Chapter 9: The Tiger’s Tears
“Cough, cough…” Chen Jianing tried her best to suppress her cough. Seeing Lu Li looking at her, she quickly explained, “I saw people coughing in the video, and I felt so scared that I started coughing too…”
Was that really the case?
“It’s getting late, you should go rest now. We can talk about anything tomorrow.” Lu Li was also feeling heavy-hearted and didn’t have the energy to chat with Chen Jianing at the moment.
“Okay.” Chen Jianing’s small figure moved, walking hesitantly towards the door. She looked back and said, “I really don’t want to cough, really, you have to believe me.”
“Yes, I believe you.” It was important to reassure girls at times like this. After sending Chen Jianing away, Lu Li finally had time to check his phone and reply to his friends and family.
First, it was Chu Jingyi. Silly Goose’s messages were very much in line with her usual style, all forwarded official announcements, one after another. At the end, she added, “I’m very worried about you.” Lu Li felt warmth in his heart. He could imagine Silly Goose’s shyness and nervousness when she typed those words.
[Lu Li: I’m fine now, I’ll be back in Chuanhai soon.]
Chu Jingyi replied quickly.
[Silly Goose: You must take care of yourself…]
[Lu Li: It’s so late, why aren’t you asleep yet?]
[Silly Goose: I can’t sleep, can I call you?]
Lu Li was about to agree when he saw another message from the Class Monitor.
[Silly Goose: Never mind, I shouldn’t disturb your rest. Good night.]
[Lu Li: Good night.]
Lu Li stared at the words “good night” on the screen for a long time before switching to the next chat window. It was Zou Yameng.
[Sister Yameng: Can you buy a ticket back? I just called the station, and they said they don’t know yet, they’re waiting for a notice…]
This was Sister Yameng’s only message, sent half an hour ago. Lu Li didn’t need to think to know that his sister must be frantically looking for a way back, probably contacting Coach Dan. Lu Li quickly reassured his sister, relaying Chu Xiaodong’s promise, and finally received a reply from Sister Yameng.
She only replied with a crying emoji, without saying anything else.
An Baili didn’t have a phone and couldn’t send him messages. She was probably pulling her hair out in the low-rent district right now. After hesitating for a long time, Lu Li asked his sister to go next door to An Baili’s place to let her know he was safe. Sister Yameng replied with a big question mark, still not saying anything. Lu Li didn’t know if his sister would do it, or if there would be a conflict when she met An Baili…
Stop thinking about it!
Lu Li threw his phone aside, lay down on the bed, and sighed deeply. His mind was filled with all sorts of messy thoughts, such as what would he do if he was trapped in Mulan City forever? Where would he be buried after he died? How much would the funeral cost… It was all because of that unlucky Chen Jianing, making him full of pessimistic thoughts.
Lu Li tossed and turned in bed until three or four in the morning before finally falling asleep.
At eight o’clock in the morning, he was woken up by the ringing of his phone again. Lu Li opened his phone and saw an unknown number with an area code for the capital.
“Hello?”
“It’s Chu Xiaodong.” Chu Xiaodong’s words were concise and to the point. “Xiao Lu, the situation has been basically clarified. The disease spreading in Mulan City has been named Respiratory Syndrome A, or RSA for short. It’s a contagious and fatal disease that has been dormant in Mulan City for more than six months and only recently broke out due to the change of seasons.”
“There are currently over 4,000 confirmed cases in Mulan City hospitals, with over 1,300 deaths. Stay where your school arranged for you and absolutely do not come into close contact with any Mulan City residents. They are all potential RSA carriers. The early symptoms of RSA are indistinguishable from a common cold or fever. This information should be made public soon.”
“Okay.” Lu Li was secretly alarmed. Over 4,000 confirmed cases, with over 1,300 deaths. That meant one in four infected people would die?
“Take what I’m about to say as a heart-to-heart talk from an elder, not related to official business.” Chu Xiaodong changed the subject. “Mulan City has limited medical resources and simply cannot accommodate the growing number of patients. In other words, if you contract RSA, you might not receive timely treatment. Be mentally prepared.”
Chu Xiaodong’s words were already very polite, but the underlying meaning was so cruel that Lu Li felt a chill.
“The Mulan City government is in chaos right now, and our orders cannot be effectively implemented. For Yi Bao’s sake, Xiao Lu, you must, must pay attention to your safety. You can even stay in your room all day if you have to. I don’t want to see my daughter crying her heart out when I get home. Understand?”
“Don’t worry, sir.”
“Okay, I’ll hang up now.”
It seemed that it wasn’t just the people inside Mulan City who were troubled. The people outside the city were also unsettled by this sudden outbreak. After Lu Li washed up, the hotel staff brought him breakfast: dumplings and hot soy milk. The waiter also asked, “Is the person next door your friend? We knocked on the door when delivering breakfast, but there was no response…”
Hearing this, Lu Li suddenly jumped up from his chair and rushed to Chen Jianing’s room.
“Chen Jianing? Chen Jianing? Are you awake? It’s me, Lu Li.”
He waited for a long time, but there was no response from inside.
“Sir, do you need a spare key?” The waiter also pressed his hand to his forehead anxiously. “I’ll get one for you.”
“Thank you.”
Just then, Chen Jianing’s weak voice finally came from inside the room. “I’m here, no need for a key.”
“Open the door!” Lu Li was a bit anxious. “What are you doing alone inside? Don’t you know it’s worrying people?” Could this girl stop being so stubborn? Lu Li’s already bad mood worsened. What time was it…
Lu Li finally waited for the door to open. The moment he saw Chen Jianing’s small figure, all the anger he had bottled up suddenly dissipated. Chen Jianing slowly opened the door, only a crack, revealing half of her frail and pitiful body. The most heartbreaking thing was her eyes. They were red and swollen, as if she had been crying. Her nose was also red, with a trace of blood in her nostrils.
Lu Li sent the waiter away before asking, “What’s wrong?” His tone was unexpectedly gentle.
“I… you… don’t worry about me…” Chen Jianing’s voice choked with sobs. “It wouldn’t be good if you get infected too, just leave me alone… Sob…” She actually started crying at the end.
This was the first time Lu Li had seen Chen Jianing cry so vulnerably. In his memory, when Chen Jianing cried, she would usually raise her small face, clench her teeth, and make an expression like she was about to bite someone, while tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. Was this girl, crying like a wounded cub, really that Chen Jianing?
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