Chapter 111 Close Care
Different strokes for different folks, right? Exercise, medication, hypnotherapy, and maybe a few people use sleep-aid meals. There's a whole array of solutions... Ashley, are you having any trouble sleeping?"
Hayden had been rambling on for a while before realizing the main point. Had Ashley asked him out for coffee because she needed help?
Was she also suffering from insomnia like Damian?
Sipping her coffee nonchalantly, Ashley said without much concern, "I sleep pretty well. To be frank with you, the matter is about a friend of mine, he seems to have had sleep issues for a long time."
Hayden didn't think much of it since sleep problems are quite common among city folks living in those towering high-rises, filled with souls wandering the night away. He suggested, "If it's mild, he could try some melatonin or some brain health supplements, but if it's serious, he'll need to see a doctor."
Thinking of the medications that Damian was taking, Ashley added, "It's serious. He's a bit depressed, too."
Although, for the life of her, she couldn't tell where Damian's depression lay. Probably those underlings he bossed around had more reason for depression.
Hayden clicked his tongue, saying, "Now that you mention it, it does sound a lot like a friend of mine."
Ashley wasn't aware that Hayden knew about Damian's condition. His tone hinted at understanding, and she worried he might catch on. So, she laughed and played it off, saying, "My friend is a girl, quite a pretty one."
"Oh… that's a bit different, but the treatment principles are the same. Do you need me to introduce you to a doctor? I'm an orthopedist; brain stuff is not my area of expertise."
Ashley had some self-taught methods and had seen success in treating her parents, but Damian's symptoms seemed severe, and she worried she might not be able to handle it well. Besides, Damian wasn't open to her methods.
More importantly, her methods required someone to provide close care at night.
"Ours?" Ashley asked.
Seeing her expression, Hayden half-joked, a touch annoyed, "Do you have a bias against our hospital's doctors, Ashley?"
"It's not bias, I'm just afraid I can't afford it," Ashley replied.
Hayden burst out laughing, "If I'm the one making the introduction, how could I charge you? Rest assured, any consultation or medication will be on my tab. I haven't even thanked you for playing my girlfriend earlier. With you there, my life’s quieter; I finally don't have people setting up blind dates for me every day."
Thanks to Hayden's connections, Ashley smoothly got in touch with the top neurology specialist at Opal Hospital.
The doctor was a woman in her fifties with a kind face and had thick, black-framed glasses sitting on her nose. She first gave Ashley a brief rundown of the various causes of insomnia. Then, based on Ashley's description, she analyzed the pathology, before finally asking a key question, "This friend of Miss Astor, are they male or female?"
Hayden quickly interjected, "A woman, about her age."
Ashley felt like banging her head against the wall in frustration. Had she known it would come to this, she would have just said it was Harold.
Hayden had confirmed yet again that urban dwellers were indeed under immense pressure; nine out of ten people suffered from insomnia, and Damian was certainly not alone in his struggles.
When they asked the doctor for advice on behalf of a male colleague suffering from the same issue, the doctor offered some treatment suggestions and prescribed medication with a gentle reminder.
“Insomnia is often a psychological issue, though physiological factors can play a part as well. Since Miss Astor is Hayden’s friend, let me be direct. Although Western medicine works quickly, sometimes it might be worth looking into alternative treatments, which can be gentler on the body!” the doctor advised.
Holding a bottle of medicine identical to the ones at Damian’s house, Ashley felt a whirlwind of emotions stirring within her. Was this all just to cure loneliness?
As Hayden escorted her out of the hospital, they chatted and walked together, the image of a perfect pair, drawing envious glances from passersby.
“Hayden seems in high spirits today,” Ashley remarked.
Humming to a tune on the way back, Hayden bumped into Jessica, who was just passing through the clinic's main hall.
“You’re on duty today, Jessica?” Hayden inquired.
