The two of them kept brushing up against each other as they moved, accidentally touching each other more than a dozen times throughout the evening, which made Sophia a bit uncomfortable.
When the meal ended, Sophia genuinely enjoyed the taste of the food here. No wonder so many people were so passionate about the chef – the standard was indeed high.
After dinner, they enjoyed tea together. Tony nudged Clara and smiled:
“Dr. Smith, could you please check our pulses again to see if our health has improved?”
Sophia smiled, knowing that once the meal was over, work would need to be done.
She had them extend their hands and carefully took their pulses, studying each one’s pulse to assess the state of their internal organs.
Next to her, Scott Livinus lowered his head and sipped his tea, watching her nonchalantly.
When working, Sophia looked more focused than ever, so much so that one would feel even their breathing might disturb her.
As she checked their pulses, she would occasionally frown or smile, resembling an experienced traditional medicine practitioner.
A few minutes later, she let go of their wrists and smiled:
“You’ve been taking your medication on time, right?”
“Of course!” Tony patted his chest in assurance. “We both set alarms and make sure to take our medicine first thing every day.”
Sophia smiled and squinted slightly. “Congratulations, the herbs seem to be working well for you both. It might be because you haven’t taken much traditional medicine before, so it’s been very effective. If nothing unexpected happens, you should be able to conceive.”
At this, Tony and Clara’s eyes filled with warmth.
For a long time, they had heard nothing but negative responses: doctors telling them their health wasn’t suitable for pregnancy, that their attempts at IVF were unlikely to succeed, and that their chances of conceiving were extremely low.
Every hospital had given them similar answers, but Sophia didn’t say a word against them. She prescribed medicine, took their pulses after treatment, and then told them their health had improved a lot and that they could try for a baby. How could they not be overjoyed?
“Thank you, Dr. Smith,” Clara said.
Sophia smiled and asked the waiter to bring paper so she could write a prescription. As she wrote, her expression was so focused, as if she were taking an important exam, that Scott Livinus’s lips curved slightly in amusement.
Once she finished the prescription, Sophia said with a smile:
“This prescription is quite complex. If you go to an ordinary pharmacy, there might be some mistakes in preparing it. Since you both are special patients of mine, you need special care. Tomorrow, I’ll prepare the medicine myself and have Mr. Scott’s driver deliver it to you.”
Livinus Scott lifted his tea, raising his brows slightly.
Sophia’s words made Tony and Clara laugh, making them feel cherished and well-cared for. Every patient wants to feel they’re special to their doctor. Even if it’s not entirely true, hearing those words brings comfort and warmth to their hearts.
“Thank you, Dr. Smith. It’s kind of you to personally prepare the medicine for us.”
Sophia shook her head. “It’s no trouble. A traditional stove works better for decocting the herbs. Machines are fine for simpler formulas, but for complex ones like these, I feel more assured doing it myself.”
Hearing about her effort made Tony and Clara deeply touched.
—
As they stepped outside, the evening breeze blew gently across the hilltop. Tony and Clara got into their car first.
“Livinus, remember to get Dr. Smith home safely!” Tony said.
Livinus gave a short grunt, annoyed. “As if I’d drop her somewhere else?”
“No, it’s just that these days, there are a lot of creeps around!”
Livinus’s eyes darkened a bit. This late at night, and with him as company, Tony was still worried about creeps. Wasn’t it clear who he was hinting at?
Livinus tapped his fingers on the car. “Why don’t you drive her, then?”
Tony quickly waved his hands, laughing, “I wouldn’t dare! Mr. Scott, the lone wolf! I’m no match for you!” With that, he winked at him and walked off with a laugh.
Sophia was surprised to see that Livinus Scott’s driver hadn’t come, as she distinctly remembered Scott had been drinking.
Seeing him casually sitting in the passenger seat, Sophia was taken aback. “Who’s driving?”
Livinus placed his arm on the car window, looking at her with a relaxed expression. “Who else but you?”
“…”
“Don’t know how?”
“I do.” Though Sophia had never driven a luxury car like this McLaren, she knew how expensive it was and was aware that its value could be appreciated. Given her driving skills, she feared she wouldn’t be able to handle it. The car would be very costly to repair, with replacement parts needing to be imported. Although she could drive, she rarely did and had never driven a sports car. “Why don’t you drive? I’m afraid I won’t do well.”
“You want me to get caught for drunk driving?”
Sophia hesitated, silenced by Mr. Scott’s words. After a moment, she reluctantly settled into the driver’s seat.
Everything in this luxurious car seemed as if it was plated with gold. Sophia, imagining everything through a “golden filter,” even thought the air conditioning felt expensive. She drove carefully, afraid of damaging it. With her current finances, she certainly couldn’t afford the repairs.
The McLaren P1’s steering wheel was different from standard cars, covered in buttons with labels. Sophia studied them for a while but couldn’t figure out each button’s function, eventually deciding to give up. After all, as long as she knew how to use the accelerator and brakes, she could get home.
She started the car, pressed the accelerator, and it shot forward. She quickly hit the brakes.
Livinus frowned, “You’ve never driven before?”
“Not much.”
She thought she heard him sigh softly.
Livinus leaned over, unbuckled his seatbelt, and began pointing to the buttons.
“Here, you’re shifting wrong; it should be done this way. Press the accelerator more gently. This car can go from zero to sixty in 2.8 seconds! And this button here…”
He was very close, and in her peripheral vision, Sophia could see his well-defined profile and slightly furrowed brows.
Livinus’s presence was intense, giving her a sense of pressure even though he was doing nothing but being near her.
His breath grazed her ear unintentionally, making her ear feel ticklish.
In the enclosed space, Sophia’s senses became heightened.
She didn’t dare turn her head, afraid that if she did, it might awkwardly lead to a kiss.
Livinus explained for quite a while before finally asking, “Got it?”
Sophia nodded, calming herself and starting the car again. This time, she drove more cautiously, pressing the accelerator lightly and proceeding slowly.
