Chapter 14
Wendy had just come out of surgery. The bandages on her face blurred her vision as she reached out, trying to feel her way along the wall.
Just then, a pair of strong hands extended toward her.
“Wendy, give me your hand. I’ll lead the way.”
The voice belonged to Ethan Chapman, a senior in her university’s exchange program. He had also been a student of Professor Wayson, just like her.
They had worked in the same research lab back home, so they had known each other for
some time.
On her first day in England, he was the one who picked her up from the airport.
He helped her settle in, walked her through campus, and even accompanied her to
registration.
Wendy smiled and placed her hand in his.
“I’m afraid I’ll be a burden to you for a while,” she joked.
A faint flush crept up Ethan’s ears, though he kept his face composed.
“Don’t mention it. It’s a senior’s duty to take care of those who are new. Besides, Professor Wayson personally asked me to look after you. He’ll scold me for sure if I fail him.”
Wendy paused, then said sincerely, “Thank you,
Ethan.”
When Ethan saw her in England, he almost did not recognize her.
Her face was wrapped in bandages.
He panicked, wondering if something terrible had happened to her.
He let out a silent sigh of relief after she explained that she had fallen onto broken glass.
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When she joked that he would have to get used to seeing her with a scarred face, he immediately found the best plastic surgeon in the area for her.
Even when she refused, Ethan had insisted.
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“Wendy, no girl would want to be left with a scar if she could avoid it. If there’s a way to fix it, why not take it?”
Wendy hesitated, pressing her lips together.
She did not have the heart to tell him the truth–she had spent all her savings on tuition.
She could not afford the surgery.
However, Ethan seemed to see right through her.
He patted her shoulder.
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“Don’t worry. Professor Wayson wrote a letter to the university explaining your situation.
They approved a scholarship for you, and he also secured you a work–study position. You
can even take on some lab assistant jobs when you have some free time.”
Warmth filled Wendy’s heart.
She had not expected Professor Wayson to go out of his way to apply for financial aid on her
behalf nor to arrange a job for her.
She did not refuse their offer.
The sooner she got the surgery, the better the results.
The next morning, she went to the hospital.
Ethan had volunteered to accompany her, and she was grateful for his company.
Being in a foreign country, unfamiliar with everything around her, she appreciated his kindness more than she could say.
They finally returned to campus after a long day of IV drips and checkups.
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Ethan walked her to her dorm, took the medicine from the bag, and explained the dosage to
her.
“Take this once a day. Just one pill–it’s for inflammation.
“This is for external use. Spray it on your wound every time you change the bandages.”
His meticulous care made Wendy feel a little less alone in a foreign land.
Every day after that, Ethan would check in on her, remind her to take medicine, and change the dressing.
Slowly, the scar on her face faded.
When the semester officially started, Wendy was assigned to the same research lab as
Ethan.
They often discussed experiments over meals since they worked on the same project.
They had their meals together and left the lab together at night.
One morning, they finally got the needed results after an all–nighter in the lab.
Wendy stretched her arms, her whole body aching from sitting too long.
Ethan leaned in with a mysterious smile.
“Wendy, want some ramen? I found a place near campus. It’s the real deal.”
Her
eyes immediately lit up.
By then, she had been in England for over two weeks, eating quick meals at the university cafeteria that her stomach barely tolerated.
“Let’s go!” she said without hesitation.
After finishing breakfast, they walked back to campus, completely satisfied.
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Wendy rubbed her stomach, feeling like all the exhaustion from the night before had disappeared.
As usual, Ethan walked her to her dorm.
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They agreed to take the rest of the day off and start fresh in the lab the next day.
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Just as she was about to say goodbye, a voice called out from behind her, a voice she had not
heard in weeks.
“Wendy.”
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