bChapter /bb85 /b

bFerris /bfrozeb, /bas bif /bbpped /bby ba /binvisible hand across the faceb. /b

He didn’t say banything/b, reaching toward my forehead. My head was heavyb, /bbut my reflexes weren’t slow–1 dodged.

He paused, withdrew his hand, and bstood /bupb: /bb“/bThe doctor is outsideb. /bI’ll have hime check on you.”

bWithout /bwaiting for my bresponse/bb, /bhe bgot /bup and left the room.

Soon bafter/bb, /bbthe /broom door was gently pushed bopen/b, and a female bdoctor /bin a white uniform walked in.

“Ms Aurora, hello, I’m Melinda, the attending physician in charge bof /byour treatment.”

She opened the electronic medical chart in her hands, her tone gentle but professional.

“Your bfever /breached nearly 40.5 bdegrees /bCelsius, you were severely dehydrated, and experienced brief loss bof /bconsciousness. Fortunatelyb, /byou were brought in time. bWe’ve /bstabilized your temperature through physical cooling and IV fluids, but your body is still in an extremely weakened state.”

I nodded, my throat still somewhat hoarseb: /bb“/bThank you, doctorb./b”

She put down her instrument, looked at me seriously, and continued: “However, our examination revealed signs of long–term fatigue, malnutritionb, /band psychological depression. Your immune system has clearly declined. If this high fever hadsted a few more hours, it might not have been bjust /bba /bsimple fainting spell.b” /b

Your body is sending you signals, Ms Aurora–you need proper rest, and you need someone who truly cares for and takes care of you.”

She paused, nced at Ferris standing nearby with a grim expression, then looked back at me with a gentle tone: “I rmend avoiding work or stressb–/brted natters for the next few days. Rest is most important.”

I nodded lightly, feeling a pang of sourness in my heart, but also relieved.

The doctor gave me an encouraging smile: “A nurse wille change your IV again. If you feel any difort, press the call button immediately. We’ll be right

b/butside.b” /b

Thank youb./b”

After the doctor left, Ferris remained standing by the window.

hough his back was to me, I could sense his struggle to suppress his emotions from his tense shoulder line and slightly trembling fingers.

le slowly turned around, looking at me on the hospital bed with a strangelyplex gaze–shock, regret, restraint, and a hint of anger.

Malnutritionb?/bb” /bHis voice was low and hoarse. “Long–term fatigue? Psychological depression?”

le repeated the doctor’s words one by one, his voice growing colder with each word.

How have you been living?!” He finally roared, the long–suppressed anger exploding in that instant.

How did you want me to liveb?/b”

finally couldn’t hold back, my tone carrying exhausted anger: “You refused to see me, making me wait five hours in the snow; you allowed your Beta to iumiliate me, trampling my dignity underfootb; /bnow, as you wished, I’m lying in a hospital bed, and you’re still scolding me… Ferris, what exactly do you want?”

He was stunned, his burning gaze fixed on me, thin lips pressed into a sharp line.

After a long while, he said hoarsely in a low voice: “I want you not to leave.”

froze, my heart feeling like something had violently struck it.

Ferris said quietly. “This is my fault… I thought you wouldn’t leave. I thought you would always wait.”

I just felt your temper was too stubborn and wanted to teach you a lesson. I never meant to hurt you.”

? (5)