CHAPTER 35: CHAPTER 30 SUSPECTED MUTATION

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Li Jingyi was busy and didn’t pay much attention when she heard what Xiao Lin said, nodding, "Hmm, go!"

The students waiting in the office were a bit puzzled, but looking at the girl’s appearance, it did seem quite serious. The school infirmary was a very simple hospital, lacking many examination items, so it didn’t cause much of a stir. However, some girls came here just to see Xiao Lin and secretly felt jealous of the girl named Tong Tong for receiving such care from Xiao Lin.

Others were jealous of Tong Tong, but Tong Tong was scared out of her wits inside and followed Xiao Lin nervously out of the hospital. Xiao Lin stopped, turned to Tong Tong, and asked, "Tong Tong, do you know the HTC4 virus?"

Tong Tong’s face turned pale suddenly. How could she not know about the HTC4 virus? Four years ago, the outbreak of this virus was in her hometown, Weizhou City, Jingliang Province. Over a thousand people died within a week, and that was just the official numbers. Who knows how many truly died from the epidemic?

Tong Tong’s body trembled a little, her pale face eliciting a protective urge in others. She nodded with difficulty, her mouth dry, and said, "Dr. Xiao... are you saying I... I am infected with this virus?"

"You weren’t infected four years ago?" Xiao Lin looked relieved. From what he read last night, those currently infected with the mutated HTC4 virus were all patients who carried the virus four years ago. Back then, carriers of this virus in Jingliang Province and surrounding areas numbered in the millions, but fortunately, this virus wasn’t acute; otherwise, the death toll would have been far higher.

"No, no, definitely not!" Tong Tong shook her head instinctively, thought for a moment, and continued, "No one in my family was infected with this virus either!"

"No one in your family had this virus?" Xiao Lin pondered for a moment. If she hadn’t been infected with the HTC4 virus four years ago, she wouldn’t be infected with the mutated virus now. This was relatively good news.

"No one in my family!" Tong Tong thought carefully, seeing Xiao Lin’s slightly relaxed expression, she also relaxed a bit. But thinking about it further, she said, "However, before the HTC4 virus outbreak, a relative came to our house, and after it broke out, that relative died from the epidemic. But our family was quarantined, yet no one got infected with the virus!"

"Alright then, let’s go!" Xiao Lin’s heart tightened again. If the girl in front of him was infected with the HTC4 virus, that would be manageable. After all, a special medication was developed for it a few years ago, but now her symptoms were very similar to the clinical symptoms of the HTC4 virus.

"Dr. Xiao, I don’t have the HTC4 virus, do I?" Tong Tong’s voice sounded again, this time almost on the verge of tears.

Xiao Lin was quite helpless. He couldn’t be sure whether she had the virus, it was just a preliminary suspicion. In fact, Xiao Lin hoped she did have this virus because it had a special medication. The last thing he wanted was for her to have the mutated HTC4 virus.

"I hope you have the HTC4 virus!" Xiao Lin didn’t hide it from her.

Tong Tong nearly stumbled upon hearing this. Xiao Lin quickly reached out to support her. Tong Tong cried, "Dr. Xiao, I don’t want to have this virus!"

"Tong Tong, if you do have this virus, you should feel fortunate because a special medication was developed for it years ago, and it’s not hard to treat!" Xiao Lin didn’t know how to comfort girls, so he spoke matter-of-factly.

Tong Tong was initially scared because she had experienced the terrifying scenes when the virus broke out. But then she remembered that the virus was effectively controlled a few years ago, and a special medication was developed, so she felt at ease. Yet after hearing Xiao Lin’s words, her heart grew heavy again.

"Dr. Xiao, why don’t you ever finish your sentences? Are you implying that if it’s not the HTC4 virus, then I have a more serious virus in my body?" Having been scared a few times, Tong Tong was much calmer, speaking fluently, perhaps accepting her fate.

While supporting Tong Tong, Xiao Lin answered, "It’s quite possible. Have you called your family these past two days? Last night on the news, there was an update about the mutated HTC4 virus. Dozens of experts have gone to Jingliang Province, similar to what happened four years ago. However, the symptoms for confirming this mutated virus haven’t been announced yet, so it’s just my suspicion!"

"Since it’s not confirmed yet, why are we going to the First Affiliated Hospital now?" Tong Tong asked, then looked at Xiao Lin in surprise, "Xiao Lin, where are we going? Isn’t it straight ahead to the First Affiliated Hospital?"

"To my place, I have a way to confirm what kind of virus you have!" Xiao Lin said.

"Dr. Xiao, what are you going to do?" Tong Tong got nervous, shrugging off Xiao Lin’s hand from her shoulder.

Xiao Lin was a bit bewildered, then slightly blushed and awkwardly smiled, "What are you thinking!"

Xiao Lin thought that since this mutated virus was on the news last night, the authorities must have understood the conditions for confirming the mutation, and it should be on their internal website now. Supporting Tong Tong back home was to confirm her condition through the internet.

Tong Tong was just momentarily agitated and regretted her words, looking at Xiao Lin’s handsome face, the type girls liked—tall and gentle in speech. How could he be interested in her? Even if she wasn’t sickly, she couldn’t catch Dr. Xiao’s eye.

"Sorry, Dr. Xiao, I..." Tong Tong didn’t know what to say, lowering her head.

Xiao Lin didn’t mind and didn’t try to support her again, just smiled, "Let’s go!"

Soon, Xiao Lin brought Tong Tong to the dormitory building. Tong Tong asked in surprise, "Dr. Xiao, you live here? How can a school hospital doctor live here?" Typically, doctors from the school hospital belong to the First Affiliated Hospital of Yan University, and they usually live in the hospital’s residential area.

"I rented it. A professor from Yan University recently retired, and their family moved to the suburbs, so they rented out the place!" Xiao Lin explained.

Back at the rented place, Tong Tong was amazed at the room’s decoration and layout, worthy of a Yan University professor’s home. Xiao Lin poured a glass of water for Tong Tong, saying, "Sit here for a moment. I’ll go check the information!" He said and turned to enter the room.

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