Zhan Bei Jue underwent a long period of psychological preparation.
It was so long that Min Er grew impatient before he managed to produce a few drops.
Min Er brought the bottle closer to her eyes and examined it, showing no disdain for him.
"You need to drink water. If you don't drink, you'll die. Don't cause me trouble."
With that, she took the bottle and walked out, quickly returning with a bowl of water.
"Drink this."
Zhan Bei Jue was indeed extremely thirsty.
Although the hand holding the bowl was dirty, with layers of old, greasy grime between his fingers, and the water in the bowl was dotted with oil slicks.
But he couldn't afford to be picky now.
Closing his eyes, he gulped it down.
"Ugh..."
The feeling was overwhelming.
Even after the water had gone down to his stomach, he still felt nauseous and wanted to vomit it out.
Min Er quickly reached out and covered his mouth.
"Don't you dare vomit. Drink it all. I spent a lot of money to save you. If you're going to die, die outside. Don't cause me trouble!"
Her hand reeked of cooking oil, and Zhan Bei Jue couldn't stand the smell.
He extended his right hand and pushed her away, trying his best to make a sound.
"I won't vomit."
Seeing that he had recovered considerably and could speak in a hoarse voice,
Min Er thought: Perhaps in a few more days, she could let him leave.
"Go to sleep after you've finished. I'm leaving."
As he held the bowl and turned to leave, Zhan Bei Jue reached out again.
"Wait!"
"Do you need something else?" Min Er noticed his grip was quite strong.
Zhan Bei Jue narrowed his eyes, his breath weak, and asked intermittently.
"You don't recognize me?"
"What?"
"I mean, who are you? Where is this? Why am I here? You don't seem to know me well. Is this your home?"
Min Er was stunned by his questions.
She returned, slowly crouched down, and stared at him with her big, dark eyes, examining him from head to toe.
"Don't tell me you don't remember anything. You don't even know who you are."
Zhan Bei Jue finally realized what his previous questions implied.
Had he lost his memory?
Impossible! His mind was perfectly clear.
But why couldn't he remember who he was?
"So, can you answer my questions from before?"
"No." Min Er glared at him impatiently. "You're such a big trouble!"
The blanket stirred up another puff of dust, making Zhan Bei Jue close his eyes.
Min Er left the room with light steps.
But unexpectedly, she returned a while later.
Following her was Da Mei, who had helped treat him a few days prior.
"Quickly, help him check if he's real or acting. He says he doesn't remember anything. Can this really happen?"
Da Mei took a thermometer and, without a word, put it in Zhan Bei Jue's mouth.
Then, with her hands all over him, she began to examine his body.
"The head injury isn't serious. It shouldn't cause amnesia from concussion, unless a fever has damaged his brain. Let me check his temperature now."
"Thirty-nine point four degrees? My poor Min Er, how long has he had this symptom?"
Her overly surprised reaction startled Min Er as well.
"I don't know. I was outside all day and just came back. Heaven knows how long it's been."
"What did you give him to eat?"
"Nothing. For the past two days, he was always sleeping when I checked on him. He ate or drank nothing but medicine."
"Get me my stethoscope."
She placed the stethoscope on Zhan Bei Jue's chest and listened.
"He has severe fluid buildup in his lungs, hence the persistent high fever. I can't treat him anymore."
"If this continues, he'll either develop pneumonia or meningitis. Since he's not dead yet, Min Er, why don't I lend you my car? You can quickly take him out and dump him."
How could this be? Was this man never going to end?
She had already spent so much money to treat him, and he still wasn't getting better, continuing to burden her?
"Does treating pneumonia and meningitis cost a lot?"
"Of course. Such severe illnesses require hospitalization. Not to mention you're undocumented, does he have any identity? How would you get him admitted?"
"And even if you could get him admitted, do you have time to take care of him? The hospital expenses plus a caregiver would cost at least how much per day? You'll go bankrupt."
Min Er had no money.
She was quickly swayed by her words, her conscience pricked.
"But my father is upstairs right now."
"I'll help you distract him, then drive the car to the entrance, and we'll carry him out together."
"Da Mei, without you, I really don't know what I would do!"
"Stop talking about it. Get ready, I'm going up."
Da Mei left, and Min Er, without a second thought, pulled the coat off Zhan Bei Jue and tucked it under his back.
Then, while tying him up, she muttered.
"Don't blame me for being heartless. Blame yourself for being too much trouble. I can't help you. May God bless you."
Soon, Da Mei returned.
The two of them dragged him to the door of the room with the coat, each holding an arm and lifting a leg, desperately getting him upstairs.
Although the basement room was dilapidated and dirty, making it uncomfortable to live in, Zhan Bei Jue's survival instinct kicked in, and he didn't want to be abandoned outside.
He wanted to open his mouth and beg Min Er not to abandon him.
But as the two women desperately pulled him, his whole body felt like it was about to split, and he couldn't speak.
The two women then shoved him into the car.
Driving at high speed, Min Er took him to a dense forest.
Without turning off the engine, the car's headlights illuminated the surroundings, making it seem less eerie.
Min Er went to the rear door, opened it, and found Zhan Bei Jue looking at her with open eyes. She could only harden her heart and apologize.
"I didn't mean to abandon you. It's your fault for being too badly injured. I will pray for God's blessing. Goodbye."
With that, she slipped her hands under his armpits and tried to drag him down.
Zhan Bei Jue desperately raised his right hand and tapped her hand with his fingers.
"What? What did you say?"
A faint sound seemed to come from his throat.
Min Er lowered her head and leaned close to his mouth.
Only then did Zhan Bei Jue speak in a very weak voice.
"I just need fever reducers. Please."
"I will repay you."
Min Er honked the horn, and Da Mei quickly ran out from the house.
Coming to the car, she asked Min Er warily.
"Already dumped? Where did you dump him? No one saw, right?"
Min Er got out of the car, closed the driver's cabin, and silently opened the back seat.
Da Mei gasped and covered her mouth.
"Why did you bring him back again? Aren't you afraid of going bankrupt, Min Er!"
"Let him stay at your place for now. I'll work an extra job and try my best to pay you the caregiver fees and medical expenses."
"Da Mei, my faith doesn't allow me to abandon him."
"Oh, poor Min Er. How could your father raise such a good child like you?"
Da Mei's composure instantly broke.
"Alright, I won't charge you for the caregiver. You only need to pay the medical expenses. Let him in."
The two women then worked together to lift Zhan Bei Jue into Da Mei's basement.