Near Death

On the somewhat deserted roads of Shushi, a silver-green taxi sped along at high speed.

But when it reached an intersection, it suddenly slammed on the brakes.

"Sorry, kid, this is as far as I can take you."

The driver said apologetically, "You heard the broadcast just now. The Jinjiang water source has been contaminated by the virus, and getting too close makes it easy to become infected."

"The villa district you're headed to is right next to the Jinjiang. I really can't drive any farther."

Wu Ming was frantic, but he still patiently said it was fine.

After paying the fare, he immediately got out and ran toward Jinjiang Waterside.

More than fifty minutes had passed since Wu Ming left the airport. After sprinting all the way, he finally reached the area near Jinjiang Waterside.

There were still three or four kilometers ahead, but with his current physical condition, a full-speed sprint took only a few minutes. He soon arrived outside Ruan Qingzhu's home and rang the doorbell.

However, the person who came to open the door caught him by surprise.

"Mom?" Wu Ming froze for a moment. "Why are you here?"

"I only arrived not long ago myself. Yueling asked me to come take a look." Shen Xinglan stepped aside to let him in. "Come in first. No need to change your shoes. Qingzhu's condition isn't looking good."

As they walked inside, Wu Ming asked, "How serious is it? Hasn't she been taken to the hospital for an examination?"

"Every hospital in the city is packed today. They simply don't have enough staff." Shen Xinglan shook her head. "Especially the wealthy people living near the Jinjiang—almost all of them have been infected. There aren't even enough VIP beds to go around."

"And Qingzhu isn't in any condition to be moved. I gave her a rough examination just now. Her symptoms are already nearing the late stage, and her genes are on the verge of collapse."

Wu Ming's pupils contracted. "How could it be this serious? Isn't the special medicine working?"

As they spoke, they had already reached the stairs. Ruan Qingzhu's room was on the second floor.

"How could it not work?" Shen Xinglan sighed helplessly. "But the special medicine isn't omnipotent. It's more effective against early symptoms, but Qingzhu was already deeply infected when she was discovered."

"It's too late for medicine now. The temporary boost to cellular activity can only barely sustain her life. Once the effects wear off, Qingzhu's genes will collapse immediately."

"Although I gave her an injection of enhancer just now, it only treats the symptoms, not the root cause."

When they reached the door, she suddenly lowered her voice. "A-Ming, you need to prepare yourself. Qingzhu... may not make it through today."

Wu Ming's face darkened. He said nothing and simply pushed open the door.

Inside the room, Ruan Qingzhu lay pale-faced on the bed, completely unconscious. Miao Yueling kept watch beside her, her eyes red and swollen, while Ruan Zaixing paced back and forth across the room.

When he saw Wu Ming enter, he stopped. The usual wariness in his eyes was gone, leaving only exhaustion and a sigh.

"You're here? Go take a look." He patted Wu Ming on the shoulder. "Qingzhu... doesn't have much time left."

At the bedside, Miao Yueling willingly gave up her place so he could get a clearer look at Ruan Qingzhu's condition.

Wu Ming lowered his eyes and saw that his childhood sweetheart's cheeks were nearly bloodless. Her lips were cracked, her eye sockets slightly sunken, and her once-black, silky hair lay scattered across the pillow, stripped of its former sheen.

He stood blankly beside the bed as memories kept flashing through his mind.

The Ruan Qingzhu in his memories had always been lively and vibrant—whether she was slapping the table in the attic and glaring at him, smiling beneath the winter sun, or puffing up her cheeks when she was angry.

But the person lying here now was frail, pale, and barely breathing, nothing like an eighteen-year-old girl in the prime of youth.

It felt as though something had lightly pierced his chest, leaving behind a faint sting and a bitter ache.

Wu Ming withdrew his gaze and hesitated no longer.

"Let me try."

The moment those words fell, the three people in the room were all stunned.

Miao Yueling looked up, tears still lingering in her swollen eyes. Ruan Zaixing also stopped pacing and looked suspiciously at the young man he had always regarded with a degree of scrutiny.

Only Shen Xinglan seemed to recall something, and her eyes suddenly lit up.

"I have a special ability." Wu Ming did not beat around the bush. "It awakened after I was infected with the RR Virus. It allows me to sense the existence of the RR Virus and control it to a certain extent."

"A special ability?" The husband and wife both looked confused and could not help exchanging glances.

"Xiaoming, are you telling the truth?" Miao Yueling hesitated. "It's not that I don't believe you, but special abilities... don't sound very scientific."

"It's true. I can prove it."

Shen Xinglan suddenly spoke. "I'm not supporting him just because we're mother and son. A-Ming himself is a nationally certified RR Virus expert."

"Do you remember the epidemic prevention handbook published a few days ago? The four core points in it were all proposed by A-Ming, and the country adopted every one of them."

She paused, her tone growing more solemn. "This time, the Epidemic Prevention Division is being upgraded into the Epidemic Prevention Department. To be honest, I benefited from A-Ming as well."

"From what I know of him, if A-Ming is willing to try, perhaps he really does have some confidence."

Her gaze swept over Ruan Zaixing and Miao Yueling as she said seriously, "The situation is already like this. What harm is there in trying? What if it actually works?"

Hearing that, the two exchanged another glance. This time, hope suddenly lit up in their eyes.

Ruan Zaixing looked at his daughter, whose breathing was growing weaker and weaker, then at the young man he had watched grow up. His lips trembled a few times before his knees bent, and he was about to kneel.

"Uncle Ruan, what are you doing?"

Wu Ming reacted quickly, grabbing his arm and forcibly hauling him back up.

"She's my only daughter." Ruan Zaixing's eyes were red, his voice hoarse. "Xiaoming, Uncle Ruan is begging you. As long as you can save her, I'll agree to any condition."

"Uncle Ruan." Wu Ming supported him, his expression solemn. "Qingzhu and I grew up together. With that bond between us, there's no need for any conditions. I'll do everything I can to save her."

"Good boy, good boy." Ruan Zaixing tightly gripped his arm, his eyes moist. "Qingzhu is in your hands."

"Brother Ruan." Before Wu Ming could respond, Shen Xinglan suddenly spoke from the side. "There's something I need to make clear to you first. Qingzhu's condition is already extremely critical. Even if the best experts in the country stepped in, the chances of success would be less than ten percent."

"Although A-Ming has special methods, he cannot guarantee absolute success either. So... I have to say this beforehand."

She paused and looked between them. "Even if A-Ming fails, I hope you won't blame him."

"Of course." Ruan Zaixing nodded heavily without the slightest hesitation.