Isabelle had been on two IV drips the previous night, so she was only able to get another drip at 10 pm today.

James guarded her bed the whole of last night. Tonight, he had returned to the hotel with Mrs. Williams while Sophia and her mother took over.

Isabelle was still running a fever, but she was much better and was afraid of boredom, so she requested for his phone when James left.

In the afternoon, James added an additional bed in the ward. At 11.30 pm, Sophia ran to the convenience shop to get some food while her mother laid on the other bed to sleep.

When Isabelle woke up from her afternoon nap, she wanted to find out how Alexander was doing but because of Mrs. Williams, she didn't dare to ask anyone.

After sleeping for such a long time, Isabelle was wide awake and started to play games on James's phone. Soon, she felt bored though and placed the phone down, listening to her aunt's soft breathing. Gradually she started to feel frustrated.

She held up the phone and stared at the screen for a long while before scrolling through James's contact list to find Alexander's number. She wasn't sure if he had gotten a replacement ... He was probably with his assistant... But...

Isabelle scanned through James's contact list but wasn't able to find Alexander's assistant's number. She hesitated slightly before sending a text over, [You there?]

When Alexander heard his phone ring, he tapped his cigarette lightly before glancing over at his phone screen. He was confused when he saw that it was from James, so he sent a question mark over.

She actually got a reply... Isabelle couldn't help as excitement spread across her. Since one of her hands had a needle, she could only use the other one. Biting down on her lip, she struggled to type a few words. [What are you doing now?]

When Alexander saw the reply, he frowned, sensing something wrong with James, so he sent yet another question mark over.

Isabelle looked at the two question marks he had sent her and bit her lip, wondering if it was an automated reply.

She hesitated before sending a question mark.

In the end, her reply got lost. After waiting for a long while, she still wasn't able to get a response.

Isabelle frowned, reading the short conversation repeatedly. In the end, she suddenly recalled that it was James's phone. Hurriedly, she sent another text out, [I'm Isabelle.]

Alexander held a new cigarette in his mouth. When he was about to lit it up, he heard his phone ring once again. He turned and looked at the screen: it was yet another text from James. This time, he had sent him a question mark. Internally, Alexander scolded him crazy before lighting his cigarette.

After about five minutes, his phone rang once more. Instinctively, Alexander glanced at the screen, spotting the text from James, [ I'm Isabelle.]

Alexander lifted his head up towards the second floor window, feeling warmed by her text.

Isabelle held onto the phone, focusing on the screen, waiting for a reply. In the end, the phone started to vibrate, the word "Bro" appearing on the screen.

Alexander had actually called. Isabelle used one hand to receive the call but because she was using only one hand, she accidentally hung up. She stuck her tongue out, hurriedly calling him back, but the line got cut off. She waited slightly before calling back. This time, it went through.

She was afraid that she would disrupt her aunt, so in a low voice, she called out, "Alexander?"

After feeling moody the entire day, Alexander, just hearing her call his name, felt a dark cloud lift. In a light voice, he faintly asked, "Hmm?"

Even though it was a simple word, it was enough to bring peace to Isabelle's uneasy heart. But she didn't know what to say, she couldn't possibly tell him that she missed him... that would be too humiliating.

Hesitating, she asked, "Alexander, have you eaten dinner?"

Alexander turned to look at the untouched food that his assistant had gotten him. In a soft voice, he replied, "I have eaten."

Looking back, he saw the cigarette he held in his fingers, and even though she couldn't see through the phone, he knew that she didn't like it when he smoked, so he threw it away even if there was still half left.

"What did you eat?"

Alexander looked back at the packed food. "Pizza."

"That's unhealthy, even though I like pizza too, you shouldn't have too much, it's very hearty..." Just a moment ago, Isabelle deliberately lowered voice when speaking to the phone. "Can you see me?"

Alexander closed the car door, walking forward. He sat casually on the front of the car, his head lifting upwards to look at Isabelle. His lips curled upwards uncontrollably when he replied warmly, "Yea, I can see you."

The night seemed to have turned tender because of Alexander's words, and Isabelle looked down. Alexander sat on his car under the street lamp, the warm rays elongating his body, delighting her. In a soft, whiny voice, she asked,"How long have you stayed in the car?"

Her tender voice reached deep into Alexander's heart, calming him. In a deep, clear voice, he replied, "Not long."

"Really?" Isabelle asked. Her lips curling slightly when she added, "More than twelve hours?"

Alexander laughed lightly from her smile. "Yea." He sighed, murmuring softly, "It finally happened."

"What happened?" Isabelle had no clue what he was saying.

After a long while, Isabelle blinked. Lightly, she said, "I will be discharged tomorrow."

"Yea."

