Chapter 5

I spent a day and a half in the hospital. Eric suggested I continue pretending to be out of it.

"Alright then, hand me a pack of cigarettes."

"You can't smoke in the hospital."

"Then I want to check out."

"Can't you just quit smoking?"

"Just like that? I might as well be dead."

Eric rolled his eyes, clearly fed up with me.

"What’s going on between you and James?"

"Normally, he panics over a scratch. But this time, he hasn’t even shown up."

I let out a cold laugh.

"Finally curious enough to ask?"

"Bet it was eating you up inside."

Evan burst into the hospital just as I was about to leave, almost running into me.

He looked worried, his face a bit pale.

"Hey, sis, are you alright?"

"What are you doing here?"

"Are you hurt anywhere?"

"Who told you to come back?"

"Where's James?"

"Have you finished what you needed to do?"

"I'm going to kill him!"

Not a single word I wanted to hear.

I kicked his leg.

He didn’t dodge, just took it quietly and even bent down to my level.

"Sis, I’m sorry."

I gave him a light slap.

"Did Katy tell you?"

"No, I figured it out myself."

This kid is getting smarter and more capable as he grows.

Daring to check up on me, huh?

"How’s the situation in the South?"

"They can handle it."

He still sounded a bit defiant.

"I couldn’t just not come back."

I laughed in exasperation.

"Alright, you win."

Evan followed me around, whining like a puppy.

And then we ran into James.

He looked indifferent, holding Lily’s hand.

Guess they weren’t hiding it anymore.

Evan froze for a few seconds, then charged forward furiously, but I kicked him back.

Eric stood aside, his face changing colors rapidly.

What a spectacle.

"Lila, are you not feeling well either?"

Lily’s innocent voice broke the tension.

I smiled at her.

"Just a minor issue. What about you?"

She seemed a bit embarrassed.

"I have a scar, wondering if it can be removed."

I realized, "With modern medicine, it’s not a problem.

Pretty girls like you shouldn’t have any flaws."

Lily blushed.

"You’re very pretty too, Lila."

James tightened his grip on her hand.

"We need to leave, the specialist is waiting."

"Bye, Lila."

As we passed each other, James nodded politely at me.

Such a formal nodding acquaintance.

On the way back, Evan’s face was as dark as coal.

I couldn’t help teasing him.

"What, if I hadn’t stopped you, would you really fight James?"

"Shouldn’t I?"

"Not scared of him now?"

He pressed his lips together.

"Sis, you should break it off with him."

Ha!

Naive kid.