Chapter 1589

Lily was surprised. Genuinely stumped, she’d forgotten how unusual it was for her to visit Dominic wearing a hazmat suit. She coughed and looked at Dominic. "Actually… he's the one who asked me to."

Dominic was nonplussed. He wanted to avoid the affair and become a referrer, but managing these two parties proved challenging. Lily seemed determined to disrupt his peace.

"Oh?" Dr. Blanc said blandly.

Lily explained, "He said the pandemic is serious. Although our country is currently stable, he emphasized the virus's rapid spread and difficulty of detection, urging caution. So, Dominic, not I, is the one truly informed about this disease. I also feel you should help them, Dom. You shouldn't stay out of this!"

Dominic was speechless. Dr. Morris repeatedly nodded in agreement.

"That's right! Mr. Fike, you can't continue living as a hermit. I hope you'll work with our department to solve this problem! Don't worry. If you solve it first using herbal medicine, we won't hide the truth or take your credit. We'll tell the world about it!"

Dominic remained at a loss for words. 'I never worried about them taking credit. And when have I ever said such things?' He saw the slyness in Lily's eyes and realized she was retaliating for his revealing her identity and recommending her without prior consent. 'This woman is rather petty, isn't she?'

Cornered, Dominic straightened, coughed twice, and said solemnly, "It's not that I don't want to help, but…" He coughed again. "I'm simply too old and weakening. From news reports and conversations with colleagues, this pandemic disease appears both mysterious and lethal. In my current state, I'm afraid I can barely withstand it, especially considering the elderly and young are most vulnerable."

After a pause, he continued, "Of course, I'm not afraid of dying; I'm old enough. However, if I become infected, I'll be unable to continue my research, holding you both back. And it's not just about me; what if I infect someone with a weak immune system, or a child? Then I'd be causing more trouble, wouldn't I?"

His last sentence was directed meaningfully at Lily. It was her turn to be speechless. 'He's threatening me with my son! If he gets infected, he could infect Galen, and without him, there's no one to care for Galen. This sly old fox never lets anyone get the better of him, huh?' Lily clenched her teeth and smiled.

"I guess you have a point."