Phoenix was standing like a statue, looking at the scene in front of her without blinking. One of her hands was on the doorknob, while the other was holding a fruit basket. She was too shocked seeing the scene in front of her and didn't know what she should do.
Ethan immediately stood up from his kneeling position with a red face while giving Ashton a death glare, accusing him of this embarrassing situation.
Ashton, who was on the bed, didn't look any better. The tip of his ears were read, and he turned his head facing to the other side and coughing to ease his embarrassment.
"I'm sorry. I'll come another time. I should go." Phoenix was looking alternately between Ashton and Ethan. Her face was as stoic as usual without giving away the amusing thought that played in her mind.
Both Ashton's and Ethan's lips twitched upon hearing what Phoenix said. 'What the hell was this girl thinking?' They both had the same thought in their minds.
She was about to go out and closed the door when Ethan stopped her.
"No. Ms Li. Come in." Ethan looked at Phoenix in embarrassment. "I'm… I'm just practicing for my proposal."
"I thought so. I'm sorry for interrupting your…. practice." Phoenix said it seriously. 'Is that even needed to practice?' but she didn't say it out loud.
With that being said, she walked towards Ashton's hospital bed and greeted Ashton.
"Hello CEO Qin, How are you doing?"
Ashton looked at Phoenix who was wearing an all white pantsuit, walking towards him slowly, the light behind her made her appear ethereal, "So pretty," he unconsciously said.
"Huh?" Phoenix blinked her eyes rapidly, trying to understand his answer, while Ethan snapped his head towards Ashton and raised one of his eyebrows in amusement.
Ashton's dazed was broken when Ethan coughed to get his attention.
"I mean, I'm pretty fine," Ashton said. 'What's wrong with me?!' He was internally questioned himself.
"Owh. Okay. That's good." Phoenix looked at Ashton and saw that he looked much better, not as pale and sickly as before, in fact, he looked so good with his jack black hair unkempt and his collarbone peeked from his hospital gown, making him appear unrestrained and sexy.
"You don't have to trouble yourself to come here," Ashton only said this on the outside, but inside, he was secretly happy to see Phoenix came to visit him.
"How can I? I'm responsible for your condition. I am sorry and thank you for looking out for me that day." When Mia told her Ashton was still in the hospital, she became so worried and decided she should come and check his condition.
"You're welcome. You're Mia's friend. I feel obligated to make sure you are safe," Ashton said that to Phoenix, but even he wasn't sure if it was the actual reason he did what he did.
"If you said so. How's your ankle?" Her eyes darted towards his foot, but it was covered by a blanket.
"It is not that bad. Mia and Ethan are just being overly cautious to make me stay here."
"They must have their reason. Isn't it nice that you have people who care for you?" For a second, there was a forlorn looked in her eyes when she said that but it was turned back to her usual void eyes. However, Ashton managed to see it as he had been staring at Phoenix's face.
"Don't you have people who care for you?" Ashton asked, wondering what the sadness in her eyes was all about.
Phoenix looked at Ashton for a while before she finally answered, "I guess… I do. But they're not here."
"Oh. They in Country B? Was it your family or… someone else?" Ashton asked curiously.
"Family… yes." Phoenix nodded. "They're in Country B."
Ashton nodded his head with an unobvious smile on his face. 'She only said family. Does that mean she doesn't have someone special?'
"Hmmm… I heard that you'll be moving to The Grandeur. When will you move in?" Ashton continued to ask questions. Somehow, he just wanted to prolong their conversation and hear Phoenix's voice.
"The renovation will take another week or so. Then I'll have to clean it and fill it with furniture before I can finally move in."
"That's good. I won't be long till you can move in then. I live in The Grandeur too, tell me if you ever need help with anything."
"Everything is fine so far. You have helped me, plenty. Thank you CEO Qin."
"You can just call me Ashton. You don't need to be so formal. You're not even my employee. If you really want to thank me, how about treating me for a meal after I've been discharged?"
"Okay. Sure. A meal won't be a problem." Without much thought, Phoenix agreed. Then her eyes darted towards the fruit basket on the table. "I bought you some fruit. Would you like to eat them? How about I slice some apples for you?" Without waiting for Ashton's response, Phoenix took the apples from the fruit basket, brought them to the bathroom to wash them. She went out from the bathroom shortly after and started to slice the apples.
A few minutes later, Phoenix handed a plate of apples that were cut into the shape of bunnies that had been carefully arranged to Ashton. Ashton accepted the plate and chuckled, looking at the bunny's shaped apple. He didn't mind it at all, and he liked watching Phoenix taking care of him. Just like in the woods, he couldn't stop looking at Phoenix's movement, walking here and there attending to him.
Ethan, who was in the room, felt like an invisible man watching the interaction between Ashton and Phoenix with interest. It had been so long since he saw Ashton interacting with a woman outside of work and he was glad that he came today and witnessed this. 'Did something happen in the woods? Ashton was so wary of Phoenix before. This is surprising.'
Ethan and Mia both like Phoenix and so far they didn't see anything wrong with her. They both had a good feeling about Phoenix. It was a feeling that they couldn't explain.
'I should tell this to Mia, or maybe to mom and god mom too. There's still hope for Ashton. Maybe this time he can finally move on.'
"President Han."
Ethan's thoughts were broken when Phoenix called his name. She was standing in front of him to pass another plate of bunnies shaped apples she had prepared for Ethan. Ethan received it with a pleasant smile. Someone actually didn't forget that he was in the room, unlike his best friend. What a warm feeling, his smile became wider while looking at Phoenix.
Ashton, who was on the hospital bed, had forgotten that Ethan was still in the hospital room. Ashton noticed the bright smile on Ethan's face when he received the plate of apples from Phoenix, and he was reminded by what he saw before they started hiking the other day at Sunny Hill. Ashton suddenly had a sense of jealousy.
'What is going on between the two of them? Ethan already has Tiana and is ready to propose to her. So, what's all that is about?'
Phoenix didn't stay long after that, she could feel Ashton watching her every movement like a hawk and that gaze made her feel conscious of herself. A foreign feeling emerged inside her. It wasn't a bad feeling, but it was just something that she didn't understand.
After Phoenix left, Ashton could no longer hold his curiosity and asked Ethan about the thing that he saw between Phoenix and him the other day.
"I bought this ring from Intan Jewellery, she was there to check on the store that day. I was having trouble choosing the best ring for Tiana, but Phoenix came and helped me. She is really knowledgeable about the ring and its meaning. It helped me make my choice. That day at Sunny Hill, I was just nervous that she might spill about me wanting to propose to Tiana. You know how girls can't keep these things to themselves. But I guess she's not like that."
"Owh. That's it."
"Why are you asking? Tell me, Ashton, what's that all about?"
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, come on. You asked her out for a meal, and now you are curious about this thing? Are you interested in her? It's rare to see you asking a lady out. What exactly happened in the woods?"
Ashton took his time to answer, but he could only say, "I don't know."
He was also surprised by his impulsiveness in asking Phoenix for a meal, and the uneasiness that he felt seeing Ethan and Phoenix having secrets that he didn't know about.
Maybe he was interested in Phoenix. Yes. His interest was piqued by Phoenix and he was attracted to her.
Unknown to Ashton, he wasn't the only one who was disturbed by these thoughts. Even Phoenix had started to take notice of Ashton and was conscious of his presence.
A spark had started between them. Ashton had acknowledged his interest in Phoenix, but Phoenix was clueless about her feelings.
What would Ashton do after this? Phoenix had promised him a meal. What will he do about it?