Milo went downstairs and saw his mother serving breakfast, he went up to help her.
"Good morning, Mom."
"Good morning. Why did you come home so late last night? Your dad is in the study outside, please take this plate of buns to the garden." Madam Sinclair greeted her son while tying her apron, handed Milo a plate, and told him where his father was.
Milo went outside, placed the breakfast on the garden table, and then went through the small gate to find his father in the garden. His dad loved listening to operas, but as he grew older, he slept less. His mom complained that he was too loud in the morning, so they built a sunroom in the garden and converted it into his dad's study.
The weather was nice today, and the study was well-lit, with a few famous paintings on the walls. An old phonograph on the desk was playing opera music from a renowned artist.
Mr Sinclair was wearing a white traditional shirt and practicing calligraphy at his desk, occasionally taking a puff from a cigarette.
"Good morning, Dad," Milo said as he entered to greet his father.
"Come and see what you think of today's writing."
Mr Sinclair put his cigarette in the ashtray, gestured for Milo to come over, and went to the tea table to brew a good pot of tea again. The father and son shared some similar habits over the years, like needing a cup of strong tea in the morning.
Milo sat with his father, they were in sync, taking a sip of tea, then a puff of a cigarette, slowly exhaling, watching the smoke rings dissipate.
"Started dating?" Mr Sinclair asked slowly after his craving for a cigarette, his tone casual, as if he didn't care much about it, just asking routinely.
Milo neither confirmed nor denied it; he was too embarrassed to tell his father that he had just developed feelings for a girl but was immediately rejected.
Knowing his son well, Mr Sinclair understood that Milo's love life wasn't going smoothly this time, and said, "Dating is like that; you give but don't necessarily get the same return. But you can't be always hung up on the sore point; it's not a project that can be solved simply by spending time and effort."
"Dad, I'm thirty years old." Milo was speechless; these words weren't said when he received a love letter from a female classmate at sixteen or when he dated in college. Why today did he think about comforting him?
"I didn't say you were thirteen. I just hope you choose your partner more freely. As long as she isn't underage or older than your mom, I don't mind anything else." Mr Sinclair joked, as yesterday he took a little girl to the hospital who was only twenty years old, worrying that his son might think they as parents were old-fashioned and would have bad developments with this girl.
"What's this about underage? What are you two talking about?" Madam Sinclair untied her apron and happened to hear them discussing underage, so she asked casually.
"Are you two secretly smoking again? Be careful you'll become specimens in thoracic and lung someday." Madam Sinclair smelled the smoke and jokingly said, "Rinse your mouth, come over and have breakfast."
Father and son exchanged a smile, put down the cigarette, and followed her.
Smoking was sometimes just a casual habit. Neither of them was addicted, so the lady of the house dared to joke about "becoming a living specimen."
The family of three sat in the garden having breakfast, and Lane was behind them refilling their tea.
The atmosphere at the table was harmonious, and the parents didn't mention the hospital visit with Shea Thorne yesterday.
Halfway through breakfast, Milo said, "Dad, I recently encountered a patient whose speech can switch personalities quickly, without any premonition or awareness."
Yesterday, Milo watched Shea Thorne's video several times and found great emotional variance. She was like a discarded puppy facing Miles Crawford, yet graceful and intellectual when facing him, with no signs of sadness from being hurt by Miles Crawford.
Based on his professional judgment, it's likely Shea Thorne was having emotional issues.
"Have you considered split personality, or checked her medical history to rule out PTSD?" Mr Sinclair asked after hearing Milo's analysis, "Is it the girl from yesterday's video? Her expression seemed a bit unnatural to me too."
Milo shook his head; he didn't specialize in psychology. Yesterday's physical checkup indicated Shea Thorne's health was excellent, not enough to cause psychiatric disorders.
Sinclair Hospital's records were accessible, and he retrieved Shea Thorne's case file seeing a psychologist, but the diagnosis showed her psychology was fine.
According to the professional judgment of the chief psychologist, Shea Thorne's condition didn't reach the level of split personality, yet there was indeed an issue in yesterday's video.
"Dad, I need your past case files, and Wellings University has an advanced psychology seminar next month that I want to attend." Milo said, as it was an opportunity to conclude Shea Thorne's emotional state.
Although he felt a bit disappointed by her rejection.
But her micro-expressions in last night's video were unsettling, even after searching many materials overnight couldn't solve it.
Mr Sinclair nodded, "You arrange your work at the hospital and then apply to go abroad for the seminar. Be careful with the National Medical University; if yesterday's incident repeats, your future research path will be difficult."
Their family successfully transitioned under historical circumstances, achieving in research yet also carrying a commercial aspect with Sinclair Hospital, thus society paid high attention to Sinclair Family, any mistake was magnified.
The Sinclair family stayed low-key mainly to avoid baseless rumors.
"I understand, Dad." Milo knew their family was considered a conscience in the medical circles, yet a trained student chose not to save a life just because the patient was an ex-girlfriend of one of them, leading to childish rivalry and gang bullying.
If the rumor about Milo leading such behavior spread, it would be unpleasant.
"I've already applied to the school for personnel reorganization in 'Three Three Six', and I will request a review of the arrangement for intern doctors at the hospital." Such doctors couldn't enter his laboratory and definitely couldn't join their hospital.
Fortunately, Shea Thorne just asked him a few questions then let it go, didn't make a fuss, if it were others it might've blown up, used by media with intentions, definitely troublesome.
"Done talking? Can I have my turn?"
After discussing business, it was time to talk about personal matters. Madam Sinclair put down her chopsticks, elegantly wiped the corners of her mouth, smiled, and asked Milo, "Vice-Dean Sinclair, did you specially return today for breakfast with us to announce some good news?"
When this topic was mentioned, the atmosphere at the table lightened up, Milo also put down his cup and didn't hide anything, "No, I got rejected."
Mr Sinclair and Madam Sinclair exchanged looks, sharing a smile, Madam Sinclair asked, "Should you reflect on being too serious? You need to coax girls patiently instead of issuing orders that scare them off, otherwise, they definitely won't date you."
Given her son's reputation at school, she feared he might intimidate a girl into dating him, scaring her away.
"Mom, I know the attitude to take with a girlfriend." Milo was speechless, his dad just advised not wasting time on unsuitable projects, whereas his mom said his attitude was bad for pursuing girls.
So, did they take pleasure in his rejection?