Zuo Feng sat on the living room sofa, his mind replaying A Mao's various abnormal behaviors from today.
Today, A Mao was uncharacteristically clingy, talking to him all day about Firefly Base, a behavior that was clearly too unusual.
Normally, A Mao was not this clingy. He had already noticed A Mao's abnormality; perhaps her condition was more serious than he had anticipated.
Late at night, Zuo Feng gently knocked on A Mao's door and asked softly, "A Mao, are you alright? Do you want some supper?"
A Mao's weak voice came from inside the room: "No, Zuo-dage, I'm not hungry. I'm just a little tired."
Zuo Feng gently pushed open the door and saw A Mao curled up in the corner of the bed, her face pale, her eyes hollow.
What kind of eyes were those? As if her soul had been extracted, her hollow gaze devoid of life.
Zuo Feng's heart tightened. He slowly walked to A Mao's bedside and asked softly, "A Mao, are you hiding something from me? You've been very off today. Is there another problem with your body?"
Hearing Zuo Feng's voice, A Mao's body trembled slightly. She hadn't expected Zuo-dage to come in.
A Mao instantly came back to her senses, anxiously pulling the blanket over her body.
She slowly raised her head, a hint of struggle flashing in her eyes, and said in a weak but firm voice, "Zuo-dage, I'm fine, just tired. It's late, Zuo-dage, you should go to sleep."
At this moment, A Mao was struggling immensely internally.
Her petrification speed was getting faster and faster, especially in her chest. She felt she would have a hard time surviving tonight.
On one hand, she hoped to have someone by her side when she was dying, to see her off on her last journey.
On the other hand, she didn't want Zuo-dage to see her in pain, and even less did she want him to worry about her.
Zuo Feng's gaze fell heavily on A Mao's face. In that fleeting glimpse, he saw that even A Mao's arm had begun to petrify. This speed was too fast. How could it have deteriorated to such an extent in just a few short hours?
A premonition of ill omen surged in Zuo Feng's heart. He knew A Mao's current situation was more serious than he imagined.
But he hadn't expected it to be this serious. At this rate, A Mao probably wouldn't last the night.
Zuo Feng took a deep breath, gently stroked A Mao's hair, and said softly, "A Mao, has the petrification intensified? Pull back the blanket and let me see. Don't be afraid, I'll be with you. Zuo-dage still has a way, but you have to let me know the truth."
Upon hearing this, A Mao's eyes welled up with tears. She bit her lip tightly, trying not to let out a sob.
But tears still streamed down her cheeks. A Mao's small hands, hidden under the blanket, clutched the corner of the blanket tightly, her fingertips white.
She stammered, "Zuo-dage, I... I'm going to die. I... I'm so scared, Zuo-dage. I... I'm really scared. I don't want to leave you like this. Can you stay and talk to me a little longer? Just... just for a little while..."
Zuo Feng's heart was twisted in pain. A Mao's words were like a sharp blade piercing his heart.
These words were clearly a farewell before death. A Mao must have sensed something long ago, but to keep him from worrying, she had silently endured it alone all this time.
Zuo Feng's nose tingled, and he nearly shed tears. He gently comforted her, "Silly girl, don't say that. You won't die. Zuo-dage promises you, I really have a way. First, let me see how serious the petrification in your body is."
Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope flashed in A Mao's eyes, but then it dimmed again.
She knew her body's condition; the petrification had reached an irreversible point. But she still didn't want Zuo Feng to be too sad, so she forced a smile and said, "Zuo-dage, you don't need to comfort me. I know my body's condition. To die by Zuo-dage's side, I am already very content."
Upon hearing this, Zuo Feng's heart ached even more. Disregarding whether A Mao agreed or not, he gently lifted a corner of the blanket, only to see that A Mao's left arm had completely turned a withered wood-like color, her fingers stiffly bent, and woody textures vaguely visible beneath her skin.
Zuo Feng's eyes instantly welled up. This silly A Mao, it was already this serious, and she was still forcing a smile. Zuo Feng took a deep breath and slowly took out a life crystal from a kongling crystal.
A Mao's current state simply wouldn't last the night. The reason he hadn't used a life crystal before was, firstly, Zuo Feng couldn't be sure whether a life crystal could reverse petrification, and secondly, a life crystal was extremely precious and should not be used lightly unless absolutely necessary.
Now, Zuo Feng had no other choice. He gently brought the life crystal to A Mao's mouth.
"A Mao, open your mouth. Eat this. It might save your life."
Zuo Feng's voice carried a hint of undeniable firmness.
A Mao heard him and glanced at Zuo Feng. She didn't know the preciousness or efficacy of a life crystal, but feeling the determination in Zuo Feng's eyes, she slowly opened her mouth and swallowed the life crystal.
The life crystal melted instantly upon entering her mouth, and a warm current quickly surged throughout A Mao's body. Her cheeks gradually flushed, and her stiff fingers began to tremble slightly.
But, it stopped there. The petrification on A Mao's body still showed no signs of receding.
"Could it be that even a life crystal won't work?" Zuo Feng's heart sank. The life crystal, which could bring flesh back to bones, had actually failed this time.
Zuo Feng felt an unprecedented sense of powerlessness. This time, he really didn't know what else he could do.
A "gurgle" from her stomach broke the silence. Zuo Feng's eyes instantly lit up as he looked at A Mao.
"Zuo-dage, I'm hungry," A Mao's voice was weak, but it carried a hint of vitality.
A Mao's voice was like a heavenly melody, and hope rekindled in Zuo Feng's eyes.
He rushed to get up and prepare food, silently thinking, "As long as there's an appetite, there's hope."
The most feared thing for a seriously ill person is a lack of appetite. The fact that A Mao could still feel hungry indicated that although the life crystal had not completely reversed the petrification, it had at least slowed down the deterioration of her condition.
He quickly cooked a bowl of fragrant noodles. Watching A Mao carefully eat bite by bite, Zuo Feng's heart gradually relaxed.
After A Mao finished the noodles, a long-lost satisfied smile appeared on her face. Zuo Feng gently patted A Mao's head and asked softly, "How do you feel now, A Mao?"
A Mao shook her head slightly, her eyes showing both confusion and a hint of imperceptible relief: "Zuo-dage, what did you give me to eat? I feel like there's a ball of fire burning inside my body, warm and comforting, but the petrified areas seem to be the same. However, I feel much better now, at least not as uncomfortable. The petrified limbs also seem to have a little sensation."
Upon hearing this, Zuo Feng felt a little relieved.
Although the life crystal had not completely cured A Mao, it had at least improved her condition, which was a blessing in disguise.
Zuo Feng softly replied, "That was a life crystal. Just think of it as a kind of medicine. You silly girl, Zuo-dage said he had a way, so he wouldn't let anything happen to you. If you ever feel uncomfortable again, you must tell me. Don't try to endure it."
Zuo Feng didn't tell A Mao about the preciousness of the life crystal. A Mao was too sensible, and he didn't want her to bear too much more.
A Mao nodded, her eyes shining with trust. "I'm sorry, Zuo-dage, for making you worry. I won't do it again."