Serena made her rounds with Lily, checking room by room.
Most of today's patients were suffering from gunshot wounds. Once the bullets were removed through surgery, they simply needed proper rest to recover.
Even when facing wounds that pierced clean through the body, Serena didn't bat an eye.
"Blood test needed in Room 3."
"Replace the drainage tube in Room 4."
"Administer antibiotics in Room 6 promptly."
…
After checking on a patient with a perforated intestine, Lily finally couldn't hold it in and ran to the restroom.
Serena followed and heard the sound of vomiting from outside the door.
She turned and fetched a bottle of water, handing it to Lily.
Lily took the water and thanked her, looking slightly embarrassed.
"It was the tripe noodles I had this morning…"
Serena's brows lifted ever so slightly.
Their rounds were nearly done, and Lily took the chance to whisper some gossip.
"Dr. Willa, I heard these patients today… they came from Irisport."
Irisport?
"They say there's a piece of land near Irisport that several groups were eyeing. But today, the Pryce Consortium publicly announced it's theirs—they'll be developing it…"
Lily was still talking when Serena gently covered her mouth.
A few seconds later, the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway, getting closer.
Serena's hearing was… that sharp?
Only when the group passed did Serena lower her hand.
"Don't gossip about things we shouldn't discuss," she said quietly.
Lily nodded, still a bit dazed.
Only when Serena walked away and the fresh bamboo-like scent faded did she snap out of it and hurry after her.
Dr. Willa always smelled so nice…
The internal medicine doctors only did rounds for half a day; the rest of the time was allocated to other duties.
After finishing her rounds, Serena was just about to leave when Lily rushed up again, visibly nervous.
"Dr. Willa! Emergency!"
"There's a new patient in VIP Room 9—they need a doctor immediately!"
Serena was surprised. "Where's the attending doctor?"
"All of them are in surgery right now. But this patient… can't wait."
Can't wait? That serious?
Exceptions were allowed under hospital rules for emergencies.
From Lily's expression, this patient must be badly injured.
Room 9 was just around the corner—Serena didn't have time to get the details.
She pushed open the door, ready to see blood everywhere.
Instead, the floor was spotless—shining even.
Room 9 was a private VIP suite with a wall of windows overlooking the lake.
No one was on the bed. A man lounged lazily on the sofa by the window, one leg crossed, his posture relaxed.
His profile was partially lit by the misty rain falling on the lake outside. He looked like he'd been sculpted straight from the landscape itself.
Serena recognized him instantly.
Adrian Pryce.
Lily arrived with the medical chart. "Dr. Willa, here's the record…"
The man slowly opened his dark eyes, glancing toward the doorway.
Expressionless, he looked at the woman standing there: white coat, white mask, flat shoes, long hair tied up save for one loose strand.
Plain to the extreme—yet even through the mask, her eyes and bearing revealed a quiet, otherworldly beauty.
Lily whispered, "Dr. Serena, the patient said he has a stomachache…"
Stomachache.
Was his stomach shot?
Serena's gaze lowered. Adrian's white shirt, slightly creased from his seated position, revealed a faint outline of his abs.
No injury in sight.
All morning they'd seen patients with intestines hanging out or shattered legs.
And this one claimed to have a "stomachache"?
Seeing Serena's questioning look, Lily hurriedly added, "That's really all—just a stomachache…"
Ryan, standing nearby, had never met this doctor before. Assuming she was new, he checked her badge and said formally:
"Dr. Willa, our young master threw up last night and still has stomach pain. Please take a look."
Ah.
Serena understood now—it was the kind of stomachache she thought it was.
Was this really worthy of alerting Internal Medicine?
She didn't move forward. Instead, she looked directly at Adrian.
"Do you want me to examine you?"
Ryan was stunned.
Did someone just ask him that?
Doctors didn't ask—they obeyed!
Ryan had no idea about the undercurrents here. He'd been dealing with Irisport matters yesterday and missed the return to the Pryce estate. He didn't know that standing here was the third master's wife.
Lily swallowed hard and tugged Serena's sleeve nervously.
Dr. Willa always kept a professional distance—why was she like this with him?
Adrian leaned back further, his narrow eyes cold and unreadable.
Ryan watched him closely—even after years of service, he still couldn't always read the man's moods.
"Dr. Willa," Adrian said calmly, "stay."
"To the rest of you—get out."
Ryan bowed slightly and dragged Lily outside, closing the door behind them.
Lily pouted, but only for a second.
She waited outside, face full of guilt.
This was her fault—she shouldn't have asked Dr. Willa for help.
Inside, Adrian said nothing. He remained seated, same relaxed posture.
Serena didn't examine him immediately. Instead, she slowly removed her mask, then began unbuttoning her white coat, one by one.
She hung the coat neatly on the rack.
Adrian watched her the whole time.
Her movements were gentle and unhurried—so calm, so composed.
Only when she had shed every trace of her medical identity did she become Serena Sangster again.
She stepped toward him.
Her hand reached out, pressing gently against his abdomen through his shirt.
"Where does it hurt? Center? Left? Right?" Her touch was firm but measured, each spot corresponding to a location she mentioned.
Her touch reminded him of the night four years ago—when she'd resisted him with her hand just like this.
Now, that same stomach felt like it was on fire.
Adrian didn't reply.
Serena withdrew her hand and leaned in to examine his eyes.
They were bloodshot.
She should have ordered further tests, but she stopped there.
Picking up her pen and chart, she began writing:
"Symptoms suggest a gastric ulcer. If willing, undergo an endoscopy. Quit smoking and drinking. Maintain a healthy diet. At least six hours of sleep…"
She didn't finish the sentence.
Her wrist was suddenly grabbed, the pen and chart crashing to the floor.