Chapter 5 Don't Pretend to Be Pure.
At noon, Natalie had dinner with Forrest as scheduled.
Forrest booked her favorite Kolby-style restaurant. Forrest was finally able to spare some time to be alone with her. After the meal, Forrest drove her back to the hospital.
His phone was left in the car seat. A call came in suddenly, Forrest casually picked up and turned on the speaker.
The caller asked where he was.
Natalie felt the voice sounded familiar and thought it was some rich guy who was at dinner parties.
Forrest said he had just finished dinner with his girlfriend.
"Forrest, I just met Madam Hart. She was making reservations for your engagement party at the Orange Hotel." The man said in an incomprehensible tone, "Well, you are not serious about dating that girl, right? Why are you in such a hurry to get married? Can we still hang out in the future?"
Natalie was stunned and realized that they were talking about her.
"What's more, your girlfriend is really beautiful. None of those chicks can compare to her. But I have to say. The daughter of Vision Tech's chairman has been pursuing you for several months. If you marry her, you won't have to worry about your family's future anymore. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
The man said loudly. It was easy to be harsh when it was high. He said it all in one breath as if trying hard to steer Forrest in the right way.
Natalie gradually got nervous.
She just found out that a rich girl was chasing her boyfriend. And it seemed like they had met each other quite frequently.
"I'll invite you to my engagement party."
Forrest did not give the man more chances to talk. He directly disconnected the call after speaking.
Silence fell around, and no one spoke.
A few minutes later, the car pulled up across the street from the hospital. It was inconvenient to turn around here. Natalie asked Forrest to stop, and she wanted to walk there by herself.
Forrest pulled his black Cayenne to the side of the road.
"Bye, take care." Natalie didn't mention the call. She unbuckled her seatbelt and was about to get out of the car, but Forrest stopped her.
"Natalie."
Natalie turned back, "Yeah?"
"I have nothing to do with her." Forrest wore a charcoal flannel suit, with a striking appearance. He looked absolutely like a high-ranking man.
He gently spoke as if he could handle girls with ease.
After thinking about it, Natalie said softly, "I know."
Forrest looked at her. "Are you mad at me?"
She was stunned for a moment, and then forced a faint smile, "Why should I get angry when he praises me?"
That 's what a man should do. If you said it's okay, he would take it seriously. But then, you can't say that his thoughtfulness was only superficial.
Of course, Forrest did take it seriously and asked with a coaxing tone, "When are we going to take the wedding photos?"
"Next Friday."
"Well, I'll make time for that day."
At this moment, Natalie naively thought that Forrest was willing to marry her, and there was real affection between them.
She nodded and said yes.
A well-behaved and obedient girl was always attractive. Forrest smiled and reached out to her hair. He then touched down the back of her neck and leaned over her.
As Forrest leaned closer, she could smell the strong perfume of cypress.
However, the bell rang the next moment abruptly, with a "buzzing" vibration that ruined their feelings.
The goodbye kiss ended before it began.
It's Joyce's call.
Natalie picked up immediately, "Ms. Locke."
"Where have you been? Why aren't you back yet!"
-
Joyce urged her to go back, and Natalie was afraid that something important happened, so she got out of the car and hurried to the hospital.
As soon as she entered the inpatient department's office, there was a barrage of harsh criticism.
Joyce was very unpleasant when she was taught a lesson in the office. She tried to explain, "I had given orders to someone in charge..."
Before she finished speaking, she saw Natalie and became even more upset.
"Natalie, why haven't you been to No. 901?"
Natalie vaguely understood what happened,  but she was still dazed.
"Ms. Locke, you meant..."
Joyce decisively preempted her and said in a vicious voice, "You've been working at the hospital all this time. Do you want me to push you every day for something like this? How could you get your Athana Medical College diploma!"
With that, the office fell into a dead silence.
Natalie had to take a deep breath.
She had never argued with Joyce before because she didn't want to get into trouble. And she was willing to gain more experience.
But she wasn't foolish enough to bear all the blame.
"I'm on my way."
Natalie calmly took off her coat and put on a white coat. She flipped through to find the folder and stopped in front of Joyce for half a minute as she turned around.
"Ms. Locke, you should not be afraid to ask Mr. Bennington. Next time, you can just say it, and I'll do it. It's better than not figuring out what the patient needs now."
Joyce didn't expect Natalie, who had always been obedient, to have the courage to contradict her this time.
She showed a gloomier expression, "You..."
Mr. Scott listened to them and glared at Joyce first, "Are you just watching? Why don't you follow up and apologize?"
Five minutes later.
Joyce showed up at No. 901 with Natalie.
It was Mark who opened the door. Charlie was leaning against the floor-to-ceiling window, talking to Luke.
The bed was raised midway. Luke bent his leg and leaned against it. He held a cigarette between his fingers and bit it from time to time.
