"Christina's jade?"
"A half-moon blood jade...I have no idea about it.She didn't tell me"
Crystal was puzzled by the question.
But the Mr.Shepherd seemed unwilling to let her go, so she added, "Christina did tell me something
weird that happened to her recently"
"Something weird?"
Charles was a little discouraged because he didn't get any useful information about the jade from
her.Something weird couldn't arouse his interest.
"Well, she said that she received two text messages on her phone..."
"One came on a rainy day, telling her to go to a cocktail party in Gordon Hotel.It was sent by
Patrick.The other came yesterday, telling her to go to the Golden.A Club, which was sent by Barbara..."
Crystal tried to make it as detailed as possible.She was worried.
The strange takeout from nobody really freak her out.She was indeed lucky to marry a rich man like
Patrick.But if this marriage would be a threat to Christina's life, what could she do?
"Barbara asked her to go to the Golden A Club?"
Charles was confused.
He thought about it for a while and then shook his head, "Impossible."
Crystal wasn't satisfied with his reaction.
"You don't believe her, do you? But she doesn't have to lie.Even if there's a misunderstanding, we
should trust her...To be honest, she wouldn't even care about Barbara if she hadn't provoked her all the
time..."
"What did Barbara say to Christina in private?"
"I don't know" Crystal replied moodily.
Christina didn't tell her.
"How could Barbara bully her? We all know Christina's personality.She's so vivacious and outgoing"
Charles still couldn't believe it.
Now Crystal was annoyed.
"Hey, don't take it for granted that you rich people know everything.It's true that Miss Parker didn't hurt
her with knife or something.She did it with all her tart mockery and sarcasm, which are sharp enough to
hurt people like a knife.You think Christina was fine because she didn't say anything about it to
anyone.You are wrong.I've known her for many years, and she didn't mention a word to me about how
badly her stepmother treated her after her own mother had killed herself, how she was disliked by the
Dickens Family, or how Cory had ignored her for the whole three years.It was just not her style to
complain things to other people.She'd rather endure it by herself.How can you consider that as the
evidence that she didn't get hurt!"
Charles was stunned by her scolding.He couldn't help to size her up.
Crystal used to be such a gentle lady.
That was why he was so surprised to see her talk like that.
People could be easily influenced, so she was probably influenced by Christina.
The corridor of the inpatient department suddenly quieted down.
Crystal started to feel embarrassed now and turned over quietly.She said those things just on impulse.
Normally she wouldn't have the guts to yell at these people from the "upper class".
She just thought it was unfair to Christina, no matter who was behind the weird text messages or the
takeout.
No one in the "upper-class" circle trusted her.
"l'Ill talk to Patrick about these when he comes back"
Charles didn't mind being criticized by her though.He cleared his throat to break the ice, and replied to
her peacefully.
"Thank you."
Crystal was surprised to see the Mr.Shepherd being so nice.
She was just worrying if he would get angry and threaten her or something.
Fortunately he didn't...
She swore that she was just acting on impulse.
To prevent herself from accidentally offending these people again, Crystal decided to leave.
She went back to the ward, leaving a polite excuse behind, "I'll go see Christina..."
Christina was having a sound sleep at the moment.She had a poor sleep last night and suffered from
that weird takeout.
Crystal didn't wake her up.She walked around and drew the curtains closed so that the sunshine
wouldn't affect Christina's sleep.
It was already at dusk.
It occurred to her that she hadn't eaten anything for lunch.
Her interview was ruined too.
What a day! She turned around and decided to go outside and get herself something to eat.
Just in time, a nurse came in with a cart and some injections.
Crystal glanced at the injection.
There were some small notes in English on it that she failed to read.The injections in the hospital must
be safe.
She walked past the nurse.
They nodded politely at each other.Then she left the ward.
"Let's go eat something together.There's a good Chinese restaurant on the main road..."
Charles, who happened to be at the end of the corridor, had just hung up his phone and waved at her.
Crystal wasn't sure whether she should follow him.
She never thought of taking advantage of anyone, especially these rich boys.
"What are you worried about?" Charles looked innocent.
"I promise I'm not planning on anything that would do harm to you.So don't worry.And plus: Christina
warned me a long time ago that I mustn't go after you.I'm innocent, you see."
That "I'm innocent" made Crystal want to laugh.
Since he said so, it would be unreasonable for her to refuse his invitation.
Crystal followed him into the elevator.
Soon they reached the parking lot.
Charles had always been a gentleman in front of women.
He opened the door for her, and they drove to find something delicious.
Crystal frowned as she watched him driving further and further away.
"Can we just eat around here? I don't want to leave Christina to alone in the hospital." she advised.
"You really care about her"
Charles couldn't help to wonder.
How could a violent woman like Christina become friends with this soft lady? Perhaps she was forced
to be her friend.
Well, if that was the case, he kind of felt sorry for Crystal.
The car drove all the way out of the hospital and turned towards the main road.
"Don't worry about Christina.She's just eaten something bad.As the doctor said, all she needs to do is
get two bottles of intravenous fluids and have some rest.I'm sure she'll be fine..."
"Just two bottles?"
Suddenly Crystal sat up straight and looked at him with a complicated expression on her face.
Charles was puzzled by her reaction.
He nodded.
"Yes, and she's already done with the fluids intravenously after she was sent to the hospital.She's
having a good rest there.All we need to do now is to get some porridge for her and then come back to
the hospital and take her home..."
Crystal became more and more frightened.Her words were full of anxiety.
"Turn around -"
"What?"
"Turn the car around immediately! We have to go back to the hospital -"
She hurriedly grabbed Charles's hand, trying to control the steering wheel.She was so nervous that her
voice sounded sharper than ever.
"Hurry back to the hospital -"
"What's wrong?"
Charles became nervous as well.
There wasn't time to ask her to explain all these.
He turned the car around and sped towards the hospital, leaving things such as traffic rules all behind.
The car was casually parked in front of the hospital.
The two people got out of the car and strode towards the inpatient department.
Footsteps pattered as Crystal frantically pushed the elevator button.
She was worried to death.
"Take the stairs..."
She had no time to wait for the elevator to come.
Charles grabbed her arm when she intended to run to the stairs on the left.
He comforted her.
"Christina is fine.Don't be too nervous..."
"But, but I...I saw a nurse going into her ward with several bottles of fluid medicine when I left there..."
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