Chapter 67: Safe
Beijing was under martial law.
The person Luo Jiangjing had sent to visit couldn’t get in. He could only stand downstairs with a mask on and make a phone call to Bai Luochuan, having someone else deliver the things he had brought.
Under such grim circumstances, the only thing that gave Bai Luochuan a little comfort was that Mi Yang had finally recovered from his fever.
Before, Mi Yang would always have a low fever for a while at night, but now he didn’t. He had been taking care of him closely, and for several nights in a row, he had taken Mi Yang’s temperature, which was around 36.5 degrees. Seeing that it had stabilized and there was no more danger, he also breathed a sigh of relief. After the medical staff arrived, Bai Luochuan explained the situation to them, and they also said that it was currently safe.
However, the cordon around the hotel was still there, and no one, including some hotel staff, was allowed to enter or leave.
Bai Luochuan frowned as he looked downstairs. For some reason, more medical personnel in protective suits had arrived.
“The Ministry of Health’s press office is now reporting…”
Mi Yang turned on the TV and saw this news. He listened seriously, while Bai Luochuan, beside him, was pacing back and forth by the window, a little agitated.
In the afternoon, the person Luo Jiangjing had sent to visit arrived at the hotel on time.
Soon, two bags of things were sent up, with everything they needed for food and clothing, and all in double portions.
Luo Jiangjing’s calls had become fewer these past two days, but the people she sent to visit them had come more frequently, basically twice a day. After delivering the things today, the person called Bai Luochuan from downstairs and asked, “Is there anything else you need? Anything at all. CEO Luo said she wants me to do my best to meet all your needs.”
Bai Luochuan couldn’t think of anything for a moment and turned to ask Mi Yang, “Is there anything you want?”
Mi Yang thought for a moment and also shook his head.
Bai Luochuan then said to the person, “Then no, we still have enough. Besides, it’s only the last few days of quarantine. You don’t have to send anything anymore.”
The person agreed and left.
Luo Jiangjing’s call came the next afternoon. Her voice was tired and a little tense. She said to Bai Luochuan, “Luochuan, stand by the window and look outside. Can you see Mom?”
Bai Luochuan was taken aback for a moment, then quickly went to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked out. In the empty courtyard outside, there was only a familiar black sedan. A tall woman in a thick windbreaker was standing there, also looking up. She even tried to wave. The two sides were too far apart, and they couldn’t see each other clearly. Bai Luochuan could only see that she was wearing a thick mask, which covered her face tightly.
He nodded. “I can see you.”
Luo Jiangjing said, “Listen to Mom. There’s good news and bad news. The bad news is that the patient who was sent to the hospital from the hotel has been confirmed to be infected and has been sent to the intensive care unit. You will have to be quarantined for a while longer. The good news is that neither of you has any signs of fever, and you’ve almost reached the 15-day quarantine period. Mom has applied for you to be quarantined at home… It’s just to be separated from the crowd and take some precautions. We’ll go to the hospital for a check-up and registration first. It’s fine. Mom will be with you.”
Bai Luochuan nodded. “I know. I’ll go and get ready.”
Luo Jiangjing said again, “Give the phone to Little Good Boy. Mom wants to say a few words to him too.”
Bai Luochuan agreed, gave the phone to Mi Yang, and turned to pack his things.
Mi Yang took it and heard Luo Jiangjing’s soft and comforting voice, “Little Good Boy, your mother is very worried about you. She had originally insisted on coming to Beijing, but I stopped her and told her not to. You still have a little sister at home. If she’s not taken care of carefully, she’ll definitely get sick. Your mother is working very hard. Can you understand her?”
