North American detective: From scoundrel to god among men

Chapter 21 Lunch Invitation

"Long time no see, Dr. Bianca!"

Bianca turned around in surprise.

"I see you all the time, star detective Titus!"

Titus smiled and replied:

"Just lucky."

"The photos are beautiful... you and your partner."

"Thanks."

Titus was unsure how to begin the conversation with her. What should you say to a dying person?

It's as difficult as choosing between German whole milk and Australian fresh milk on the shelf.

"Just got off work? Were you on the night shift?"

"Um."

"..."

After a brief silence, Titus suddenly said:

"Excuse me, could you tell me your age? If you feel it's inappropriate, then please don't."

Bianca blinked in confusion and replied:

"It's okay, I'm twenty-eight."

With about five years to go, Titus thought that perhaps he could do something for her.

I am twenty-five years old.

"Hmm...why are you suddenly asking this?"

"I'm just wondering how long it will take to become a great Florence Nightingale like you?"

Bianca chuckled, finding the word "great" inexplicably poignant.

"Then I'll have to do the math..."

"My parents made me study hard from a young age, and after twelve years I was admitted to a prestigious medical school."

"It took me eight years from undergraduate to medical school, plus the two years of residency training I'm currently undergoing, so it's taken me a total of twenty-two years."

At this point, Bianca looked up and smiled brightly.

"The director told me that in five years I will be able to take over as the attending physician, which means I'll finally be able to make it through the tough times."

Titus paused for a moment, wondering if he would finally make it in five more years...

"How about that? Surprised? Being a medical student is so tough. To be honest, I never thought I could stick with it."

"I truly admire you... but have you ever thought about taking a break?"

"relax……"

Bianca tilted her head, her eyes half thoughtful and half confused.

Perhaps this word was too unfamiliar to her.

"There's no time to relax... Maybe things will get better once we get through this period."

Titus shook his head and said:

"Isn't it available right now? Are you free today?"

Bianca looked at Titus in surprise and said:

"Yeah, what's up? Do you want to ask me out?"

Titus nodded:

"It's the weekend today, and I'm planning to go home and cook lunch. Want to try my cooking skills?"

"Wow, what an honor!"

So the two of them started shopping at the supermarket together, picking out ingredients for lunch. Bianca said she liked broccoli, while Titus thought scrambled eggs with tomatoes was the perfect choice. He carefully compared the difference between "potatoes" and "large potatoes" on the shopping cart. He turned around and saw Bianca leaning against the shopping cart, lost in thought. She met his gaze and gave him a slight smile.

She said she liked pushing the bike like that and playing behind him.

In an instant, Titus suddenly realized that shopping, strolling around, eating together, and even discussing what to have for lunch could all be very romantic.

"Bianca, if I were to say, if your life were coming to an end, what would be the one thing you most want to do?"

"That's a philosophical question. I haven't thought about it... Maybe I'll try some things I've never dared to do before, live for the moment, since we're all going to die anyway."

Live for the moment...

"There are many kinds of pleasure. Which one would you like to experience?"

"Which kind? Does drinking make people happy? It seems like people who drink don't have any worries."

"uncertain."

"And what about you? What would you choose if it were you?"

"Let me think... maybe I'll drink a glass of milk and go to bed early, until I naturally wake up; choose a book I like and watch the light and shadow on the table change from day to night; on a rainy night, lie at home and watch a movie until I get sleepy."

"Such simple happiness!"

"Happiness is very simple; it's just a feeling. Since it's a feeling, why try to obtain spiritual fulfillment through the endless pursuit of material satisfaction?"

Titus was powerless to change Bianca's fate, but he wanted her to live a truly happy life.

……

After leaving the supermarket, the two headed to the South Section. Titus suggested that she go back and get some sleep, and that he would pick her up when dinner was ready. Kobianka said she wasn't sleepy, that she was used to it, and that she wanted to see his family more than anything else.

Titus exclaimed happily, "We are a loving family!"

He planned to go to Karen's house first to call Lip, who was tutoring Karen. He remembered that Lip only had one lesson at Karen's house, which was right after lunch break.

On the way, he proudly introduced it to Bianca:

"My brother Lip is a genius student!"

"Don't let his current status as a high school freshman fool you; he often takes the college entrance exam for others. He's a quick learner."

"That amazing?"

"Just wait and see. He tutors his classmates on weekends to earn money for his family. He's the brother I worry about the least."

Titus arrived at Karen's house, looking pleased, and said:

"We're here, this is it."

Just as he was about to knock on the door, a loud bang echoed in the sky!

No, it should be said that there was a loud bang above his head!

Lip fell through a broken window on the second floor of Karen's house, his face as red as a monkey's bottom!

He had barely landed when he turned around and saw his shocked older brother.

"Hi, Bro!"

"Hi, Bro?"

The two brothers looked at each other, speechless for a moment.

"..."

"What happened? Why is your crotch wet? And—"

Suddenly, a series of crashing noises erupted from Karen's house. Karen's father, Eddie Jackson, a nearby security guard and devout Christian, burst out of the window and roared:

"Fellatio! How dare you treat my daughter like that! I'll kill you!"

"Go! Go! Go!"

Titus's relieved smile vanished abruptly, and in his confusion, he was chased by Lip for several blocks before finally stopping.

The three leaned against the wall, panting heavily.

"So, you slept with his daughter right in front of his father?"

"No! How could I possibly do something like that face-to-face?"

"Wait, why would I be interested in this? Didn't you say you were going to start a tutoring group?"

"Yeah, but life always has its surprises, you know, bro."

Titus burst out laughing, not out of anger, but out of speechlessness. Over the years, he had experienced all sorts of storms in the Gallagher family.

"Brother, I know what I'll do in the future..."

"It's okay, I won't interfere with your free choice in dating, but I think you should be careful not to go too far."

"What?"

"How does it feel?"

"What...what does this feel like...FUCK!"

Lip was amused by Titus, and after a conversation, the awkward atmosphere disappeared.

Bianca rolled her eyes, thinking that the two of them really didn't treat her like an outsider. But strangely, their rude words didn't make her angry. Instead, they attracted her inexplicably. She wondered how long it had been since she had run so freely.

Lip noticed Bianca and said:

"Nice girl, when will you come—"

Titus quickly interrupted Lip, knowing the kid was definitely up to no good:

"My friend, Miss Nightingale, the future emergency room attending physician!"

"This is my brother Lip, he..."