When Mark led people into the room, Charlie said habitually, "Since you can't light up a cigarette, why do you keep biting it? You will not be more uncomfortable this way. I hope you will feel better when you recover. Why don't I give..."
"Shut up!" Luke muttered with a hint of warning.
Then he glanced at the girl who had entered the room last. He paused, unintentionally reining in his impatience.
Knowing they were here to make amends, Luke somehow glanced at Mark.
Mark was also confused.
Not long ago, he tried to ask Dr. Moore, but there was no one at the nurses' station. He turned to the complaints hotline and called. He didn't think about it that much!
"Mr. Luke, I'm sorry. Natalie didn't understand the situation in advance and did not make her rounds in time. I have severely reprimanded her and deducted her corresponding salary for this month. If she makes mistakes again, our hospital will never cover it up and will penalize her severely."
Joyce changed her domineering attitude and apologized to the man on the hospital bed, "I brought her here today to sincerely apologize to you on behalf of the inpatient department. I hope you will forgive us."
With that, she shirked her responsibility.
Natalie stood behind, silently.
She knew very well that young people, without a strong influence, would have no voice in society.
However, Joyce bent her elbow and shoved Natalie hard, "Say something! Are you mute?"
Natalie was slender, much lighter than Joyce. She was caught off guard by Joyce and suddenly lost her balance.
She staggered back, barely standing still.
Luke saw what happened. He looked up with a cold face.
"How dare you scold someone in front of me?"
His tone was cold that Joyce couldn't help but wince, "It was my fault. Sorry that I bothered you. I'll discipline her later."
Discipline Her Later.
It sounded so f*cking unpleasant.
Luke hated those words, "What's wrong with her?"
"She didn't take her job seriously. And she brought you a lot of inconveniences..."
Joyce said, clutching her hands nervously. Joyce glared at Natalie and reminded her in a whisper, "Why are you still standing there? Come here, apologize to Mr. Luke!"
Natalie bit her lip and was about to say something.
However, Luke spoke up before her.
"Is now your working time?"
Natalie was stunned and looked over at the hospital bed. It took her a moment to realize Luke wasn't asking her. Then, she became quiet.
Joyce hurriedly replied, "No."
"Since it's not your working time, why are you here? Do you have nothing else to do?" Luke was very calm, but every word he uttered implied something.
This was how an Athana man would do.
Luke was so stubborn.
Joyce trembled, bowed, and did not dare to look at Luke again.
After all, everyone was afraid of Luke when he got mad.
Knowing Luke's temper too well, Mark and Charlie looked at each other, both remaining silent tacitly.
Luke looked at Mark and said, "Did I ask you to call someone over?"
"Nope," Mark said.
"Then why did you let her come in?" Luke frowned. "Am I so idle? Do I have to listen to all the crap anyone says?"
At this point, Joyce apologized, turned around, and walked out immediately.
Natalie was surprised and felt confused. She did notice what Luke said, "Am I so idle?". She turned around subconsciously and wanted to leave with Joyce.
"Dr. Moore."
Natalie stopped and looked back. She didn't know if it was just an illusion, but she saw Luke looking over at her as well. His face seemed eased, not as cold as it had just been.
"Where are you going? Come back." Luke sounded unhurried.
Natalie didn't know what to say.
Natalie thought for a while and walked back to the bed. She said to Luke sincerely, "I'm sorry, it was my fault."
"Is she always acting like this?" he asked suddenly.
Natalie was confused, "... What?"
Luke, "Bullying you."
Natalie didn't respond for a moment.
No one had ever asked her that before. Natalie got along well with all her colleagues. It was just when Joyce and Daisy bullied her, that no one dared to stand up for her.
Natalie couldn't lie about it. But this man had no friendship with her. She dared not speak ill of Joyce to others at will. If she used this opportunity to retaliate, it would be too despicable.
For a moment, Natalie didn't answer.
However, Luke had met many snobs like Joyce. He knew exactly how to deal with people like Joyce.
"If you were bullied, you have to fight back, or you will have to suffer in silence." Luke kept fiddling with a cigarette in his hand and wore the same unconcerned expression. It was as if he was giving her random advice.
Hearing what he said, Natalie froze momentarily.
She blinked, pondering.
She thought, "This guy isn't that scary. Is he a... righteous guy?
"... um." Natalie nodded lightly.
Just now, Joyce was reprimanded by Luke. Although Natalie was not sure what Luke intended to do, he was helping her out.
She even felt... relieved when she thought about it.
Natalie suddenly felt happy.
She didn't dare to show her true emotions and said, "Mr. Luke, let me confirm with you about the room check. Do you want me to come every day?"
Luke looked at her for a moment, and said casually, "Not necessarily."
Natalie had a premonition that he was kidding her.
"It's fine if you don't have time." He lowered his eyes and bit the cigarette. He slowly finished the last part of his words with a slightly slurred voice.
