The hospital room was quiet, except for the soft scratching of a pencil against paper. Wendy sat on her bed, legs tucked beneath her as she focused intently on her notebook. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she doodled, trying to capture Paiming's image. The portrait was rough, with uneven lines and smudged edges, but it was filled with her earnest effort.
"Why do I always fail to draw?" Wendy muttered to herself, frustration evident in her voice. She stared at the sketch, her expression a mix of disappointment and determination.
Just then, the door creaked open, and Paiming stepped inside. He paused for a moment, watching her with a soft smile. "What are you drawing?" he asked gently.
Wendy's head snapped up, and she quickly hid the notebook behind her back, her cheeks flushing. "Nothing! Nothing!" she said, her voice a little too high-pitched.
Paiming chuckled, walking closer and sitting on the edge of her bed. "Wendy," he said in a warm, teasing tone, "Do you like drawing?"
Wendy hesitated, but the kindness in his eyes made it impossible to lie. She nodded, her smile bright and genuine. "My mom taught me! I love drawing!"
Paiming's smile widened, and he reached out to ruffle her hair affectionately. "Then... how about I take you to France?"
Wendy's eyes widened in surprise. "France?" she repeated, disbelief lacing her tone. "Really?"
Paiming nodded, his expression serious yet kind. "It's said to be a paradise for cultivating artists. I'll accompany you there so you can learn painting properly."
Wendy's heart soared at the thought. She clasped her hands together, excitement bubbling over. "Really? That's amazing! I've always wanted to live in Paris!"
Paiming's smile softened, but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes. "Then your father's company will have to be run by other shareholders," he said carefully, watching her reaction.
Wendy's joy didn't waver. She shook her head, her smile gentle but resolute. "It's okay. I don't care. Daddy's gone," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "These things mean nothing to me now."
For a moment, the room was filled with a bittersweet silence. Wendy's smile faded as a thought crossed her mind. She looked up at Paiming, her expression hesitant. "Is Miss Tung going to France, too?"
Paiming's smile faltered, and he looked away, his chest tightening at the mention of Tina. "We're breaking up," he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Wendy's eyes widened in shock. "Why?" she asked, concern filling her voice. "Is it because of me? I'll apologize to her!"
Paiming shook his head, reaching out to gently place a hand on her head. "No," he said firmly. "It's not because of you." He paused, his gaze softening. "But I hope you can understand... I take you as my sister."
Wendy's heart sank at his words, and she looked down, her hands clutching the edge of her blanket. Paiming continued, his voice gentle but firm. "And I hope you'll find someone you truly love. And let him take care of you."
Tears welled up in Wendy's eyes, and she shook her head. "No, no!" she cried, launching herself into his arms. She clung to him tightly, her tears soaking into his shirt, "I won't leave you! Never!"
Paiming's heart ached at her outburst, and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. "Wendy," he murmured, his voice filled with both affection and sorrow. He didn't know how to respond, how to ease her pain without giving her false hope.
For a long moment, they stayed like that, the silence between them heavy with unspoken emotions. Wendy's sobs gradually subsided, but she didn't let go. Paiming rested his chin on top of her head, his mind racing with thoughts of the future, a future he wasn't sure he had.
The sky outside was a swirling mass of dark clouds, the air thick with the omen of rain. Thunder rumbled in the distance, its low growl echoing through the empty streets. Tina quickened her pace, her heels clicking against the wet pavement as she hurried toward her apartment building. She glanced up at the ominous sky and sighed in relief as she stepped inside. "Luckily, I got home before the weather got any worse," she muttered to herself, brushing a few droplets of rain from her coat.
The elevator ride to her floor felt longer than usual. Tina leaned against the wall, her eyes fixed on the numbers above the door as they slowly climbed. Her mind wandered, as it often did these days, to Paiming. 'I haven't seen him for a long time', she thought, her brow furrowing. 'I don't know how he and Wendy are doing now.'
The memory of the last time she saw them together flashed in her mind, Paiming's gentle smile, Wendy's bright eyes, and the pang of heartache she had felt. She shook her head, pushing the thought away. It's better this way, she told herself, though the words did little to ease the guilt that gnawed at her.
The elevator doors finally opened with a soft ding, and Tina stepped into the lobby. She was about to head to her apartment when she noticed a figure standing by her door. Her steps slowed as she approached, her heart skipping a beat when she recognized him. 'It's Paiming'.
He turned at the sound of her footsteps, his expression softening as their eyes met. "Paiming," Tina said, her voice tinged with surprise and concern. "Why are you here? Have you been waiting long?"
"Not long," Paiming replied, his voice calm and gentle. He offered her a small smile, but there was something in his eyes, a sadness, a weight, that made Tina's chest tighten.
She fumbled with her keys, her hands trembling slightly as she unlocked the door. "Come in," she said, stepping aside to let him enter. The apartment was warm and cozy, a stark contrast to the storm brewing outside. Tina hung her coat by the door and turned to face him, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Paiming," she began, her voice hesitant, "is everything okay?"
He nodded, though his expression was far from reassuring. "Tina," he said, his tone soft but serious, "are you free tomorrow? I'd like to invite you to see a movie." He paused, his gaze dropping to the floor for a moment before meeting hers again. "And... I have something to tell you."
Tina's breath caught in her throat. The guilt she had been trying to suppress surged to the surface, and she looked away, unable to meet his eyes. He knows, she thought, her heart sinking. He knows about Jim.
"Okay," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. She forced a smile, though it felt brittle and fragile. "Tomorrow, then."
Paiming nodded, his expression unreadable. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence between them heavy with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. The sound of rain tapping against the windows filled the room, a steady rhythm that seemed to echo the turmoil in Tina's heart.