Chapter 52 Matilda's Pursuers
Sawyer dialed Charles's number.
Kensington BioTech Company was controlled by the Gonzaga Group, and Sawyer had been looking for a reason to get closer to Charles. Now the opportunity had come.
"Mr. Gonzaga, about that Dr. Spencer that Commander Gonzaga asked me to keep an eye on—I ran into her today when having dinner with my daughter. She seems to have quite a few admirers, and she even mentioned to my daughter that she finds it pretty annoying."
"My daughter said one of the pursuers is someone she's known since childhood who disappeared for a while and suddenly reappeared. It feels a bit... dangerous. Do you think... should we notify Commander Gonzaga?"
Charles was silent for a moment, not answering immediately.
Sawyer's heart tightened, thinking he'd overstepped.
But fortunately Charles spoke up. "My brother's back with his unit. I'll handle this."
"Good." Sawyer felt relieved.
Since Charles was willing to take over, it meant his tip had been well-received and their relationship had moved a step closer.
...
That day, two new students joined Matilda's training program—one called "Jack" and another called "Luke."
Both were tall, burly types who rarely smiled.
No one knew where they'd come from. When asked, they only said they'd "gotten in through special channels" and told everyone not to worry about it.
Their straightforward attitude was both amusing and exasperating, so people stopped asking.
They clearly didn't understand medicine, only possessing some first aid and wound dressing skills. When Leonard asked them questions in class, they'd stand up and say directly, "We don't know."
This infuriated Leonard enough that he made them listen from outside the classroom.
So from then on, whenever it was Leonard's class, they wouldn't enter the classroom but just stood outside listening.
Matilda thought these two were bizarre—clearly just there to waste time. People like that probably didn't make friends.
However, they were particularly fond of Ethan.
As soon as class ended, they'd pester Ethan to explain problems to them; they'd surround him during meals; they even dragged him along to the bathroom.
Their behavior made other students curious and want to get close to them, but aside from Ethan, they showed no interest in anyone else.
...
That day, Ethan organized some class notes, planning to give them to Matilda.
With these notes, Matilda could more easily understand Leonard's lectures and wouldn't have to worry about being criticized.
However, before he could reach Matilda, Jack suddenly appeared.
"Ethan, what's that in your hand?"
"Notes." Ethan answered.
"If they're notes, why aren't they on your desk?" Jack directly snatched the notes away.
"I..." Ethan returned to his seat and admitted, "I was planning to give them to Dr. Spencer."
Luke stepped forward. "Don't prioritize romance over friendship. I want those notes too."
"You? Can you even understand them?" Ethan asked.
"I'll understand after copying them once." Luke sat down and picked up a pen to copy.
Ethan tried to snatch them back, but Jack blocked him while Luke was too strong—he had no way to retrieve them.
He suspected the two were deliberately targeting him, but had no proof.
...
At the hospital cafeteria, Ethan deliberately got an extra serving of curry fish balls, remembering that Matilda had especially loved this flavor in junior high.
But right after getting his tray, Jack and Luke pulled him aside to sit down.
"Curry fish balls? I love those too."
"Me too."
Each took several, making it awkward to give the rest to someone else.
Though they didn't take advantage—each gave Ethan a roasted chicken leg in return.
Looking at their enthusiastic smiling faces, Ethan couldn't even get angry.
After several rounds of this, Matilda had already finished eating.
She felt that since Jack and Luke appeared, her days had become much more peaceful. She didn't have to worry about Ethan suddenly showing up or keep rejecting his various gestures of goodwill.
...
However, Matilda was still a beautiful girl.
Even without Ethan, there were always people who noticed her.
Brookford Medical Center had a young male doctor named Ryan who'd been smitten with her since first sight.
He'd observed her for many days, finding that she was alone most of the time and didn't go home on weekends, so he guessed she was single.
That day, he deliberately waited for her outside the classroom.
Everyone could tell immediately—another suitor had appeared.
"Dr. Spencer." Ryan called out enthusiastically.
Matilda had some impression of him but couldn't remember which department he was from, only that she'd seen him while shadowing Leonard.
"Can I help you?"
Ryan smiled. "Are you free? I'd like to take you to dinner."
Very direct, very enthusiastic.
Ethan saw this and wanted to go over, but Jack and Luke held him back.
In their view, even if there was a new suitor, they should be the ones to "handle" it, not Ethan.
Ryan had caught their attention.
Matilda naturally refused. "Sorry, I'm pressed for time at lunch. The cafeteria is fine."
"Then let's go together."
Matilda quickly pointed at Sienna. "I already made plans with Sienna." Then she linked arms with Sienna.
Sienna said half-enviously, half-jokingly, "You're young and beautiful, so you have admirers everywhere you go. It's actually kind of dangerous."
Matilda laughed. "Only occasionally, not that many. They usually back off after one rejection."
...
But Ryan didn't back off—instead, he became more determined after each setback.
That day, he bought a bouquet of flowers, planning to give them to Matilda.
When he got to the hospital, he discovered the flowers in his trunk had disappeared, replaced by a brick!
He thought girls all liked fruit tea, so why not give her a cup in the afternoon.
"Dr. Spencer, this is fruit tea that all the girls in our department love. Want to try it?"
Ryan handed her a cup of fruit tea.
Matilda immediately sensed something was wrong. Opening the lid, she was hit with the smell of peanut oil.
"Are you... giving me oil?"
Ryan looked and was dumbfounded—he'd clearly bought fruit tea, so how had it turned into peanut oil?
He then tried to give chocolate—those round ones in gold wrapping.
To make her interested, he even unwrapped one, only for a fertilizer smell to waft out.
"What is this?" Matilda frowned.
Ryan opened the other chocolates and found they were all fertilizer.
He immediately felt a wave of fear—this Matilda was not to be messed with!
"Sorry, Dr. Spencer. I won't pursue you anymore."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Matilda just treated it as a farce.
...
That afternoon, they had an acupuncture simulation drill for acute stroke patients.
The students were divided into 6 groups of 5 people each.
Since it was Leonard's class, he excluded Jack and Luke.
Matilda happened to be grouped with Ethan.
Ethan was finally able to get close to Matilda after so many days and was very happy, taking care of her in every way, even translating Leonard's professional terminology into simpler versions.
Actually, after so many days of effort plus Sienna's help, Matilda had caught up. Even when Leonard used professional terms, she could understand.
The needling session began, with each person getting a dummy to practice rapid needle insertion at acupuncture points.
Leonard observed from the side. Acupuncture required boldness and precision, especially for critical patients—it had to be fast, accurate, and decisive without hesitation.
He noticed most students paused for a few seconds before inserting needles, but only Matilda moved decisively with precise point location.
A flash of approval crossed his eyes.
After class, Ethan asked, "Matty, how did the needling feel just now? Want me to review it with you again? I studied this stuff in Sanveria too."
"No need," Matilda answered.
"But if you don't memorize it well, Professor Morales will criticize you again," Ethan said worriedly.
Before Matilda could respond, a voice came from behind—
"Who says I'm definitely going to criticize her? Am I really that mean?"