Donning a surgical mask and looking somewhat weary, Jessica replied, “The season change brings more patients with fevers and colds; the infusion room’s completely full.”
Nodding in agreement, Hayden added, “The fever clinic is busy year-round, but especially during flu season. Gregory should be extra careful and switch to an N95 to guard against pneumonia.”
Jessica touched her mask and smiled, then mentioned that she had heard a rumor about Hayden’s girlfriend making an appearance. The last one, perhaps?
Hayden playfully brushed his bangs aside and chuckled, trying to dodge the subject. “Jessica, you’re gossiping too? Isn’t that a bit much?”
Jessica shook her head, chuckling, and didn’t press further but quickly changed the subject. “By the way, weren’t you the one treating Damian? How’s that going?”
Hayden hadn’t been following closely and wasn’t well-versed in the details, but since Damian had been on medication for over two years, it was clear the results weren’t encouraging. “It’s a stubborn chronic issue, hard to eradicate. But do I have any reason to doubt your skills?”
Jessica simply replied with a light laugh, acknowledging it was a process that needed time.
After their chat, she couldn't help feeling a twinge of regret. If only Hayden was single, they were both in the medical field, after all, they’d be perfect for each other.
That afternoon, Ashley received a call from Damian, saying, “No need to pick me up this afternoon; I’ve got a dinner engagement tonight.”
Ashley expressed a hint of disappointment but was internally elated. “Another networking event? Take care of your diet, Damian. Drink less and eat more vegetables,” she reminded.
Damian was silent for a couple of seconds before slowly uttering a “sure.”
Perfect! Ashley was delighted at the prospect of not seeing him.
Soon after, Amelia called. “Really??? Are you sure?? You're not just comforting me? You're not lying to me???”
Across the wireless signal, Ashley could almost picture Amelia's ecstatic expression. “I’ll send you photos of the test results, nothing to worry about, just a false alarm.”
Amelia grumbled for a while, then broke into a big smile. "Ashley, I love you!!! What reward do you want?"
"How about a billion dollars?" Ashley joked.
"Why don't you just take me to bed? Haha," Amelia teased with laughter.
After they had their share of laughs, Ashley asked about her plans for the evening. Amelia said she was going home to drink a beer and celebrate.
"Great, I'll call Harold," Ashley decided.
Ashley headed to the supermarket to pick up ingredients, planning to make soup at Amelia's house.
Harold was on the other end, moaning pitifully, "Forget the soup! My parents have dragged me out to find a match, and oh boy!"
Ashley abandoned the shopping cart, exasperated. "You're a big guy, scared of finding a date? It's just dinner and an exchange of contacts. If it doesn't work out, so be it."
"This time it's different! The other party is in business with my family. Frankly speaking, I'm just selling my looks, peddled by weight by my parents. Ashley, you have got to save me!"
It sounded like Harold was close to tears.
Ashley couldn't help but chuckle, "Where are you?"
Harold quickly sent his location. "In the private room on the third floor. I'll come down to get you!"
After picking up the groceries and some fruit, Ashley touched up her makeup, her fair skin and red lips standing out. With a quick fix, she looked fresh as a blooming peach.
For Harold's parents, setting up a blind date at Jade Garden Restaurant seemed reasonable, but Harold and his friends always thought of it as tacky and vulgar, like a nouveau riche's palace.
Riding the elevator to the third floor, Ashley brushed her long hair in the mirror, lowering her neckline to reveal her delicate collarbone.
Perfect!
As the elevator doors slid open, Ashley fixed her expression, corners of her mouth lifted at a forty-five-degree angle, the classic selfie-ready face.
"Ashley?" a voice called out.
Just as Ashley's smile blossomed, preparing to play the perfect goddess and sweet girl to save Harold from his blind date, she bumped into Sean, who was waiting for the elevator.
Their eyes met, and Ashley's confident smile faltered. The beauty she felt a moment ago now felt awkward. "Sean... the lawyer?" she said in disbelief.
