Chapter 110: The Blind Date

Dr. Bentley gently lifted the girl onto the bed and covered her with a blanket. He then brought his medical kit to the bedside, carefully disinfecting the wounds on her forehead and hands before bandaging them. After confirming everything was in order, he tidied up and stood, glancing toward Avril, who had already moved to the window, a hint of concern in his voice.

“Miss Avril—”

But she did not turn around, her gaze fixed on the endless mountain peaks and the lush green forest beyond the window.

Dr. Bentley, receiving no reply, continued on his own. “Miss Avril, Miss Eva’s condition is very poor. If it continues to progress as it has, I fear—” He left the sentence unfinished, but Avril, perceptive as ever, understood his meaning.

Turning to face him, her blue eyes serene and unflustered, she calmly asked, “Then, what must I do next?”

Dr. Bentley glanced at the pale girl lying on the bed, a flicker of indescribable emotion passing through his eyes. He then looked back at Avril, as if having made a firm decision.

“Take good care of her. If you intend to regard her as your ‘own little sister,’ then from this moment, while she bears the name Eva Whiting, care for her well. Make sure she lives happily.” When Dr. Bentley said “own little sister,” a subtle emotion flashed in Avril’s eyes, which he promptly noticed. He added, “If you do not want her to be playing chess with God in heaven too soon, then please follow my advice. Be a kind and gentle sister to her, care for this young girl tormented by illness, give her love, and let her feel the warmth of family. After all, she has been ‘wounded’ and her health is not what it once was.”

Avril did not answer immediately. She quietly gazed at the fragile, doll-like figure on the bed, then nodded ever so slightly.

Dr. Bentley exhaled, the tension that had gripped his entire body instantly releasing, though no trace of it showed on his face.

After a prolonged silence, Avril finally spoke. “Very well, I understand. You may leave now.” She then sat beside the bed, watching the girl’s peaceful sleep, paying no further attention to Dr. Bentley.

He cast one last look at Avril, silently packed his things, and quietly stepped out of the room.

Avril’s slender, pale fingers gently stroked the girl’s sunken cheek. Her ocean-blue eyes deepened, and after some time, she murmured softly, “Dear Eva, your sister will always be with you.”

In her sleep, the girl’s features softened, and her pale lips curved into a faint smile.

***

“小Yu, little Yu, something terrible has happened! Something awful!” A sharp exclamation pierced the air, and a graceful figure swept in like a gust of wind. Yu Wenxi, who was reviewing documents, had just looked up but hadn’t yet seen who it was before an unidentified object collided into his arms.

A familiar scent wafted into Yu Wenxi’s nostrils. He smiled resignedly, lifting the soft figure cradled in his arms. “Miss Mu, what’s wrong now?”

“I’m doomed, little Yu!” Mu Yuyin sat firmly in Yu Wenxi’s embrace, refusing to let go, her small hands gripping tightly at his shirt over his chest.

Yu Wenxi sighed, speaking with mock frustration, “Miss, please speak properly. Like this... you’re making it hard for me to breathe.”

Only then did Mu Yuyin realize she had been clutching his shirt so tightly since she arrived that it had caused him difficulty breathing, his cheeks flushed red from lack of oxygen.

“Uh... hehe,” she laughed awkwardly, hastily loosening her grip. “Sorry, I was just too excited.”

Yu Wenxi adjusted his collar, gently holding her waist with both hands and asked affectionately, “Go ahead, what happened this time?”

“Oh no, it’s terrible!” Mu Yuyin exclaimed, remembering her original purpose. “My father says I’m old enough now; I can’t just be a freeloader at home. He doesn’t want to support me anymore, so he’s making me go on blind dates!”

“Blind... dates?” Yu Wenxi stared at her, disbelief written all over his face.

“Yes, you heard right! My father wants me to go on blind dates!”

“But why would your uncle suddenly decide that?” Yu Wenxi remained puzzled.

“He says I’m wasting food at home and he doesn’t want to support me anymore. He wants to dump me—this burden—onto some unlucky man!”

“Dump you onto... another... unlucky man?” Yu Wenxi stammered.

That poor man really is unlucky!

“Hey, what’s with that expression?” Mu Yuyin glared at him, displeased at his schadenfreude.

