Chapter 38: They Just Don’t Look Like a Couple

Annette was startled by Nancy's glare — dark and cold, utterly devoid of warmth, like a ghost. "You're awake. Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere? Should I call a doctor?"

Nancy turned her face away indifferently, refusing to acknowledge Annette.

Annette didn't mind and stood up, stepping outside to talk with Stuart and Charles, who were standing by the flowerbed. "Nancy's awake. For convenience, I think you should get her transferred to another room."

She had no interest in taking care of Nancy. Just looking at her, Annette was certain that Nancy would only repay kindness with cruelty. She wasn't that kind-hearted.

Charles looked at Stuart, unsure.

Stuart nodded. "I'll go find the doctor."

He didn't ask Annette to stay inside with Nancy because he knew she wouldn't want to.

Nancy was quickly moved to another ward with only one elderly woman inside.

Charles carried Nancy in, and the moment Nancy saw Charles and Stuart, tears welled up in her red eyes. "Big Brother… Second Brother…"

Charles was quite sympathetic toward his sister. He helped her lie down and tucked her in. "It's okay. Just two more shots of anti-inflammatory medicine and you can go home."

Nancy was in pain and regret filled her heart. She knew the outcome of the surgery and even thought that if she hadn't aborted the child, it would have been better — after all, her mother said Annette could raise it.

If Annette knew Nancy was still scheming against her after all this, she would have slapped her twice to wake her up and clear the nonsense out of her head.

As the sky darkened, Stuart glanced at Annette who'd been quietly standing by the window, tiredness etched on his face. He said to Charles, "You watch Nancy. Annette and I will go rest."

Charles, knowing city girls were delicate, nodded quickly. "Okay, you two go ahead."

Stuart booked a room at a guesthouse near the hospital. Without a marriage certificate or referral letter, they couldn't share a room.

Seeing Stuart only rented a single room, Annette quietly asked, "What about you tonight?"

"No problem," he said. "There's a comrade in town. I'll stay with him for the night."

Annette thought about how Stuart had come on a tractor and wondered about his wound. "Then come to my room for a moment. I want to check your injury."

The front desk clerk immediately refused, "No way. You can't prove you're married, so you can't stay together."

Annette was puzzled. "If we're not married, who'd openly go upstairs like this?"

The clerk scoffed, "Who knows? You two don't even look like a couple."

Though the man was good-looking, his darker complexion didn't match this beautiful city girl.

Annette glanced at Stuart and wanted to laugh. Was a "couple's look" really the standard for marriage?

Stuart tugged Annette's sleeve. "My wound's fine. Put your stuff down. Let's go eat."

Annette sighed and put her bag down in the room, then followed Stuart downstairs.

They found a small noodle stall near the hospital, ordering one bowl each.

Annette preferred rice but hadn't been picky while starving these days. Now, even though hungry, after eating noodles for so many days, the full bowl didn't tempt her much. She nudged the bowl closer to Stuart. "I can't finish this. Here, have some."

She picked noodles from her bowl and put them into Stuart's.

Stuart noticed she gave him most of the noodles, guessing she didn't like it. He glanced at her, said nothing, and ate quietly.

Annette ate slowly, but drank all the broth, feeling her stomach more comfortable. When people are full, their minds wander — she wished there was some greens to go with it.

But it was early March. The grass was just sprouting. Having cabbage or radish was already a luxury — no chance for fresh greens.

Stuart went to pay, then came back. "I bought another bowl of noodles for Big Brother. You wait here."

Annette didn't object; she didn't want to see Nancy now. "Maybe I should go back to the guesthouse?"

Stuart, surprisingly persistent, said, "No need. I'll be back soon."

He took the food box and hurried off.

Annette sat quietly at the stall, able to see the hospital entrance in the distance.

The noodle stall lady, a kindly older woman, noticed Annette sitting alone. She came over and started chatting, "Family member in the hospital?"

Annette nodded. "Yes."

The woman comforted her, "Spring is the time when everything grows, and people tend to get sick. But you two make a handsome couple. I've been running this stall for years and never seen such a pretty pair."

Annette smiled happily. "You think we're a good match? The guesthouse clerk said we don't look like a couple."

The woman's face stiffened. "Nonsense! Handsome man and pretty woman — is he blind or what?"

Annette laughed and chatted casually with her while keeping an eye on the hospital entrance. Stuart didn't come out, but she saw Laura hurrying in carrying a cloth bag.

The woman noticed Annette's gaze toward the hospital and looked too. Spotting Laura, she exclaimed, "Isn't that the girl who runs the tailor shop on the east side of town? Why's she here?"

Annette was curious. "You know her?"

The woman nodded, "Yes, my family lives around there too. She's skilled — embroidery, sewing — and very kind. If she sees someone in need, she fixes their clothes without charging."

Annette's mood turned a little complicated as she thoughtfully watched the hospital entrance.

After more than twenty minutes, night fell completely. The lady, seeing no more customers, began packing up.

Annette stood up to help gather the small stools.

The woman thanked her and said with a smile, "Thank you, dear. Pretty girls have good hearts. You and your man will surely have a chubby baby."

Annette smiled wryly. Who knew where their relationship was headed?

With Laura around, she didn't want to fight over a man.

The woman pushed her cart away slowly, and Annette decided to return to the guesthouse first — just in case Stuart and Laura started talking and forgot about her.

A few steps away, a sudden cry rang from behind.

Annette turned and saw the elderly lady who had been chatting with her fall to the ground, two men overturning her cart and grabbing things before running off.

Without thinking, Annette rushed over, worried about the old woman in such cold weather — a fall could be serious.

By the time she got there, the two thieves were already far away.

Annette knelt down, supporting the immobile old lady. "Ma'am?"

She hadn't noticed someone quietly approach from behind, swinging a wooden stick at her head!