NovelEnglishHis gaze swept past her toward the hospital room where Listina lay, as if ensuring that Carol hadn't stirred up any trouble again.
Carol found herself at a loss for words. Clutching the fruit basket tightly, she entered the elevator in silence.
Felix didn’t head straight to Listina's room but followed Carol and pressed the elevator button. A palpable tension hung between
them until Carol broke the silence.
“] won't cto visit anymore, sorry. | just thought with your part-tjob and taking care of her, it must be exhausting. | wanted
to help, but | didn’t realize she dislikedso much.”
The elevator descended slowly, soon reaching the lobby. She handed the fruit basket to a passing visitor, who thanked her
profusely and walked away, basket in hand.
A nurse noticed Carol's wounded hand and immediately took her to get stitches. Felix stayed by her side the whole time,
occasionally glancing at his phone to check messages.
After her wound was taken care of, Felix saw her onto the bus. Carol took her seat and saw Felix sit down too. Her heart softened,
“Aren’t you going to see Listina?”
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“] need to make sure you get hfirst. You're injured; it’s not convenient for you.”
Carol's irritation evaporated, and she leaned her head against his shoulder, still feeling a bit wronged.
Felix gazed ahead; after a while, he heard sniffles coming from his shoulder. He turned to see Carol discreetly wiping away tears.
Carol was a true beauty, turning heads wherever she went. She was outspoken by nature, bossing Felix around within just two
weeks of dating. She was the quintessential rich girl, unaccustomed to hardship.
Now her tears soaked his shirt as they fell. He felt a surge of irritation and, without thinking, he pressed her head to his shoulder.
“What's there to cry about?”
Listina wept far more bitterly when she lost her parents. When his own mother had jumped off the building, he couldn't even cry,
and they were just kids back then.
Carol had enjoyed years of a pampered life. What more did she want? He should hate her. Soon he'd achieve his goal and could
dump her.
As immersed in these thoughts, he felt her arms wrap around his waist. Carol relied on these small gestures, clinging to him.
It wasn’t until the bus stopped near her apartment that he nudged her awake. Her hand was injured, and she was already delicate
and fussy. Now she complained of tiredness after just a few steps and asked for water.
They were so close to her home, but without a word, Felix entered a 24-hour convenience store and returned with a bottle of water.
Carol glared at him, claiming she couldn't open it. He unscrewed the cap and held the bottle to her lips.
Her mood lifted instantly, and after a few sips, she was ready to head back to her apartment. Resting until evening, Felix started
making dinner without prompting.
“Felix, | want a durian pastry.”
Durian was an expensive fruit for Felix. He glanced at her, grabbed his keys and left. Soon, he returned with a durian.
Carol had never actually eaten the fruit before, put off by its strong smell. But seeing him so decisive in purchasing it, she
regretted her request. Now a durian cost over twenty dollars, and Felix probably never had such an expensive fruit before.
“Can we return the durian? | was just saying it. | really can’t stand the smell.”
Felix had already started preparing the durian in the kitchen. Carol watched, saying nothing as he skillfully made the pastry.
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His movements were elegant, composed; Carol could relish the sight of him cutting up vegetables for a whole day.
His cake featured a layer of durian flesh in the middle. Sitting on the couch, Carol savored her treat contentedly.
Seeing her happy, Felix returned to cooking. But half an hour later, Carol called out, “Felix, my face feels itchy.”
Her hand was hurting, so she could only scratch with her uninjured hand. Felix washed and dried his hands before going to check
on her.
Her face was covered in a rash, clearly an allergic reaction. A surge of frustration welled up inside him.
“Carol, are you an idiot? Didn't you know you're allergic to durian?”
Stunned by the rebuke, Carol responded in disbelief, “What did you say?”
Felix's expression was stern as he rummaged for allergy medication. He had prepared well, quickly producing scapsules.
“Take these, stop scratching.”
But Carol, being her fussy self, deliberately scratched with her finger, irked by his scolding. The next second, he caught her hands.
And she, relishing his firmness, couldn't help but smile at the corner of her mouth.
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