Emily couldn't help but look up at the other side.
When Vincent ate and worked, his expression was somewhat indifferent. She observed him and occasionally felt that he was a little cold. But these days, she saw him busy in the study, often working until the latter half of the night. He only slept two hours before getting up. Immediately, she felt that his other kinds of expression had been exhausted by work. Perhaps indifference was the most suitable expression for him.
Probably sensing her gaze, Vincent suddenly looked up at her. His eyes showed an inexplicable surge of emotions.
Emily immediately regained her senses. She picked up a pork rib with chopsticks. Her lips were still stained with his aura. She reached out and wiped her lips with all her strength before biting the rib.
The sound of gnawing on the ribs coincided with the sucking sound coming from her cochlea, forming a duet. From time to time, the duet rang in her mind and her ears gradually turned red.
When Vincent saw her blush scarlet, a faint smile lifted the corner of his mouth.
Rex considerately turned on the phone calendar and handed it to Vincent.
Vincent didn't know what he meant.
Rex pointed to New Year's Eve and then to the current date. He showed the number with his fingers. "There are 73 days left. Mr. Vincent, hold on."
"Get lost."
Before Rex left, he showed Vincent the rainstorm warning on his phone.
"Mr. Vincent, there will be a rainstorm tonight."
Vincent nodded and looked at Emily calmly. Emily was chewing on her ribs with her pink lips stained with oil. She looked up, thinking that Vincent had something to say to her. Her big eyes were clear, as if they were filled with boundless galaxies and sparkling stars.
Emily waited for a long time. But Vincent reached out and wiped the corners of her lips with a tissue.
Then he went into the bedroom on the third floor and never came out.
A sudden heavy rain fell during the night. Emily listened to the sound on the window and was somewhat distracted. She thought that it would be very beautiful to draw the rain.
Rex came in with milk and said to her, "Mr. Vincent should go to bed early tonight. Miss Emily, good night. Don't stay up too late after reading."
"Alright."
Emily looked at the chock, finding that it was nine o'clock in the evening.
After she finished her homework, she did some research on stocks and noted down the recent gains and losses of the two stocks. Then, she turned off her computer and walked out of the study.
Three guards stood outside Vincent's room. They were holding blankets and medicine boxes in their hands. It looked like they were about to enter.
Emily asked in surprise, "What happened to Vincent?"
The guards replied in unison, "Nothing."
Emily suspiciously wanted to follow, but the door was closed by the guards who filed in.
Just as she was about to go inside, she saw the door was opened and Rex was standing by it.
She asked, "What's wrong with Vincent? Why did you take the medicine chest? Is he hurt?"
"No, Mr. Vincent just has a cold. He's afraid he'll infect you. After taking the medicine, he's gone to bed." Rex said.
"Got it."
Emily left doubtfully.
Why did Vincent suddenly catch a cold? He was fine during the meal.
Emily touched her lips. If he was afraid of infection, why did he kiss her so violently today?
After confirming that Emily left without looking back, Rex closed the door. The room was in total darkness, and the guards stood in the dark, blending into the night. Something in their hands emitted an ice-cold light.
Vincent was lying on the bed. The veins on his forehead and neck bulged, as if he was enduring great pain. His voice was hoarse. "Retreat!"
"Miss Emily has left." Rex whispered, "Mr. Vincent, take an injection. You're in too much pain."
"Take it away!" Vincent's expression was ferocious.
Rex had no choice but to wave at the guards. They looked at each other and finally left with the medicine chest in their arms.
The guards' hearts sank. On every rainy day, that scene would be on. They put the things back into the warehouse, stood there in a dull manner, and sighed.
Guard B said, "We should have let Emily in."
Guard A replied, "What are you talking about?"
Guard D said, "Mr. Vincent has his reason for being unwilling to take the injection. Doctors have said that relying on painkillers for a long time will produce side effects. Over time, he may lose his right leg."
Guard B returned, "But he took the injection readily on last rainy day. And last time at Tea Manor...."
Guard C explained, "He just came back from abroad at that time and he was in a hurry to see Emily."
Guard B said, "If we had allowed Emily to go to his room this time, he would definitely get an injection."
Guard C retorted, "Can you catch us? It's not good to get an injection!"
Guard B said, "Then do we have to watch him suffer like this?"
...
They fell silent.
A moment later, one of them said, "Wait, that TCM doctor had been making up his prescription."
"Is it true that Emily said that Mr. Vincent would die?" Guard B asked again.
No one answered him.
The crackling sound of the heavy rain falling on the windowpanes mixed with the rolling thunder in the distance. They seemed to be beating drums constantly so that people got irritated and felt uneasy.
At the corner, Emily stood there barefooted, staring blankly at the ground. Only when the thunder rang did she turn around and walk to her room, thinking of the night when Vincent came back.
Sitting beside the bed, he stared at her and asked, "Where's my present?"
However, it turned out that he had to pay a price for his appearance.
**
Hospital.
Eliot was reading on the hospital bed.
Elsie whispered, "Eliot, do you want some fruit?"
Eliot didn't say anything, so Elsie didn't disturb him anymore. She just sat quietly beside him.
She came over to talk to Eliot after class these few days. Then, she would stay until night and wait for Maury to take her home.
However, today, her father didn't come but some policemen did.
"Who is Eliot?" A policeman pushed the door open and came in, looking at the person on the bed first.
Eliot closed the book. "I am."
The policeman winked at the person behind him. Two policemen went forward and cuffed Eliot on the hospital bed. Elsie shouted, "Why are you arresting him? Let go of my brother!"
"Stop shouting." The policeman brushed off the rain on the brim of the hat. "Someone reported that you were suspected of intentional assault. He provided a diagnosis certificate issued by the hospital. It suggested he was seriously injured. We need to take you to the police station. Please cooperate."
"Intentional assault?" Eliot laughed and said self-deprecatingly, "I want to ask. Who else can I hurt given my current condition?"
Eliot had a splint on his neck, and his face was bruised. When he got out of bed, he seemed to be unable to stand normally and he needed to lean against the wall.
The policeman glanced at him and said, "We only believe in evidence. The other party reported you and provided all kinds of evidence against you. No matter what, you have to go with us and cooperate with the investigation."
"Alright." Eliot said to Elsie, "I'm fine. Tell Mom and Dad not to worry about me."
Elsie was extremely anxious. "Eliot!"