Twelve hours later, the light above the emergency room door finally switched off, and an exhausted-looking doctor emerged.
“Are you the patient’s family?” the doctor inquired. “Don’t worry. He’s out of danger now. However, due to the severity of his injuries, he’ll need a minimum of six months for recovery. Additionally, we’ve discovered that his left arm has sustained repeated injuries. Even if it eventually heals, there will be lasting effects.”
Upon hearing this, Nelson’s brows furrowed, and he asked, “What kind of lasting effects will he suffer?”
“He’ll experience intense pain in his arm intermittently, particularly on rainy days. It’s likely he’ll need to rely on painkillers daily for the rest of his life,” the doctor explained.
Uncle Nelson nodded, visibly relieved.
“It’s alright. The important thing is that he can continue working in the future,” he commented.
The doctor appeared surprised by his statement. “May I ask what relation you have to the patient?”
“I’m his elder,” Nelson responded gently.
“He nearly lost his life, yet you’re primarily concerned about his ability to work? Sir, with all due respect, I believe his health should be your main focus. He’s a human being, not a machine,” the doctor expressed sternly before returning to his office.
“Oh my, I’ve never encountered such a cold-hearted elder,” he mumbled, helplessly shaking his head.
Soon, Cristofer was wheeled out of the emergency room. His body was extensively bandaged, and he wore an oxygen mask.
His complexion was pale, giving him the appearance of a lifeless figure. The only indication that he was still alive was the mist within the oxygen mask, indicating his breath.
The nurses then transferred him to the ICU.
Around the bed was a lot of medical equipment monitoring his condition, such as an ECG monitor and EEG monitor.
Lying on the bed, Cristofer opened his mouth and kept murmuring.
The nurse hadn’t quite caught what he said, so she approached him and inquired, “What did you say? Star? It’s daytime now; there are no stars.”
A nearby nurse chimed in with a smile, “He’s incredibly fortunate. It’s a true miracle that someone with such severe injuries managed to pull through. He must possess an extraordinary will to live.”
“That’s right. Even in his state, he mentioned wanting to see the stars,” the other nurse added.
“He has woken up?”
“Not yet. He talked in his sleep just now. Maybe he’s watching stars in his dream now. What a romantic man.”
“He is so handsome…”
“This handsome guy is so miserable. He is so severely injured, but his family only cares about if he can work in the future. Alas, I feel so sorry for him.”
“This is his family affairs. Let’s not talk about it. By the way, we just took out this from his pocket. Put it beside his pillow,” a nurse reminded.
“This is… a tie?”
“Yes. It has been blood-drenched, so it’s hard to tell its color, and only its checked pattern can be seen. This tie must be important to him. He held it tightly and pressed it against his heart when he was brought here. It took the doctor a lot of time and effort to take it out of his hand, and the operation was almost delayed…”
****
Three years later.
“Mr. Hans, the legal department just received some packages,” Cristofer’s secretary, Linda, said to him respectfully.
Immersing himself in his work, Cristofer didn’t even bother to raise his head when he heard this. Frowning, he said, “Why did they ask you to tell me about this? Tell them I’ll fire them if they bother me with such a trifle again.”
After a short pause, he stopped working and asked, “Have you passed your probation period?”
Hearing this, Linda was startled and responded in a small voice, “Mr. Hans, my probation period will be over next week.”
“Well,” Cristofer said, “After passing on my words to the legal department, you go to the human resources department and ask them to recruit a new secretary for me.”
Linda’s complexion turned pale in an instant. She pleaded, “Mr. Hans, If…if I’ve made a mistake, please let me know, and I’ll rectify it. Please don’t fire me. Just grant me one more chance. I beg you!”
Cristofer, devoid of expression, pointed towards the door and continued with his work.
“Get out.”
“Mr. Hans!”
“I won’t repeat myself.”
“Mr. Hans, I desperately need this job. I just rented an apartment close to our company and paid the rent. What did I do wrong? Can you tell me directly?” Linda implored with anxiety.
Massaging his temples with weariness, Cristofer let out a deep sigh. “My time is exceedingly valuable. I can’t afford to waste it. This is the last time I’ll say it. Get out!”
“Mr. Hans…” Linda was so anxious that she was about to cry.
As Justin entered and observed Linda’s distressed expression, he gently addressed her, “You can step outside for a moment. I need to speak with Mr. Hans.”
Struggling to hold back her tears, Linda nodded and responded, “Good morning, Mr. Roberts. Would you like a cup of coffee?”
“Yes, please,” Justin accepted.
Cristofer glanced at Justin briefly before resuming his work, inquiring, “What brings you here?”
Casually looking around, Justin noticed the empty takeout food containers strewn on the floor and clicked his tongue. “Cristofer, did you work through the night again?” he inquired.
“Yes. The cleaner will come to clean the office later. Have a seat and wait a moment. Let’s talk after I finish my work.”
Justin nodded and uttered helplessly, “Okay. Go ahead with your work.”
Half an hour later, Cristofer finally finished his work. He leaned back against the backrest of the chair, moved his stiff neck, and then heard a crack of his joint.
Hearing the crack, Justin asked with a surprised look, “What’s that sound? Are you going to mutate into a monster?”
Taking a moment to rest his eyes, Cristofer revealed, “I’ve been experiencing slight discomfort in my neck and back lately, but it’s nothing major.”
“You should consider seeing a doctor. The car accident you had before was quite severe. It might be a good idea to undergo a thorough examination to ensure there are no hidden issues in your body,” Justin advised.
“I’m fine,” Cristofer asserted, rising from his seat and approaching Justin. “What is it that you want to see me about?”
With a furrowed brow, Justin asked, “Are you genuinely planning to marry Miss Wilson?”
“Yes. She’s kind-hearted and simple. I believe she’s a good person,” Cristofer responded.
“But you’ve only met her three times. Don’t you think you’re moving too quickly?” Justin inquired.
These words struck a nerve with Cristofer, making him feel agitated. He moistened his lips and replied, “You know how busy I am daily, and I’m not currently interested in dating. Miss Wilson is a suitable candidate for marriage, and having a wife can enhance credibility in the business world. It’s a practical decision to marry her.”