Nora Scott and Pedro Langley walked out of the ward together.
The phone slipped into her pocket, and Nora stopped, lifting her eyelids to glance at the person beside her.
"Thanks, I can take the subway there."
Her tone was flat, clearly not intending to reminisce.
Pedro Langley lightly furrowed his brow, glaring at her, his voice deep and slightly cool, "Is your skill turning your back on people you know?"
"…"
As past events unfolded in her mind, Nora felt a headache coming on.
After a moment, Pedro Langley casually asked, "Is being a bodyguard dangerous work?"
As he spoke, he glanced toward the ward's entrance, his meaning clear.
A sharp light flashed in her eyes briefly, and Nora looked at him coldly, "Are you threatening me?"
"I'll take you," Pedro's tone softened, his gaze fixed on her.
"What do you want?"
With her hands in her pockets, Nora was getting a bit impatient.
His gaze swept over her slightly annoyed expression, cold and arrogant, and Pedro remembered something, a subtle curve appeared at the corner of his lips, both righteous and wicked, with a touch of ease.
He said lightly, "Doing a good deed a day."
"…"
Doing a good deed a day, doing a good deed a day.
What a despicable conspirator, who could make even demons vomit blood with his cunning, yet insists on pretending to be a saint. I'm damned if I believe any of it!
*
The driver silently drove.
Pedro Langley and Nora Scott sat in the back, separated on either side.
Civil servants, volunteers, and sanitation workers had been sweeping snow all night, and now the streets, with thick snow, had paths cleared, making traffic smooth.
Pedro Langley withdrew his gaze from the window and suddenly lifted his eyelids, glancing at Nora, who was sitting beside him.
She had her head slightly down, fiddling with her phone, her fingers long and fair like a crafted artwork, complementing the black-cased phone beautifully.
Messages from Lily Turner kept coming in, and Nora was quite annoyed, her brow furrowed from time to time.
The screen lit up again, this time not from Lily Turner.
Miguel Smith: You went to see your grandpa this morning, why didn't you say anything? It was snowing yesterday, I was at home doing a game live stream. If you had given me a heads-up, I would have gone to the hospital with you.
Miguel Smith: I heard a friend of yours visited your grandpa? Your grandpa asked if I knew the person, seems pretty fond of him.
Nora Scott: What did Easton say?
Miguel Smith: Just really happy. In between his words was 'Ah, my granddaughter finally has friends outside the usual circle'. Tsk, that sense of relief, it's probably similar to hearing you're getting married!
Miguel Smith: You know I'm a decent guy, not only am I good-looking, but also gentle, thoughtful, and attentive. I visit your grandpa often, chatting with him to relieve his boredom. Did your grandpa ever say to you, 'Knowing me is your luck'?
Nora Scott: …
Nora Scott: Go away.
Miguel Smith: I'm serious. What's your friend's name? I called your grandpa, didn't catch the exact name, just sounded familiar, feels like some big shot.
Skimming this message, Nora paused slightly, then suddenly glanced to the side.
The "big shot" happened to be looking towards the roadside, saying, "Stop the car."
"What for?"
Nora was quite puzzled, following his gaze.
On the roadside, shops of various sizes were open for business, the closest being several breakfast shops lined up together. It was ten in the morning, not many customers around, and steamy heat wafted from the shops' entrances, white mist gradually dispersing, filled with the smell of food.
Pedro Langley said, "Eating breakfast."
The driver in front had just parked the car and was startled by Pedro's words.
Was he confused? Clearly remembered Master Pedro had breakfast before leaving, and these roadside small shops… would Master Pedro find them appealing?
Unbelievable.
"I'm in a hurry."
The phone screen went dark, spinning in her hand, and Nora clearly had no intention of having breakfast with him.
"If she's in trouble, I'll be responsible."
Pedro glanced at her deeply and spoke casually, then pushed open the car door and got out.
Nora was surprised he knew this much, her brow slightly furrowing, but then she felt relieved.
Forget it, she was in a rush and happened to skip breakfast.
*
Picking a breakfast shop randomly, as they entered, an idle waiter greeted them.
The shop served traditional Chinese breakfast, everything from steamed buns and dumplings to soy milk and fried dough sticks, and noodle soups.
"...A bowl of tofu pudding, with sugar."
Nora ordered a few things, and upon spotting tofu pudding, she slowly added.
The waiter paused, thinking he didn't catch it, "What?"
Nora gently furrowed her brow, and before she could speak, the man beside her sternly emphasized, "Only with sugar."
"We only sell savory—"
The waiter stood up straight, initially wanting to vouch for the savory tofu pudding, but when he looked up, saw two cold glances, his spine shivered uncontrollably, timidly changed his tone, "Tofu pudding, only with sugar, nothing else?"
"Nothing else," Pedro Langley replied simply.
"…"
The waiter felt they were there to cause trouble, but due to the man's undeniable fierce aura, he only dared to grumble inwardly.
He took meticulous notes and returned to the kitchen, feeling wronged.
Pouring Nora a glass of water, Pedro suddenly asked, "Did your Tofu Shop open successfully?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"Anchel."
Nineteen-year-old Nora preferred sweet tofu pudding, casually mentioned opening a Tofu Shop.
He hadn't expected she would really do it.
She hadn't expected he would still remember.
Time stretched on, seeming to change everything, people and things, slipping through fingers, vanishing with a blink. Yet, some things stayed unchanged, quietly standing there, ebbing and flowing, appearing and disappearing.
…
Having finished breakfast, Nora and Pedro Langley got back into the car.
The destination was the filming location, remote, shooting outdoor scenes.
The car parked, Nora casually thanked and then got out.
Once grounded, the cold wind hit her exposed cheeks and ears, feeling cool.
Pedro's gaze followed her, watching her fingers tug the hair tie, with her pulling motion to the side, free strands of hair cascaded like a waterfall, smooth and soft, slightly disordered, contrasting with the snowy ground.
The scene and the person, beautiful like a painting.
The girl's bright and flamboyant nature turned into a woman's grace and charm.
Yet, it could stir the heart more.
Glancing distantly toward the filming crew, Pedro lightly furrowed his brows: going to such a place, he would rather she wear that military jacket from last night.
*
A low-profile luxurious car attracted quite a few glances from the filming crew, and upon seeing Nora step down, their looks held surprise, exploration, and scrutiny.
Along with a hint of admiration.
Nora ignored it, walking toward Lily Turner's trailer.
"…Clumsy, taking forever to get a scarf, are you trying to freeze me to death?!"
Just as she heard Lily Turner's angry voice, she saw Isabel Lyle being pushed out of the trailer, landing unsteadily, stumbling into the snow dirty with stains.
Following closely, a red scarf and a not tightly closed bottle of water were thrown out, the half-open bottle splashing water directly onto Isabel, making her shiver.
The door was about to close.
However, just as the door was closing halfway, a hand suddenly reached out, grasping the edge of the door.