Quiet Moments Amid Chaos

Night had crept over the relief camp, and the temporary tent was filled with the aroma of simple food prepared by the field kitchen. The faint laughter of volunteers and the clatter of spoons and forks blended with the tired sighs of those who could no longer hide their exhaustion. Ailine walked toward a corner of the tent, seeking a quieter spot. She lowered her head and began to clean her face and hands with a damp cloth offered by one of the volunteers. Mud from the long day still clung stubbornly to her clothes, and though she was weary, she tried to tidy herself as best she could.

A few minutes after checking the last of the patients, Owen appeared, carrying a tray with a warm meal. He gave a faint, almost shy smile as he placed a plate in front of her.

“Here. Eat. You probably haven’t had anything since lunch,” he said, his voice low but warm, carrying a quiet concern.

Ailine lifted her gaze for a brief moment and gave a faint smile. “Thank you…,” she murmured. Yet her eyes immediately fell back to the ground, reluctant to draw attention to herself.

Not long after, hushed whispers began to ripple through the tent. Some of the medical volunteers had clearly seen Owen hug her earlier. Curious eyes glanced her way, and small murmurs of speculation started to spread. Ailine realized that her identity could very well be exposed—though, in truth, only a few had actually noticed.

She took a deep breath and looked at Owen, then nodded. “If anyone talks about it… I want everything to remain calm. Focus on the victims, not rumors or who I really am. Here, I’m the same as all of you—I just want to help those affected by the disaster. So, please… cooperate,” she said softly but firmly.

Owen nodded, understanding her intent. He set down his own plate and patted her shoulder lightly.

“I’m not asking anyone to forget what happened, nor to turn a blind eye. I just don’t want this to interfere with our relief efforts. Don’t discuss anything about us. Focus on the task—helping people in need is what matters most. Thank you,” Owen added, careful not to make things harder for Ailine, especially after his impulsive hug earlier.

Several other volunteers who overheard Ailine’s words nodded in agreement. Quiet responses like “Hm… alright…” and “Okay, focus then” echoed softly. Gradually, the tent returned to a calm rhythm, with people hunched over their meals or tending to their own duties, keeping the focus on the disaster relief mission. Of course, some were still quietly amused, recalling what had just happened.

Many of the medical personnel were Owen’s colleagues from Centra Medica Hospital; this would undoubtedly become a hot topic later.

Wait…

Hold on. Didn’t Owen once say his ideal type was Ailine Su? Then… what’s happening here?

Owen dating Ailine Su?

Ah, that explains why Dr. Lisa was turned down. The owner of the heart of the Surgeon seemed to be on a completely different level!

And so, the volunteers whispered to themselves, each imagining the same thing in their own minds.

Seeing the faint smiles on their faces, Owen exhaled a quiet sigh. His colleagues truly were unpredictable.

But it didn’t matter—Ailine had already told him not to overthink the consequences.

“Owen, it’s okay. I said it won’t be a problem for me if this causes gossip later. If cameras caught what happened, it doesn’t matter. I can handle it. At worst, I might just need to clarify with my agency,” Ailine said.

“That’s still not trivial. You’re a big star, Ailine.”

“Huh… I’m hungry already. Can we just not talk about this anymore?” she teased.

“Sorry…”

“I forgive you!”

Ailine looked down at her food, then at Owen, feeling a small sense of calm wash over her. Even though her identity had been partially revealed, the night had still managed to create a simple, precious moment amid the chaos.

After their simple dinner, Ailine and Owen decided to leave the bustling tent behind. The camp was still alive with volunteers whispering among themselves and the hum of medical equipment. With electricity limited, they wanted to find a quiet spot, far from bright lights and the noise of the camp.

They walked along a narrow path, the ground still damp, the scent of the wet forest heavy in the night air. Slowly, the emergency tents and the camp’s commotion faded behind them, replaced by a comfortable silence—just the sound of leaves rustling in the wind and the occasional breath escaping their lungs.

When they reached a small hilltop, the glow of the camp’s lights was no longer visible. The night sky stretched vast and clear, free from light pollution—the galaxy scattered millions of stars, like gems on an endless black canvas. Ailine inhaled deeply, gazing upward in awe.

“It’s so beautiful…” she whispered.

Owen merely nodded, his gaze fixed on the same sky. They remained silent for a moment, their quietness slightly awkward, yet comfortable, as if words could wait.

Ailine finally broke the silence with a light conversation starter. “Do you… always enjoy looking at the stars?”

Owen glanced at her briefly, his tired but focused eyes softening with a faint smile. “I used to… often. When I was a kid, I liked asking my father to take me to the hills to watch the stars. After that… not so much.”

