40. Thirty-nine degrees
On Tuesday, the day when the second half of the October issue of "Face" was published, Chi Jin took a detour to buy a magazine from the newsstand and took the bus to the company.
The subway is very convenient, so the buses are mainly used by the elderly. Chi Jin got on the bus and found that half of the people on the bus were wearing masks. He subconsciously tightened the edge of his mask, found a seat by the window, and opened a magazine.
When I arrived at the company, I discovered that three people in this small editorial department had called in sick. Sister Qian and her daughter had both been sickened and were recuperating at home. Even the tall and strong Qin Xiancheng had fallen ill. Most surprising of all, Chen Yisheng, who rarely took leave, hadn't even come.
Jiang Xuhuan blamed himself while distributing oral liquid and masks to everyone, muttering, "I should have known not to choose the bathing center for the team building. There are so many people and so many different things to say, wouldn't it be easy for the disease to spread from person to person?"
Everyone tried to comfort her politely, but everyone was also worried. Turning to Chi Jin, Jiang Xuhuan gave her a task.
Her colleagues politely comforted her, but everyone was also worried. When it came time for Chi Jin to come over, Jiang Xuhuan gave her a task: "Editor-in-Chief Chen has to personally review each publication. Find a local courier and send it to him later."
Chi Jin really didn't want to have anything to do with him. Even though he had been to his house several times, he still said, "But I don't have Editor-in-Chief Chen's address."
"None of us do. But this is work, and I understand even if he's private."
Chi Jin wanted to ask someone else to do it, but he was afraid that the meticulous Jiang Xuhuan would become suspicious, so he had to agree.
I clearly have Chen Yisheng's address, but should I pretend to ask him again under the guise of work? Wouldn't it be too presumptuous to send it directly? Asking on WeChat, I'm afraid of seeing these dialog boxes later, which will only add to the embarrassment.
After thinking it over, she simply sat in the tea room, drank lemonade and made a DingTalk call to Chen Yisheng.
The call was disconnected. It seems he is not sick?
About half an hour later, Chen Yisheng sent a message back: [Sorry, I was in a video conference just now. What's up?]
After some ideological struggle, Chi Jin felt that calling directly would be more ambiguous, so he spent ten minutes pondering the words in the memo before sending a message:
Good morning, Editor-in-Chief Chen. Sister Huan has assigned me to mail you the second half of the month's issue. Is Room 801, Unit 1, Building B, Tianfei Park, Jingdong District, a convenient address for you?
The other party replied immediately: [Yes. Thank you for your help.]
This back and forth, every word carefully considered, seemed to have consumed half a lifetime of effort. Chi Jin inexplicably had the illusion that they had broken up and she was texting her ex-boyfriend.
Look at Chi Jin, did you see that? An office romance gone bad is a relatively easy outcome.
She immediately found a cash-on-delivery intra-city courier, sent the magazine, and then got back to work.
An hour later, Chi Jin received a call from the courier saying that no one answered the doorbell.
In desperation, she had to bite the bullet and call Chen Yisheng again.
After the beep, the phone was picked up and a dazed male voice came through.
"Hello..." His voice was hoarse and sticky, unlike usual.
Chi Jin was startled and quickly confirmed that this was indeed the work phone number of "Editor-in-Chief-Chen Yisheng", and the note was "Living King of Hell".
"...Editor-in-Chief Chen." She debated whether to ask about the patient's condition, but ultimately decided not to. "The magazine has been delivered to your door. Please come and pick it up."
“…Yeah…Okay.”
She heard Chen Yisheng get up. Damn, she remembered their house's "geometry" so clearly. He should be in the master bedroom (though she hadn't seen him there)... the living room... the bathroom door... past the storage room... the hallway.
The sound of a door opening.
"Um...I'm hanging up." His voice sounded completely unresponsive, and he was about to put down his phone in a daze.
He thought he had hung up, but he hadn't.
Chi Jin heard his stumbling footsteps as he came back, followed by a dull thud—as if he had bumped into the same bookshelf where Da Bing had rebelled. He groaned in pain. After a few more steps, he fell heavily onto the bed.
Chi Jin hung up the phone, and within seconds, he received a DingTalk reply from Chen Yisheng:
[Thank you for your hard work. I received it.]
Qin Xiancheng and Sister Qian had both returned to work, and Chen Yisheng had taken sick leave. Chi Jin was concerned about him, but she didn't ask about him. She couldn't be so heartless and not even think about him, as Chen Yisheng had helped her so much and taken good care of her.
However, Jin Yaojia collapsed. Duan Xingche was extremely anxious: "It's over, it's over. The interview hasn't even finished recording. Why did Sister Jiajia run away at the last minute?"
"It's okay, go find Brother Xin, he can record and edit it."
Jiang Xuhuan hurried over and asked, "Who drove here? Do you have time to go to Editor-in-Chief Chen's house to deliver some documents? I need Editor-in-Chief Chen's signature."
"Can't we send it over like we did yesterday?" Duan Xingche asked.
"I would, but this is a confidential document."
Chi Jin was afraid that his name would be called, so he quickly slipped back to his workstation. The female editors also lowered their heads - this was going to the male boss's house, and it was not an innocent task.
"Need not."
A hoarse voice came from the door. Everyone looked up and saw Chen Yisheng staggering into the editorial office. The mask covered most of his face, but it couldn't hide his sick appearance.
