Piper didn’t linger around William; after all, he’d been pretty direct. She was an adult, and once things were made clear, she dropped any lingering thoughts.
Fortunately, her feelings for William were only budding. While she had certain intentions when he worked at the nightclub, she certainly couldn’t force anything now that he’d left.
“Alright then, it was nice to meet you. If fate allows, we’ll meet again for a drink,” Piper, a woman who had weathered many storms, said without any hint of the dejection a younger woman might display. Instead, she gave William a gracious smile.
Nobody’s life stops because someone leaves, especially when they’d only known each other for a couple of days.
As Piper turned back towards her table, she coincidentally met Alice, who’d been standing there for a while. They’d met once before, so they exchanged nods in greeting.
Having noticed William’s conversation with Piper, Alice approached with her hands behind her back and a playful grin. “Master, do you know her?” she asked William, her tone teasing.
William glanced at her, responding, “Is it that strange for me to know her?”
“Not really, but I’m curious, are you close with Bella?” Alice struggled to comprehend the situation. They were discussing William in a group chat just the night before, and now Bella had brought him to meet her family. It all seemed to move too quickly.
Instead of answering her question, William countered, “Would you like to come with me?” He knew the young were often driven by curiosity and couldn’t answer all her questions.
“Why else would I be out here?” Alice had come to clarify some things she didn’t understand from medical books.
The two medical classics William had given her the day before were concise but contained many medical theories and treatments she’d never heard of. Some might have been due to changes over time or different terminologies.
She needed to ask him about these critical points. William was contemplating his next steps in this society he was still adapting to, so having someone guide him could be beneficial.
Lila had previously taught him much, but they weren’t close and had no special bond.
Alice, being his disciple, seemed a better option for seeking help.
“How did you find the two medical classics I gave you?” William asked, leading the way with Alice trailing behind, and adopting the authoritative tone of a mentor.
Alice wasn’t really aloof by nature. Immersed in medical books since childhood and lacking close friends, she’d accepted William as her mentor. She genuinely wanted to know what expertise he held. Just gifting her a couple of medical classics wouldn’t earn her respect.
She’d approached William for clarification, so when he brought it up himself, she didn’t hold back.
“I translated the two classics from Latin last night, and it was late by the time I finished. There were some medical terms and ancient concepts that I couldn’t find in any of my books. I’ll need you to explain them.”
Alice listed a series of questions, which William answered effortlessly, leaving her slightly astonished.
“I didn’t expect you to know everything,” Alice said, her eyes shining with admiration. “Master, have you read these medical classics countless times? Or perhaps you had a renowned teacher?”
William shook his head. “I’ve read them just once, and they are indeed quite well-written.”
Alice was taken aback.
“Just well-written?” she thought. The two volumes, “De Medicina” Part I and Part II, were considered foundational to medical knowledge.
Such esteemed medical texts are typically pored over daily, with every passage committed to heart. If they were historical texts, scholars would probably scrutinize every single word.
Yet, William’s comments make it sound like he’s critiquing a mere student’s homework.
Read it once, and it’s decent?
What’s that about?
“Master, you mean to say you only read it once?” Alice struggled to comprehend William’s level of expertise in medicine, and she definitely couldn’t fathom it.
To someone like William, basic medical techniques had long lost their significance.
Although he couldn’t resurrect the dead, piecing together various organs to create a new being, akin to something out of “Frankenstein”, seemed quite elementary to him.
To him, practicing medicine was as simple as a college student breezing through elementary school problems.
“The two medical classics I gave you yesterday are quite rudimentary. You can start with them, and once you’ve fully grasped them, I’ll teach you more.” William truly found the two articles written by Celsus overly simplistic.
It might be insightful, but perhaps only for the average person.
“Simple?” Alice was at a loss for words. The content of those two medical classics was far from simple. To truly understand and apply them would be quite a challenge.
William simply smiled, offering no further explanation.
“De Medicina” Volume I and Volume II were merely foundational texts.
Since Alice was officially learning from him now, he would certainly impart even more advanced knowledge.
“I’m thinking of finding a job. Any recommendations?” William casually inquired.
Alice, eyes gleaming, replied, “You want to work? Do you have a Medical License?”
“Become a doctor?” William shook his head, “I can teach you, but I don’t wish to be a doctor.”
Being a doctor, a profession that alleviates human suffering, is commendable.
But William didn’t have the time for that. With so many people in the world, he isn’t a savior. He’d done such things in the past and was now tired of it.
Alice posed a question similar to Piper’s: “What else can you do?”
William’s eyes slightly narrowed. Instead of asking what he could do, one should ask how he’d like to live. 𝗼𝐯𝐞𝐥．𝐜𝐨𝗺
“I just want to lead a leisurely life, read some books, maybe paint a bit, play some music,” William candidly shared his true desires.
He had tried out being a bartender as an experience, but now, he decided he wanted a more peaceful life.
Staring at him, Alice smirked, “You don’t seem like the type to work for someone. Maybe you should just be a boss.”
“Oh?” William pondered. Why did he have to pick a job? He could just open a shop, do whatever he wanted, sell whatever he felt like.
“Do you have money?” Alice shot back with another probing question.
William pulled out his phone and quietly asked, “Thirty thousand, is that enough?”
Now it was Alice’s turn to smile without a word. Thirty thousand to be a boss in New York City? He must be joking.