"If I remember correctly, Cindy mentioned that these girls' lives were extremely hard. They were forced to take on very damaging jobs just to make a living. I have no doubt about this. That's why I agreed to check on them!" Bernice said casually, noting Jiang Hai's puzzled expression.
After hearing her words, Jiang Hai began to understand her point. These girls looked far too healthy now. Given their past jobs, malnutrition would have been inevitable. There were likely viruses or lingering injuries in their bodies as well. Their internal organs had been damaged over the years, and it was impossible for them to have fully recovered in just six months. If Jiang Hai's traditional Chinese medicine had only cured his own throat, that would have been fine, but the way it claimed to cure all ailments was rather unusual.
"Chinese medicine can cure throat issues, internal diseases, gynecological problems, and even repair uterine membranes? I find it hard to believe, so I think I need an explanation," Bernice said firmly, looking at Jiang Hai. Such an extraordinary claim felt strange to her.
"What if I told you that their recovery was due to them worshipping more gods, and the gods blessed them? Do you think you'd believe that?" Jiang Hai shrugged. There were some secrets he would never share, and he regretted coming here in the first place.
"I don't believe it." Bernice shook her head, clearly firm in her stance, recognizing that Jiang Hai wasn't going to reveal the truth.
"If you don't believe it, there's nothing I can do. It seems we'll have to leave disappointed today. Let's go." Seeing Bernice's expression, Jiang Hai realized she couldn't be convinced. He shrugged and spoke softly. Then, he led the girls out of the room, stepping into the elevator and heading toward the exit.
In the room, Bernice was left alone, with a conflicted and hesitant expression on her face. As a doctor who believed in science, the most difficult thing for her to accept was the supernatural. Yet, Jiang Hai's situation couldn't be explained by any scientific means.
These girls were like different people. The testing agency here was the most authoritative and thorough one, and she was certain that their bodies didn't resemble those who had just recovered from a serious illness. They appeared more like people who had been well-educated and had maintained their health throughout their lives. Their physical condition was almost perfect, and that was what puzzled her the most. Jiang Hai refused to explain it, and because she had promised Cindy, she couldn't tell anyone. This left her feeling even more conflicted.
All these things that defied common sense fascinated her, but she couldn't investigate further.
"Trouble!" Bernice muttered weakly, pulling her hair in frustration.
"Don't forget the reason I became a doctor, the reason... the reason..." She muttered to herself, sitting in the chair behind her, pondering her inner turmoil.
Meanwhile, Jiang Hai had already left the institute, his mood not exactly bright. It was understandable; after all, the main purpose of his visit hadn't been fulfilled. He had come here hoping to help these girls live normal lives in the future, but it seemed that wasn't going to be easy. If he had known, he might have gone somewhere else directly.
"What do we do now, Jiang?" Just as Jiang Hai started to feel a bit down, Darlene gently tugged on the corner of his shirt, breaking his thoughts. Hearing her question, Jiang Hai paused, realizing there was no plan for the day.
"Where do you want to go?" Jiang Hai asked as he turned to look at Darlene and the others.
"We didn't eat enough earlier, let's go get something to eat!" Hilda Leonard, always hungry, was the first to speak. She was already feeling a bit famished again.
"Alright, let's get in the car and see what delicious food we can find in Miami," Jiang Hai said, though he wasn't hungry himself. But the thought of food was more appealing to him now—it could heal the wounds on his heart. Everyone got back in the car, and Jiang Hai took out his phone to check.
Miami, located at the crossroads of North and South America, is the estuary of the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic Ocean, making seafood the region's main cuisine. But Miami is also known for its wide variety of flavors, particularly Latin American influences. Even the local official languages are mostly Portuguese and Spanish, not English.
Like Western food, Latin American cuisine is diverse, with Cuban, Bolivian, Brazilian, Argentine, and Chilean foods all falling under the same category. Each has its own unique flavor profile. The highest-ranked restaurant in the area is Key West, a beautiful holiday archipelago west of Miami. The islands offer delicious food and breathtaking views, but the cost of admission and the travel time—over half an hour along Highway 1—made it a less appealing option for Jiang Hai and his group.
Another option was a small seafood joint, Jones's Stone Bar, not far from where they were staying. It offered a variety of seafood platters and grilled dishes, but Jiang Hai and his friends weren't too keen on seafood.
Jiang Hai's attention was drawn to a Cuban restaurant called Versailles. He remembered that the man had made plans with the female doctor earlier, which made him take a closer look at the place. Reviews described it as authentic Cuban cuisine with great flavor and reasonable prices. It was popular, though, so there might be a wait during mealtime. Jiang Hai, intrigued, decided to give it a try.
"Let's go try Cuban food!" Jiang Hai said, showing the restaurant details on his phone to the group.
Everyone nodded in agreement. None of them had ever tried Cuban food, so they were all curious. They drove straight to the restaurant.
When they arrived, it was already past one o'clock, but the place was still crowded. Because of the high demand, they had to sit at a shared table. However, once the food arrived, everyone was pleased.
Cuban-style dishes didn't look very appealing, but they tasted amazing. Many dishes had a hint of sweet sugar cane due to a secret ingredient in Cuba's recipes. Those who enjoyed sweet and sour flavors found the dishes delightful, though those who preferred spicy or salty food might have found it overwhelming.
Jiang Hai, in particular, enjoyed the food, as his taste leaned towards sweet and sour flavors. After the meal, Jiang Hai and his friends returned to the hotel to rest.
Though the day hadn't produced the desired results, they were too tired to explore more.
Moses Adams had thoroughly enjoyed himself the night before but was up early this morning dealing with Jiang Hai's case. Jiang Hai valued him because Moses could clearly separate public and private matters and would always fulfill his professional duties.
After a restful sleep and dinner, Afra and the others came to Jiang Hai's suite, agreeing that it was the best place to watch TV in comfort. Soon, Jiang Hai was surrounded by beautiful women in the spacious suite, but he couldn't help but think about the girl at the front desk downstairs. Maybe he could arrange something special for the night?
Just then, a knock came at the door. Jiang Hai was surprised, as he hadn't expected anyone. He stood up from the pile of legs and opened the door, only to be stunned when he saw who was standing there.
It was Bernice, the doctor he had just met earlier. Her expression was as cold as before, and she stood there, staring at him.
"Uh, is something wrong?" Jiang Hai asked in surprise, not expecting her to visit.
"I can give you a certificate, but I don't need money. I need you to do me a favor," Bernice said seriously, looking at Jiang Hai with determination. (To be continued.)