“Uh... hehe, nothing. I just think...” Yu Wenxi swallowed nervously, grinning foolishly as he looked at her increasingly fierce expression, “Well, I’m happy for you. Your marriage prospects are finally taking shape.”

“Pfft, I don’t want to get married at all!” Mu Yuyin pouted. “This is the twenty-first century, you know! It’s an era of free love. How could I, the world’s most unbeatable beauty, stoop to something so cliché?” She tapped Yu Wenxi’s chest with her finger. “Besides, they want me to marry a man I’ve never even met, don’t even know if he’s round-faced or square-faced. Honestly, I’d rather be killed than do this!” She cried out her grievances to the heavens.

Yu Wenxi smiled indulgently, grasping her hand. “Then what exactly do you want to do?”

A sly glint flashed in Mu Yuyin’s eyes before she feigned difficulty. “Would you be willing to help me?”

Yu Wenxi raised an eyebrow, feigning reluctance. “I’d really prefer not to, but can I refuse?”

“Try not helping me and see what happens!” Mu Yuyin immediately adopted a fierce expression, warning him with a look that said if he dared say no, she’d silence him forever.

Yu Wenxi instantly became submissive, begging, “Lady Mu, please have mercy. Whatever you command, your humble servant will obey without question!” He even clasped his fists in a mock heroic pose.

Mu Yuyin burst into laughter before striking the pose of a benevolent heroine. “Alright, since you sincerely asked, I’ll reluctantly agree.”

Yu Wenxi rolled his eyes but thought to himself, I really don’t want to cause you any trouble. Out loud, he said, “I apologize for any inconvenience I may cause.”

“No worries!” Mu Yuyin waved off his apology with a grand gesture, then jumped down from his arms, taking his hand as they headed out.

“May I ask, lady, where are you dragging me off to?” Yu Wenxi asked pitifully as they stepped into the elevator, leaving the office.

“Don’t worry, just to have a meal with me,” the heroine said fearlessly.

But if he were to ask what exactly the situation was now—

Wasn’t she just saying she wanted to have a meal? Why was there a third person involved? And a male at that?

Yu Wenxi’s face darkened as he glanced sideways at the woman beside him, who looked like she hadn’t eaten in days and was devouring her food without any decorum. Unfortunately, food was all she saw.

So with a smile, Yu Wenxi greeted the confused man sitting across the table, then subtly kicked the African refugee under the table.

“What’s that for? Can’t you see I’m trying to eat?” The interrupted man glared briefly at Yu Wenxi, then resumed his feast.

The man across from Yu Wenxi wore a stiff expression but maintained good manners, patiently asking, “May I ask who you are...?”

“Uh... oh, I am—” Yu Wenxi looked back at Mu Yuyin, then turned to the man with a polite smile, about to introduce himself, when he was interrupted.

“He’s my boyfriend!” Mu Yuyin declared.

Yu Wenxi’s heart skipped a beat, then understanding dawned. Indeed—

The man’s expression flickered in surprise, then soured. Clearly, he felt he had been played.

In truth, who was being played?

“Darling, the food here is delicious. Shall we come here again?” Mu Yuyin, having finished eating, lifted her shy face to Yu Wenxi, her arm naturally looping around his. She looked sweetly innocent, but her small hand secretly gave him a squeeze.

Yu Wenxi’s heart twisted, but his face bore a doting smile. He even playfully flicked her delicate nose with his slender finger, softly saying, “Little glutton, all you think about is food!”

Mu Yuyin shivered inwardly at his act but scrunched her nose in mock displeasure. “Stop it! I told you last time, don’t mess with my nose!”

They spoke as if no one else was present, like a couple. Not satisfied, Mu Yuyin continued, “You know I went to Korea several times to get my nose done just right, and you put so much force into it!”

The man’s face turned slightly green as he watched Mu Yuyin extend her right hand. He delicately touched her nose bridge and then asked Yu Wenxi, “How is it, darling? Not crooked, right?”

Yu Wenxi’s insides laughed heartily, but his expression remained calm and serious. He examined Mu Yuyin’s nose carefully before nodding in approval.

“Yes, this doctor’s skill is quite good. Unlike those other times, where just a kiss would make it crooked.”

“Oh, that’s a relief,” Mu Yuyin smiled contentedly.