"Qiao Anchen, hang in there! I've already called an ambulance. Please don't let anything happen to you, what will I do if something happens to you?!"
Hearing this, Qiao Anchen struggled to open his eyes, and in his blurry vision appeared a tearful face. He frowned and couldn't help but interrupt her, his voice hoarse.
"Why are you crying? I'm not dead."
Author's Note: First Year: ...Huh?
55. Chapter 55
The first-year student's crying stopped abruptly. He stared in astonishment, his mouth agape, tears still clinging to his face, threatening to fall.
Qiao Anchen struggled to sit up in bed, but Chu Yi rushed over to help him, asking fearfully with tears in her eyes, "Qiao Anchen, are you alright?"
"Hmm..." he responded, trying to stay alert, his head throbbing with pain. He gestured to the water in the glass next to him.
Chu Yi quickly brought it over and handed it to him. The boiled water had already cooled down. Qiao Anchen drank it, and the cold liquid slid down his burning throat and into his stomach, creating a sensation of hot and cold.
He lowered his head and frowned, taking several seconds to calm down.
“You have a fever…” Chu Yi said worriedly.
"I couldn't wake him up no matter how I called him, so I—"
Before she could finish speaking, a series of urgent police sirens seemed to come from the street outside, one second high note, one second low note, the familiar rhythm and pauses making one's heart race with anxiety.
Chu Yi finished speaking, looking at him timidly as she spoke.
"So I...called an ambulance."
The white ambulance stopped, and the medical staff quickly and professionally got out. Some took the stretcher, while others prepared to perform first aid. As soon as the door opened, Qiao Anchen saw this impressive scene.
He was being supported by Chu Yi, and apart from being a little pale, he didn't seem to be in any bad shape. The leading medical staff member stepped forward and asked in confusion.
"Sir, what's wrong with your health?"
Chu Yi stood there silently, while Qiao Anchen remained quiet for three seconds before calmly answering.
"I have a fever."
...
On the way to the hospital, in the narrow, long carriage, Chu Yi sat knee to knee with Qiao Anchen, heads bowed, obediently accepting their lesson.
"Young lady, you can't just call an ambulance randomly next time, understand? You're wasting public resources. What if those who really need help don't get it in time?"
"I'm sorry." Chu Yi apologized sincerely, and then immediately explained.
"I saw that he had passed out and I couldn't wake him up no matter what I did, so I called an ambulance in a moment of panic. I will be more careful next time."
"Next time?" The nurse chuckled and joked, "You should pray there won't be a next time."
Chu Yi bit her lip and secretly glanced at Qiao Anchen. He rubbed his aching temples and sighed inwardly.
Upon arriving at the hospital, thanks to the ambulance leading the way, Qiao Anchen was taken directly to the emergency room, where his temperature was measured at 39.8 degrees Celsius.
The doctor looked at the thermometer with some emotion.
"Luckily, it was delivered early."
"Any later and he would have been brain-damaged by the fever."
"Ah..." Chu Yi was really startled, her lips agape for a long time before she could react. Qiao Anchen explained helplessly.
He was just teasing you.
Chu Yi was even more confused, staring blankly at the doctor in front of her who was clearly smiling and writing a prescription.
"Okay, go pay the bill, get your medicine, and find the nurse to give you an IV drip."
"Okay, okay." Chu Yi took the form and walked out with Qiao Anchen. As soon as they reached the door, she couldn't help but ask.
Was that doctor mocking us?
"Mm," Qiao Anchen replied, glancing down at her.
"Do I look funny?" Chu Yi looked himself over. His clothes were neat and his hair was in good shape. What was funny about him?
"He was referring to the ambulance." Qiao Anchen's expression grew increasingly helpless, and his voice was weak and feeble due to his illness.
Chu Yi immediately realized what was going on.
—Any later and he'd probably be brain-damaged.
It means they arrived too quickly...
Chu Yi was speechless; doctors these days have become so sophisticated when they curse.
"How did he know?" It's only been a few minutes, and the news has already spread throughout the entire hospital?
Qiao Anchen recalled the way the receptionist had watched them discuss and chuckle when they first entered. She hadn't said anything, only patted Chu Yi's head. Everything was understood without being said.
Qiao Anchen needed to receive too many IV drips, so he took a whole bunch of different kinds of medicine bottles, put them in a small basket, and then went to find the nurse.
The hospital arranged a temporary ward for him, and Chu Yi let him lie down and rest while he went to pay for and pick up his medication.
Qiao Anchen did not refuse, after all, he really didn't have the strength to walk.
A thin layer of cold sweat had appeared on his forehead, his eyelids were too heavy to open, and his mind was foggy. He had been barely keeping his head clear before, but as soon as he lay down on the bed, his whole body felt like it was going to fall apart, as if he could fall into a coma as soon as he closed his eyes.
Qiao Anchen waited until the nurse inserted the IV needle and started the IV, then saw Chu Yi sitting beside him, tucking him in. He thought he had spoken very loudly, but to others it was barely audible.
"Chu Yi, I'm going to take a nap first, you..."
"Go to sleep, I'll keep an eye on things for you." Chu Yi wiped the thin layer of sweat from his forehead and spoke softly. Qiao Anchen finally closed his eyes with peace of mind, almost falling into a semi-conscious state.
