Dami's basement was much cleaner than Min'er's.
It wasn't even comparable.
The floor was covered with beige tatami mats, and there were many cute baby items scattered around.
Although there was no sunlight, the soft color scheme still gave a warm feeling.
After Zhan Beijue came down, Dami even brought him a down quilt that smelled of laundry detergent.
Zhan Beijue finally managed to get a comfortable night's sleep.
The next morning, his head still hurt, and he woke up thirsty.
He didn't know how to address Dami, nor if she could hear him, so he could only endure the thirst.
He waited for her to come down and find him.
After an unknown amount of time, Min'er's faint voice finally reached him.
A moment later, she entered the basement, chatting with Dami.
When the light was turned on, seeing her dirty and frail appearance again, Zhan Beijue felt a surge of emotion.
Min'er softly said to Dami.
"He's not dead, is he? Is he still running a fever? I just got off work and brought you money, and I came to check on him."
"Just got off work? You didn't sleep all night?"
"No, I found a night shift cashier job at a convenience store. Since I couldn't sleep soundly at home anyway, and it's less crowded there, I can even catch a nap. It's quite good."
Dami earnestly advised her.
"Min'er, even though you're young, you can't keep doing this. You'll wear your body out."
"Who told me to be unlucky enough to run into him? Let's save him first."
Saying that, she squatted down and reached out to touch Zhan Beijue's forehead.
"It's so hot. The fever hasn't broken yet."
Dami held a syringe and gave Zhan Beijue an injection, then brought a cup of water and some pills.
"I've used all the medicine I could. Whether he can make it through now depends on his own physical condition and immunity."
"Don't be too scared. If it really doesn't work out, and he dies here, I'll help you keep it a secret."
"Then, when no one is around, we'll drag him into the mountains and bury him. I guarantee no one will know."
At this point, that was the only way to think.
"Come on, wake him up and let him take his medicine."
Min'er patted Zhan Beijue's face with her hand and called him.
"Hey, wake up, it's time to take your medicine."
Zhan Beijue slowly opened his eyes, looked at her, then at Dami, and slightly opened his mouth.
After taking the medicine and half a cup of water, he still felt thirsty.
"I need more water."
He said to Min'er in a hoarse and weak voice.
Min'er immediately stood up: "Wait, I'll pour you some."
"I'll go," Dami said, taking the teacup and walking out first.
Seeing Zhan Beijue's lips cracked from dryness, his expression vacant, his eyes hazy, looking like he was close to death.
Min'er took the canvas bag from behind her and took out a lip balm, applying it to his lips.
Then she warned him.
"Don't die. Be strong. No matter what happened before, since you've made it this far, keep fighting."
"I'll work hard to earn money to treat you. Otherwise, if you die here, I'll be in trouble too."
Zhan Beijue didn't understand his relationship with Min'er, or why she was so afraid of him dying.
If he died, she would have to dispose of his body.
He wanted to ask.
But his mental state didn't allow him to speak much.
Just then, Dami returned with the teacup. Min'er carefully let him drink the water, then told him.
"I have to go now. I'll be working all day and won't be back until tonight. Do you need to use the restroom?"
"If you do, I'll help you now. If not, you'll have to wait all day or find Dami. Choose one."
Dami's family was better off than Min'er's.
This time, they didn't use a cola bottle.
Dami gave her a small plastic basin, and Min'er helped him use it.
Afterward, Min'er even enthusiastically showed the basin to Dami.
"So little, and so yellow. Does he need to drink more water? He hasn't eaten for days, should I get him something to eat?"
Dami said, "He definitely needs to drink more water. I'll give him more today, don't worry. But about eating..."
Min'er understood.
Dami was a divorced single mother with three children.
To take care of her children, she had given up her job as a nurse at the hospital.
Now she lived solely on subsidies and by treating neighbors.
Her life was also very difficult, and she couldn't possibly help care for a patient for free.
"I'll bring back lunch. Tell me what he can eat, and I'll bring it back."
Dami told her a few dishes, and they chatted as they walked away.
After taking his medicine, Zhan Beijue became drowsy and soon fell asleep again.
Min'er worked in a Chinese restaurant. To save costs, the owner made her both a waitress and a dishwasher in the kitchen.
She only had half an hour of rest time at noon.
However, the restaurant was not far from home.
When it was time for her break, Min'er, without even eating herself, rushed back with some leftover food from customers.
She divided some beef and lamb and the better-looking dishes to Dami.
Then, she took a portion of pigeon soup and some vegetarian dishes down to the basement herself.
Zhan Beijue was woken up by her.
Min'er opened the food containers, and the long-lost aroma of food filled the entire basement.
She proudly waved the milky white pigeon soup, which she had carefully prepared, in front of Zhan Beijue.
"I specifically made pigeon soup today to help heal your wounds. Get up and drink it."
"You haven't eaten for days, you must be very hungry, right? There's also some rice. What do you want to eat first?"
His wounds hadn't been properly disinfected after being stitched up, and Zhan Beijue's left side of his face and eye were swollen.
He hadn't showered for days, his body smelled bad, and he hadn't brushed his teeth.
His face was swollen like a pig's head, and he was dirty and smelly. At such a time, Min'er didn't find him repulsive and even fed him?
The continuous high fever made Zhan Beijue lose his appetite, and he didn't feel hungry at all.
But his survival instinct told him that he had to eat something, no matter what, to strengthen his immunity and fight the virus.
So, with great difficulty, he allowed Min'er to serve him: "I want to drink it all."
Eating while lying down was troublesome, and the soup would often spill from the corners of his mouth.
Just feeding him soup and rice took up most of the time.
There were some miscellaneous side dishes left in the containers. Seeing that she had to go to work soon, Min'er shoveled them all into her mouth in less than 20 seconds.
Then she said to Zhan Beijue.
"I'm out of time, I have to go to work. You rest well. If you need anything, call Dami for help."
"I'll place a basin here by your hand. If you can't get her attention, just knock. She'll come down when she hears it."
After saying that, she placed a small stainless steel basin to Zhan Beijue's right.
Then she picked up a discarded toy stick from the floor for him.
"Alright, I'm leaving."
It was the same pair of shoes, dirty and smelly.
But Zhan Beijue suddenly didn't feel disgusted anymore.
And he finally understood why she was so unhygienic.
Working 24 hours non-stop.
At such a young age, why was she so busy?