Miles was dozing in his oversized bathtub, luxuriating in the indolent life he had grown used to. Days had drifted by without effort, each blending into the next with an idle rhythm, his biggest exertion being the few steps between his bed and the couch.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Reluctantly, he threw on a pair of shorts and made his way to the door.
He switched on the video intercom, only to see a beautiful yet disheveled face staring back at him.
"And you are?" Miles asked, a bit taken aback, and the woman on the screen hesitated, equally stunned.
She stared blankly at him, her eyes widening at the sight of his muscular, bare torso. It was unthinkable that anyone could be so at ease indoors, considering the temperature outside was well below freezing. It told her volumes about the warmth of his home.
"If you're not going to speak, I'll just hang up," Miles muttered, eying her with irritation. If not for the medical kit slung over her shoulder, he'd already have dismissed her. Pretty or not, he was hardly desperate—right now, food was more attractive than beauty.
"Ah, I… I'm Lisa," she stammered. "I live in Zone C. I came to ask if you'd lend me some penicillin."
"Penicillin?" Miles raised an eyebrow. "How did you know I had any? And why would I give it to you?"
In a place where survival had become a daily challenge, what made her think she deserved special treatment?
Lisa straightened. "I'm treating a critically injured patient, someone you know. It's Sarah—the man you electrocuted, Miles. Don't you think you should take responsibility for that?"
Miles chuckled, unimpressed. "They came to break down my door and kill me. Now they're injured and I'm supposed to feel responsible? Are you out of your mind?"
Lisa flushed. She knew it sounded naive, but she had already accepted food in exchange for this task. Gritting her teeth, she pressed on, "Mr. Miles, saving lives is a doctor's duty."
"Good thing I'm no doctor, then. No such duty to worry about." Miles let out a cold laugh and moved to end the call.
"Can you be so sure that you'll never fall ill?" Lisa's voice stopped him.
"You're threatening me?"
"Not at all. I'm simply stating a fact…" Lisa replied calmly. "From the level of preparation you've shown, you must know how severe things are outside."
This was an intelligent girl, Miles noted, intrigued.
"So, what's your point?"
"My point is, you need me."
As soon as she said it, her face flushed, and she hurried to add, "If, heaven forbid, you ever need medical assistance… I'm not wishing anything on you, of course."
"Oh?" Miles gave a soft laugh. "So, you're not cursing me, just trying to leverage me. Unfortunately, that's one thing I don't tolerate."
But Lisa's reasoning wasn't wrong. In a world where people's immune systems were already weakened, having a skilled doctor on hand was indeed tempting. Still, he had no intention of giving in so easily.
"Miles, do you really think you'll never get sick?"
Lisa's face showed a hint of desperation. She hadn't expected him to be so adamant.
"And you're so sure you're the only doctor left in this whole complex?"
With that, he ended the call.
Outside, Lisa stamped her feet in frustration, then yelled at the closed door, "You'll never find another doctor as skilled as me!"
Inside, Miles froze, then chuckled. Who gave her this confidence, he wondered—the president?
Amused, he opened the video link again and smirked. "So, you're that impressive, are you?"
"Absolutely!" Lisa seized the opportunity, her face lighting up. "I'm Chicago's youngest attending physician and a recipient of the National Medical Excellence Award. My grandfather is a renowned medical academic in South China. Isn't that enough?"
Her chin lifted with a trace of pride. Her medical expertise was her pride and joy, and while she wasn't yet as skilled as her grandfather, she was recognized as one of the top young doctors in the region.
"And how do you intend to prove your skill?" Miles asked, his interest piqued.
Lisa hesitated, then a cunning glint appeared in her eyes. "I can keep Sarah alive. As long as I'm there, he won't die!"
"His life doesn't concern me."
Miles scoffed, dismissive.
Lisa grinned. "But you wanted me to prove my skill, didn't you? Sarah's now my patient. If I can treat him successfully, that shows I can be useful to you too."
"And if Sarah dies?" Miles challenged, a smirk tugging at his lips. Lisa merely shrugged, her grin unfazed. "Then it's one less problem for you, isn't it? He's in his current state because of you."
This girl was sharper than he'd expected.
Miles laughed. "Alright, let's make a bet."
"A bet?" Lisa asked, eyeing him warily.
"Yes—a wager on his life," he replied. "I'll give you whatever medical supplies you need, even equipment. But you have to ensure Sarah's full recovery—no shortcuts. That means no amputations; he must heal completely. After all, that's the true measure of a doctor's skill, isn't it?"
Lisa narrowed her eyes, realizing he was setting her up for a challenge. "But his hand's badly burned. Without an abundance of supplies, it's nearly impossible to heal fully."
Miles grinned. "Well, if you're not equipped to handle it…"
Lisa hesitated, then clenched her fists. "Fine. I'll take the bet."
She proceeded to list the specific equipment and medicines she would need for the treatment.
"Consider it done."
Miles, who had access to warehouses full of top-tier medical supplies and pharmaceuticals, had no trouble providing her with anything she requested.
"You even have adrenaline?" Lisa asked, astonished. Her initial intent had been to overwhelm him with her requests, but she found herself floored by his vast resources.
Feigning obliviousness to her ploy, Miles merely nodded. "Whatever you need, but it's for Sarah alone. If I catch you hoarding, don't blame me for the consequences."
With over four hundred people under his command, Miles could turn her into a new kind of "volunteer" if he chose. Lisa knew this well.
"Fine! I'm winning this bet!" she declared, clenching her fists in defiance.
"Not so fast. We haven't discussed your end of the wager yet…"
"My end?"
"Of course. No bet is complete without stakes. You don't play poker without chips, do you?"
Lisa narrowed her eyes. "What exactly do you want?"