Chapter 592 - Protocol

The first thing that Gabi noticed when she woke up was the fresh smell of roses, which had the tinge of lemon. Before she could even open her eyes, she already knew that it was a yellow rose that wasn't completely blooming. She opened her eyes in an unfamiliar room. She immediately held her head.

The pain was long gone. Letting out a groan, Gabi sat on the bed and examined the room. It was a simple beige room with a double bed, a small table, and a chair. There were two doors. One of which would lead her to the bathroom.

Gabi stared at the door to her left. It seems that she could hear someone walking towards the door. Judging from the footsteps, it should be a woman. Just as she expected, a woman wearing a white uniform walked into the room.

The woman immediately froze when she noticed that Gabi was already awake. "Miss Sutton… let me get you some water." The woman handed her a bottle of water. "Please wait here, I will inform Mr. Aden that you are already awake."

She gave her a curt nod.

Right now, her attention was still on the changes in her body.

It seems that all of her senses improved, especially her hearing and smell. She wondered if these were the changes that Aden told her about. She was about to get up when she heard Aden's voice.

"I suggest you don't do — "It was already too late. Gabi already got up. Almost instantly, she felt her legs grow weak. She fell back onto the bed.

"I can't walk?"

"You can… give it a few hours. Your body isn't used to the changes yet."

Gabi held her hand in front of her before she stared at Aden. He looked fresh, as always. He was wearing a sky blue shirt and black pants. He brushed his hair up, a smile appeared on his face. Just like her, he was also staring at her, scrutinizing. "How are you?"

"Different," Gabi said. "Before I opened my eyes, I knew that the roses near me were yellow. I knew that they are yet to bloom. I heard her footsteps before she could walk inside the room and I knew she was a woman." And also him. She could clearly smell him, even if he was a few feet away from her.

"Is it a good kind of different? Or bad different?"

She couldn't answer that. She turned her gaze away and focused her attention on her body. She didn't feel any abnormalities at all. If anything, she felt really good, well-rested, and nice. It was as if she woke up from a really nice dream. "I think it's good." She answered after a few minutes.

Her gaze sprang back to him when she realized he chose to sit next to her. No, he wasn't just sitting; he was lying on the bed, again. He used his palm as a pillow. "That's expected. I created that treatment. The success is already assured."

"…" Was he just too confident? "I still have to attend an event. I need to leave now."

"Then do you want me to carry you?"

"…" The gala is an important part of her plan. She needed to introduce Alfons to that woman tonight.

"Do you really need to join the gala tonight?" he asked.

She sighed inwardly. "No. It's fine." Since she won't be joining, she could still ask Tina to introduce Alfons to the painter. Gabi was still confident that Alfons would never miss the opportunity to get close to someone that could help his career.

With this in mind, she immediately reached out for her phone, that was conveniently placed on her bedside table. Then she sent a text to Tina, telling her to introduce Alfons to all the artists. Alfons is connected to the charity that they are going to help, so he needs to know the people who joined the gala.

"Ah… the food is here…" Aden said. To Gabi's surprise, Aden said this before she could even sense someone near the door. She turned towards him, wondering if he too did something to his body. Just as Aden said, two people carrying a lot of food arrive. They immediately set the table before leaving.

"We should eat. I'm starving." Aden said.

Eat? She can't walk yet and he wanted her to eat on the table? He must have sensed her thought as he awkwardly chuckled and suddenly carried her.

Like a princess.

Gabi stilled. It was as if her heart jumped. The movement was too quick and sudden; she had no time to complain! The next thing she knew, she was already sitting on the chair with Aden across from him. "There's strawberry cake. You should eat the porridge first." He was already eating some fruits. "Why are you looking at me like that? Do you want me to feed you?" he asked.

"I was wondering why you would give a steak to a patient," Gabi said.

"Ah… that's for me. The porridge right there is for you. Everything else is for me."

"…" And here she thought she had become a little nicer. She rolled her eyes and started eating the porridge. And just like that, an explosion of flavor filled her taste buds. How did it taste so good? Isn't this just a simple porridge? Gabi couldn't take her eyes off the porridge.

There is nothing special about it. In fact, it looked bland, boring. But… it tastes like chicken that was boiled for hours until all of its meat fell off from the bones. She could taste some salt and ginger and… green onions. And there is something else… something …"

"It's Cilantro," Aden said.

"Huh?"

"The other taste."

"You— "

"I can't read mind," Aden said. "But I can read your face like a damn book. Eat before it gets cold."

"…" She glared at him. This man… is so hateful.

"Tomorrow, let's jog together," Aden said. "And stop pouting. You haven't even thanked me yet and you are already pouting."

"I'm not pouting."

"There's a small protrusion in your lower lips. You are pouting."

"…" What's wrong with this man? His personality isn't consistent at all. One time he is nice, the next he is like this. There were also times where he would treat her like a child and sometimes he would ignore her. This man is really weird and it is irritating.

She started eating the porridge again; she gobbled it up and finished it in seconds. "Is it going to be alright? Jogging the day after an operation like that?" she asked.

"Do you trust me?" he asked.

"…" This question is a little too late to ask, no? She nodded in response. "If I die, you read that letter."

"I already throw it away."

"Hey! How could you!"

"You won't die." His gaze turned serious. "I won't let you."

"What are you? God?"

He snorted in response before he continued talking. "Tonight, I will be here, observing you."

"There is no couch here," she immediately said.

"It's alright, the bed is big enough."

"You — How could you stay in my bed?"

"It's just protocol. A doctor staying with the patient isn't malicious at all."

"Protocol my ass."

Aden snorted. "It's not like I would do something to you. My standards are definitely higher than that."

She wanted to punch him. She really… really wanted to punch his handsome face. Gabi nodded. "Alright… since this isn't malicious at all… then you can sleep in my bed."

He squinted at her. "With you in the bed?"

"Of course." Why would she feel uncomfortable near him? "There is no reason for me to feel uncomfortable near you. After all, you are not my type too."

"Oh? Then what is your type?"

"Definitely younger than you."

"Are you saying that I look old?"

She gritted her teeth. This is endless. Arguing with this man is pointless and endless. It would take years away from her lifespan. "I'm saying that I like people my age. You know… in their early twenties."

"What's so good about younger people? They lack experience."

"…" She raised an eyebrow. "That is none of your business."

"They won't be able to give your needs."

"..."

"And I bet I am smarter than any man out there."

"..." What the hell? Gabi lost interest in this conversation. She decided to stop talking and just wait for him to finish his food so she could ask him to carry her back to the bed.

After a few minutes of mumbling to himself, Aden finally finished eating. He carried her back to the bed, and he immediately asked his people to clean the place.

"Uhh... where are you going?" Gabi asked.

"Taking a bath."

"In my room?"

"In the bathroom." Aden pointed at the other door. "It had a tub. Very comfortable."

And Gabi was rendered speechless again. "You also planned to take a bath in the bathroom? Then sleep in my bed?"

"Yes. Stop stressing yourself. It's just protocol."

....

Thank you so much for the support! I still owe you guys chapter. However, I am really busy.. Tomorrow, I will travel with my family.