"So what?" Sheffield sneered indifferently with his eyes still shut; there were no emotions on his stone-cold face.
Joshua and Gifford looked at each other; they kind of understood what was going on.
Knowing Sheffield, they were sure that he wouldn't really play with a woman's feelings. They figured that Dollie must have done something.
The doctor opened his eyes, poured himself another glass of wine, and asked nonchalantly, "Did you two come here just to talk about Dollie?"
"Of course not. We heard that you got hurt. And we took time off to come and see you," Gifford said. Since he was under his father's supervision, Gifford was busier than anyone else.
Joshua snatched the glass away from Sheffield's hand. "Stop drinking, dude. If you get drunk and become sick, I will have to take you to the hospital. I don't have time for that shit."
Sheffield wiped his face and glared at him. "I was abandoned by a woman. Do you understand my situation?"
"I understand. Maestro Tang has become the plaything of a woman. It actually feels great!" Joshua teased. As the scalpel came straight at him, Joshua moved aside swiftly. It flew by him and was embedded in the wall, tearing the wallpaper where it hit.
"Compensate for the wallpaper and get out!" Sheffield snarled at his two friends.
"Your scalpel, your wallpaper. I'm not paying for anything, you drunk idiot. Plus, I am running short on money." Joshua stood up, straightened his clothes and said calmly, "How about you lend me five million? I'll warm your bed this winter to pay off the debt."
Sheffield squinted at him. "Are you kidding me, Mr. Fan? You are short on money? That's not very believable."
"It's all my mother's fault. She insisted on me going on a blind date. Don't you think that's ridiculous? The girl is a year older than me! Besides, I'm popular among women. I don't need a blind date," Joshua said in an irritated tone.
Gifford said flatly, "I see. You didn't agree to her demands, so your mother cut off your money source. And you are broke now."
"Mm hmm," said Joshua, dejected.
Sheffield groped around his pockets, but didn't find what he wanted. Then, he pointed to his coat on the hanger. "There is still fifty cents in the wallet, in my coat pocket. Take it and get out! But the interest will be five million. You gotta give it back next time we meet!"
Feigning anger, Joshua scanned around his apartment with his hands rested on his hips. When he saw what he was searching for, he grabbed it and walked up to the drunk doctor. "Gifford, hold him down!"
Gifford couldn't relax at work, so he could only get rid of all the pent up stress by playing with his best friends. He liked to side with one friend and bully the other, depending on the situation. And right now, Sheffield was at the receiving end.
Gifford was strong because he received training every day. Besides, Sheffield had a broken leg, so it was a piece of cake for him to control the drunk man.
Joshua uncapped the pen in his hand, and ignoring Sheffield's warning, he wrote on his plastered leg—I'm Asshole Tang!
After that, regardless of Sheffield's deadpan face, the two friends laughed out triumphantly.
Sheffield stood up on one leg and threw himself at Joshua, ready to launch a blow. But the latter was quick. He and Gifford ran out of the apartment before the good doctor could reach them.
And bang! They shut the door. Standing in front of the closed door, Sheffield yelled, "You assholes! I'll be taking the cast off tomorrow. I'm going to carve your kidneys out and sell them!"
There was no answer, only silence all around him. The anger on his face disappeared and he went back to the bedroom in his wheelchair.
Earlier, there only used to be a single painting on the wall. But, he had it changed into a photo wall after he had come back from D City.
There were more than twenty pictures on the wall now. And there were only two people in the pictures—him and Evelyn.
They were all from when they had been in D City. He had even secretly snapped a few pictures of her, which he had developed and mounted on the wall.
Sheffield stood on one leg and gently stroked her face in the photo. 'Will you ever be mine? Or is that just my wishful thinking? Don't you like me at all?'
In the Huo family manor
It was dinner time. The whole family was home, including Matthew, who had already begun his further study in America. He had come back home because they had to visit their ancestors' graves.
Since Carlos was in a good mood, he decided to cook their dinner all by himself.
His kids were busy with their own stuff in the living room. Carlos came out of the kitchen and asked them, "How do you guys want your spareribs?"
Without shifting her gaze away from her laptop screen, Evelyn said, "Spicy!"
Terilynn raised her hand. "Dad, I want them sweet and sour."
Matthew thought for a while and answered, "Braised."
Debbie heard them as she walked downstairs. "You guys are doing this on purpose, aren't you? You want your dad to make three different flavors all by himself?"
"We didn't mean to make it difficult for him. It's so rare for Dad to cook. He surely wants all of us to enjoy the meal to the fullest. Am I right, Dad?" Evelyn beamed at her father.
Carlos smiled. "Wait and see." Then, he turned around and walked back into the kitchen.
An hour later, Debbie and a housemaid brought out the dishes that Carlos had cooked. And sure enough, there was more than one variation of spareribs, but…
Looking at his father, who was ladling soup for his daughters, Matthew asked flatly, "Dad, you didn't make any braised spareribs?"
"Well, you were the last to speak up when I asked. I felt tired after cooking the first two. So, I left out the third one."
There was an awkward silence.
Matthew didn't respond, but his face was grim. Debbie was pissed and cast a reproachful glance at Carlos, defending her son. "Carlos, he's our son! You said you'd love him and treat him equally, didn't you?"
Hearing Debbie's question, Carlos turned to look at his son and said reluctantly, "I do love him."
Matthew glanced at him and answered with contempt, "I don't need you to love me."
"Really? You don't? Why? Do you have someone else to love you? A girl, perhaps?" Carlos retorted angrily.
Matthew wasn't expecting that from his dad. He was stunned for a moment. "What are you talking about?" he asked.
"You have a girl you like, don't you? I saw you stare at a picture of someone the other day, but I couldn't see her face clearly. Take it out and show it to your mother and sisters." Carlos thought for a moment. If his son married a girl who was as adorable as his daughters, then he might try and love his son a little bit more.
Debbie's eyes lit up at the news. "Matthew, you have a girl you like?!"
Holding Matthew's arm, Terilynn said as excitedly as her mother, "Brother, show us her picture."
Evelyn took a sip of the soup and said, "Whoever it is, treat her well."
His secret was completely exposed. Casting Carlos an angry glance, Matthew answered calmly, "It's not what you think."
Carlos snorted. "You're only nineteen. I didn't want you to date a girl yet, since you are not capable of supporting and protecting her at the moment. But, you are my son. It wouldn't take you much time to climb the ladder. Let your mother and sisters see the picture. If they are satisfied with her, I will grant you permission to date this girl."
