Chapter 9

After leaving the hospital, Connor asked, "Mr. Valor, do you want to return to the residence or..." "Go back to West City," Jackson said lightly. Going back to West City meant going back to Serenity's place. Connor wondered how long his boss planned to stay in that tiny rental place. While on the way to West City, Connor spoke up at a traffic light. "Mr. Valor, Ms. Serenity is on the roadside." Jackson turned to see a slender figure sweeping the garbage along the roadside with a broom. Serenity wore fluorescent-colored overalls and a simple ponytail for work. It was a cold day, so every breath she took turned into white smoke. At the same time, an electric bike moved quickly, seemingly rushing to catch the green light. As it flew past Serenity, it brushed her legs, making her fall to the ground. However, the rider did not even bother stopping and quickly crossed the road. Naturally, Jackson and Connor saw this scene play out in front of them clearly. "Mr. Valor, should we find the owner of the electric bike and hold him accountable?" Connor asked. He thought his boss might be interested in Serenity. After all, he had stood up for her when she had been hurt and slapped in the club before. He thought Mr. Valor would naturally stand up for her again. Jackson looked out the car window. His eyes were fixed on the woman who had fallen to the ground, but Master Zack's voice rang in his mind again—"Remember what you’ve said today. Never be like him..." He would never care about a woman like his father did. It was just a game. Besides, he was not really Jack. Why would he care about the sanitation worker named Serenity? He withdrew his gaze and said indifferently, "Don't bother." Connor was stunned. Had he guessed wrongly? Perhaps Mr. Valor did not care about Serenity at all? As the red light in front turned green, the car continued to move forward. Meanwhile, Xyla helped Serenity up and asked worriedly, "Serenity, are you okay? Do you want to go to the hospital?" Serenity ground her teeth and checked her injuries. Her hurt ankle was swollen but showed no bleeding. "No need. I'll just go back and treat it with safflower oil." "Remember to treat it well. It'll heal better that way," Xyla said. After that, she complained about the terrible rider who had bumped into Serenity but rode away without looking back. That night, Serenity limped back home, and upon entering the door, she saw a figure sitting under the lamp. The man stood up and greeted her, "Welcome back, Sis." The coldness Serenity felt seemed to disappear at the sight of Jack. It turned out this was what Serenity had always wanted—someone who would wait for her at home, even if this was just a small and simple home. "Yeah, I'm back." Serenity chuckled, "You must be hungry. I bought two boxed dinners today. I'll cook some soup and prepare dinner in a bit." "Okay," Jackson responded. Then, he watched as she staggered to put the boxed dinners on the small square table. After that, she walked to the kitchen with a limp. She washed the vegetables and began boiling the soup on the induction stove. "Sis, what's wrong with your leg?" Jackson asked knowingly. "I accidentally bruised it a little. It's fine. I'll rub some safflower oil on it later," Serenity answered lightly. However, her expression would change subtly with every few steps she took, and her forehead was already covered with a thin layer of sweat. Jackson pursed his lips slightly. "Why not do it now?" As he said that, he pulled her over with his large hand and rolled up her pants. He could see the obvious swell on her ankle beneath the socks. After pulling her sock down, he saw that her ankle was already red and badly swollen. Jackson had thought that he would not care and that he could remain indifferent even if her legs were broken. However, he felt uncomfortable when he saw her ankle all hurt and swollen. "It's fine. I’ll just rub it with some safflower oil and I'll be fine," Serenity said as she awkwardly tried to pull her ankle back from his big hands. However, he held her ankle firmly, rendering her unable to move. A moment of silence soon filled the room. Jackson suddenly asked, "Where is the safflower oil?" "It’s... In the medicine cabinet on the bedside table," Serenity said and suddenly yelped in surprise right after as Jackson unexpectedly picked her up in his arms. He then carried her to the bed and put her down before proceeding to take out the safflower oil from the medicine box. Jackson sat on the bed and put her injured right foot on his lap, removing her socks and pressing his fingers against her swollen ankle. It seemed that Serenity did not have any broken bones and perhaps it was just a light injury like she had said. Jackson then poured the safflower oil into his palm and rubbed the red and swollen area. Jackson used some force as he rubbed her ankle, but Serenity kept her teeth clenched and did not cry out in pain. "Does it hurt, Sis?" Jackson asked. He thought about how any other woman would have cried out in pain as soon as he had started. "I'm fine," Serenity said and gasped slightly. "This pain is better than what I used to experience in..." Her voice paused, and she refrained from mentioning her experience in prison. Instead, she said, "It's better than the pain I suffered in the past." Jackson glanced at Serenity thoughtfully and naturally understood what she had not said. When Serenity had been thrown into prison, Jackson had merely looked on and not made a move. However, it might have been different for the Hall family. Besides, many people would love to curry favor with the Hall family. Her time in prison might have been worse than any ordinary person's. Jackson murmured, "It seems that Sis has suffered a lot in the past." "It's all in the past," Serenity replied. After rubbing the oil on her ankle, the pain gradually eased, and it soon faded away, replaced by a warm and comfortable sensation. "Thank you, Jack. That was really nice of you. You're a good guy." She flashed a smile at him. 'A nice person?' Jackson's lips curved upward sardonically. Even those who complimented and flattered him had never described him as a good guy. His life and actions were nothing like a good guy. "Do you really think I'm a good guy?" "Yeah! Of course you're a good guy." Serenity said it so naturally. It was as if she truly saw him as a good guy and younger brother in her eyes. "What if you find out I'm not a good person one day? Will you be disappointed?" Jackson asked.