Jessica subconsciously touched her arm. “I’m really not used to you calling each other like that. One Ms. Jarrett, another Mr. Emerson…”
She shook her head. “Even television dramas dare not pull that off.”
Summer smiled and said, “That’s nothing. Both Mr. Emerson and I are no different than strangers.”
Jessica recalled that Summer had mentioned that Leonardo was extremely intelligent.
“Leonardo’s intelligence is more like beyond human…” Jessica no longer wanted to talk to her about Leonardo and changed the subject. “I have some photos that I can show you later, perhaps you can remember what had happened in the past.”
“All right.” Summer nodded. “Thank you.”
“What are you thanking me for? We have known each other for years!” Jessica dangled her car key in her hand. “You really don’t want me to give you a ride?”
Summer shook her head. “No, you head off first.”
Summer did not allow Jessica to give her a ride, and Jessica had no choice but to leave alone.
Only until Jessica had left that Summer hailed a cab home.
She had originally wanted to head back straight, but due to traffic congestion along the way, the driver took another road and had to pass by Stanley’s psychiatric clinic.
Summer decided to get off at the clinic itself.
The moment she got in, the lady at the front desk greeted her with a smile. “Hello, do you have an appointment?”
“No, I’m here to look for someone,” Summer said as she glanced inside.
This was her first visit to Stanley’s clinic, and the decoration was warm and comforting, with a brand new, homely style to it.
The receptionist froze for a bit, before asking politely. “May I know who you are looking for?”
Summer said, “Stanley.”
There was a subtle change in the gaze of the receptionist, as she could not help but look at Summer. “You’re looking for Dr. Li? May I know your name?”
While her tone was very polite, it was also very inquisitive.
Summer had heard Stanley mentioned this before, that his clinic was small, and she could look for him if she wanted to.
However, it seemed like Stanley was a little busy, and one had to make an appointment to see him.
“Well, forget it if he’s busy. There’s nothing urgent.” She had only just dropped by along the way, and since Stanley was busy, she did not stay any longer.
The receptionist at the front desk did not say much upon hearing that.
At that moment, the sound of footsteps came from inside, accompanied by talking voices.
Summer turned around and saw Stanley coming out with two other people from his room.
Next to him was a middle-aged woman, and by her side was a teenage boy.
She was probably a parent bringing their child to see a psychiatrist.
As soon as Stanley looked up he saw Summer. He was clearly taken aback, and after saying another word or two with the parent, he instructed the assistant to send the patient off, before walking towards Summer.
Stanley walked before her and asked with a concerned look. “Why did you come looking for me all of a sudden? What happened?”
The receptionist froze the moment she saw Stanley’s concerned look.
The young and promising doctor was not actually single?
Before Summer could say anything, Stanley stretched his arms out and wrapped around her shoulders. “Let’s head in.”
Summer was not used to being held like this, backing away as soon as she entered the office, and took his arm off her shoulders.
Stanley did not seem to mind it and poured her a glass of warm water.
“Thank you.” Summer took the glass of water. “I was actually… just passing by, and decided to pop in to have a look.”
Stanley asked seemingly reactively. “Where did you go?”
“I went out for a meal with a friend.” This was a half-truth.
Summer had not many friends now, and Stanley’s guess was right on the mark. “Was it with Ms. Patel?”
Summer nodded. “Yeah.”
She held the glass of water in her hand, as her fingers twirled around it, clearly wanting yet reluctant to speak.
Stanley looked at her silently. Summer would not lie to people she trusted and was not adept at hiding her emotions.
Stanley sat opposite her and said in a relaxed tone, “Just met up for a meal? Didn’t go shopping? Did not run into any paparazzi again this time?”
Summer had told him about the encounter with paparazzi while she was shopping together with Jessica.
Summer spoke after much thought. “Stanley, do you… do you know Mr. Emerson from before?”
Stanley’s expression froze for a moment and asked, “Who told you that?”
With him asking so bluntly, Summer had no idea how to respond.
He looked so open with nothing to hide, and Summer felt that she was the evil one for doubting him.
Seeing that she kept silent, Stanley seriously said, “Ms. Patel spoke to you, right?”
Summer pursed her lips. “She did tell me some things.”
Stanley seemed to have anticipated it and did not ask what she was told. Instead, he just asked. “Do you believe her?”
“I don’t think she is lying to me.” Summer trusted Jessica.
“Isn’t that enough then.” Stanley smiled. “If you think it is trustworthy, then Ms. Patel is naturally trustworthy.”
Stanley’s words made Summer even more confused.
She felt that how she got along with Stanley was not like an unmarried couple, but more like a friend, a confidant.
Even when living together they were no different than housemates, and there was no intimacy in their daily exchanges.
Summer hesitated, before asking the question in her heart. “Are we really an unmarried couple?”
Stanley’s expression faded away somewhat as he heard that, and his voice took on an uncharacteristically playful tone. “Do you feel we are like an unmarried couple?”
Summer shook her head. “No.”
Stanley suddenly laughed as he heard what she said.
Following that, he stood up and asked Summer. “Want to head back together, or you going off now? If you want to go off now, I can get you a cab.”
Summer could obviously see through his brutish effort to change the subject.
She felt that there was something hidden inside what he just said.
Stanley was the first person she saw after waking up.
To her, Stanley was probably the person she was most familiar with.
Yet, she could now vaguely feel that Stanley was the most complex person instead.
Stanley patted her on the shoulder and said with a hint of comfort in his tone, “Don’t think too much, let things pan out as it goes.”
Summer did not say much and only nodded. “I’ll wait for you till night, and we will go back together.”
In any case, she had nothing to do if she went back this early.
Stanley ordered an afternoon tea for her and freed up the lounge next to his room for her.
Stanley had patients throughout the afternoon.
Summer could only hear low voices, but could not tell what they were talking about.
In any case, she was not all that curious, it was the private matters of others.