Joan managed an awkward smile. There was no one by the old man’s side, and she could not bear to leave him alone. Besides, the man looked like he was from Chanaea too.
“Mister, where is your family?” Joan asked.
Dustin was still waiting for her, and she could not stay for long to accompany the old man. “My family? I didn’t ask them to come here.” The man drank a sip of water and replied in a small voice.
Is he saying that he really has no one else besides the doctors and nurses here?
“My son is back in Chanaea, and he’s busy with work. I cannot bother him with this…” the old man explained.
Does your son think that his company is more important than you? Joan’s face turned grim at the thought.
“His career is finally getting off the ground. I cannot distract him.
“Miss, I noticed that you looked quite troubled back in the lobby too. Did something happen to you?” The old man asked with a weak voice.
Joan smiled awkwardly again. She had not expected that the old man was asking about her despite him being in that state.
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just something bugging me back in Chanaea,” Joan replied meekly.
The man looked at her with a puzzled look on his face, “Miss, if you trust me, please tell me what’s bothering you. I’ll help you out,” the old man said with a determined tone.
Forget it. I’d better not burden others with such matters. Besides, he wouldn’t be able to help me anyway.
“Mister, it’s complicated. I’ll think of something, don’t worry about it.” Joan rubbed his back gently and reassured the man.
The old man narrowed his small eyes and smiled. There is really nothing I can’t solve in this world.
“Miss, I don’t like being indebted toward others. Please do tell me what’s bothering you back in Chanaea. Don’t worry, I will make sure that it gets resolved,” the old man sounded really confident.
Joan cast a glance around the ward and looked at the man on the bed. He doesn’t seem like he’s an ordinary old man.
Joan hesitated for a moment and told him the thing about the Alpire Group trying to take over the subsidiary of the Norton Corporation. She was not actually pinning any hopes on the old man. To be frank, she was just trying to vent her frustration since the old man was keen to listen.
“Oh, that.” The glint in his eyes dimmed.
“Joan! Joan!” Dustin kept calling out her name in the hallway.
He was just away for the registration procedure, but Joan was gone in the blink of an eye.
“Mister, this is a hospital. Please keep it down.” A doctor grabbed him by his arms and warned him.
Joan bade goodbye to the old man after noticing Dustin calling out her name and turned around to leave the ward.
“Dustin, I’m here!” Joan waved in Dustin’s direction.
“Where did you go just now? You really gave me a good fright, woman. I thought I lost you.” Dustin complained in a low voice.
“Where else can I be? I just helped an old man get back to his ward. Can we proceed with the check-up now?” Joan patted Dustin’s shoulders lightly.
They reached the room for Joan’s check-up. Dustin gave her a few pieces of advice before he waited for her to complete the check-up.
It would be a lie if Dustin had said that there was no ulterior motive to his trip this time, although he was genuinely worried about Joan’s health. However, this trip had proven to be the chance for Dustin and Joan to hang out alone. As for Larry, the man must have been swamped back in the Chanaea.
Sometimes, Dustin wondered if he should thank Gabriella.
Joan had only come out of the room after some time. “How is she?” Dustin asked the doctor immediately.
He had not personally examined Joan because he was afraid of finding out that there was indeed a new tumor in her brain.
“Um…” The doctor stuttered.
“Why don’t you come and take a look yourself?” The doctor asked Dustin. Joan felt a wave of apprehension wash over her as she noticed the doctor’s odd demeanor.