Mi Yang had only hoped that Bai Luochuan would also leave this place and had not thought of his family coming. He had never expected Luo Jiangjing to come in person. Hearing this, he quickly said, “Of course, Auntie Luo. I’ve already called my family and told them. Please also help me persuade my mom. I can take good care of myself. You shouldn’t have come either. Your work is already very tiring, and you made a special trip. We’ll be able to go home in a few days…”
Mi Yang knew that the epidemic would be brought under control within six months, so he was not too afraid. Luo Jiangjing just thought he was still young and had been well-protected at school, as innocent and obedient as a blank sheet of paper. But at this time, being obedient was better than being afraid. She said to Mi Yang, “In a bit, you’ll come down with Luochuan. Auntie will take you to the hospital.”
Mi Yang said, “Okay.”
Luo Jiangjing said with satisfaction, “You’ve always been a good child. If there’s anything you need, just tell Auntie Luo, you know?”
Mi Yang nodded. “Thank you, Auntie Luo. I know.”
Mi Yang hung up the phone. When he turned around, Bai Luochuan had already packed his things simply, only taking the necessities and leaving the rest at the hotel.
The ambulance was late. Luo Jiangjing called them and kept comforting the children.
Bai Luochuan said, “You should go back. It’s really nothing. We’ve both had our temperatures taken today and have no fever. We’ll definitely be fine.”
Luo Jiangjing had been busy for many days and had been standing in the cold wind. She was about to faint. She said with a pale face, “Mom is not tired. You can look at me for a little longer.”
Bai Luochuan said, “It’s cold outside. You’ll catch a cold if you stand for too long.”
Only then was she willing to get back in the car.
Not long after, the ambulance arrived. Bai Luochuan and Mi Yang went downstairs. They didn’t say a word to Luo Jiangjing. Both sides were wearing masks and nodded at each other from across the cordon as a greeting. Mi Yang and Bai Luochuan were taken to the ambulance by the medical staff. Luo Jiangjing’s gaze followed the two children’s figures. After the ambulance drove away, she also immediately got back in the car and followed the ambulance to the hospital.
The hospital’s testing was in another building. Although it was not as strict as the infectious disease department, it was not easy to enter either. Luo Jiangjing, wearing a protective suit, could only follow them to the door. She watched them go in for the test through a glass door and could only nod and look at the two children with encouraging eyes.
Bai Luochuan’s check-up was done quickly. Mi Yang, because he had had a low fever before, was called in again by the doctor after his check-up.
When Mi Yang turned to go back, Bai Luochuan stood up in fear.
Luo Jiangjing, on the other side of the door, was also startled by him. Seeing his pale face, she comforted him, “It’s fine. Little Good Boy will be out soon.”
It was unclear whether Bai Luochuan had heard her through the glass door. He still stood there, waiting without moving.
Luo Jiangjing also frowned and looked at the medical room.
Soon, Mi Yang came out. He nodded at them with a mask on, and Bai Luochuan breathed a sigh of relief.
Luo Jiangjing also put her heart back in its place. In just a few minutes, she had broken out in a cold sweat.
The two of them waited there, and Luo Jiangjing went to get them a health certificate.
Bai Luochuan sat side by side with him, anxiously holding his wrist, as if afraid that Mi Yang would go somewhere. Mi Yang tried to pull it away, but his grip was even tighter, and he said in a low voice, “Don’t move.”
Mi Yang reached out and pried at his fingers. “This is uncomfortable for me.”
Bai Luochuan lowered his eyes and didn’t speak for a long time, his hand gripping tightly. He didn’t let go even when Luo Jiangjing came.
Luo Jiangjing’s expression had relaxed a lot, and her complexion had also improved. There was a smile in her eyes. “It’s done. There are no problems. It was smoother than I thought. Let’s get in the car. I’ll take you home.”
Bai Luochuan grabbed Mi Yang’s hand and followed her. Luo Jiangjing was used to the two of them being close. They had been like this since they were little, so she didn’t mind at all. She was still talking to Bai Luochuan in a low voice, “You don’t know, I thought it was very serious just now and that you would have to be quarantined in Beijing for a month. I even went to buy an apartment this morning and was worrying about how to find an auntie to take care of you for this month…”
Bai Luochuan said, “I told you, it’s definitely fine. I’ve already asked. The temperature will go down, and it won’t be a problem. And Little Good Boy hasn’t had a fever since he recovered.”
