Chapter 8: Nausea
Lin Yan Qiu wasn’t her biological sister, of course.
But theirs wasn’t some strange relationship either.
Though it was a bit odd, legally speaking, they were indeed “sisters.”
Lin Yan Qiu was the only daughter of the family that had adopted Hua Qi’an.
Now, with that family’s couple both deceased, Lin Yan Qiu—who had already entered society—had naturally taken on the role of “guardian.”
One reason Hua Qi’an chose to attend university in this city was Lin Yan Qiu’s presence here.
If it were just tuition and living expenses, Hua Qi’an could’ve scraped by on subsidies and scholarships, pinching pennies.
But no—Hua Qi’an was a sickly thing.
A good chunk of the “debt” to Lin Yan Qiu was medical bills.
“You’re in better shape now than when we first met.”
The hospital gown hung loose on Hua Qi’an’s frame, but from her vantage, Lin Yan Qiu could still glimpse the parts it hid.
Compared to that initial skeletal, almost abused-looking state, Hua Qi’an had indeed put on a bit of weight under her care.
“Mmm… So I’ve always been grateful to you, Sister.”
“I want to repay you.”
Hua Qi’an said this, gazing earnestly at Lin Yan Qiu.
Those eyes now reflected only Lin Yan Qiu’s figure.
The latter clearly ate it up; her lips curved upward unconsciously, betraying her mood.
But it wasn’t a lie—Hua Qi’an truly was grateful to Lin Yan Qiu and would repay her given the chance.
The reason she’d taken that part-time job was to minimize the debt buildup, ease the burden on her life, and spare Lin Yan Qiu further expense on her behalf.
Someday, once she’d saved up the full amount, she’d clear the slate in one go, settling the favor.
She’d tried returning some money once, from a scholarship; the icy look on Lin Yan Qiu’s face when she took it had made Hua Qi’an uneasy.
She wasn’t sure what had upset her, but Lin Yan Qiu’s attitude had soured for a stretch.
Hua Qi’an had scrapped the slow-repayment plan in favor of a slow-save-to-repay one.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Hua Qi’an looked down at the warm meal in her hands.
It was mostly light vegetable dishes—the kind she’d once told Lin Yan Qiu she liked.
When Lin Yan Qiu wasn’t angry, she was actually pretty good to her.
She patted her stomach.
Though she’d been out cold for nearly a day, for some reason, she didn’t feel particularly hungry.
“Repay me?”
“Just don’t go flirting around causing trouble, and that’ll be repayment enough.”
Lin Yan Qiu bit down hard on “flirting,” as if that wasn’t quite the word she truly meant.
But Hua Qi’an felt utterly innocent about it.
She only put on an act for Lin Yan Qiu and a few others; most of the time on campus, she was that blank-faced dead-fish look.
Even so, it didn’t stop admirers from buzzing around her.
Lin Yan Qiu seemed to despise all those suitors.
Hua Qi’an scooped up a spoonful of the meal Lin Yan Qiu brought and shoved it into her mouth.
Food to block her mouth, refusing to engage on the topic.
“It’s not mealtime yet; I had the cafeteria make this specially.”
Lin Yan Qiu sat in the chair by the bed, propping her head on one hand as she watched Hua Qi’an eat.
“These should all be dishes you like, right?”
Hua Qi’an didn’t reply, just chewed her food and nodded.
The room quieted.
For a stretch, only their breathing mingled with the sounds of chewing and swallowing.
Lin Yan Qiu just watched her eat in silence like that.
“…”
She’d only eaten half when Hua Qi’an stopped, setting the spoon flat across the container and staring mutely at the remnants.
Noticing the oddity, Lin Yan Qiu frowned unconsciously.
“Not to your taste?”
Her gaze shifted to Hua Qi’an’s face, and she froze.
“Xiao An?”
Without pressing her further, Lin Yan Qiu stood and took the thermal box from her hands.
The food still gave off the fresh, crisp aroma of vegetables; nothing seemed off about it.
But Hua Qi’an’s current state was clearly wrong.
She set the box casually on the bedside table and rose.
Frowning, she jabbed the call button for the nurses’ station several times in quick succession.
Hua Qi’an’s already pale lips now looked nearly bloodless.
