Shao Wenbo stared at Wang Jingyuan as if he did not completely comprehend her words. His gaze searched her face for a long time, pleading, as though her answer might change if he waited long enough. When she only looked back at him with sympathy and sadness, something shattered in his eyes.
"No. That can't be true." Shao Wenbo shook his head. His eyes were still locked on hers, desperate. "Jing-Jing, please. You can save Xiang'er. I know you can. You are—you are the Epidemic Control Officer; the Emperor personally appointed you to stop the plague. You must have something that could help. Anything. Even if it is still in development—even if you have not shared it with the Imperial Academy of Medicine yet—we're willing to try. Please, Jing-Jing. You have to save Xiang'er. Please."