Luo Jiangjing said, “That’s right. It’s all good now. The check-up is done, and the health certificate is also issued. We can go back to Shanghai. Although we still need to report to the local doctor for a month, it’s much better than here. It’s always more convenient at home.” She thought for a moment and added, “By the way, I didn’t tell your grandfather about your quarantine in Beijing. He’s old, and I was afraid of scaring him. Your dad did ask a few times, but he’s also busy and couldn’t get away… Did your dad call you?”
Bai Luochuan said, “He did. He even asked this morning.”
Luo Jiangjing said, “That’s more like it.” She sighed and turned to comfort her son, “Don’t blame your dad. He’s too busy with work.”
Bai Luochuan said “mm.”
The mother and son’s expressions were normal. On the contrary, Mi Yang, whose wrist was still being held, felt a little guilty for some reason.
After getting in the car, Luo Jiangjing initially talked to them, but she soon fell asleep. She was busy with work, and if it weren’t for her own son’s incident, she probably wouldn’t have made such a trip.
Bai Luochuan held Mi Yang’s wrist and didn’t let go. It would take several hours to drive back. The two of them held hands like this, their heads leaning against each other, and slept all the way.
When they arrived in Shanghai, Mi Yang saw their family’s small Xiali from a distance. It was the car Cheng Qing used to pick up goods. She had been waiting for her son at the intersection from a distance.
Mi Yang got out of the car with his things. Luo Jiangjing didn’t have the driver stay for long. She lowered the car window a little and said a few words to Cheng Qing, then left.
Cheng Qing hugged her son tightly, held his face, and looked at him for a long while, her eyes red. “Let’s go. Let’s go home with Mom.”
Mi Yang smiled. “Okay.”
Cheng Qing took Mi Yang home. She first put his suitcase at the door, then pushed her son into the bathroom. A bathtub of hot water had already been prepared, and he could soak comfortably for a while.
While Mi Yang was taking a bath, Cheng Qing had already disinfected and cleaned all the things in his suitcase. She also got him a set of pajamas and placed them at the door, asking him through the bathroom door, “Yangyang, is there anything you want to eat? Mom is making you a big meal today.”
Mi Yang said, “Anything is fine. Mom, I love whatever you make.”
Cheng Qing agreed and went to the kitchen.
After Mi Yang had washed up and was just getting dressed, he heard the pitter-patter of small slippers. He looked up and saw the little girl, her face flushed from sleep, rubbing her eyes as she rushed towards him, her voice with a soft, crying tone, “Brother!”
Mi Yang hugged the little girl and gave her a kiss. “Hey, brother is back.”
The little girl hadn’t seen her brother for more than ten days. She hugged Mi Yang’s neck and wouldn’t let go, acting cute with him.
Mi Yang then carried her to the kitchen and stood at the door. “Mom, is there anything I can help with?”
Cheng Qing felt much more at ease now that he was back. Although there were still dark circles under her eyes, she was in much better spirits. She smiled and said, “No, you two can go and play in the living room. It’s smoky here. By the way, Xiaoxue, didn’t you say you wanted to show your drawing to your brother when he came back?”
Only then did the little girl remember. She wriggled off Mi Yang’s body and ran to get her drawing.
It was her drawing homework from kindergarten. A blue sky, white clouds, and a house. A row of little people stood on the grass in front. It was still a family of stick figures. The one with long hair was Mom, the one with short hair was Dad, and the two in the middle were a little smaller, two children. It was just that, different from usual, the smallest child was wearing a square hat with a red symbol on it.
Mi Yang held her and asked, “What’s this?”
The little girl said, “It’s a doctor’s hat.” She turned and hugged Mi Yang, tears streaming down her face. “I don’t want brother to be sick alone. I want to be with him, and, and I want to treat brother’s illness.”
Mi Yang’s heart softened, and he gave her several kisses.
