Zhan Beijue underwent extensive psychological preparation.
He finally managed to produce a few drops after Min'er had already grown impatient.
Min'er brought the bottle closer, examining it without any hint of disgust.
"You need to drink water. If you don't, you'll die. Don't cause me any trouble."
With that, she took the bottle and left, soon returning with a bowl of water.
"Drink this."
Zhan Beijue was indeed parched.
Although the hand holding the bowl was dirty, with fingernails filled with old, greasy grime, and the water in the bowl had tiny oil slicks floating on its surface, he couldn't afford to be picky now.
Closing his eyes, he gulped it down.
"Ugh..."
The sensation was overwhelming.
Even after the water had reached his stomach, he still felt an urge to vomit.
Min'er was quick to reach out and cover his mouth.
"Don't you dare spit it out. Drink it. I spent a lot of money to save you. If you're going to die, die outside, don't cause me trouble!"
Her hands smelled of oil and smoke, a scent Zhan Beijue couldn't tolerate.
He extended his right hand and pushed hers away, managing to make a sound.
"I won't vomit."
Seeing that he had recovered significantly and could speak in a hoarse voice, Min'er thought, perhaps he could leave in a few days.
"Drink it and go to sleep. I'm leaving."
As she turned to leave with the bowl, Zhan Beijue reached out again.
"Wait!"
"Do you need something else?" Min'er noticed his grip was quite strong.
Zhan Beijue narrowed his eyes, his breathing 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, is this your house?"
Min'er was taken aback by his questions.
She returned, slowly crouched down, and stared at him with her big, dark eyes, scrutinizing him from head to toe.
"Don't tell me you don't remember anything. You don't even know who you are."
Only then did Zhan Beijue realize the implications of his questions.
Had he lost his memory?
Impossible! His mind felt perfectly clear.
But why couldn't he recall who he was?
"So, can you answer my questions now?"
"No," Min'er glared at him impatiently. "You're such a big trouble!"
The blanket stirred, kicking up a gust of dust that made Zhan Beijue close his eyes.
Min'er left the room with light steps.
However, to her surprise, she returned a while later.
She was accompanied by Dami, who had helped treat him a few days prior.
"Quick, help him check if he's genuine or just acting. He claims he doesn't remember anything, is that really possible?"
Dami took a thermometer and, without a word, placed it in Zhan Beijue's mouth.
Then, she began examining his body from head to toe.
"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 Celsius? Oh, my dear Min'er, how long has he had this symptom?"
Her expression of extreme surprise startled Min'er as well.
"I don't know. He was outside all day. I just came back. Heaven knows how long he's been like this."
"What did you feed him?"
"Nothing. He was asleep every time I checked on him the past two days. Apart from medicine, he hasn't eaten or drunk anything."
"Get my stethoscope."
She placed the stethoscope on Zhan Beijue's chest and listened.
"He has severe pulmonary edema, which is why he has a persistent high fever. I can't treat him anymore."
"If it continues like this, he'll either develop pneumonia or meningitis. Before he dies, Min'er, why don't I lend you my car, and you can quickly dump him outside?"
How could this be? Was this man never going to get better?
She had already spent so much money on his treatment, and he still wasn't recovering, continuing to be a burden?
"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 identification? How will you get him admitted to a hospital?"
"And even if you could get him admitted, do you have time to take care of him? With hospital expenses and a caregiver, how much would that cost per day? You'll go bankrupt."
Min'er was out of money.
Her conscience was quickly swayed by Dami's words.
"But my father is upstairs."
"I'll go distract him, then drive the car to the entrance, and we can carry him out together."
"Dami, without you, I truly don't know what I would do!"
"Stop talking like that. Get ready, I'm going up now."
Dami left, and Min'er, without a second thought, pulled the coat off Zhan Beijue and tucked it under his back.
As she tied 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 protect you."
Soon, Dami returned.
The two women dragged him to the doorway using the coat, one supporting his arms, the other lifting his right leg, exerting all their might to get him upstairs.
Although the basement room was dilapidated and dirty, making it uncomfortable to stay in, Zhan Beijue's will to survive prevented him from wanting to be thrown outside.
He wanted to open his mouth and beg Min'er not to abandon him.
But as the two women struggled to move him, his whole body felt like it was tearing apart, and he simply couldn't speak.
The two women then stuffed him into the car.
Driving at full speed, Min'er brought him to a dense forest.
She didn't turn off the engine, and the car's headlights illuminated the surroundings, making them seem less eerie.
Min'er went to the rear door and opened it. She saw Zhan Beijue looking at her with open eyes and had to steel herself to apologize.
"I didn't mean to abandon you. It's your injuries that are too severe. I will pray for divine protection for you. Goodbye."
Saying this, she placed her hands under his armpits and forcefully tried to drag him out.
Zhan Beijue desperately lifted his right hand and tapped her hand with his fingers.
"What? What are you saying?"
A very faint sound seemed to come from his throat.
Min'er lowered her head and leaned closer to his mouth.
Zhan Beijue spoke to her in a very weak voice.
"I only need fever-reducing medicine. Please."
"I will repay you."
Min'er honked the horn, and Dami quickly ran out from the house.
Approaching the car, she asked Min'er guardedly.
"Did you get rid of him? Where did you leave him? No one saw, right?"
Min'er got out of the car, closed the driver's cabin, and silently opened the back seat.
Dami gasped, covering her mouth.
"Why did you bring him back again? Aren't you afraid of going bankrupt, Min'er!"
"Let him stay at your place temporarily. I'll take on an extra job and try my best to pay for the caregiver and medical expenses."
"Dami, my faith doesn't allow me to abandon him."
"Oh, poor Min'er. How could your father raise such a good child?"
Dami's resolve crumbled instantly.
"Alright, I won't charge you for caregiving. You only need to pay the medical fees. Let him come in."
The two women then jointly lifted Zhan Beijue and carried him into Dami's basement.