Another year had come around, and the New Year was here.
Without realizing it, the serialization of The Way of the Carefree had entered its third year. When I first started writing it, I'd never imagined that would happen.
I'd originally planned to finish it in September 2022. I'd even told my editor as much, but for one reason or another, I'd taken leave again and again, setting the schedule way back.
Especially since the New Year, my updates had been downright pathetic because of my recovery from COVID...
Actually, in early December last year, as soon as Natie heard that restrictions were being lifted, he started stocking up and shut himself indoors.
He figured that no matter what, he had to hold out until the story was finished. That way, even if he caught the virus afterward, it wouldn't affect the final stretch.
But all it took was opening the door to pick up a package. He was wearing a mask, and he disinfected the package right away...
By noon the next day, his temperature had climbed to 38°C. The operations manager, Ye Huo, said the virus made fevers spike quickly. He was right: two hours later, it had reached 40°C.
Looking back, he really should have gone in for an IV that day.
But he was far too weak, and his family had caught it too. Forget going to the hospital—he didn't even have the strength to get out of bed and pour himself a glass of water.
The next day, he felt something was wrong. Natie's heart started racing faster and faster, so he began calling around. In the end, after waiting in line at a clinic for two or three hours, he finally got an IV.
At that point, aside from the fever, Natie had no