My Darling, My Dearest

Jack gazed at Celine coldly. "You better know where you stand. Remove your hand."

His words had a double meaning.

Looking at the way his eyes flashed with such intensity, she could feel her mind going blank. "I-I won't be like this in the future," she stuttered out.

She was afraid that Jack wouldn't be as forgiving this time around.

If he was pissed at her now, it would be harder for her to get back into his good graces next time.

"Your apology is cheap! Just like you," he spat. Without giving her a chance to speak up, he drove away.

The skies rumbled in anger, and soon enough, rain drizzled around her. Even nature was mocking her every being.

Celine squatted on the ground and hugged her legs tightly. She shivered under the rain. At this point, it felt as if her whole life was falling apart right in front of her.

In the ward, Rachel shifted in her bed uncomfortably. It was then that she realized how painful it must've been for Lea on her first night when she had gotten injured.

They got hurt in the same month. 'That must mean we're good friends,' she thought, snickering at the irony.

As soon as she woke up, sunlight poured through the corners of the blinds. She sat up and struggled to get out of bed.

However, as soon as she stepped on the floor, Rachel could feel a sharp pain poking her on the hips. Her legs trembled from the feeling. She was about to support herself using the chair only to fall forward. Her chin slammed against the handle, and she cried out in pain.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open. Jack sprinted over like a knight about to save his queen. He held her up and placed her back onto the bed. "Are you okay?" he asked hurriedly. "Did you hurt yourself?" Staring at his sudden appearance, she furrowed her eyebrows. "Why are you here?"

"I happen to pass by when I heard you. What were you planning to do?"

"Nothing."

Rachel wanted to pee, but she was too embarrassed to tell him.

When he saw that her face was growing redder and redder by the second, he understood what was going on. Jack stretched out his hand and offered to hold her up. "I could take you to the bathroom." She turned her head, struggling to cover the blush that had bloomed on her cheeks. "No thanks," she murmured. "Celia's coming over."

"You're a doctor. Do you really think it's healthy for you to hold it in?"

he insisted. Upon seeing how stubborn she was, he cocked up an eyebrow. "Or do you plan to just do it on the bed?"

"I could control it," she snapped, waving her fist at him. She looked like a child.

"Whatever you say, but it's still unhealthy." He grinned when she finally agreed for him to carry her to the bathroom.

After so many years of separation, they talked and looked at each other as if time hadn't even passed.

Jack waited for Rachel to finish up. When the door creaked open, he took it as his cue to pick her up and carry her back to the bed.

He couldn't help but wish that the bed was miles apart from them. Maybe then he could hold her for a longer time being. In fact, he wished that he didn't need to let go of her at all.

Once he placed her back onto the bed, she looked up at him.

"Thank you."

As soon as he was met with her shy gaze, hope grew in his heart. Maybe, this time, everything could be forgiven.

Jack couldn't help but raise his hand and play with the strands of her hair. With a faint glint in his eyes, he said, "I haven't had breakfast yet. What do you want to eat? I can go out and buy some." Hearing the word "breakfast," her stomach growled.

She placed her hand over her belly and tilted her head. "I would like some steamed buns and soybean milk."

"Okay, I'll buy them."

It was the season wherein osmanthus blossoms were in full bloom. Among the green leaves were clusters of gold and yellow flowers, and the morning dew seeped into the fragrant atmosphere. It was a beautiful sight.

The nurse on duty walked into the room with a thermometer in her hand. She placed it inside Rachel's ear and noted, "It's 37.2 Celsius degree. You're getting better."

However, she didn't leave immediately. Instead, she leaned in closer to the woman lying in the bed. "The man who just left...is he your boyfriend? You smiled so sweetly whenever he was around." 'I smiled sweetly?'

"No, we're just friends."

Noticing the slight change in expression on Rachel's face, the nurse realized that she might have crossed the line. She smiled sheepishly and left in a hurry.