Ailine smiled faintly, adjusting her hat and mask, but her attention remained fully on him. She pulled a small thermos from her bag, pouring warm instant ginger tea into two cups. The subtle aroma of ginger and a touch of honey warmed the chilly night air.

They sat side by side on a large rock, each holding a cup, letting the warmth seep from their hands into their bodies. The silence felt sweet, comfortable, yet heavy with the weight of everything they had seen that day.

“You cold?” Owen asked, noticing Ailine hugging the cup to herself.

“A little…”

Owen removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

“Hoho, Dr. Owen trying to be romantic!” Ailine teased lightly.

“I’m concerned about you!” he replied.

Ailine pouted. “I’d actually be very happy if you said yes to that.”

“Just drink your tea!”

Owen turned his face away, but the tip of his ears turned red—something Ailine didn’t miss. She chuckled quietly to herself.

“Alright, alright, Mr. Doctor who worries too much!”

Indeed, bringing instant ginger tea in her backpack had been a good idea.

They continued to enjoy their warm tea, gazing at the stars above.

“Why… did you come here?” Owen finally asked, his voice low, eyes not meeting hers.

“To volunteer… help the victims.”

“Give me the real reason. I feel there’s another reason. You have a busy schedule—you wouldn’t just come here suddenly without purpose.”

Ailine swallowed, glancing at the cup in her hands for a moment before meeting Owen’s gaze.

“I… I have to apologize to you. For before… for pushing you away, for the harsh words I said. I deeply regret it, and I also just heard about your mother passing away. I… I am so sorry,” she said, her voice trembling but sincere.

Owen was silent. Long silence. It pressed heavily in the air. Ailine waited, heart pounding, knowing this was important—she had to be honest.

Finally, Owen exhaled slowly, then gave a faint, bitter smile. Ailine could feel it. “It’s okay… Everything is fate. I have no power to fight what God wills.” His voice was calm, but a trace of sorrow lingered.

Ailine bowed her head for a moment, holding back the wave of sadness that suddenly gripped her chest. Then, in a quiet, tender voice, she asked, “Owen… are you… okay?”

Owen looked at her, his eyes slightly reddened, and for the first time admitted honestly, “No.”

Ailine remained silent, heart aching. Without another word, she decided to do the one thing she felt was right. She embraced Owen, sitting beside him, resting her head on his shoulder, feeling her body tremble slightly as tension slowly released.

Owen remained still. He didn’t return the hug, but tears slowly ran down onto Ailine’s cheek.

She closed her eyes briefly, held her breath, letting the silence and their shared pain mingle.

“Shh… it’s okay, Owen. I’m here. You’re not alone,” Ailine whispered softly, patting his back once or twice.

Silence.

Only the night wind rustled through the trees, and the stars above seemed to watch over them. The moment was pure—without pretense, without cameras, just two weary souls seeking comfort amid the devastation.

Ailine knew she couldn’t force Owen to smile or speak. She could only be there, a support, a safe place for him to lower his guard, if only for a little while.

And for Owen, Ailine’s presence felt like warmth he hadn’t expected would come on a night full of stars and ruins.

They sat like that for a long time, letting the night soothe their wounds, letting the warmth of the tea and the chill in the air sink in. Even in the silence, Ailine felt a sense of peace—that though the world around them was falling apart, they had found a moment that truly belonged to them alone.

“Tch… this is so embarrassing,” Owen muttered as the hug ended.

“Listen, I know when to joke, and I would never tease you for crying like this.”

They looked at each other, and Ailine even dared to touch his cheek with both hands.

“I’ve always acted childish. Selfish, reckless. I only thought of myself without trying to understand your side…”

“…”

“I’ve known how heavy life has been for you since you were a teenager. Meanwhile, all I knew was wanting your love, wanting to date you, and have fun every day with you.”

“…”

“If I truly cared about you, I shouldn’t have been selfish. I should have tried to understand you, to support you, to be there for you.”

“You’re not selfish. You’ve done your best. My family situation back then was unstable. My father’s business collapsed suddenly, leaving many debts, and my mother worked hard to pay them off. Then, after everything was settled, my mother had an accident, went into a coma, and passed away seven years later… That’s not something young people like us could handle.”

Ailine closed her eyes. Her hands fell weakly onto Owen’s shoulder, sensing how fragile he seemed.

Was Owen really this fragile?

At least now, Owen had been honest about what happened ten years ago. Though yesterday, she had also learned about Owen’s mother, who had previously owned a large company.

Why hadn’t she found out sooner? At the time, she simply had too little information about Owen’s family.

“Owen… you’ve worked so hard…”

Owen smiled faintly. “I know…”

And then, without Owen expecting it, Ailine suddenly pressed her lips to his.