" Are you sure you'll be alright?" Grandpa Tang asked for the nth time.
" I'll be okay, Grappa." Eve maintained her sweet look, trying to reassure the old man also for the nth time.
" Okay, but I'll call you every hour just in case." He stroked Eve's hair gently.
If Lionel could, he would rather not leave his grandchild alone. Syl, that crooked son of his, has already departed to manage the aftermath of leaving that day. Now it's his turn to be summoned and deal with those annoying bastards. He really should have killed those sons of bitches. Granting them an intact ability to breathe now only comes back to bite him in the ass. He sighed. Maybe it's time to retire.
Eve smiled brightly as she waved her grandpa goodbye. She can finally take a break from her non-stop theatrical play. She watched Lionel close the door, but before she can wipe the grin off her face, a head popped out through the slightly opened doorway.
" My angel, maybe I should call someone to stay with you?" His body was already beyond the wall, exposing only his well-combed black hair and a pair of brown eyes blinking at her. Eve finds her grappa quite adorable.
" Grappa, I'll be fine. Dad will come back soon anyway. You should go now so you can come back early." She once again convinced her doting grandfather.
His watery eyes glimmered as he pushed his face forward to showcase his mouth pouting so high you could hang something on it. The word "reluctant" should be painted on that broad forehead of his to complete his look. He tried blinking his eyes a couple more times and as pitifully as he could, trying to change his granddaughter's mind.
" Off you go, Grappa."
She waved her hands once again and shooed him away.
" See you soonest, my dear." He retrieved his head back and gently closed the door. When he raised his face, a stern and pissed off expression replaced the loving one.
[ Dare to disturb my family time? Oh, you rascals are so going to die.]
As he walked forward, he warned a couple of people standing inconspicuously on the corridor.
" Guard her well, if something happens to my grandchild again, I'll kill you myself." The murderous intent made the poor men shiver in fear.
" Yes, Sir." They could only comply and do their best.
They are already lucky to keep their limbs intact after their little miss' catastrophe. If the young master did not intercede for them, the boss would surely rip them apart.
They also felt terrible that their little miss almost died on their watch. They have been guarding her secretly all this time and were proud to have done a great job. The accident last time, however, happened too fast for them to intervene. They could only order an ambulance as soon as possible after seeing their young miss' terrible condition.
( Host, your grandfather has genuinely left this time.)
Halfsie reported as it watched the grandpa boss scare the shit out of his men.
( That's good. When will dad return?)
Eve laid down on her cozy bed, enjoying the soft and fragrant sheets.
The thing about her room being guarded by men-in-black was already known to her since a few days ago. It seems that her grappa was keeping an interesting double life. She hypothesized the presence of some hidden plot regarding their deaths in the previous life. Such an exciting play sparked her curiosity, and ended up interrogating the furball about it. It's a shame that the system guide who claimed to know almost everything proved that it truly did know ALMOST everything. Halfsie, in the end, lamented over its pitiful incomplete database and wrote another complaint under the main system's tab.
( According to my observation, the soonest he'll come back is in three days but can still change in the presence of unforeseen circumstances.)
The furball is glad Sylvius Tang is still within the country. If not, how could it spy on him and report to the host. It was sure Eve would criticize it again for its limited capabilities. Halfsie swears that it will find a way to astound its hard-to-please boss.
Eve grunted then started stretching her arms. She's been staying in the hospital for more than a week now. The doctors have already given a signal that she can be discharged. Nevertheless, her paranoid guardians demanded she stays and be observed further, thus prolonging her vacay in the hospital.
Anyway, she doesn't mind staying in the VIP room longer for she has all she wanted- the comfy bed.
Additionally, she enjoys the skit the two non-tiringly performs, which highlights her every day. The interaction between them, who acted more like brothers instead of father and son is fun to watch. She even had the notion that her dad Sylvius is acting more like an elder to his naughty younger brother, her Grappa. How can she be bored with such entertainment?
One more thing, she has discovered a new passion to live for- food.
So her infirmary stay isn't as stifling as it sounded. She enjoys it here. The only downside is that her cast is too thick; she can not walk as she pleases. Though she's not put off by that either, she finally has a bed to lay around, and the softness made her laze all day.
[ Hmm, I suddenly crave chicken soup.]
As a patient, her limited activities revolve around watching the television, promoting the development of bedsores, and last but not least, pigging out. Her dad and grappa were living up to their name of pampering their princess, alright. They have hired the best chef to satisfy her appetite. Eve had fully integrated into her spoiled baby role and enjoyed such sumptuous meals to her heart's content. She has gourmandized her passing days to the point that the initially slim host body became a little plump and contained right bulges here and there. Eve knows she should be alarmed, but resisting such goodness is just impossible. She even contemplates if the dishes in this world are laced with illicit drugs, making them addictive.
( Halfsie, which one would be better? Chicken or Corn crab soup?)
She gazes at the ceiling, envisioning the warm yummy food.