Natalie was confused, not knowing what this man wanted to do.
She thought, "If that's the case, why would Joyce lecture her?"
Natalie didn't want to be criticized again for no reason. The gratitude she felt a minute before suddenly vanished. She gently flinched and accidentally blurted out her true thoughts.
"Can you confirm it?"
"Whether you... want me to check or not?"
Her voice sounded timid and muffled, with the girlish softness. It was mixed with a little emotion of compromise. At this moment, she was somewhat like a young girl who was disagreeing with her boyfriend on the roadside and was asking each other despondently, "Do you like me or not?" If nothing unexpected happened, she was going to break up in tears the next moment.
Luke couldn't help but laugh lightly. He slowly pulled back his short drooping hair.
When Natalie saw that he was still smiling at this point, she was even more confused.
Natalie thought he didn't get it and tried to explain, "I mean..."
"Fine," Luke laughed. "I'll let you check."
His voice was ambiguous as if he had been soaked in wine. He spoke lazily, like a glass of wine swirling in front of you, making you gradually intoxicated.
The next moment they looked at each other.
Luke showed a meaningful look, and Natalie lowered her head in panic. She grabbed a pen and started scribbling on the paper on her clipboard.
She calmed down as much as she could, "Well, I'll come by and check on time"
Luke was fine with it, leaned lazily against the bed, and looked at her.
Natalie had long and curled eyelashes, and her pupils seemed like a beautiful gemstone. Her lips were flushed with a natural light red.
She was very similar to the little girl many years ago.
"Don't get laid for three months," Natalie said suddenly.
Luke tilted his head and stared at her for a while without answering.
Natalie stopped drawing with her pen and slowly raised her eyes to meet his.
There was no hint of emotion in his eyes. One might even be afraid to meet his gaze. At that moment, he was gazing with playfulness, which made her have strange thoughts again.
He might not have felt any difference, but others had fallen for his gaze.
Natalie was somewhat embarrassed by his stare.
For the first time in her medical career, she felt her shame kicking in.
She thought, "I'm just giving a doctor's advice." Natalie wondered, suspecting that she was being too blunt, "It's... It's not conducive to the healing of the lumbar bone. If it's unavoidable, then you... have to be careful."
She stumbled over her words, and Luke found it amusing and thought "How can you be a doctor if you're so easily shy in these situations?"
He raised his eyebrows wistfully, "Be careful for what?"
Luke stopped pretending, and it was clear that he was knowingly asking. Natalie fell for it and it became more difficult for her to say it.
At that moment, she wanted to poke him with the pen in her hand and tell him to stop.
She thought, "Well, it's the body position! What else should you care about? You must be a philanderer. What's the point of pretending to be pure!"
After scolding Luke in her heart, Natalie calmed down, "Be careful with your waist."
"Wow," Luke answered. He smiled and looked at her again, "Dr. Moore."
"... what?"
He still smiled, "When do I have a girlfriend?"
Natalie answered the question without hesitation, "I didn't say you had one, but I just accidentally overheard your mother's call."
Luke didn't say anything.
After being quiet for a while, Natalie suddenly realized, "Did he mean that he couldn't have sex because he didn't have a girlfriend?"
It was only his fault that he looked so much like a playboy, and she did
unintentionally prejudice him.
Natalie was starting to feel somewhat embarrassed.
The room was filled with silence.
Natalie talked about such a sensitive topic, and it made Mark suddenly nervous. He secretly began to feel sorry for Dr. Moore.
After all, Luke was not a man of compassion.
But Luke laughed loudly, "So you can tell that I have no girlfriend just by one call?"
What's wrong with him? Natalie was confused, "You have one now?"
Natalie thought, "It's only been a day, and you already have a girlfriend!"
Luke said lazily, "Yeah, the fact that I have a girlfriend..."
Charlie and Mark by the floor-to-ceiling window abruptly stared in disbelief.
After three seconds.
Luke slowly continued.
"Is acceptable."
Charlie was shocked, and so was Mark.
Charlie silently took out his phone, typed at the dialogue frame, and handed it to Mark, who was shocked beside him.
"Is Luke flirting, or is he bullying this girl?"
Mark couldn't get it either, so he quickly got out of his phone.
Mark, "Is it possible that Luke is hooking up with Dr. Moore?"
Mark, "What a scumbag!"
Mark quickly deleted the evidence under Charlie's "Are you crazy?" look.
"Mark withdrew a message."
"Mark withdrew a message."
Mark, "Luke is a real charmer. I admire him."
Charlie was speechless.
Charlie, "Are you kidding me?"
Natalie gradually realized that Luke might have done it on purpose. She felt embarrassed and whispered, "... that means you didn't have one."
She was right about that.
Natalie thought, "Why is he teasing me like this!"
"You are right!" Mark was always straightforward and said frankly, "Dr. Moore, Luke's wound is torn again. He said you did it to him, could you take a look?"