As Rishar and I left the clinic and entered the lab across the hall, Rick was sitting in the wheelchair, being pushed by Lui.
"Ah, Ober Teacher!"
Lui greeted me with a bright smile.
What was this situation? I blinked, staring at Lui and Rick.
"Lui sis said she was doing a stability test, so I sat in it. I thought it was rude to sit in the Leader's wheelchair first, but..."
Rick explained, his earlobes turning red.
Ugh, so shy. So cute.
"Since Rick weighs more than the Leader, if it's safe with him, it should be fine for the Leader too."
Lui explained cheerfully. As if to prove it wasn't intentional, Rick jumped right out of the wheelchair.
"Are you going to get the Leader now?"
Lui asked, her voice brimming with anticipation. She seemed thrilled that Jin would use her creation.
"That's the plan. Want to come along?"
Rishar said. Having heard they went way back, his usually stoic Gray Lion face looked a bit more relaxed with her.
"Can I? It's been ages since I saw the Leader."
Not just Lui, but Rick too seemed eager to see Jin. Both had been taught by him, so it was natural they'd worry about their bedridden former mentor(?).
"Sure. You two come along."
And so Rishar, me, and Jin's two disciples headed to his bedroom together.
Thinking about it, I was a little worried. Ever since Jin took to his bed, no one except Rishar and a few others had seen him. And quite some time had passed...
He looked better than the skeletal state when I first saw him, but Jin still resembled a candle flickering in the wind, on the verge of death.
If the Underground City folks saw him like that... they'd all panic. Was this okay?
But when we arrived at his room, my worries proved unfounded. Rishar had prepared thoroughly.
Draping a warm woolen robe over Jin and adding a mask hid his gaunt frame completely. Watching Rishar effortlessly lift and seat him in the wheelchair, I realized my care for Jin wasn't overprotective at all.
But seeing Jin in the wheelchair like this gave me a strange sense of déjà vu...
'...This looks just like a chaebol chairman leaving the prosecutor's office after an investigation.'
I couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. Total sickbed release for a conglomerate boss. Add sunglasses, and it'd be perfect. Should I ask Lui to make some?
But I seemed to be the only one amused by the bizarre sight. Rick and Lui looked heartbroken seeing their former mentor so visibly ill.
"Lui, Rick. Long time no see."
Jin greeted them. His already soft voice sounded muffled through the mask, like it was coming from 10 meters away. That feeble tone must have hurt them even more.
Lui's eyes seemed to redden, so I quickly pushed the wheelchair to block Jin's view. Then I shot her a glare. Wipe those tears. Our flounder will get hurt.
Realizing what I meant, Lui hurriedly dabbed her eyes. Good thing she wasn't oblivious.
"Shall we go, then?"
Jin kid. I mumbled the words I could never say aloud.
At that moment, Rishar took the handles.
"I'll push, Ober Teacher."
Jin was an adult man, skinny or not, and with the wheelchair's weight, it was a bit much for me anyway. I gladly handed over the handles.
Rishar, eager to get Jin to the Greenhouse quickly, pushed at a brisk pace.
"Hm, yeah. Being here does make breathing a bit easier."
Upon arriving at the Greenhouse, Jin removed his mask and took a deep breath.
Right? See, Jin? My idea wasn't totally off. I felt oddly proud that my absurd treatment seemed to be working.
"Really? He says so himself—how about having him stay here even at night, Teacher?"
Rishar asked me happily, looking at Jin's face.
Nope, no can do.
"Plants release good components during the day, but bad ones at night, so that might be tough."
Good: oxygen. Bad: carbon dioxide. Not strictly good or bad, but definitely for Jin. Though plants don't exhale that much CO2 at night anyway.
"Complicated."
Rishar groaned.
This bro would've been doomed for STEM in my world too. Me included.
Rishar lifted Jin onto the newly installed canopy bed and hung his outer robe on the bedside rack.
I swear on my life... I absolutely didn't prescribe this for the visual.
Green plants, vibrant colorful blooms, a canopy bed with flowing white curtains, glowing sun-like lights, and a long-haired beauty in a white shirt...
Total photoshoot. The steaming humidifier added a mystical vibe.
No, daily life is a pictorial. Why no cameras in this era? Gotta capture and pass it down generations.
Ugh. Good job, me. Coming up with such a brilliant treatment.
"...Herb smell. Nice."
And this pictorial patient just lying there closed his eyes, long lashes drooping, gazing at a bedside potted plant. Ahh, no matter what, I'll die first. Heart exploding.
Lost in Jin's pictorial for a while, I realized he was intently watching me. What, what?!
I figured he'd say 'Mesmerized by my face again' or 'I know I'm handsome, but your face'll wear out'—but he just smiled softly. The backlight from the shining lamps behind made it look like a halo.
'...So pretty.'
I thought it again without realizing.
* * *
That night, I came to and found myself at my desk in my bedroom, sketching Jin.
Astrid's drawing skills came in handy now. Lush green leaves, Jin's smile peeking through white curtains...
How could he smile so purely? A sick man struggling to breathe. Two months and a week had passed. Soon... the original timeline for Jin's death.
I lacked confidence. That my treatments were truly helping him.
Suddenly, my chest tightened. Like indigestion from dinner.
Why? Thinking of Jin, why this burning in my gut? Had I fallen for him like original Astrid?
Nah. I shook my head. Lifelong solo me? No way.
I was just fangirling his handsomeness. That's it. My fave had shifted from Rodent to Jin, that's all.
I listened for shallow breaths from next door. But dwarven tech was too good—perfect soundproofing. No noise through the wall.
After agonizing, I decided hearing his breaths would reassure me. I stood abruptly, cracked open Jin's door, and slipped in. Gede approached with a puzzled face.
After I insisted on constant attendants, Rishar assigned three boys to rotate 24/7 by Jin. Gede was one.
'Shh!'
I pressed a finger to my lips. Scared of waking Jin. Gede nodded and quietly returned to his chair by the bed.
Jin lay deep asleep, chest rising and falling rhythmically. Watching eased my heart. Sleep well, our Jin kid.
I chuckled unwittingly. Good thing the mask hid my cheekbones soaring skyward from Gede's view.
Just like this... nothing happening would be nice. Jin not dying. By my side, Rishar's, Rodent's, all of ours... staying like now. Not too much to ask.
* * *
A week had passed since moving Jin to the Greenhouse during the day. Was this non-oxygen oxygen therapy working? His breath sounds seemed slightly easier.
'...It's actually working?'
Every stethoscope check left me baffled. Never dreamed it'd truly help.
As I set down the stethoscope, Jin buttoned his shirt, staring intently at my face.
What, what! Staring like that—what do you want?! Today, I won't mind your insight. It's improving, so you should know.
"Doctor, your face looks brighter today."
Hehe. Of course. How could it not? Sure, seizure coughs and occasional hemoptysis still happened, but his breath sounds were definitely better.
Post-Greenhouse, his complexion was unrecognizable. Gone was the dry, flaky skin—no moisture—and now plump, rosy flesh. Making his already handsome face even more so.
Appetite up too, so meals increased. Still skimpy for his height, though.
"My patient's so obedient, makes me happy. Doing exercises steadily? Taking meds well?"
Jin could now sit unsupported longer. More active too—sometimes rolling around bed, bored. He hadn't had energy before.
"Of course. Who ordered it? I'll do anything our doctor says. Anything."
Jin beamed. Better health meant more smiles—way more hazardous to my heart. You rascal.
