CHAPTER 129
After having suffered at the hands of others time and time again abroad, Arianna was always extremely wary of strangers. Even so, the combination of her sadness and her fragile state probably caused her to stare at him with teary eyes and answer in a hoarse voice,
“It hurts. It hurts so bad.”
Alan looked at her leg carefully in a seemingly curious manner, then asked,
“You’ve been injured countless times before, but I’ve never heard you say a word. I thought you didn’t have any pain receptors. It seems you do feel hurt too.”
She was already at her worst, but this man teased her instead of showing any sympathy. She sniffled and asked in an unpleasant tone,
“Who are you?”
Alan did not mind her attitude at all. He pulled the card on his chest and introduced himself. “I’m Dr. Woods. The ER doctor here."
“I’ll take care of your leg. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure it heals properly,” he assured her.
From that moment on, Arianna and Alan became acquainted. As they had the chance to chat, Arianna learned that the nameplate displaying ‘Dr. Woods ’ was always fixed in the emergency room.
She had simply never paid attention to who the doctor behind the name was, always opting for inexpensive medications as sufficient treatment.
Alan came over to her that day because he had noticed her crying.
Since then, he had been the one who treated Arianna whenever she was injured, always there to lend a helping hand. In her heart, he became a figure of nobility and a true saviour.
…
Returning from her thoughts, Arianna couldn’t help but quip with a smile, “I suppose I was just contemplating the gravity of your role in healing and saving lives.”
Alan chuckled softly.
The woman before him had endured much hardship and adversity in the past, yet she exuded a resilient spirit, refusing to be defeated by anything.
Such individuals were rare and a breath of fresh air.
"Let's get your wound taken care of first," Alan suggested. He glanced at Arianna and asked gently,
"May I help you up?"
Arianna accepted his offer gratefully, eager to avoid further injury.
"Thank you for your help."
Alan escorted Arianna into a nearby café and requested a first aid kit from one of the waitresses. With practised hands, he skillfully tended to Arianna's wound.
As he applied the ointment to her grazed knee, Alan knelt for better access, ensuring the treatment was thorough and careful.
Meanwhile, the waitstaff observed discreetly from the sidelines. It was a heartwarming scene—an attractive young man attentively administering aid to a charming young woman, reminiscent of scenes from a romantic drama series!
A waitress let out a sigh. "He's so sweet to his girlfriend. It's so romantic!"
Her colleague nodded in agreement. "Handsome and gentle boyfriends always seem to be taken!"
The conversation, though audible enough for Arianna to hear, wasn't overly loud. She felt a pang of awkwardness and briefly considered explaining, but Alan was focused on tending to her wound and seemed oblivious to their remarks. Arianna decided it was best to say nothing; after all, why make things more embarrassing by clarifying?
She reminded herself that she owed no explanations to anyone outside of this moment with Alan.
After Alan had gently advised her on caring for the wound, Arianna nodded appreciatively.
"I'll be careful, thank you."
Their coffee arrived, and Alan took a sip before peering at her curiously.
"Why were you chasing after the bus earlier?"
Arianna hesitated for a moment, then decided to be straightforward.
"I was trying to catch you. I heard about Professor Louie's disciple, 'St. John,' and I thought you might know something."
Alan's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Ah, I see. You're referring to the young cardiologist they call 'St. John.' He's quite renowned in the medical community."
Arianna leaned in, her voice lowered. "I need his help. My brother is in critical condition, and I've heard he might be able to treat him."
Alan's expression softened, understanding the urgency in her voice. "I wish I could help more, but I don't know much about him myself. However, if anyone can guide you in the right direction, it might be Professor Louie. He's elusive, but there are ways to reach out to him through the medical community."
Arianna nodded thoughtfully, grateful for his insight. "Thank you, Alan. I appreciate your honesty. Do you know anyone who might have a direct connection to Professor Louie or his disciple?"
Alan paused to think, then shook his head regretfully. "I'm afraid not, Arianna. But I can ask around and see if any of my colleagues have more information. In the meantime, let's see what we can find out together."
Arianna smiled gratefully. "That would be great. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to find him."
Alan returned her smile warmly. "I know you are. Let's see what we can do."
As they sat there, discussing their plan, Arianna felt a glimmer of hope. Alan's support and determination were exactly what she needed in her quest to save her brother.
Arianna's demeanour turned serious, and she clasped her hands together nervously. After taking a deep breath, she spoke with determination,
"Dr. Woods, I need to be honest with you. I'm searching for the doctor known as St. John."
