Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Alan’s slender fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop. He was silent for half a second before responding with a question rather than an answer, “Sammy, since you’re looking for Little St. John, you’ve probably already read up on his situation beforehand. He doesn’t treat anyone on a whim. What are you prepared to use to convince him?”

That question was a very realistic one indeed. It was not enough just to look for the little saint—he had to be willing to give treatment.

Samantha had considered it before, but she said in all seriousness without so much as a second thought, “I’ll do anything as long as he’s willing to heal my brother!”

Alan was not surprised by her answer. Having been a doctor for so long, he had seen countless patients with family members just like her. The words they frequently said were already etched into his mind.

He did not beat around the bush with Samantha. He opened his lips again and asked bluntly, “Sammy, are you powerful enough or rich enough?”

Samantha was lost for words at that instant.

She neither had any power nor any money…

Rumor had it that plenty of powerful, influential people went to seek the little saint’s treatment but were all turned away. As someone who had none of that, how idiotic could she be to even think of asking him for medical treatment?

Samantha could not help but laugh in spite of herself. “Dr. Sherwood, do you think I’m overestimating myself?”

She lowered her eyes and pursed her lips tightly.

Alan stared at her firmly and opened his mouth, as if he was thinking of something to comfort her.

The next second however, Samantha looked up again. Her eyes had since contained a firm gaze that showed her willingness to give everything. “Dr. Sherwood, I might be all alone in this world, but I’m willing to exchange my own life for Corey’s sake.

“My younger brother is different from me. His heart was ill ever since he was born. His entire childhood was spent in a hospital bed. Other children were able to enjoy their childhood, but his life depended on all those injections and medication. He wakes up every day to the smell of disinfectant and goes to sleep smelling the same. He can never do anything that excites him, even if just for a little bit.

“He’s only seventeen years old now and never even managed to stay in school more than a few days. The beauty of this world is something he never experienced before. Life has its ups and downs. Its moments can be sweet, bitter, or sour, but all he ever tasted was bitterness. It has been more than ten years since he started eating those bitter medications.”

Samantha’s nose started to tingle as she spoke. She raised her head slightly and blinked a few times before continuing as calmly as possible, “The doctors later said that he has a year at most and perhaps there will be a heart that is suitable enough to be transplanted. However, some really bad things happened to him recently and aggravated his illness. His heart nearly stopped working a few days ago and he’s been unconscious in the ICU ever since.

“If he continues to remain unconscious like this, he might… He might never wake up again and his life will end here.”

Samantha had been keeping those words to herself and burying them deep in her heart for far too long.

She never had anyone to talk to. Rochelle—despite being her best friend—had troubles of her own, and Samantha was unwilling to put more burden on her. As for her parents or Timothy, neither were people that she could tell all that to.

At that moment, she was already at her limit of suppressing all her feelings. After meeting Alan, who she regarded as an ‘old friend’, she could not help but spill it all out.

Once she finished all that she had to say, she smiled embarrassedly and said, “I’m sorry for telling you all this, Dr. Sherwood.”

Alan listened quietly until she finished speaking and looked at her reddened eyes.

It was the second time he saw her crying.

Samantha never showed her fragileness in front of him. In fact, she was so stubborn that it would give one a headache. When he treated her in the past, he never once heard her say anything despite the severity of the pain. She never yelled out in agony even when her entire body was trembling and one would never be able to tell that she was a weak woman.

Throughout Alan’s entire career as a doctor, she was the most memorable patient he had. The impression he left on her was so deep that he was a little worried when she disappeared without any news a couple of months ago.

He was worried that she got injured, insisted on hiding at home while weathering through it herself, and eventually succumbed to the injury without anyone realizing…

He even did an unauthorized act of looking into her case records and went to look for her after determining her home address.

There, he met her landlord and found out that she had already stopped renting the home. The landlord did not know where she had gone.

He originally thought that it would be difficult for him to meet her again, but little did he know that fate had other plans.

Doctors would have seen it all—childbirth, old age, sickness, and death. In fact, they belonged to the kind of people who were ‘hard-hearted’, whose emotions were not easily moved. Strangely enough though, Samantha was a patient whose tears always moved him without warning.

He instinctively felt like helping her because he wanted to see her smile again.

In his opinion, bright smiles suited Samantha best.

He took out a tissue and handed it to her.

Samantha took the tissue, gently pressed it against the corner of her eye, and said gratefully “Thank you.”

Alan picked up his coffee, took another sip, and then whispered, “You don’t need to look for Little St. John anymore.”

Samantha’s mind could not help but turn blank. She then asked puzzledly, “Dr. Sherwood, do you know who he is, or do you think I have no hope of persuading him?”

Alan chuckled. “What I’m trying to say is, you don’t need to look for him because you’ve already found him.”

The sudden turn of events left Samantha dazed for a few seconds. Her eyes widened little by little, and she opened her mouth in disbelief, “Dr. Sherwood, could it be… Could you be…”

Apparently amused by her surprised expression, Alan spoke in a playful tone, “I’m Little St. John…”

He paused deliberately, looking at Samantha’s black and beautiful eyes before continuing the next few words, “…’s assistant.”

Oh, the twists and turns…

Samantha was completely stunned and was speechless for a moment.

Alan smiled and continued without haste, “I accompanied the little saint to this medical conference.

“His identity is strictly confidential and I hope you’ll forgive me for not telling you. However, I’ll convey your request to him and say some nice things on your behalf. Just wait for my news.”

After digesting Alan’s sentences word for word, Samantha finally regained her senses and was unable to suppress the excitement in her heart. She unconsciously reached out for his hand, “Dr. Sherwood, I’d have to trouble you to convey Corey’s condition to him. Thank you. I’m truly grateful. Thank you so much!”

“You really are my savior!”

“Savior?” Alan shook his head and laughed. “I sure hope so.”

…

After exiting the cafe, Alan went back to the hotel where he was staying while Samantha returned to the hospital.

Samantha had exchanged her contact information with Alan on WeTalk. He looked at their chat carefully for a moment and suddenly thought of something..