Chapter 735: Chapter 735: Rejection

The day after Wendy returned to work at the community hospital, Jonas Lucas came by again.

For the first time, she seriously scrutinized the way Jonas Lucas looked at her. It was different from how everyone else did. His gaze held a certain caution, a hint of probing, and a clear infatuation.

Wendy had never been the indecisive type. She asked Jonas Lucas to meet her at the community teahouse and told him what was on her mind directly.

"Jonas Lucas, do you have feelings for me?"

Hearing her question, Jonas Lucas’s face instantly flushed red. He stood up, flustered.

"Wendy, have I been bothering you?"

"So you admit it?"

Jonas Lucas took a deep breath, then nodded. "I admit it. I like you a lot. I didn’t have these feelings at first—I just saw you as my lifesaver. After all, when I injured my arm, you were the one who bandaged it and changed my dressing. I don’t know when that changed. I’ve been very conflicted about it. I’m much older than you, so logically and emotionally, I know I shouldn’t feel this way."

He glanced at Wendy’s expression and saw she was calm. She wasn’t angry, nor was she embarrassed and lashing out. Her eyes were neutral, showing neither joy nor sorrow. She looked at him as if he were a stone, completely without emotion. Jonas Lucas felt a pang of defeat, but he quickly pulled himself together.

"I was originally planning to tell you how I feel after your twentieth birthday. It seems I didn’t hide it well enough. If this is bothering you, I’ll make sure to stay out of your way from now on."

Their eyes met, and Wendy gestured for him to sit down.

"Jonas Lucas, for the right people, age isn’t an issue."

A look of pleasant surprise had just appeared on Jonas Lucas’s face when Wendy’s next words sent him plunging into an abyss.

"But we aren’t a good match. And everything I’m about to say is completely serious. I matured early. Ever since I was little, I knew what path I wanted to take and what kind of person I would become. I have no interest in certain things, and I have no intention of ever experiencing them. For example, romance and marriage."

Jonas Lucas’s face paled. He stared blankly at Wendy as a sudden ringing filled his ears, drowning out whatever she was saying.

"Jonas Lucas, I only see you as a friend."

"Is there... someone you like?"

"No."

Jonas Lucas was silent for a long time before he apologized solemnly to Wendy.

"I’m sorry. I’m the one who caused you trouble. I respect your choice, and I accept your rejection. Wendy, your way of thinking isn’t without reason. Life can be lived in many different ways; you don’t have to walk the same path as everyone else. I apologize again for my presumptuous thoughts. I also ask that you still accept me as your friend. I don’t want to lose a friend over this—a friend and the person who saved my life."

Wendy breathed a sigh of relief. ’I really misjudged him,’ she thought. ’Jonas Lucas is a true gentleman.’

"I’d be very happy to be friends with you. My dad even said that since you like grilled fish, you should come over to our house sometime, and he’ll make some for you."

Having cleared the air, Jonas Lucas was no longer hung up on it. Although he still felt a little sad and disappointed, he believed that once he returned to the army, his busy life would dull the feelings of loss and sorrow.

He laughed heartily. "Great! If Mr. Graham doesn’t mind the trouble, I’ll definitely go."

After they talked things out, Wendy returned to the community hospital. Jonas Lucas sat in the teahouse for half an hour to compose himself before heading back to his dormitory at the base.

When his teammates saw him return so soon, they couldn’t help but tease him.

"Didn’t get to see Dr. Graham?"

Jonas Lucas passed around the snacks he’d bought on the way and sat down on a chair, staring into space. His teammates exchanged confused glances and gathered around him.

"What’s wrong with you? Why the long face?"

"Wendy and I are just friends from now on. Don’t tease me about her, and more importantly, don’t go joking about it in front of her. Don’t make her uncomfortable."

His teammates were dumbfounded. "What happened? How did you and Dr. Graham become ’just friends’ after one trip out? Did you confess and get rejected?"

Jonas Lucas nodded. "Not exactly rejected. She just told me her views. She doesn’t believe in marriage and doesn’t plan on ever getting married."

"Wow, Dr. Graham has such a cool mindset." Shock was written all over one teammate’s face, and the others were no less surprised. However, most of them felt Wendy’s idea was just a young girl’s whim. They thought she would definitely change her mind once she reached her late twenties or thirties.

"The base even encourages us to socialize and have more kids. She’s still young. She’ll definitely change her mind in a few years. Besides women with major illnesses or disabilities, most women choose to get married and have children."

"Now you’re just being prejudiced. The base has good policies. Even if you don’t have children, the base will take care of you in your old age. So the whole ’raising children to provide for you in old age’ idea doesn’t even apply here. While the base encourages mixers, marriage, and having more kids, it does so with rewards and subsidies. Besides, the base doesn’t force anyone to do it. It’s just encouragement."

"But if a woman doesn’t have children, isn’t she failing at being a woman? The base is short on people; we need to boost the population."

"If you stay a bachelor your whole life, would people say you’re failing at being a man? Besides, this is Dr. Graham’s own choice. It’s ridiculous for us to stand here judging her."

The group devolved into a heated argument. Jonas Lucas shouted, "Quiet!" and everyone fell silent, looking at him.

"Whatever life Wendy chooses to live is her freedom. This discussion ends here. No more talking about it in the future. I’m still her friend. If I hear any of you talking about what a ’pity’ it is that she won’t marry or have kids, don’t blame me for not being so friendly anymore."

Jonas Lucas left the dormitory to get some fresh air.

At that moment, he felt Wendy’s choice was the right one.

’People should be free,’ he thought, ’not shackled in a cage by all sorts of rules and expectations.’

—

When Wendy returned to the courtyard, she told Evelyn about what had happened that day.

"Jonas Lucas was very graceful about it. You could tell he was down, but he kept himself under control. He’ll be a very good friend."

Evelyn hugged Wendy. "That’s wonderful. Next time Jonas Lucas comes over, I’ll take out my prized Seven-color Fish to treat him."

"Evelyn, it feels so good to be a doctor. It’s exhausting, but I feel such a sense of accomplishment. I’m really happy with who I am right now."

"I told you a long time ago you’d be more outstanding than any of us. Want to have a drink tonight? To celebrate you growing up."

"Sure! But I can’t hold my liquor, so just one for me."

Evelyn looked a little embarrassed. "I’m a terrible drinker, too. It’s fine. If we get drunk, we can just go wild together."

During dinner that evening, Quincy tactlessly asked Liam Sterling about his progress with the girl he was pursuing. Liam Sterling promptly burst out crying with a loud WAH.

"I got rejected! She said I’m a nice guy, but we’re not a good match! She even wished me luck finding someone better, but I only like her! I don’t want anyone better! And then she said I’m too old and there’s a generation gap between us! My heart is bleeding!"

Everyone was speechless.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.