilion, and he kindly offered to take her back.Embarrassed, she said, "I'm fine, don't worry.""If you often feel uncomfortable, it's best to get a check-up at the hospital. It wouldn't be good if you develop stomach problems in the future
Rowan's pressure mainly stemmed from Flora's few threats before she left. While she acknowledged that it was normal for her and James to have a connection as unmarried individuals, she couldn't help but worry about how David would react if he found out about it. After some contemplation, she decided to send David a text message to clarify things. Her message read, "I was busy just now and didn't hear the phone ringing. I'm going to take a break right away, so I won't call you back. You should also go to bed earlier." Almost immediately after sending the message, her phone started vibrating intensely with incoming notifications. David's response had arrived in less than ten seconds. With a sigh, she picked up the phone again and answered in a low voice, "Hello? Is there anything else you want to tell me?" There was a brief pause before David finally spoke, "You saw my text message." "I see," she replied calmly. The silence on the other end of the line made Rowan somewhat puzzled
As James and Rowan made their way back to the hospital, they encountered some traffic jams on the road, causing them to arrive well past working hours. Feeling embarrassed for being late, Rowan kept apologizing to her male colleague who had helped her apply for the job. Fortunately, he had a perpetually cheerful demeanor, and he reassured her kindly, "It's okay, don't worry about it." Rowan scratched her head, still feeling awkward, and asked, "If you're a few minutes late, will they deduct a significant amount from your salary?" The colleague pondered for a moment before responding, "According to the regulations, if you don't check in on time, there might be a salary deduction, but I don't think it will apply to you." This answer confused Rowan, and she inquired further, "Why not?" Both of them exchanged glances, and the colleague seemed to be even more puzzled than her. He replied with uncertainty, "Aren't you Dr. James' girlfriend?" This caught Rowan off guard, and she quickly
Rowan felt hesitant to speak, unsure of where to start. But James noticed her unease and couldn't help asking, "What's wrong?" She took a deep breath, trying to organize her thoughts. Before James had left the clinic earlier, his visit to the third floor to call her had been interpreted as a sign by her colleagues, leading them to believe that their relationship was much closer than just friends. Despite her denials, no one seemed convinced. Rowan recounted a moment when a nurse had lightly touched her arm and asked, "So it's true, we're going to have a proprietress?" Her attempts to deny the assumption were in vain. Shaking off those thoughts, Rowan decided to focus on the key question she wanted to ask, "James, I heard someone say that you opened this clinic today, is it true?" James surprised her with his frank admission, "Yes." His openness encouraged her, and she continued, now eager to discuss the questions that had been bothering her all day. "Is it true that you actually