Mysterious Mr.Richard novel Chapter 68

The sunset cast a brilliant glow on the sky and the horizon.

Pearl had yet to formally return to her duties, so she could get off work earlier today. She then decided to buy some of Bonny's favorite doughnuts at the bakery on her way home before dark.

"Hello, I will take two doughnuts. To take away please."

"Sure, a second please."

The waiter packing the doughnuts inside, Pearl bent down to look at the cakes in the showcase window. The strawberry cakes were as tempting as before. The bright colors made Peral's eyes light up. 

"Excuse me here, please pack this strawberry cake for me. And I need take away." A familiar voice rang besides Pearl, taking her by surprise. Pearl raised her head to see Alex standing next to her.

"Why're you here?" Pearl stood up straight.

Alex smiled. "I was just driving by and saw your car outside. So I came in."

Pearl took a look outside subconsciously. Alex's car was parked outside the cake shop, not far away from hers. She scratched her head and said in embarrassment, "What a coincidence."

"I heard you would formally return to work? Tomorrow?"

"Yes." When it came to this topic, Pearl became happy, "Thanks to Dr. Wale."

"Dr. Wale always thinks very highly of you. He's really proud of you."

"You must kidding," Pearl smiled and said, "Most headaches were caused by me."

As they were chatting, a voice came from behind the counter, "Miss, here are your doughnuts. And sir, your cake."

"Thanks."

Pearl took the bag to turn around. She then saw Alex handing his bag of the strawberry cake to her with a smile.

"For me?"

"Sure. I don't like sweet food. So you can have it."

"Thank you then!" Pearl knew if she refused the cake, Alex would probably feel unhappy. So she took the cake and said, "Next time I will buy you a coffee." 

They were walking out of the shop side by side, and Alex suddenly said, "If you really want to show your thank me, then how about joining me to take the alumni party next week? Our professors also asked me to give a lecture for the students about how a pandemic spreads. I want to talk about the 'H' virus we came across 2 years ago."

"On this Saturday?"

"Yes, what's wrong? Do you have something to do that day?"

"I promised my kids to bring them to the zoo on this Saturday." Pearl hesitated and thought about this for a while. But in the end, she continued with a smile, "It's all fine. I can spare the Saturday for you and bring the kids to the zoo on Sunday. But the small problem is that they'll have to tag along with me to the university on Saturday."

"It's okay. Then it's settled."

After that, they separated at the door. Pearl went into the car and drove away first.

Under the light of the sunset, Alex stood at the roadside and stared at the back of Pearl's car with a gentle gaze for a long time.

The darkness of the night bloomed desperately when the last few rays of sunlight faded away, the sun lowering into the faraway mountains slowly. Bright lights lit up the whole city, the busy nightlife beginning as usual. 

Richard was reading a document behind the French windows. Ted suddenly knocked on the door and walked into the room.

"Mr. Zellweger, this is an invitation letter from your old university."

"Leave it there." Richard didn't even raise his head for this.

"Yes." Ted placed the invitation on the corner of the desk. Then he carefully walked out and closed the door.

After an almost inaudible sound of shutting the door, the room became silent again like every other night over the past several years.

It was until Richard signed his name on the end of the document that he raised his head to look at the invitation.

On the red cover was the golden emblem of Ocpeace Medical University. Inside it was the picture of the grand front door of the University with the school motto. 

In the Zellweger Group, few people knew their CEO was a graduate of this No. 3 medical universities in the country. No one would think the heir of such a big family company would apply for an institute that had no connection to his family business at all.

Just like no one would believe such a cold and stoical Richard was once even willing to give up on his future plans to stay with the girl he liked in the same university. He almost severed ties with his family for this thing.

......

The next day, a press conference was held to clear things up about the rumors in the hospital. Pearl showed up with Dennis.

This matter involved the leading actress, Evelina. But she did not say anything about it. So apart from the common reporters, a big crowd of entertainment reporter were also came to join this meeting; they occupied almost the whole room.

The clarification essay had long been prepared by the administration department. Pearl just needed to memorize it and then read it out to the public sincerely. Even though there were some cringeworthy parts about thanking the leaders for their help to her, the other parts were all saying the truth.

"In short, this is only a misunderstanding. Mr. Watson and my colleagues have been always very good to me. They sent me to the film set as the new medical consultant for the former consultant was pregnant at that time. In accordance with the spirit of humanitarianism, I just temporarily took her place."

After finishing her speeches, Pearl bowed to the reporters and took her seat, waiting for their questions.

"Hello, Dr. Yonng. I am a reporter from the Wellington Post newspaper."

"Hello."

"We already know the hospital part, but you didn't mention the injury you got from the set. There are lots of videos about that on the Internet now. So does it mean that Evelina really made things hard for you, right?"

That was the other entertainment reporters' concern too.

They did not care about the disputes in the medical system at all. But if they could get any news about Evelina, the super star, they would probably make big money from that.

Pearl smiled and remained calmly to reply, "How can that be true? If Evelina cut my hand on purpose as you said, she then will be faced with criminal penalty. I believe even the most arrogant actress won't risk her whole career life, right?"

"But rumors said that you don't get along with Evelina."

"We are just common colleagues and we are all very busy everyday. In fact we hardly can met at the set. Besides I am a consultant not an actor. So I am curious about where the rumors come from too."

To others, she and Evelina would not have any interest disputes. As long as she kept denying the rumors, the press wouldn't be able to get any evidence to support their statement.

"But we got a video from the Internet, in which Evelina slapped you. Isn't that the best evidence?"

"Oh, about that.." Pearl's seemed to have just remembered the video and explained, "That is just a rehearsed scene. I got a small role in it. It's 2021 now. How do you people still believe the slaps in a play?" 

As she was speaking, Pearl's gaze swept through the whole room. At a corner of the room, she spotted a slender figure and  their gazes met in the air. The latter then raised its hand to press on the cap, and hid behind the crowd soon.