Chapter 49

Sam, seated on the couch, smiled faintly at Calvin's awkward expression.

“You really don’t have to worry about that. After all, Calvin lied and said he wanted it, so Miranda made the soup for him. As for her, she won’t be coming.”

Hansel’s face darkened. He gave Calvin a cold glance. “Did I ask you to do that? Who told you to take matters into your own hands?”

Calvin shrank his neck and coughed lightly. “I was just worried about your health. You haven’t had much of an appetite these past few days. If Miranda hadn’t made the soup, you’d still be starving.”

Hansel remained impassive.

“By the way, I just went to Miranda’s place. She’s living in a small, shabby apartment with no elevator—seven floors she has to climb every day. She seems to be living quite a hard life.” Calvin stole a glance at Hansel.

Although Hansel had said she deserved it, Calvin noticed a trace of worry flash in his eyes. He clearly hadn't moved on from Miranda.

Just as Calvin was about to speak, a coquettish voice called from the doorway, “Dear!”

Both Calvin and Sam shuddered. Goosebumps appeared on their skin.

Ingrid hadn’t heard from Hansel for days and couldn’t reach him by phone. She’d only learned of his hospitalization for a gastric perforation.

Panicked, she’d skipped class and rushed to the hospital.

Seeing Hansel pale in a hospital gown, she pouted. Tears streamed down her face. “Dear, I’m so sorry! I just found out you’re here. Are you still unwell? Why are you so pale? Do I need to call a doctor?”

The others felt annoyed by her barrage of questions and incessant crying. Even Hansel was at a loss for words; Calvin and Sam found her overwhelming.

[The following paragraph is largely unintelligible and needs significant rewriting or removal. I've omitted it.]

Ingrid had always been good at reading people's emotions. As soon as Hansel's expression changed, she knew she should tone down her emotions.

She stopped crying and sniffled quietly. Her reddened eyes were filled with worry and heartache.

Hansel’s heart softened at her silent, tearful gaze. “I fell ill suddenly, but it’s nothing serious. I’m fine now. You should go back to college.”

Ingrid bit her lip. “Are you sure you don’t need me to accompany you? I can make you some pumpkin soup.”

Calvin chuckled. Another woman offering soup when he still hadn't finished the soup he'd painstakingly arranged for Miranda through Calvin was, he thought, quite funny.

Ingrid, having had little interaction with Calvin and Sam, only noticed the others after hearing his laughter. It irritated her. Was her offer to make soup so amusing?

Hansel frowned slightly. “There’s no need. You should go back to college.”

Sensing his impatience, Ingrid didn’t argue and left obediently after saying okay.

Sam, who had been quiet, stood up as soon as Ingrid left. “Are you going to finish the soup?”

Hansel almost said no, but seeing the delicious soup, he replied darkly, “Who said I wouldn’t?”