Rachel couldn't help but cover her face and recall how much they had gotten along in the past.

In fact, their interaction now was no different from how they had acted around each other back then.

In half an hour, Jack returned with a plastic bag. She could already smell the familiar scent of her favorite steamed buns.

Upon seeing the brand, her eyes widened. "You bought the buns from that shop? Isn't it usually very crowded?"

He couldn't have bought it that fast.

Jack opened the box and poured the soy sauce and vinegar onto the plastic plate. He handed her a pair of chopsticks. "The shop already moved. It's not that far from the hospital." Regardless of the fact she still hadn't washed up, Rachel picked one of the streamed buns and took a bite. The taste brought back so many memories. She almost groaned at the taste. She had been out of the country for three years, so she missed this.

She had gone to the Chinatown in France, but their steamed buns always tasted different from the ones back at home.

Seeing that she was eating, Jack smiled and took a tissue from the drawers. He wiped the sauce from the corner of her lips. "You should eat slower," he reminded.

"I haven't eaten this in such a long time."

She brightened up. "Have you eaten breakfast?"

"Not yet. You should eat first."

Without any hesitation, Rachel picked up another bun and placed it inside her mouth. She looked like a chipmunk, with her cheeks bulging on both sides. "Wait, so where is the shop now?" Although she was back for good, she didn't have the time to look around.

If she had a day shift, she would usually cook something up at home. If she was on a night shift, she would've bought some snacks in the canteen instead.

Jack took out a business card and handed it to her. "It's not that far from the hospital. In fact, it's near to where you live now." "It's in the hotel owned by MK Group?'

Rachel's jaw dropped. "When did this happen? Isn't the rent in your hotel incredibly expensive? This restaurant might not be able to afford it."

"It matches the rustic design of the hotel. Besides, it's also a part of this city," Jack said, with a small smile on his face. "The second floor of the hotel has actually been renovated. It has plenty of little stalls serving local delicacies."

Rachel frowned in disbelief. "But still, why would they want to move to a hotel?"

"Its original place was about to be

reconstructed."

"Can't they find another stall outside of the hotel?"

"The rent around here is almost the same as the hotel. Besides, given the hotel's reputation for attracting different types of consumers, they were willing to rent a place there."

Although he explained everything as simple as he could, it was actually incredibly complicated.

Originally, Jack's idea was to learn from how they made their steamed buns.

However, when he saw that the snack street was about to be demolished, he thought of Rachel. How would she feel if she couldn't find her favorite food anymore? This was why he reduced the rent of the hote and even promised the owner free advertising. That was why he created his very own snack street inside his hotel.

At that time, the other shareholders of MK Group didn't agree with him. In fact, they even voted against him, but he insisted.

Now, they were all doing very well.

Of course, Rachel had no idea what happened in the makings of this decision. Hearing what he said, she nodded. "That's true," she said thoughtfully. "At least I don't have to drive that far to eat these anymore."

She grinned.

Glancing at the empty box, she scratched the back of her head in embarrassment. "I may have eaten too much," she murmured sheepishly.

"It doesn't matter." Jack cleaned up the table and looked at his watch. "Get some rest, okay? I have something to deal with in the company first." "Be careful on the way," she called out.

Celia's character was Rachel's complete opposite. She was the type of girl who made friends with everyone no matter where she went.

She actually was planning to visit Rachel, but she stopped by the nursing station first. Seeing that they were gossiping, she decided to join in for a while. In around half an hour, she decided that it was time to see her friend.

Celia pushed the door open and poked her head inside the ward. "I'm here!" she called.

"Come in."

"Sure."

Standing by the bed, Celia crossed her arms over her chest and gazed at her carefully.

"What are you doing?" Rachel frowned nervously. She grabbed the glass of water and took a sip. "Don't look at me like that."

"Are you and Jack together again?"

Upon hearing her words, Rachel choked on her own water.

Author's note

G°°se fiSEQ

Translator: Scarlett5555