“Shen Xi Fan has a fever and is feeling discomfort in her heart. What’s going on? Does she need to go to the hospital?”
His professional instincts immediately brought to mind the worst-case scenarios of possible illnesses. His mind went blank, and a chill coursed through his body. It felt as if a massive stone had crashed onto his chest, leaving him shaken and terrified. His voice turned hoarse and dry. “Is she in her dorm now? Besides those symptoms, is there vomiting or difficulty breathing?”
“No other symptoms for now. She’s lying in bed and has fallen asleep. But today I noticed she looked awful, like she’d stayed up for days.”
He let out a long breath, but the tension gripping him refused to ease. “I understand. I’ll head there right away.”
Lin Yi Shen hesitated. “It’s snowing heavily here, and it’s so late…”
Before he could finish, He Su Ye cut him off with firm resolve. “No problem. Keep an eye on her. If anything happens, send her to the hospital immediately. I’ll be there as soon as I can!”
After hanging up, he realized his palms were damp with sweat, and his hands and feet felt frozen stiff. He flexed them a few times to regain sensation, hurriedly briefed his team on the work progress, grabbed his coat, and left the research institute.
The sky was dark and heavy, mirroring the weight in his heart. His breathing grew unsteady, and only one thought raced through his mind: Shen Xi Fan, nothing can happen to you. Please be okay. I’m coming.
* * *
Endless darkness and solitude enveloped her, accompanied only by the howling wind and the soft sound of snow falling. Time stretched indefinitely in her fevered sleep. In her dreams, she saw him walking through the swirling snow, his features as handsome as ever, yet his entire presence exuded a distant, icy aura devoid of life.
She ran toward him with all her strength, gripped by a bone-deep fear. He seemed so close—just within reach—yet no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t touch him. Helplessly, she watched him gradually fade away, his footprints vanishing as if he had never been there.
She called his name, begging him not to leave her alone. The air was thick with the despair of unfulfilled longing.
The vast world was silent, offering no response. Only the stark whiteness of falling snow remained, and the wind, hoarse and piercing, seemed to mock her. Alone in the snow, she stood, directionless and numb, unable even to cry.
Then, slowly, she heard a voice—urgent, deep, and familiar. “Hey, wake up! What’s wrong?”
A drop of warm liquid slid from the corner of her eye, soaking into her hair. Through her blurry vision, she saw his furrowed brow, his eyes filled with worry and anxiety.
She couldn’t speak. Tears began to fall uncontrollably, not just from the nightmare but from all the pent-up frustration and longing of the past days. His embrace was as warm as ever, and in that moment, only one thought consumed her: Why am I always so fragile, always crying in front of him?
Outside the window, the snowfall painted the night sky in hues of serene beauty. It was as if the most delicate feathers of a white bird were gracefully cascading down—a beauty beyond words.
Everything in the world seemed alive and beautiful, simply because of the man before her. In that instant, she finally understood just how much he meant to her.
* * *
Once she had calmed down, He Su Ye asked, “How many nights have you stayed up? This fever of yours is caused by exhaustion. When Lin Yi Shen described your symptoms over the phone, I was scared out of my mind.”
“Lin Yi Shen?” Shen Xi Fan widened her eyes. “He called you? How does he know you?”
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