True Love Waits

Without even raising her head, Evelyn refused Sheffield bluntly. "Get real. You're a doctor, so that would be great if I were sick. This is a computer, a completely different thing. Quit bugging me and chill for a bit."

After staring at the busy woman for a long time, Sheffield said, "Don't count me out yet. Maybe I am a doctor, but I know a fair bit about computers, too."

Evelyn didn't have the time or mood to bicker with him. She called the IT department and said, "Look. I can't get to my control panel, and I get an 'access denied' error when I try to open my browser. All my icons keep changing. When are you going to fix this? You don't know? Call Mr. Huo and ask him for the security suite's tech support number. Just call him. Star Anise? I don't understand what you're talking about. Just get ahold of him and ask him to repair my Internet as soon as possible! There are important things on my computer. Just handle it!"

After hanging up, Evelyn looked at Sheffield, who was unwrapping the desserts for her. Somehow, she felt annoyed and said in a harsh voice, "I'm not hungry. I don't think you get how stressed out I am. The documents are pretty important."

Sheffield gave her a soothing smile and tried to coax her. "Did you forget what I said? A few sweets will turn that frown upside down. You can't do anything but wait, so grab a bite."

The screen of her laptop kept changing. Each time it refreshed, the icons were re-arranged, and even the names were misspelled. Evelyn got more and more annoyed. "I said no, Sheffield Tang. I'm not in the mood to eat! Find something to do. Play on your phone, sleep, anything! Leave me alone, or go away!" she spat impatiently.

He lowered his head and said in a soft voice, "Okay. I have some work to finish up in the research lab. The food's here if you get hungry. Don't forget the milk-it's still warm. It's cold outside. You should bundle up-"

"Cut it out. If you're going, just go," she interrupted him. Her head was about to explode. If she couldn't get to her data, the loss would be unpredictable.

As usual, the smile on Sheffield's face didn't fade away though his heart stung at her words. "Yes ma'am! I'm outies."

He turned and walked to the door. Looking at his back, Evelyn felt guilty all of a sudden. She stood up and said, "Sheffield..."

He stopped, but he didn't turn around, waiting for her to continue.

"I'm sorry... I guess this is getting to me. I didn't mean that. I'm sorry..." She didn't know how to express her feelings properly.

Then Sheffield turned around and gave her a gentle smile. "No worries. I'll let you go back to work. Bye!"

the office. Silence befell the room again. Evelyn sat back in her seat, her mind

car, Sheffield closed his eyes and leaned back in the driver's seat for a bit before he grabbed the laptop on the passenger seat. His

watched her icons rearrange themselves, she got a call from the IT department. "Miss Huo, we've figured it out. There was a zero-day vulnerability that the makers of the security suite hadn't prepared for. The virus is gone,

was relieved to hear the

they asked. It logged her off, and then went through the boot process. Eventually, the desktop came up and her laptop returned to normal. Evelyn took out the files and continued to check them. When she saw the two unwrapped desserts and a

with a spoon.

the desserts while

heard the ring, he raised his head

closed the laptop and walked

surprised to

she was definitely embarrassed by what she had said to him earlier.

her playfully, he said, "You came here late at night to ask me something? Like when we're going to bed?

With a red face, Evelyn glared at him. The embarrassment in her

Don't wear it out. I know, you're shy,

will." Although she had an overnight stay in mind before she came here, she still felt a little embarrassed to be teased by Sheffield

"Okay, I won't tease you anymore. What did you want to ask me?" He took out a pair of new slippers

shopping. He'd bought all the things a woman might need. He hoped

squatted down to change her shoes. Evelyn held his shoulder with one hand and raised

said, just to see how he would react. She watched his

after a short pause, he only said, "Okay." He seemed to be waiting for

to hear an explanation. Something. Anything. Maybe