The assistant, overjoyed, stood outside, practically dancing with excitement. Adam, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses and rubbing his brow with one finger, emerged from the lab. Dressed in a pristine white lab coat, he exuded a sense of detachment and an almost ascetic aura.
"What's the matter?" His slightly hoarse voice, combined with a deep and unique tone, was almost electric, sending a shiver down the listener's spine. The assistant couldn't help but think that it was a great loss to voice acting enthusiasts that Professor Adam wasn't a voice actor. Then again, considering Adam's outstanding contributions to medicine, it seemed he was indeed best suited for helping humanity.
"Mr. Feng, Mr. Ye is looking for you. It seems urgent." The assistant handed him the phone.
Adam took the phone and redialed the number. "What's the issue?" he asked coolly once the call connected.
"A friend of mine is in trouble. The doctors are at a loss. You're the expert in this field," Leo responded.
"Details?" Adam inquired calmly.
"High fever, followed by coma. The fever has subsided, but there's no sign of waking up. It's been three days."
As Adam walked out, he continued, "Several possibilities for this condition include severe acute infection, cerebrovascular disease, intracranial space-occupying lesion, brain tumor, brain abscess, physical trauma, or hypoxia. Have these been ruled out?"
"We've checked; none of those conditions are present. That's why I'm asking you to come," Leo said gravely. The unknown was the most frightening.
The elevator ascended from the minus eleventh floor to the ground floor.
"Got it," Adam said.
"When will you arrive?" Leo's usually steady voice betrayed a hint of urgency.
Adam raised an eyebrow, a faint, almost mocking smile tugging at his lips. "Wait for me." He hung up abruptly.
Leo looked at the phone, a vein throbbing on his forehead. This brat! He conveniently forgot that Adam was older than him, though by seniority, Leo was the elder.
A private plane landed smoothly at Oceanic City International Airport. Azura followed her uncle off the plane and into the waiting car.
"Mr. Ye, heading to Lakeside Island?" the driver asked. It was already late at night, and it made sense to go there to rest, but he asked anyway.
"No, to Reid Hospital. Later, take Miss Azura to Lakeside Island," Leo replied.
Azura protested, "No, I want to stay with Zuri at the hospital."
Zuri was her first friend in Oceanic City, the first person who treated her sincerely, without flattery or caution. Now that her friend was in trouble, how could she stand by idly?
Seeing the determination in her eyes, Leo didn't insist.
At Reid Hospital, they found only Kaden by the bedside, with no sign of the Lin family. Leo's gaze fell on the pale, unconscious Zuri, her eyes tightly shut and brows slightly furrowed. He stepped forward, reaching out to touch her cheek, but a hand blocked his way.
Leo looked up, seemingly just noticing Kaden. Their gazes met—Leo's deep and sharp, Kaden's youthful yet defiant. Sparks seemed to fly in the air between them.
"What are you doing here? Where's the Lin family?" Azura's voice broke the silent standoff.
Kaden responded coldly, "They're all dead."
One sentence made it clear to Azura and Leo what was happening.
"How could they do this? Just because she wasn't raised with them, they think they can ignore Zuri?" Azura fumed, her anger rising.
Leo gently brushed her forehead, smoothing her frown. What could cause her such distress and pain, even in her dreams?
Noticing the dark circles under Kaden's eyes, Azura said, "You should go rest. My uncle and I will stay here."
Kaden didn't move.
Azura continued, "If you stay and Zuri wakes up to find you collapsed, do you want to worry her even more? Don't make things harder for her; she's already been through enough."
Despite Azura's chiding, Kaden remained silent, his mind replaying the scene of Zuri holding Fu Siyuan, filled with pain, guilt, and despair. Finally, he stood and left without a word.
Watching him leave, Leo's gaze softened slightly as he looked at Azura. Finally, this girl was proving useful.
Azura, oblivious to her uncle's thoughts, focused entirely on the unconscious Zuri, feeling a deep sorrow. She held Zuri's hand. "How can a fever get this bad?"
Leo's phone rang, and he stepped out to take the call.
A raspy voice came through the line, "King, I've got news on what you asked me to investigate... The rat Rui is hiding in a warehouse in Huifeng New District."
"Keep an eye on him," Leo's voice was cold and emotionless.
"Don't worry, a small fry like him can't escape my grasp."
After ending the call, Leo's cold expression vanished as he re-entered the room.
The next day, the Lin family finally arrived, minus Christian. The others, led by Saira, who was noticeably well-dressed, entered the room.
"Aaron reminded Saira, "If Leo comes by today, make sure you seize the opportunity." This implied that with Zuri possibly out of the picture, Saira should step in.
Saira understood that this was her chance. If she could divert Leo's attention from Zuri to herself, she'd gain a more secure position within the Lin family. Her father only valued Zuri for her connections to the Ye and Feng families. Now, with Zuri possibly never waking up and becoming useless, Saira felt she deserved to take her place.
"Dad, I understand," Saira replied obediently. Her outfit today was styled entirely after Zuri's.
"Don't disappoint me," Aaron reiterated.
Dalia added with a smile, "Don't worry, honey. Saira knows what's at stake."
Outside, holding breakfast, Azura nearly gagged at the Lin family's behavior. Were they already treating Zuri as if she were dead? So eager to take everything from her.
Suddenly, the restroom door opened, and Leo stepped out, his expression cold. His gaze swept over the three, lingering on Saira for a moment, a flash of disgust in his eyes.
Aaron and his family stood awkwardly, the atmosphere thick with tension, making it hard for them to breathe.
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