Halfsie: …
[ Host, shouldn't you bond with the hero instead?]
Halfsie wanted to cry. After the heart-warming scene the host and the hero shared that day, they have not met again. Their progress has been put on hold, making the furry ball beyond frustrated that it started shedding its fur.
( Host, maybe you can ask Sarien to bring you one.) It "un-intentionally" suggested.
( Sarien?) She thought for a second before recognizing the name.
[ Oh, my guardian.]
She had almost forgotten the reason for her vacation in the hospital. In fact, the father-son duo was distracting her with a lot of things, mostly food, so she'll stop yearning to meet him. She has to admit; they got her well and good. It was funny listening to their non sequitur whenever she asked to meet Sarien Lu. Anyhow, the dude has embraced his fate, and she was not worried about letting him go for now.
( Where is he?) She asked casually.
( He's currently in a car, the destination I can not determine.)
The furball watches the handsome young man as he gazes outside the heavily tinted car window. It recognizes that the leading man has the best appearance it has seen in this world so far. Lacking, but the best so far, naturally aside from its host. He has that appearance that moves people to acquaint with him or do things for him.
[ Maybe he's busy.] That means a longer time to deliver her meal, if ever.
( What about my dad?)
The word busy made her remember Dad Sylvius, the workaholic good father of hers. She has to admire his priorities. The day he received her news, he flew straight to her and dropped his ongoing meeting. The furball mentioned it was an important business project or something. Regardless of that, he chose her in a heartbeat and even looked after her for a week. She remembers him leaving with an annoyed face as he condemns his subordinates, who can't handle the matter rendering the need for him to fix the situation.
( He's currently roasting his subordinates who failed his expectations.)
She giggled. She could almost imagine the funny scene.
( How about Halesia and her mother?)
( Halesia is on her way home after enrolling in her old school and her mother..) Halfsie paused.
( What?) Eve tried to nudge the furball, who suddenly stopped midway of the gossip.
( Well, she entered a private room with a man.) The furball did not know if it should continue to observe or not.
( Same man as before?)
( No, host.)
When she heard the furball's answer, she croaked. Her laughter filled the vast room.
[ Oh, Hemiura. I should applaud your thriving business whoreganization.]
She wanted to visit her villain rival, yet her physical condition is restraining her. It would also be troublesome to explain to her bodyguards outside that she wanted to go somewhere. Of course, she can sneak out, but that's too much work. There's no way she's going to stress her beautiful self just to deal with that nasty woman.
Her roar just now consumed her remaining energy that her stomach started to growl.
" I wish I have a chicken soup right now." She groaned while gazing dejectedly at the ceiling.
( Should we call the chef, host?) The furball asked.
( I had already eaten a while ago, and dad already warned them not to feed me excessively.)
Her rapid weight gain has alarmed the doctors in charge. It's good that her BMI is going normal, but the progress is too fast and might be more disadvantageous, especially now that's she is still recovering. That logic eventually moved Dad Sylvius and decided to restrict her diet. When she acted pitiful to reconsider that motion, the father and son fought over it. Her adorable Grappa, of course, wanted to give in and spoke to his son about considering such limitation to his angel granddaughter. Sylvius, on the other hand, didn't bend down and elucidated his valid arguments. After the bouts of highly entertaining poisonous tirades, they had come to an agreement. That is, she can enjoy a balanced meal three times a day, and her snacks cut from as much as she wanted to pathetic one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Now, she has already finished her afternoon snack but started to crave chicken soup. She can't resist the temptation of such a heavenly dish on a rainy, cold afternoon.
When she started to weep her food craving goodbye, a familiar ringtone filled the empty room.
She picked her phone up and answered despondently.
" Who?"
" It's me. " A soothing voice replied.
[ Who's it's me?] She scrunched her brows and wanted to drop the call, but a hurried voice rang once again.
" It's Sarien. I hope you don't mind that I got your number without permission."
" I don't mind." As a matter of fact, she finds it amazing. How did he manage to get her number? Her elders would surely not give it to him. Anyway, she finds her phonebook expansion quite fulfilling.
" I'm actually on my way to visit you. Would you like something? Maybe I can get it for you?"
Eve has never appreciated Sarien's pleasant voice as she does now.
" I want chicken soup."
" Would that be all?"
" Yeah."
" Alright, I'll be there soon."
" See you soonest."
Eve returned her phone on the nightstand.
[ How wonderful.] She thought. She has a chicken soup on its way to her.
Sarien smiled as he tucks his phone away. He lifted his head and glanced at the Soup Stand just in front of him. He can't help but commend such coincidence.
Just a while ago, his driver informed him of the need to change their flat tire. It was fortunate that they were only a few meters away from the only car repair shop within the food district. He thought of getting something for Eve while buying some time and thus called.
It has been a couple of days since he last saw her, and he wonders how she's fairing. Honestly, Sarien wanted to visit her every day before school starts, but somehow the plan fails every time. At least now he can finally go to her, and that made him happy.