"They want me to go back to rest so I won't be able to go back to film for the next few days."

"Okay."

"My flight is tomorrow afternoon at ten."

"Yea."

"What about you? Are you going back?" Without waiting for Alexander's reply, Isabelle hurriedly whispered, "My sister is back, I'll hang up first."

After the call cut off, Alexander continued to listen to the phone's buzzing for a long time before putting it back in his pocket. He stood stationary for a long while staring at her window. In the end, he lowered his head to laugh lightly, his face tender.

~*~

The next day, Isabelle and her caretakers reached the airport. James had driven, so he went straight to the customs to apply for his car to be sent back, leaving Isabelle, Sophia, her mother, and Mrs. Williams to check in.

After they had checked in, they headed to a cafe to wait for James.

The application to send the car back was complicated, so even after half an hour, James was still not back. They tried to call and rush him, but he didn't respond. When they were finally left with an hour, Izzy decided to personally get him.

Before she could reach the counter, she met James.

The airport cafe was often packed and filled with luggage and trolleys, causing the walkway to be narrow, so she walked directly behind James. When they passed a corner of the cafe, she accidentally bumped into someone's thigh and turned to apologize, but then, she froze.

Alexander sat elegantly on the chair, a cup of coffee in his hands as he sipped slowly.

Izzy wanted to call out to him but when she saw Mrs. Williams seated not far away, she swallowed her words, instead sending a questioning gaze to him.

Alexander remained silent as well. He seemed to have understood her gaze, for while continuing to drink his coffee, he knocked on the table where he had placed his plane ticket.

Isabelle swept a glance, realizing that it was the same flight that she was on.

"Izzy?" James asked when he realized that she was no longer right behind him.

Isabelle made a sound of acknowledgment, glanced back at Alexander, and walked off hurriedly. When she reached the table, she instinctively turned towards his direction once more.

After James had settled the bill and they were on the way out, she realized that the seat that Alexander was sitting on was now empty.

After going through the security checks, Isabelle kept looking around, missing out on what Sophia had said, irritating her. "Izzy, what exactly are you looking for?"

"Nothing?" she shook her head, her gaze wandering once again.

Only after the security checks, on the way to the boarding gate outside a restroom did she spot him once more.

Isabelle bit her lip, paused, and looked towards the group. "My stomach hurts, I'll go to the restroom, you can wait for me at the boarding gate."

Mrs. Williams looked towards James. "Izzy, you might get lost, why don't you let James accompany you."

"It's fine, I know where the boarding gate is," Isabelle replied.

Afraid that James would follow her, she hurriedly waved to them before heading toward the restroom that Alexander had entered. Behind, Sophia reminded her once more, "Gate thirty one."

~*~

Isabelle rushed to the restroom. After ten seconds, she sneaked her head out. When she saw that the group had left, she hurriedly came out to wait outside the guys restroom.

Alexander didn't notice her, walking straight to the basin. After he had closed the tap and was preparing to get the tissue, a piece suddenly appeared in front of him. Startled, he turned to see Isabelle looking at him angrily.

"Why did you stay in there for so long?"

Alexander laughed, explaining, "There were a lot of people."

Reaching for the tissue in her hands, he wiped his hands gracefully before placing his hand on her forehead. After confirming that her fever was gone, he asked, "How's your body?"

"It's much better."

She smiled then and sneaked her head out to look once more. Realizing that Mrs. Williams and Sophia were less than thirty meters away, she said in a hurry, "Auntie and sis are here, I'll go now, bye bye."

Isabelle rushed out of the restroom. After taking two steps, she seemed to have recalled something. She turned back and asked, "Which seat are you at?"

"32F" she nodded, heading out.

~*~

After boarding the flight, the group sat at the very front of the plane while Alexander and his assistant sat behind. Even though the flight was just a short one, barely two hours, Isabelle visited the restroom five times.

Sophia, who sat by the lane, was irritated by her constant harassment and swapped seats with her in the end.

Every time Isabelle passed by Alexander's seat, they didn't say much, at most a wave or a short "Hi."

Even so, Alexander was satisfied.

The last time she had visited the toilet, she even cheekily tapped his shoulder. But at that moment, Mrs. Williams stood up to visit the restroom, startling Isabelle. She hurriedly retrieved her hand, heading back to her seat with her head lowered, while Alexander opened up a newspaper to shield his face. The moment Mrs. Williams passed by, he felt as though he was having an underground relationship with Isabelle.

Oh, more accurately said, it was an underground friendship.

Even though friendship was the most upright relationship in the world, but they had to do it sneakily, in the dark.

If they could stay peaceful, Alexander didn't mind staying her underground friend forever, but in just a few days, their friendship was exposed.