Slowly, Cixi opened her eyes when she sensed that something was off.
When she woke up a minute back, without openingher eyes, she thought the place smelt unfamiliar and even the bed she was lying on was softer than the one she usually slept on.
"Something is not right" She concluded before slowly opening her eyes. And just as she thought, she was in an unfamiliar room.
Since the windows were down, the place was not so bright but she could still see that it was morning already.
She sat up immediately and began to search around for her purse after checking herself to be sure someone had not messed with her.
It did not take long before she found her purse on top of the shelf beside the bed.
Now, she took a proper look at the bedroom. It was arranged and looked like an hotel room but for some reason, she knew this was not an hotel room.
And her guess was right when she opened the room door to find herself in a pa.s.sage which led her to a sitting room.
They were hotel suites that obviously looked like this. But she was very sure this was someone"s house.
"You"re awake" She heard a male voice say to her from the dining immediately she entered the sitting room.
Cixi stared at him in confusion. She wondered who the man was and how she ended up in his bed.
"Who are you and how did I get here?" She finally voiced out what was in her mind as she saw him approach her.
He was a fine young man, probably in his late thirties or early forties. He wore a black long-sleeved s.h.i.+rt and black pants, with a house slipper.
His hair was a bit messy but his skin was clean; clean enough to tell one that he had never experienced hards.h.i.+p in his life.
"My name is Jaime. Luo Jaime." He introduced himself once he stood in front of her.
"Ya... So how did I get here?" She pressed on.
"I saw you pa.s.sed out on the streets and brought you here. Thankfully, it was nothing very serious" He summarised.
"I was pa.s.sed out on the streets?" She asked in surprise and confusion.
She thought it made sense to have pa.s.sed out because, she could not remember anything other than crying her eyes out while dying of cold.
Even though she believed what he had just told her, she still looked at him suspiciously.
She was sure nothing else happened since she was still wearing the clothes she had left the house on— a simple trousers and sweats.h.i.+rt.
But she still looked at him suspiciously.
Why would he bring her to his house instead of a hospital?
"Did you nurse me back?" She asked him.
"I did." He admitted with a nod.
"What? Why didn"t you just take me to a hospital?"
"Because I hate hospitals and do not go there for any reason"
"In case you are still wondering, I tried checking your phone for any relative"s number I could call but it was locked." He further explained to clear every doubt she was having.
Whatever else he was saying did not seem to concern her. The only thing that concerned her was the previous statement he had made. He hated hospitals?
"What do you mean by you hate hospitals? How does that affect me? If someone is sick, you should take them to the hospital for proper check up" She lectured in annoyance at his statement.
"Ah.. I know why you are sounding this way Mrs Doctor. But we all have what we like and hate. And for the things I hate, going to the hospital is one of them. Let"s not say much on that. You are well after all" He quickly dismissed the topic.
Cixi raised a brow to look at him curiously. "How did you know I am a doctor?"
She was beginning to wonder whether he was a stalker before she heard him say.
"Oh! I also checked your purse for any information or number. I saw your ID and that"s how I know you are a doctor" He explained.
"Any more questions?" He asked before offering her breakfast.
Cixi frowned. Of course she was sounding that way because she was a doctor. She had attended different seminars and done a lot of Volunteer jobs to know what neglecting one"s health without going for proper examination, is capable of doing. People should always care for their health so how dare he mock her profession and say they were not useful?
Even though he had not literally said so, that was what he implied! Saying he hated hospitals meant doctors like herself, were not trustworthy and reliable which was an insult o her.
And because of it, she could not help giving him a long lecture on how he was supposed to take care of his health and even if he had a personal problem, he should not extend it to others by trying to deny them proper medical attention when they are sick.
"You are one bold woman" He interrupted her lecture.
"You are inside a strange man"s house, you did not bother to thank me for saving your life and here you are, giving lectures and trying to teach me something totally irrelevant."
"Since you seem really well, I guess you should leave now. But next time, remember to not leave the house in clothings like that."
He walked towards the door and opened it.
"Seemed you are not hungry. You can leave now Mrs Doctor."
"Miss.." She corrected him with a glare.
"Anyways, thanks" She said to him immediately she stepped out.
He gave her a simple nod before closing the door.
"What a weird person" She said to herself before turning around to face the world.
Now, she began to remember the pressing issue at hand.
She thought about her brother who did not want to see her. Her niece, who would probably hate her when she found out what she had done. She also thought about her innocent little daughter who must be really confused right now.
As she looked at her phone, she first saw that it was just past seven in the morning.
No wonder she could not find a taxi there. It was also a holiday period so she knew it was probably going to be difficult for her to find one unless she walked down the street.
She saw a couple of missed calls from Sara but could not bring herself to call her back.
She checked for any missed calls from her brother but found none.
She then saw a missed call from a colleague and called back.
"h.e.l.lo Grace" She greeted in perfect English immediately the call went though. "It"s been a long time. Compliment of the season."
After a pause, she spoke again
"Are you people still going to Malaysia?"
After the person on the other end of the call said somethijg, Cixi spoke again.
"Alright. You can include my name on the list. I think I"ve stayed here for too long already."
She sighed heavily after the call ended.
As she stood there with only her purse in hand, she felt tears threaten to spill from her eyes as she rembered the fun time with her family.
From how they had all hugged the day she came to the little times they spent laughing together, to the first time Li Muchen came to visit, and she had jumped in happiness because he called her aunt.
As she remembered every wonderful moment with her family, she began to cry.
*honk*
She heard the loud honk of a car behind her and quickly wiped her eyes as she hoped it was a taxi.
When she turned, she saw a simple looking grey car and through the winds.h.i.+eld, she saw Luo Jiame on the driver"s seat.
He tilted his head in a gesture that told her to hop in.
As much as she wanted to ignore him, she needed somewhere to rest her head and so, she joined him in the car.