Just as Lin Zhi looked up, the girl suddenly went limp, her eyes fluttering shut as if someone had pulled the strings holding her upright.
His face changed instantly. In two long strides, he lunged forward and caught her before she hit the ground.
Soft and delicate in his arms—but burning hot.
A surge of panic shot through him.
What the hell? How high is her fever? Her body's scorching!
He glanced down. The girl seemed to be slipping into unconsciousness, her face pale as paper.
"What happened?!"
A voice came from the stairwell, followed by hurried footsteps. Lin Zhi looked up and saw a woman rushing over, a bag slung over her shoulder. She looked like an office worker—glasses on, face anxious, the faint smell of alcohol trailing from her.
It was Kobayashi, the office lady from upstairs. She must've heard the commotion.
"She's got a high fever," Lin Zhi said quickly.
"High fever?" Kobayashi blinked, then reached out to feel the girl's forehead—only to gasp in shock.
"She's burning up! We have to get her to a clinic, now!"
"I… don't know where any clinics are around here," Lin Zhi admitted awkwardly, coughing lightly.
"Oh, right—you just moved in." Kobayashi's expression tightened, then she said briskly, "I know one. You carry her—I'll lead the way."
"Alright. You can leave your things at my place first."
"Okay."
Working together, Lin Zhi hoisted the unconscious girl onto his back, and the two of them hurried off toward the clinic.
The dim streetlights flickered overhead as they ran.
Before long, Kobayashi was panting heavily, her steps slowing. "Huff… huff… kid, you've got… pretty good stamina…"
"Just call me Lin Zhi," he replied, his breathing steady despite the weight on his back. "How much farther is it?"
"Just up ahead—take a left!"
"Got it!"
Lin Zhi picked up his pace, turning the corner as Kobayashi slowed to catch her breath, hands on her knees, watching him go. "Ah… to be young again," she muttered between gasps.
Akiyama Clinic.
"You're just getting here now? This child's in serious condition! Don't you young people know how to take better care of yourselves?"
The doctor—a calm-looking woman in her forties—shot them a disapproving look, then quickly gestured for Lin Zhi to lay the girl on the bed.
Touching the girl's forehead, the doctor's brow furrowed. "The fever's quite severe."
"Rei!" she called toward the inner room.
This was a small private clinic attached to a home, common in quiet residential areas. The inner room was the family's living space, off-limits to patients.
"Coming!"
A girl with long black hair stepped out, wearing fuzzy slippers. When she saw Lin Zhi, her cheeks flushed slightly—shy by nature, it seemed.
Dr. Akiyama handed her a slip of paper. "Rei, prepare the medicine according to this prescription."
"Okay!"
As Akiyama Rei went to fetch the medicine, the doctor took out a thermometer and gently lifted the hem of the patient's shirt to place it under her arm.
Seeing this, Lin Zhi quickly turned his head away, trying not to look.
The doctor noticed his reaction and couldn't help but smile. "You're a decent young man," she remarked.
"Huh?" Lin Zhi looked puzzled, not sure what she meant.
Just then, Kobayashi came back in from outside. "Lin Zhi, how's the girl?"
"They're checking her temperature," he said.
Kobayashi exhaled in relief, only to see Lin Zhi pull out his phone and make a call.
"Hello, this is Sato Ramen. How can I help you?"
"Hi, I'm the customer who ordered earlier. Your delivery girl fainted in front of my apartment. We're at Akiyama Clinic right now."
"What?! Nanami collapsed? I'll be right there—please wait!"
The voice on the other end grew urgent before the line went dead.
"Huh? You two aren't dating?" Dr. Akiyama asked, genuinely surprised. The way Lin Zhi and the girl looked together, she'd assumed they were a couple.
Lin Zhi gave an awkward but polite smile. "No, we're not."
At that moment, Rei returned carrying a tray. Dr. Akiyama took it and began setting up an IV drip for the unconscious girl.
Once everything was in place, Rei quietly slipped back into the inner room.
Time in a clinic always seemed to move slowly—especially when all you could do was watch the IV drip, one drop at a time.
Before long, the sound of screeching brakes broke the stillness outside. A middle-aged woman in her forties rushed in, anxiety written all over her face.
Seeing Aoyama Nanami lying on the bed, she let out a breath of relief, then turned to the doctor nervously. "Doctor, is Nanami going to be alright?"
"She'll be fine," Dr. Akiyama said, jotting down some notes. "Her fever's high—thirty-nine degrees—but nothing too dangerous. And you are?"
"I'm the owner of Sato Ramen. Nanami works part-time at my shop."
At that, Kobayashi frowned. "You let your employee work while she's sick? That's terrible!"
The woman's face fell, her expression full of guilt. "I… I didn't know her fever was this bad. I asked her about it this afternoon when she looked pale, but she said she was fine. I should've insisted she go home. This is my fault."
Her voice trembled with remorse.
Lin Zhi glanced at her, then at the sleeping girl on the bed. Something told him there was more to her story than just a fever.
(To be continued…)
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