Me After Meeting You

Calvin worked quite quickly. A day later, he told Amber that he had arranged things with his mother. The appointed date was set for Christmas Eve. Amber’s family usually didn’t celebrating such holidays, so Amber didn’t need to go home to be with her family. And because they had scheduled it beforehand, she couldn’t just push it off, either.

Amber didn’t want to push it off because she had thought it through very carefully. Although she felt that their relationship hadn’t reached the point of marriage, if the groom was to be Calvin, then it didn’t seem like a big problem. They had known each other for so many years, so whether they got married first and then developed their romance later or vice versa, both were about the same to her; both required some commitment.

After preparing herself mentally, Amber waited to meet Calvin’s mother. She hadn’t mentioned this to anyone else, but Ian had noticed it when she went to see him-he really was a patient now, as his illness had scared the Axton family half to death. So, upon their request, the virology department had asked a doctor from the psychiatry department to meet him for a consultation.

Amber was that doctor, which meant that she would see him for a routine checkup and his daily treatments. When Ian was clearheaded, he didn’t need any counselling, and she couldn’t do any physiological therapy either, as he was so bored from staying in the hospital that more often than not, Amber ended up being his research subject instead. He would always find some gap or loophole in her words, and then use it to analyze her feelings from that.

That day, he told Amber, “You’re very nervous.”

Amber was silent, now finally understanding the envy that her senior Beryl must have felt towards her. “If you were to switch professions, then you would leave all of us with nowhere to go.”

Ian proudly raised his jaw.

Upon hearing this, Ian finally looked somewhat speechless, somewhat helplessly asking her, “Do you think of me as a fortune teller?”

Amber laughed.

This topic passed without any further comment. Amber didn’t explain why she was nervous, and neither did Ian ask. As he watched her leave, his gaze slowly became cold.

Perhaps it was because of him, but Amber’s feelings eventually calmed down at the final juncture.

But, that day she wasn’t able to meet up with Calvin on time because his mother had directly come to the hospital.

At that time, Amber still hadn’t gotten off of work. While she was arranging the last batch of medical records for her patients, she received a call from Calvin’s mother.

On the phone, her voice was superficially calm and gentle. “I’m sorry for the short notice, and I know we’ll see each other soon. However, before then, I’d like to meet you first. Is that fine?”

“Where?”

“I’m at the hospital.”

Amber went out, and indeed saw Calvin’s mother right outside. But she wasn’t alone; with her was another girl that Amber also recognized. That girl had a very youthful face and a delicate and charming look. Before she spoke, she was the epitome of grace and demure elegance.

Upon seeing Amber, she raised her eyes slightly. Within her gaze was an unsavory hint of provocation.

Before Calvin’s mother could speak, she said, “Dr. Camille, we meet again.”

After hesitating for a brief moment, Amber greeted Melody back with a smiling expression. “It’s good to see you, Miss Lee.”

Calvin’s mother, somewhat surprised, asked, “Do the two of you know each other?”

Melody nonchalantly said, “Yes, Dr. Camille’s a good person.”

Calvin’s mother looked at Amber again curiously. “That’s good, then.” She patted Melody’s hand. “Let me speak with Amber for a little bit. Wait here for me, alright?”

“Alright.” Melody even waved at Amber amiably. “Goodbye, Dr. Camille.”

Amber had seen how temperamental Melody could be, so her demure behavior now only felt strange to her. However, she didn’t say anything and brought Calvin’s mother into her office instead. “Would you like something to drink?”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Calvin’s mother shook her head. “Don’t bother. Let’s just talk.”

Amber nonetheless still poured her a glass of water before sitting down, facing her.

The gaze that Calvin’s mother was directing towards Amber was exceptionally kind, reminding her of a similar gaze that she had seen many years ago, when Amber and Calvin had been walking through the streets on a school-sanctioned extracurricular activity.

When they ran into Calvin’s mother, she had looked at her with a similar gaze that was part kind, part gratifying, and part frustrated, saying, “My little Calvin also has a friend now.”

At that time, Amber hadn’t noticed her frustration, but now, as Calvin’s mother kept talking, Amber finally understood what it meant.

Calvin’s mother speech was long-winded, with two main points. “Amber, you’re a good child, and I like you very much. I’ve liked you since your high school days. However, you’re not compatible with Calvin -he’s suffered through a rough childhood with me, and I don’t want him to suffer anymore. I want him to have an outstanding and successful career.”

So while she did like Amber, she felt that Amber couldn’t help Calvin.

Amber listened passively. Only when Calvin’s mother finished talking did she ask, “Mrs. Kenric, does Calvin know that you reached out to me today?”

“I haven’t told him, but I know that you’re a sensible child, and I’ve always liked you. So, I’m sure you won’t do anything that would embarrass both of us later on.” She then leaned in and asked surreptitiously, “You don’t want to do this either, do you?”

Amber had long since predicted that Calvin’s mother would oppose their relationship, having heard all about her aspirations and plans for Calvin. All of this was within her predictions, but she didn’t treat it like an obstacle.

Calvin wasn’t a piece of dough to be kneaded and rolled around, and neither was she. She felt that she and Calvin could definitely be happy together. Although she wouldn’t be able to further his career very much, she definitely wouldn’t be pulling him down either.

Furthermore, if Calvin wanted to start a business, she had a few connections of her own.

With that in mind, Amber asked her second question. “Mrs. Kenric, what would you consider a successful life?”

Without missing a beat, Calvin’s mother replied, “Money and power! We don’t have any power, so we can only focus on making money. Lots and lots of money.” She looked at Amber, her gaze revealing her naked ambition, so calm that one couldn’t even dislike her.

“I know that you definitely can’t understand my thoughts. But no matter what, I only want Calvin to be able to live a carefree life, without needing to suffer through hardships or be forced to do something he doesn’t want to because of money.”

“Mrs. Kenric, do you feel that having both money and power will allow one to lead a carefree life?”

“Yes!”

She was so certain, so full of confidence, that Amber didn’t try to persuade her otherwise -someone who felt this deeply about a subject wouldn’t be easily persuaded by mere words.

Calvin’s mother hadn’t come to be persuaded by her, either; these words were ones that she had always kept in her heart, hidden away from everyone else. Once she revealed them, she could only forge forward on that path of hers relentlessly.

Amber then asked her final question. “If I’m unwilling to separate with Calvin, then what will you do, Mrs. Kenric?”