"What!" Evelyn protested.
They both laughed. At the fork in the road, Victoria went back. Emily headed to the dormitory. They parted ways.
Evelyn walked toward the school gate. Her phone rang. She pulled it from her bag and saw Alexander's name. She answered, "Shouldn't you be sleeping at this hour?"
"Can't sleep. Had to call my little piggy!" Alexander replied, a smile in his voice.
"If I don't sing you a lullaby, you just can't drift off, can you?" Evelyn teased.
"That's right. Want to sing it for me?"
"I'm just leaving school now. If you're still awake by the time I get home, I'll sing it for you!"
"School? Aren't you supposed to be at your parents' place?"
"Yeah, I went back this morning. My parents went to burn incense early. They weren't home. I had nothing to do, so I came to school," Evelyn explained.
"I see," Alexander answered.
"Still can't sleep?"
"I was a little drowsy. But now that I've called you, I'm wide awake."
"Then hang up. Go to sleep. You have work later!"
"Okay. Call me when you get home."
"I'll call you later. What if you've already fallen asleep? I'd just disturb you."
"I'll call you back in half an hour. If you're not asleep by then."
"Alright!" Evelyn agreed. "Go to sleep, you big pig!"
Alexander's laughter echoed through the phone.
After hanging up, Evelyn walked to the bus stop at the school gate. She hadn't set a definite time to return. So she hadn't asked the driver to pick her up in advance. She just took the bus back.
Before she reached Sterling Manor, her phone rang again. It was Alexander.
"You're still awake!" Evelyn laughed.
"I can't sleep." His voice sounded a little sad.
"What a pity. Can't sleep in a strange bed again?"
"Because you're not here."
"Being dramatic again." After scolding him lightly, she asked, "Do you always have insomnia like this on business trips?"
"Pretty much."
"How do you get through the workday?" Evelyn asked, worried.
"Drink more coffee."
"Too much coffee is bad for your health."
"So I plan to take you with me on business trips from now on."
"You think I'm your bed!" Evelyn blurted out.
"Not a bed. A warm embrace."
Evelyn didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Just then, Alexander asked, "You're not home yet?"
"Not yet. But almost!" Evelyn replied.
"Didn't you have the driver pick you up?"
Evelyn was stunned for a moment. Then she remembered. Alexander had told her to always have the driver pick her up when she went out in the morning. But she had taken the bus for convenience.
"I went to school in the afternoon. Then I went to see the counselor with my classmate. I wasn't sure when I'd be back. So I didn't call the driver. I'm almost home now!"
"Evelyn, you're not being obedient," Alexander said, frowning.
"No, this is a special case today!"
"Remember to write a review when you get home."
"Huh?" Evelyn was stunned. She had to write a review for this?
"Send it to my email before you sleep," Alexander added.
"Oh, I know!" Evelyn said, her face falling.
When she returned to Sterling Manor, she went upstairs first. She sat in front of the computer, chin in hand, typing out the review word by word. Sigh. She had to write a review for such a trivial matter. If she didn't follow Alexander's instructions, she still had to write it. Everything needed a review. Life was really hard!
Feeling depressed, she then thought about it. Alexander was only doing this for her safety and convenience. He loved her. He meant well.
Thinking of this, Evelyn no longer felt depressed about the review. Instead, she began to miss Alexander terribly. Once the longing started, it flooded over her.
When she sent the email to Alexander, the text only said, "I might have insomnia tonight too!"
After sending the email, she took a bath and went downstairs to make dinner. Lily Thompson had the day off today. So she had to cook her own dinner. Anyway, it was easy enough for her to make something.
Evelyn finished dinner, cleaned up, and went back upstairs to the bedroom. She picked up her phone and saw a voice message from Alexander. She pressed play. An out-of-tune lullaby came through. Alexander was singing it. Evelyn burst out laughing. But as she listened, she felt like crying again.
She replied to Alexander, "You sing so badly. Now I really can't sleep!"
Alexander's phone call came through immediately. Evelyn sat on the sofa and answered. "Are you up?"
"You've arrived at the company?"
"Then why aren't you focusing on work? Why are you calling me back?"
"Because there's a little piggy at home. She always makes me worry."
"The piggy can take care of herself."
"Don't lose any weight by the time I get back."
"That's strange! Maybe by the time you come back, I'll have gained a lot of weight!"
"Then I can sell you for more money!"
"Didn't you say you wouldn't sell me?"
"Oh, forget it. I'll keep you to breed a litter of piglets!"
"I'm not talking to you anymore!" Evelyn replied, pretending to be angry.
"Don't be mad, baby. Go to sleep. I'll be back tomorrow," Alexander coaxed.
"I'm fine. Focus on your work. I'm about to go to sleep. I have to work tomorrow too!" Evelyn laughed.
"Sweet dreams. Good night."
"Good morning!" Evelyn said.
After the call, she sat for a while. Then she went into the bedroom to take a bath and get ready for bed. She didn't have insomnia. She fell asleep until dawn.
The next day at work, she was busy. She didn't have time to think about anything else.
In the evening, Evelyn came home from work. But Alexander hadn't returned yet. His flight today was delayed. He probably wouldn't be back until midnight.
Evelyn finished her dinner, took a bath, and sat on the sofa, waiting for Alexander to come back. She didn't know when he would get home. But he was coming home tonight. She would sleep when he got back.
After boarding, Alexander found his seat and sat down. He was already extremely sleepy. He buckled his seatbelt and closed his eyes to rest. After a while, he heard someone say, "Excuse me. Excuse me."
Alexander opened his eyes. He saw Grace O'Sullivan's surprised expression. He pulled his legs back to let her pass to the window seat.
"You're on this flight too!" Grace said, coming back to her senses. She smiled at Alexander in greeting. Then she walked to the window seat.
Alexander just nodded slightly. He stretched his legs out and closed his eyes to rest again. It was as if he hadn't seen anyone special. He was just making way for a stranger.
For the rest of the flight, Alexander kept his eyes closed. Grace turned her head to look at him. She didn't disturb his rest. She just quietly looked at his profile.