Hello, Mr. Thompson!

In June, the summer sun blazed over City A, turning the outdoors into a suffocating oven. The heavy, oppressive heat seemed to cling to everything, making it hard to breathe. For Lily Sophia Turner, this day would forever be etched in her memory. She sat alone in a chair in the hospital’s fourth-floor lobby, the din of voices around her a constant buzz. Young mothers filed past, their faces glowing with maternal pride. Now, she was one of them. Lily clutched her examination report, her hands trembling slightly as she scanned the page again. She’d read it eight times already, hoping for a different outcome each time. When her period was a week late, she hadn’t given it much thought. But after two weeks, a cold realization hit her, and now she was overwhelmed with shock. She recalled that night in May: Luke Oliver Thompson, drunk, being taken back to his hotel by her. The events that followed were too hazy and frightening to fully comprehend. It felt like a nightmare, but she knew it wasn’t. She was truly pregnant, not just dealing with a stomach bug. The unexpected news had thrown her into a whirlwind. Her heart raced as she struggled to grasp the enormity of the situation. Her face was ashen as she gripped the report with white-knuckled intensity. What was she going to do? Her graduation ceremony had only just ended the previous week, and she hadn’t even had time to move out of her dorm. Tears welled up in her eyes, falling one by one. An elderly woman nearby noticed and handed her a tissue. “Young lady, why the tears? Everything can be worked out.” Hospitals were places of contrasts—both cold and compassionate. Lily sniffled, the woman’s kindness breaking through her emotional barrier. She could no longer contain her tears, and they flowed freely. Lily was not one to cry easily, and even if she did, it seemed no one would notice. But being pregnant was a monumental issue; even her usual independence couldn’t steady her right now. The woman sighed sympathetically. “If you have problems, talk it over with your family.” Family? What family did she have? Lily took the tissue, dabbed at her tears, and said, “Thank you, Auntie. I’m okay.” She had only taken half a day off work and needed to return. Lily folded the medical report into a small square and slipped it into a hidden compartment of her bag. She glanced at the other expectant mothers in the lobby and lightly touched her stomach, still having trouble believing that a baby was growing inside her once-flat belly. She had always been the model student, the one who followed the rules and made her teachers proud. In her state of panic, she reached out to the one person she trusted the most. Dialing her phone, she called her friend Ella, who was miles away in City B. Ella had been her high school deskmate and was now a junior in the medical department at B University. The call connected almost immediately. “Lily...” “Ella, I’m pregnant.” Lily’s voice was barely a whisper, filled with anxiety. There was a pause on the other end before Ella spoke. “...Does Luke Oliver Thompson know?” “I don’t know what to do.” “Lily, you need to talk to Luke Oliver Thompson. He’s the father, and he needs to share the responsibility.” “But it was an accident. What if...” “Do you plan to keep the baby?” “I don’t know.” “Don’t be afraid. Talk to Luke Oliver Thompson, explain everything, and then you both can decide what to do.” Lily Sophia Turner heard someone talking to Ella on the other end. “Got it. You go ahead and handle it.” Ella hesitated for a moment, sighed, and said, “Lily, no matter what, everything can be worked out. Don’t be afraid. He’s someone you care about, so trust him.” Lily understood this logic. As the one responsible for the “little life,” Luke Oliver Thompson should indeed share half the responsibility. But the issue was, how was she supposed to approach him? Besides, Luke Oliver Thompson wasn’t someone she could just see whenever she wanted. Lily’s emotions were in turmoil. Even though Ella repeatedly urged her to talk things over with Luke, she still didn’t have the courage to do it. She could chat easily with anyone except Luke Oliver Thompson. Luke Oliver Thompson was more than just anyone; he was someone she’d had feelings for since she was sixteen. Two drunken people end up together naturally. Before dawn, she had left. She didn’t know how to face Luke Oliver Thompson next. Maybe she was just scared—afraid of facing the unpleasant aspects. Fortunately, the next day, she was called away on a work trip out of town. After that, she hadn’t seen him again. Luke Oliver Thompson was the owner of a prominent Western entertainment company, while she was just an intern, a small assistant. In hindsight, maybe Luke Oliver Thompson didn’t care about that night’s mishap at all. The company was filled with beautiful women, including several top actresses. Luke Oliver Thompson wouldn’t even notice her among them. In her state of deep conflict, Lily returned to the office. As she approached the closing elevator doors, she hurriedly called out, “Wait…” The doors slowly reopened. She stepped inside, lifting her chin slightly with a forced smile, “Thank you…” The last word caught in her throat. Inside the elevator stood only one person: tall, impeccably dressed in a suit and bow tie, with a commanding presence that made her shiver. Lily stood there, unable to tear her gaze away. She had no choice but to summon her courage and say, “Mr. Thompson.” Luke Oliver Thompson looked into her eyes with a clear, gentle gaze. His eyes had a classical beauty, making them strikingly attractive. “Back already?” Lily puzzled over what he meant by that. Did he know she was on a business trip? She nodded lightly, feeling a lump of words stuck in her throat. He asked, “Which floor?” Lily, confused, replied, “What?” Then she realized and quickly raised her hand to press the button for the 17th floor. “Thank you,” she said, trying to keep her composure. She acted as if they were strangers, making every word and action seem as if they had no history at all. Luke Oliver Thompson’s eyes flickered. During this time, no one else got on the elevator. The atmosphere was quiet, tinged with awkwardness. Lily Sophia Turner felt a layer of sweat form on her back from the tension. She couldn’t bring herself to look at him, her heart pounding wildly. The elevator reached the 17th floor quickly. Lily didn’t dare to look at him. With her head lowered, she said, “Mr. Thompson, I’ll be getting off now.” Her tone was polite. When he didn’t respond, she pressed her lips together, realizing he probably wouldn’t care about a lowly assistant. “After work, come by my office.” Lily Sophia Turner’s head snapped up. Her eyes met Luke Oliver Thompson’s calm gaze. As the elevator doors slowly closed, he also withdrew his gaze. She stood there, frozen, for a long moment.