She wasn’t okay right now.
The first few bites had gone down fine, but as the food slid down her throat, for some reason, an indescribable nausea slammed into her whole body.
Something churned in her stomach.
She wanted to vomit…
But why?
She hadn’t eaten anything all yesterday.
Urgh…
Hua Qi’an clapped a hand over her mouth and dry-heaved a few times.
Nothing came up.
But she could feel the recent bites lodged in her esophagus, right on the verge, refusing to emerge.
A nauseating dizziness spun her vision.
But she was absolutely certain the food wasn’t what was making her sick.
A side effect from waking after unconsciousness?
Chaotic footsteps sounded from outside.
The head nurse-looking figure rushed in somewhat flustered but composed herself at the door, offering a slight bow to the room’s occupants.
“Professor, you…”
Lin Yan Qiu waved her off impatiently, cutting short the pleasantries.
“My sister’s face looks off.”
As she spoke, she leaned down to support Hua Qi’an, softening her tone a fraction.
“Can you walk?”
The head nurse at the door nodded in understanding.
“I’ll contact the medical department right away.”
With that, she hurried off in a jog.
A couple of nurses who’d come with the head nurse now stepped forward to check on Hua Qi’an.
Lin Yan Qiu handed the IV bag to a nurse and personally helped Hua Qi’an up.
So cold…
Lin Yan Qiu glanced down at the hand she held—Hua Qi’an’s.
Unlike normal warmth, Hua Qi’an’s body temperature always ran cool.
But now, her palm felt outright icy.
“Xiao An…”
To say Lin Yan Qiu wasn’t worried would be a lie.
“…”
Hua Qi’an, mid-movement, suddenly halted, head bowed to stare at her feet.
Lin Yan Qiu and the nurses stopped too, waiting for her response.
Thud.
The sound of bone meeting floor.
Before Lin Yan Qiu could react, Hua Qi’an had crumpled to her knees in misery, hand clamped over her mouth.
Lin Yan Qiu signaled the nurse to keep holding the IV and swiftly grabbed the trash bin every room had, shoving it in front of Hua Qi’an.
“Cough, cough, cough…”
The few bites from lunch came up entirely.
Not even ten minutes since she’d eaten; they looked just as they had going down.
Lin Yan Qiu crouched beside her, gently patting her back.
“Getting it out should make you feel better…”
But even after vomiting the food, Hua Qi’an’s color remained poor.
With the meal expelled, her subsequent heaves brought up only sour bile.
No… that wasn’t right…
The churning in her stomach hadn’t eased at all…
“Mmm…”
Hua Qi’an pressed one hand to her chest; the nausea made even breathing labored.
She couldn’t seem to get it out…
“Need help?”
Lin Yan Qiu’s calm voice came suddenly from above.
Hua Qi’an looked up to see that sharp-featured face.
She couldn’t read what Lin Yan Qiu meant by the question, but she nodded anyway, clueless.
If it was to help her… it should be fine, right?
With permission granted, Lin Yan Qiu’s expression turned oddly intrigued as she released her supporting hold.
She fished an unopened pack of medical gloves from her pocket, tore it open, and pulled out one.
Her slender fingers stood out distinctly under the milky latex.
Hua Qi’an stared blankly at Lin Yan Qiu.
“I’ll induce it for you.”
“Open your mouth.”
The latex scent filled her mouth as the two sheathed, slender fingers pressed down along her tongue root.
The tip of her tongue brushed the glove—slightly cool.
Hua Qi’an was forced to tilt her head back; the pressure triggered instinctive spasms in her stomach, making her whole body jerk in fits.
“Eek—”
Her pupils dilated for an instant as the foreign intrusion surged up her throat like a climber.
An unstoppable itch wrapped around her esophagus.
Hua Qi’an instinctively clutched at the clothes of the person before her.
The IV in her left hand inverted from the sudden force, blood seeping into the line…
“…”
The thing coiled in her stomach now spewed fully onto Lin Yan Qiu’s hand, not yet withdrawn.
Black and white formed a stark contrast.
The air plunged into a terrifying hush.
“…Waterweed?”
Staring at the foreign mass on her hand, Lin Yan Qiu murmured in disbelief.