Chu Yi was also very sleepy, but she didn't dare to sleep. She forced herself to stay awake and sat to the side playing on her phone, glancing up every now and then to check the progress of the IV drip. When it was almost finished, she would immediately press the call button to call the nurse.
By the time Qiao Anchen finished receiving all his IV fluids, it was already getting light. Chu Yi touched his forehead and found that his temperature had dropped considerably, which reassured her a little. She then leaned over the bed and quickly fell asleep.
He slept soundly for a long time. When Qiao Anchen woke up, he was in a daze and didn't know where he was. After a few seconds, he realized that Chu Yi was holding his hand and lying next to him.
He strained to reach for his phone. The screen showed 9 a.m. Qiao Anchen immediately opened it and found that the alarm had been turned off, and there was a new message inside.
Jin Ran: Okay, I'll ask for leave for him later. I hope he recovers soon.
Scrolling up, you'll see a message from Chu Yi asking him to help ask for leave. It was sent at 3 a.m., and Jin Ran only replied in the morning.
Qiao Anchen relaxed slightly and leaned back against the pillow.
The nurse pushed the door open and came in with the blood test report in her hand. Chu Yi was awakened by the noise. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, her face showing signs of sleeplessness.
"You have a viral cold with fever, which may recur. It's best to stay in the hospital for observation for two days." After she finished speaking, she looked at Chu Yi next to her and gave him another instruction.
"It's quite contagious, so those around you should be careful not to get infected."
The report reached Qiao Anchen, who carefully examined each piece of data with a focused expression. Chu Yi peeked at it but didn't understand a word.
“No wonder…” Qiao Anchen’s voice was still a little hoarse, and his expression was knowing.
"Viral colds are difficult to heal on their own with antibodies, which is quite troublesome."
"Do we need to be hospitalized?" Chu Yi was only concerned about this, her mind still replaying the possibility of a recurrence. She frowned, unable to hide her worry.
“No need, one more IV drip today should be enough,” Qiao Anchen said without hesitation. Chu Yi didn’t have much to say, so she nodded.
"I'll go down to the supermarket to buy some toiletries and bring you breakfast up. What would you like to eat?"
"Plain porridge, please," Qiao Anchen said after a moment's thought. "I don't have much of an appetite."
After shopping, Chu Yi quickly washed up. Apart from feeling a little weak, Qiao Anchen looked much the same as usual. When he came out of the bathroom, his complexion was much better.
Chu Yi had already set up a small table on the bed, opened the lid of the white porridge, and handed him a spoon.
After barely managing to eat most of it, Qiao Anchen put his hand down and looked at Chu Yi to speak.
"Go back now."
"?"
"I don't have anything to do anyway," Chu Yi replied, somewhat puzzled.
"Viral colds are highly contagious and can be transmitted through air. You shouldn't stay with me, as you could easily get infected."
"It's okay..." Chu Yi was interrupted by Qiao Anchen before she could finish speaking.
"You've seen what I've looked like these past few days and last night, haven't you? If you get infected, this is what you'll look like in the future."
"..."
"I have confidence in my body." After a moment, Chu Yi answered somewhat hesitantly. Qiao Anchen looked at her and spoke quietly.
"I have no interest in your body."
"..." Chu Yi was silent for a while, then said stubbornly in a low voice.
"I'm not going back anyway."
"Chu Yi—" Qiao Anchen took a deep breath, wanting to scold her again, but Chu Yi immediately started yelling like a spoiled brat.
"Alright, alright, stop talking. I'm not leaving you here alone. I'm not leaving."
Qiao Anchen was annoyed and stared at her with a sullen face. Chu Yi lowered her eyes and dared not look at him, muttering softly.
"Don't even mention a cold or fever, I wouldn't leave even if it were SARS..."
Upon hearing this, Qiao Anchen laughed in exasperation, covered his forehead, and remained silent for a moment, trying to reason with her.
“Chu Yi, you're only increasing the risk of infection here; you're not very useful. I can take care of myself now. Even if it really is SARS, you'll only risk your life, so why do something so futile?”
"Then I'm willing to die with you." Chu Yi suddenly blurted out, and Qiao Anchen's voice trailed off, his face showing a look of astonishment.
“…Don’t act like a child.” After a long while, he managed to squeeze out these words. Chu Yi lowered her head and remained silent, stubbornly standing in front of his hospital bed. The air was quiet for a long time before Qiao Anchen finally gave in.
"I just can't do anything with you." He muttered to himself. Chu Yi heard this and looked up at him with a relieved expression, her smile bright and cheerful.
"Then I'll go throw away the trash."
Qiao Anchen's physical condition was quite good. After spending a day in the hospital, he was almost fully recovered. After a good night's sleep, even the weakness he felt yesterday had lessened considerably, and he looked like he had just recovered from a serious illness.
And the first day of the lunar calendar.
My face hurts.
She woke up feeling dizzy and lightheaded. After breakfast, she started to have a runny nose. Chu Yi immediately found the medicine the doctor had prescribed for Qiao Anchen, then went back to bed and covered herself with the blanket, trying to sweat it out to get rid of the cold.