Chapter 326


    They were well prepared this time, and wouldn''t necessarily be infected, but going to the research


    institute might be a different story.


    Everyone was afraid of death. Ste wouldn''t have risked so much to pick up herbs if she wasn''t


    afraid of dying. And she''d taken the trouble to take care of them for the past few years.


    The smog sneaked in during the eternal night, and the toxicity and the speed of infection was even


    more astonishing. Although the siblings had worn masks when they went out before, they had


    opened the windows at home to ventte the house. If one person was infected, the whole family


    was doomed.


    About a dozen people in the vi where Monkey lived were almost all symptomatic, and there was a


    lot of coughing while talking on the neighborhood channel.


    It was an ominous sign – the virus was among them.


    Ste''s heart was heavy with dread. She knew it was only a matter of time before the infection


    breached her doorstep. In these times of crisis, no one in their right mind would dare venture out,


    but could they truly outwait the reach of the haze?


    Jasper had lived through the initial outbreak in his past life, which many had mistaken for a mere


    cold. He had worked tirelessly for six months before the virus imed him, and he knew all too well


    that developing an antiviral took time – much longer than they had. Though Ste had provided a


    breakthrough medication, the ticking clock of their health was a nemesis no one could predict.


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    "I''m not one to sit around," Ste dered with grim determination. "The research facility is a


    dangerous ce, but it''s also our best shot. If we can get in, we''ll have ess to top-notch care at


    the first sign of symptoms."


    Jasper understood her fears, yet he couldn''t bear the thought of her walking into the lion''s den.


    "Ste, I don''t want you to go," he pleaded, recounting the harrowing days of his sickness when it


    felt as if millions of parasites were devouring his insides. Back then, he had nothing to lose, but now


    they had loved ones, and the thought of one of them perishing was unbearable.


    Jasper tried to convince her, "We''re both healthy, haven''t been sick in years, and as long as we


    sanitize every day, we won''t get infected. Don''t worry too much."


    Since they''ve been together, this was the first time he took such a firm stance. Ste thought about


    it and didn''t resist, perhaps she was really worried.


    Jasper was right, she was not alone now, beside her were him, Cooper, and Rosie.


    She didn''t sleep well at night, she kept feeling dizzy, as if hearing coughs in the air. But when she


    opened her eyes, everything was too quiet.


    As soon as she opened the door in the morning, Cooper wagged his tail and came over. Before he


    even got close, he sneezed three times at her.


    Rosie was sanitizing, Ste didn''t pay much attention at first. She thought Cooper''s sneezes were


    caused by the cleaning product. But as the sneezes became more frequent, Cooper kept scratching


    his nose.


    Ste panicked immediately. She specially prepared his favorite food - three chicken legs, but he


    only ate two. In the past, he would''ve finished all of them without hesitating. Ste knew his appetite


    well; he always cleared his te.


    She squatted down to open Cooper''s mouth, shinning a shlight down his throat. She couldn''t see


    very clearly, but it seemed swollen and had white spots.


    She then lifted the dog''s eyelid, the base of his eye was slightly yellow, with a hint of dark blue. Her


    head started to thump, Ste''s eyes began to hurt, and she hurriedly went back to her room to pack.


    Jasper followed her in the room, "Are you going to Swan Hill?"


    "Yes," Ste replied while packing, "Cooper may be infected. I must take him there."


    He tried to reassure her, "Calm down, it''s not necessarily an infection."


    "His throat is red and swollen with white spots, and his eyes are yellow and turning blue. These are


    all symptoms you had when you were infected."


    Jasper argued, "Dogs'' eyes naturally have a yellowish hue, and Cooper has been eating a lot of


    fried fishtely. It may be just a throat inmmation, why not try some medicine first?"


    Ste stared at him, "If Rosie was the one who got infected, would you stay so calm?" Her tone was


    sharp and aggressive.


    As soon as she said that, Ste regretted, "I''m sorry, I didn''t mean it like that, but you know how


    much Cooper means to me."


    Jasper didn''t say anything, but quietly looked at her, then helped her pack, "I''ll go with you."


    "No need, you stay home and take care of Rosie."


    He was right. The research institute was the most dangerous ce; they couldn''t afford to take risks


    with a family. She could just take Cooper alone, so they wouldn''t all be at risk.


    Jasper insisted, "The virus is so potent. If Cooper is indeed infected, we won''t be able to escape


    either."


    "No, both you and Rosie are healthy, but Cooper is a dog. Its respiratory system is different from


    humans."


    "Julia died this morning," Jasper revealed shockingly, "In just a few short days, she went from


    getting sick to dying very quickly, and her entire family got infected. Ste, if you n on going to


    Swan Hill alone with Cooper, whether I get sick or you get sick, we probably won''t be able to see


    each other for thest time. You should calm down. We''ll face everything together."


    Ste felt reluctant, "But..."


    Jasper came forward and held her tightly, "Ste, if something happens to you in Swan Hill, I will


    live in regret for the rest of my life."


    Her breathing calmed down. In fact, he had a point, if someone in the family gets infected, there''s a


    high chance the rest will also get infected. They held each other tightly. Their voices were a bit loud,


    attracting Rosie toe over, looking panicky and helpless.


    Ste quickly pushed Jasper away, turned around to speak but saw a trail of clear snot flowing from


    Rosie''s nose.


    Wearing a mask and protective suit, Ste examined Rosie. Her temperature was 37.9 degrees,


    which is considered to have a fever. Her throat was slightly red and swollen but there were no white


    spots. However, the base of her eye was slightly yellow.


    Ste asked, "Rosie, when did this start?"


    Rosie didn''t feel anything, and the clear snot was just suddenly flowing.


    It seemed that the virus was more terrifying than expected. Even the two of them who have always


    been stronger than adults have been infected.


    Remembering that it only took Julia a few short days from getting sick to dying, Ste immediately


    felt panicked. She hurriedly decided to leave.


    If they werete, they might not even be able to get a bed in the hospital.


    Before leaving, Ste made a lot of preparations. She boiled arge pot of herbal soup, insisting on


    drinking it every day.


    She gave Cooper a thermometer. Luckily, his temperature was normal, but the symptoms of a runny


    nose came with it, his eyes were heavy and he felt sleepy.


    Cooper didn''t have a mask and protective suit. The three of them had to protect themselves as best


    they could.


    When leaving, Ste executed a medicine drop again.


    In consideration of Bran trampling over his dignity to preserve her honor, she dropped arge


    package for his family.


    After driving two or three kilometers away, a voice came from the walkie-talkie, "Sis, did you drop


    medicine for me?"


    "I''ll be away for a few days. I hope we all get the chance to see each other again."