He leaned against the wall and said, "I remember I have to sign today. After I sign... I'll leave. No need to trouble you... ahem..."
Jiang Xuhuan saw this and hurried over to help him. Fang Tang also turned off the screen and hurried over.
Even though Chen Yisheng was wearing a mask, one could still tell he was in dire straits. His face was as pale as paper, his usually upright figure now hunched over, and every cough seemed to come from deep within his lungs, a terrifying sound.
He refused their extended hands and simply said in a hoarse voice, "Pen. Documents."
"Editor-in-Chief Chen..."
"Brother Sheng..."
Editor-in-Chief Chen signed reluctantly, and his handwriting was much weaker than usual.
After signing, he turned and walked out. Guo Xin hurried forward to help him get to the elevator, but Chen Yisheng refused him sternly with all his strength.
A few seconds after he left, the office fell silent.
Chi Jin couldn't sit still any longer. She quickly packed her notebook, pen, and computer bag, and said, "Let's go out to collect money."
Although anyone with a discerning eye could see what she was going to do.
Leaving the office, Chi Jin's pace quickened, practically jogging through the corridor. Finally, she caught up with the staggering Chen Yisheng at the elevator entrance. Without hesitation, she stepped forward and held him.
Chen Yisheng was startled at first, but when he saw that it was her, his eyes turned slightly red and he subconsciously called out her name, his voice so weak that it was almost inaudible.
Through the thin fabric of the shirt, the temperature of Chen Yisheng's skin was shocking, making Chi Jin feel uneasy.
Chen Yisheng tried to break free, but he was too weak to do anything. "No need... please..."
"Don't be so stubborn." Chi Jin put his arm around his shoulders without saying anything, "You can't even stand steadily."
Such close contact made both of them startled. Chi Jin could feel his body stiffening, but the weakness brought by the high fever made him unable to refuse.
"I'll take you to the hospital. Even if it's just an ordinary colleague, they wouldn't sit idly by and watch you get so sick." Chi Jin explained, patting his computer bag with his other hand. "I can still work in the hospital."
Chen Yisheng used all his strength to shake her off: "The hospital is too dangerous, go back."
Chi Jin carried him into the elevator without saying anything.
"What medicine did you take?"
"How many degrees?"
"What are the symptoms?"
"I'm doing this because you usually take care of me." Chi Jin finally explained, "I don't have any improper expectations."
"……Thanks."
As soon as he got off the elevator, Chi Jin took out his phone: "Take a taxi to the nearest hospital, it will take about five minutes, there is no traffic jam now."
“…I drove here.”
"Ah? You're driving with a fever?" Chi Jin was shocked. "Luckily, everything went well on the way here. Otherwise, what if something happened?"
Chen Yisheng seemed to want to respond, but only a vague sound came out. His head rested weakly on her shoulder, and his hot breath brushed against her neck.
Chi Jin felt a pang of bitterness in his heart. Chen Yisheng was usually resolute and decisive, but at this moment he was just a fragile loner. As she said, even if it was just an ordinary colleague or ordinary friend, she couldn't just sit back and watch. What's more, the two were senior and junior brothers and sisters, and from the same hometown. Chi Jin got into Chen Yisheng's car and drove to the hospital in a hurry. On a weekday morning, the traffic conditions in the city center were still not good. Chi Jin was so anxious that he kept honking the horn. He glanced anxiously at the person in the passenger seat, but saw Chen Yisheng's head leaning weakly against the car window, swaying slightly with the bumps of the car, and breathing heavy and rapid.
The red light seemed to stretch for an eternity. Chi Jin couldn't help herself and reached out, touching his forehead. The skin her fingertips touched was terribly hot, and cold sweat clung to her fingertips. Horrified, she quickly withdrew her hand.
Finally, the hospital's red cross symbol came into view. Chi Jin almost rushed the car into the emergency room, and before he could even stop completely, he suddenly pushed open the car door and stumbled towards the emergency pre-examination desk.
The medical staff reacted quickly and rushed over with a stretcher. Chi Jin hurriedly opened the car door and pointed inside: "Here! He must have fainted!"
Two medical staff carefully helped Chen Yisheng out of the car. He was limp, relying entirely on others for support to barely stand. His brow was furrowed in discomfort, and he uttered incoherent mumblings.
Chi Jin followed the stretcher closely, anxiously checking on the condition of Doctor Chen Yisheng.
"Where has the patient traveled recently? What has he eaten? What other symptoms does he have besides the disease?"
Chi Jin couldn't answer, and clenched his palms: "This is my colleague... I... I don't know either."
The doctor was doing further examinations: "The temperature is 39.7 degrees. It's hard to make a definitive diagnosis at this point. Family members, please wait a moment."
"……good."
The air was filled with the smell of hospital disinfectant, and Chi Jin thought back to the day she went to check on her father's body. Although she knew he had just fainted from a high fever and couldn't have fallen into a deep sleep like her father, she couldn't help sobbing.
The sounds of hurried footsteps and the ticking of instruments filled his ears. Chi Jin looked down at his hands, the feeling of the hot, wet touch of his forehead still lingering on his palms.
She had never seen Chen Yisheng like this before - fragile, helpless, and as if he would break at the slightest touch.
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