第八章 生病的一天

In the morning, when Mia got up, she felt a little dizzy.

She touched her forehead: it was a bit hot.

"I have a fever," she said to herself.

Then, she opened the wardrobe and started to choose clothes.

"In France," she said while choosing, "even when you are sick, you must be presentable."

She put on a nice dress, put on light makeup, and even sprayed a little perfume.

She walked out of her room and happened to run into Xiaomei.

Xiaomei looked at her once, then again: "You... have a date today?"

"No," said Mia, "I have a fever, I need to go to the hospital."

"You put on makeup even with a fever?" Xiaomei reached out and felt her forehead, "It's really hot! Wait for me, I'll take leave and go with you."

"No need," said Mia, "I can do it myself."

"In our China, when you're sick, someone should accompany you," said Xiaomei.

"Why?"

"Because it will make you feel better, and when you feel better, you recover faster," said Xiaomei.

Mia thought about it and felt it made sense.

Having heard that Mia was sick, Zhouzhou and Akai both sprang into action.

Zhouzhou took out his phone: "I'll order a bowl of porridge. Sick people should eat porridge."

"What's the difference between the porridge you order and the takeout you usually order?" Mia asked.

"Usually I order spicy food, but this time it's non-spicy," Zhouzhou said. "That's what taking care means."

"...Thank you, very reasonable," Mia said.

Akai tied on an apron and went into the kitchen: "I'll make you some ginger soup! In my hometown, everyone drinks ginger soup for colds!"

"Do you know how to make it?" Xiaomei asked.

"I don't," Akai said, "but I can learn!"

He opened his phone, searched for a video, and watched it while making the soup.

Soon, a strange smell floated out of the kitchen.

Mia sat on the sofa waiting for the porridge, while Akai came over carrying a bowl of black stuff.

"Here! Ginger soup!" Akai said proudly.

Mia looked down at the bowl of ginger soup, then up at Akai:

"Is this... soup or medicine?"

"It's ginger soup!" Akai said, "I put a lot of ginger in it!"

"A lot of ginger?" Xiaomei came over and smelled it. "Akai, is this ginger soup or ginger itself?"

"It's about the same," Akai said, "More ginger, better effect."

Zhouzhou whispered on the side: "This bowl of ginger soup has an even stronger taste than eating raw ginger."

"What did you say?" Akai asked.

"I said, Mia should drink it quickly," Zhouzhou said.

Mia picked up the bowl, looked at the black thing, closed her eyes, and took a sip.

"...Her face scrunched up. "Akai, I think I should still go to the hospital."

"Even if you go to the hospital, you must finish the ginger soup first!" Akai said.

"I'm not drinking it," Mia put down the bowl, "I'm going to the hospital now."

At the hospital, the doctor took Mia's temperature: "38.5 degrees, fever. You need a shot and some medicine."

Mia nodded and sat on a chair to wait for the injection.

Xiaomei sat beside her, holding her bag for her.

"You know what," Mia said, "it's actually nice to have someone accompany you to the hospital."

"Right," Xiaomei said, "Chinese-style being sick means having someone with you."

Mia looked at her phone and said, "I want to call my mom."

She dialed the phone.

"Mom," Mia said, "I have a fever."

On the other end, her mother was worried: "You're alone in China, what should you do? Do you want to come back?"

"No need," Mia said, "I have roommates. They bought me porridge, made ginger soup, and even came to the hospital with me."

"Really?" her mother asked.

"Really," Mia said, "One roommate even made me... a bowl of particularly terrible soup."

Her mother laughed on the other end.

The tense atmosphere became much more relaxed.

After the injection, Mia and Xiaomei returned to the apartment.

Akai stood at the door, holding another bowl of ginger soup: "You're back? Come on, drink it while it's hot!"

"Drink again?" Mia said.

"Just made! This time I put in less ginger!" Akai said.

Mia looked at the soup, then at Akai's serious face, picked it up, and drank.

"How is it?" Akai asked.

"It's much better than the last bowl," Mia said.

"That's progress!" Akai was happy, "I'll make it again tomorrow!"

Mia's expression changed: "Again tomorrow?"

"Right! You have to drink it for three days for a cold!" Akai said.

The next day, Akai made ginger soup again and brought it to Mia's door.

"Mia! Time for ginger soup!"

It was quiet in the room for a while.

"Mia?"

"...I think I still feel a bit unwell," Mia's voice came from under the blanket.

"Didn't you feel better yesterday?" Akai said.

"That was yesterday," Mia said, "today, I feel a bit unwell again."

Akai stood at the door and thought, "Are you... afraid of drinking ginger soup?"

Mia didn't speak.

Zhouzhou passed by and whispered, "Akai, your ginger soup has frightened the French person into being sick."

"This is for curing colds!" Akai said.

"It's currently causing colds," Zhouzhou said.

In the room, Mia poked her head out from under the blanket and said quietly:

"...Ginger soup, I can drink it. But, can you add some sugar?"

"OK!" Akai said, "Add brown sugar! I've researched it, brown sugar ginger soup tastes better!"

"Why did you research it?" Mia asked.

"Because I livestreamed last night, and my fans taught me how to make ginger soup!" Akai said, "They all told me to add brown sugar!"

Mia looked at the bowl of ginger soup and said:

"Akai, you know what, your ginger soup, although it's very hard to drink, but..."

"Someone takes care of me. That's very important."

Akai was stunned for a moment, then smiled:

"Of course! Tomorrow I'll add brown sugar and make it even better!"

Mia: "..."

Zhouzhou on the side quietly added:

"Mia, this sentence of yours might make Akai make ginger soup for a month."

Mia's expression changed again.