Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Yvonne had heard that there was a mountain in this small town called Whitehorse Mountain, where one could see the sea of clouds and the sunrise. She was immediately intrigued and casually checked into an inn.
The inn was not very large. There was a garden in the front and a three–story building at the back. The first floor had three rooms, made of wooden planks that creaked underfoot from time to time.
Yvonne stayed on the third floor. When she opened the window, she could see the eaves of the townhouses. The gray tiles looked quaint and serene under the sunlight.
Without the oppressive presence of reinforced concrete, the charm of the town was more pronounced, as if time had slowed down here.
The only drawbacks were that the sound insulation was poor, and the water pressure was a bit low.
While Yvonne was taking a shower, she heard some noises from the room next door. Shortly after, she heard the sound of water from the bathroom next to hers, which shared a wall with her room.
The water pressure on her side suddenly decreased significantly, and the hot water became a mere trickle. With suds still clinging to her body, she felt rather helpless.
Fortunately, the person next door was quick in their movements, and the water pressure on her side returned to normal after just a few minutes.
After finishing her shower, Yvonne stood in front of the window, blow–drying her hair. It seemed that the person next door was smoking by the window, as she caught a faint whiff of nicotine. She frowned and closed the window slightly.
Since she wanted to watch the sunrise, Yvonne got up extremely early. As she was washing her face, the person next door also got up. The bathroom noises started again, and the water from her faucet once more became weaker.
“Does the guy next door have a thing for cleanliness? Washing up before bed and then again after waking up,” Yvonne muttered quietly.
Fortunately, she was only staying for one night; otherwise, the water issue would indeed be quite bothersome.
After changing her clothes, Yvonne headed out. Whitehorse Mountain was not far. She walked along the route that the landlady, Jessica Brown, had described to her the day before.
The sky was still dark, but the outline of Whitehorse Mountain was already faintly visible.
The mountain had a scenic trail. Although it was still early, there were already people out for morning exercise. She walked upward along the steps, savoring the unique tranquility of the mountains.
However, the path became increasingly difficult to navigate. There was dew in the forest, and the ground was covered with many fallen leaves. Yvonne wasn’t paying attention for a moment and stepped into a void, causing her to lurch forward.
Suddenly, a powerful force came from behind, pulling her back.
Yvonne steadied herself and turned around in shock to see Wesley standing behind her, dressed in sportswear. Half of h handsome face was obscured by the dim light of dawn, making it hard to see clearly.
“Dr. Godfrey?” Yvonne exclaimed in surprise.
“Yes.” Wesley cast his gaze on Yvonne’s astonished face, his brow furrowing slightly. “What are you doing here?”
Yvonne raised her finger, pointing ahead. “I came to watch the sunrise. What a coincidence to run into you. And you?”
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Chapter 20
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“Exercising.” he replied flatly. After a moment of thought, he added, “The path is slippery here. If you go 110 yards ahead, there’s a better trail”
“Okay. Thanks,” Yvonne said.
“You’re welcome. 30 dollars, Wesley said.
Yvonne was taken aback, somewhat bewildered.
Wesley opened the PayPal app on his phone and held it out to her. “For pulling you back just now and for the directions,” he explained.
Yvonne was stunned. She hadn’t expected Wesley to say that, but she quickly took out her phone and transferred thirty dollars to him.
After receiving the money, Wesley turned and walked ahead. His tall and upright figure was particularly striking against the hazy dawn light.
Yvonne stood there for a moment, noticing that he was heading in the direction he had mentioned, and decided to follow. The two walked along the mountain trail, one behind the other. Yvonne watched Wesley’s back, finding the situation somewhat amusing. She thought this man seemed to be in need of money.
At the top of the mountain, there was a railing around the perimeter, and several people were already waiting to see the sunrise. Yvonne walked over and saw only a faint glimmer of light on the horizon, with distant mountains barely visible.
Wesley moved to the other side and did a few stretching exercises. His expression was calm, and he gazed into the distance with a focused look, as if lost in thought.
Yvonne waited for a while, checking the time. Seeing that it was almost sunrise but the sun still hadn’t appeared, she noticed that the earlier glimmer had been obscured by clouds, leaving only a grayish expanse.
She walked over to Wesley, intending to ask about the sunrise. Wesley stopped his stretching, straightened up, and watched her approach.
“Dr. Godfrey, have you been here long?” Yvonne asked.
“Yes,” Wesley replied simply.
“Then do you know if there will be a sunrise today?” she continued.
“It’s overcast today,” he said, his voice still flat.
Yvonne was taken aback. She hadn’t expected that her rare chance to see a sunrise would be ruined by bad weather. She felt a bit disappointed. The mountain breeze was cool, and it dampened her spirits.
Wesley began to walk down the mountain. Yvonne, who had found the climb up rather lonely on her own, wanted to walk with him so they could talk.
She quickened her pace to catch up with Wesley. “Dr. Godfrey, last time at the hospital, I didn’t get to thank you properly-”
“30 dollars,” Wesley said coolly.
“You-” Yvonne didn’t know what to say.
Wesley spoke earnestly, “The way I want you to express your gratitude is through 30 dollars. That way, we’re even, and let’s never mention it again.”
Yvonne felt both angry and embarrassed. Wesley’s attitude seemed to imply that she would cling to him, as if he considered
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Chapter 20
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Yvonne immediately took out her phone, waiting for him to open PayPal again, and transferred 300 dollars with a sneer.
“Dr. Godfrey, the punch you stopped for me is worth more than thirty dollars,” she said. “Consider this money as my thanks for your help back then. I’ll leave you alone now. Goodbye.”
Without another glance at him, Yvonne turned and walked briskly down the mountain path.
Wesley looked at the notification of the money transfer on his phone, paused for a moment, then watched her storming figure. He pursed his lips, put his phone away, and followed her at a leisurely pace.
Yvonne returned to the inn. To her surprise, Wesley was following not far behind.
She stopped in her tracks, wary of misinterpreting his intentions again, and stood by the roadside, waiting for him to pass.
Wesley paused briefly, then continued walking as if nothing had happened. Yvonne quietly followed behind, maintaining a moderate distance between them.
After a while, Yvonne saw him turn directly into the inn where she was staying. She was astonished inwardly, thinking how incredibly coincidental it was.
She stood there, watching as Wesley entered the room next to hers, and it suddenly dawned on her. He was the person staying in the room next to hers.
When Wesley came downstairs, changed into different clothes, he saw Yvonne sitting at a table in the garden, eating breakfast.
It was now the time when most people were heading to work. The breakfast served at this inn was quite good, attracting many guests. The tables in the garden were all occupied.
Wesley carried a plate of pasta and looked around. The only empty seat was opposite Yvonne. He hesitated for a moment, then walked over.
“Is this seat taken?” Wesley asked.
Yvonne glanced up at him and deliberately said, “Where are your manners?”
Wesley was taken aback for a second. “Excuse me, is this seat available?”
Yvonne nodded. “Yes. 30 dollars.”
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