"Okay." Then she got in the car.
Charles started the engine and drove Nancy out of the police station. A short silence lapsed between them before he asked, "What do you want to eat?"
"Steamed buns!" Nancy answered enthusiastically.
Charles nodded silently and browsed his phone for the best restaurants in the city. "Charles..."
Nancy started. She seemed to have something on her mind, but decided against speaking it out at the last second. Her hesitation was not lost on Charles. He looked away from his phone for a second and glanced at her.
"What is it? I can practically hear you thinking so just say it," he coaxed her.
"Yesterday... That was.. What happened? It felt like a dream... But I..." In the disarray of her own thoughts, Nancy’s words came out tangled, as if she was unable to arrange the fragments into coherence. There were too many images... too many doubts. She drifted between memory and mirage.
Charles had already been well prepared for her question.
He knew that she would inevitably ask, and no part of him was willing to let her remember. What had happened in the basement of the Ning family were memories she didn't need. They would bring her nothing but pain.
He had to protect Nancy, even if it meant deceiving her and withholding the truth.
Charles ran through the answer he had prepared and rehearsed in his mind. "You fainted after Caspar took you away, so weren't aware of anything that happened. That's about it."
"Is that all?" Nancy asked, unsure even of her question.
But the police wouldn't have mentioned it if nothing had happened.
"Nancy, are we a couple?" Charles asked instead of answering.
"Of course," she answered, confused at his sudden question.
Why was he asking that now?
"Then is it a problem if we sleep together?" he asked.
His nonchalant attitude brought color to Nancy's cheeks. How could he ask such questions with a straight face? She took a deep breath to calm her flustered state and said, "It's not that... I meant... Those things are... The place! It wouldn't be appropriate if we just... you know? We are not animals!"
Charles found himself exceedingly amused at her obvious embarrassment. She couldn't even form a proper sentence. His eyes lit up with mischief as he said, "You said it yourself. We are a couple. If that's the case then whatever we do couldn't be considered too much. No one could see anything from outside the car, but the traffic police came to me because I ran a red light. As for you, they probably thought I was taking advantage of you."
Then he clicked his tongue and continued, "Ah, being that beautiful should be a crime." Nancy felt herself burn at his teasing. Still she continued to ask, "Then... Last night, in the Cloud Lake Community. We... did we...
"Yes," Charles decided to be merciful and save her from her own embarrassment and answered quickly, seeing how she was struggling to even ask if they had been intimate.
Nancy looked down and bit her lips.
He couldn't help but tease her some more. "Too bad. It was a night to remember...Even I was surprised. You were really something..."
He kept on talking, his eyes wicked as he watched her sink down on her seat even further.
"Stop! Stop-stop-stop-stop. Okay, I get it. Just stop." She held her hands over her ears as she turned her flushed face to him. She wanted to wipe off that smug grin off his face, but she was too weakened from his attacks. When she saw that he had stopped talking, she screamed inwardly and tried to calm herself down. "Can we not go to that place tonight?" she asked slowly.
"Your wish is my command," Charles smiled at her.
He traced her delicate features with his eyes. Nancy had long claimed him. She filled every crack and crevice in his heart, and there was no space for anyone else.
She smiled back at him, warmth radiating from her like sunlight falling on windows.
"We have to pick the kids up this afternoon. I don't know why Doris doesn't want to pick them up," Nancy smiled.
With a frown, Charles answered, "I think she just doesn't like Bobby talking too much... Well, she is pregnant. It's better for her to focus on herself for now." Then he continued, "Don't go to work tomorrow. Your shoulder hasn't recovered yet. You would barely be able to hold a scalpel. Just rest up. The risk isn't worth it."
"Alright," she agreed. Her eyes looked at him with tenderness and she said softly, "Charles, you treat me so well. I must have done something really good in my past life."
Charles chuckled at her remark and said, "My kindness doesn't come for free, missy. As for payment... your life would do. You'd have me for eternity. Not a bad deal, right?"
Nancy smiled at him and nodded.
After some time, they arrived at the restaurant. Charles parked the car and walked in with her.
The two found a place in the quieter areas to sit down.
It was nothing new for Nancy, who was already accustomed to eating in such places.
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