Blooming Roses

Late at night, Lin Mengmeng had just finished a day’s rescue work and was about to return to her assigned accommodation when she suddenly felt a sharp numbness in her arm, slowly draining all her strength. She struggled into an uninhabited corner, sitting down slowly. As time passed, her body grew increasingly stiff and numb, unable to move. Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded nearby, “Lin Mengmeng, the aid station needs you.” It was Shao Tingyu. But now, she dared not respond, only quietly listening as her roommate answered, “Lin Mengmeng hasn’t come back yet. Maybe you should look in the injured tent?” Shao Tingyu paused, he had just come from there, but they said Lin Mengmeng had left… With this thought, he agreed and turned back the way he came. Lin Mengmeng watched his figure disappear into the night, waiting until the surroundings were quiet again before she managed to move her hand to retrieve the medicine bottle, accidentally spilling some pills. She had no strength to pick them up, so she took out a few more and swallowed them. As the medication took effect, Lin Mengmeng regained her strength. Recalling what Shao Tingyu had said, she got up and headed to the aid station. However, after she left, a tall figure approached the spot where she had hidden, bending down to pick up the spilled pills. Under the moonlight, Shao Tingyu held the pill between his fingers, his expression unreadable. Lin Mengmeng stood in front of Chen Zhe: “Doctor Chen, I’m running low on medication. Could you please prescribe some more for me?” Chen Zhe frowned: “You shouldn’t take too much of this medication. I can’t prescribe it for you now; we’ll have to wait until we get back.” Lin Mengmeng nodded, about to leave, when she suddenly thought of Shao Tingyu. After a moment of hesitation, she spoke up, “Doctor Chen, please don’t tell anyone about my condition; I don’t want my colleagues to worry.” Chen Zhe understood Lin Mengmeng’s concerns and was about to agree when the door was suddenly pushed open. Shao Tingyu, seeing Lin Mengmeng inside the room, furrowed his brows slightly: “What are you doing here?” Lin Mengmeng was taken aback, only then remembering that due to the shortage of housing, Shao Tingyu and Chen Zhe were assigned to the same room. Meeting Shao Tingyu’s scrutinizing gaze, Lin Mengmeng lowered her eyes to avoid it: “I was just asking about the rescue arrangements.” On the side, Chen Zhe observed the two, feeling an inexplicable strange atmosphere. Shao Tingyu didn’t speak further but kept his gaze on Lin Mengmeng. Feeling his stare, Lin Mengmeng’s heart raced, and she clenched her fingers: “You guys should rest early; I’ll be going now.” With that, she hurriedly left.