Chapter 1610

Dr. Blanc remained silent, observing from the sidelines. Lily checked the patient's pulse, disinfected her hands, and left the room. Dr. Morris watched her go, a doubtful expression on his face, waiting for an explanation, but she offered none. He glanced at Dr. Blanc, who showed no inclination to question her, and then quietly followed.

They examined patient after patient, a diverse group spanning all ages. After assessing over a dozen people, Lily began to feel fatigued. Dr. Blanc noticed her weariness and offered a suggestion with concern. "Do you want to take a break? We're nearly finished, and I think we can wrap things up for today." Lily shook her head. "It's okay. I'm fine!" She wanted to examine a few more cases to gather sufficient data for a robust hypothesis.

In the next room, a sight tugged at her heart. A child, no older than three or four, sat at the head of the bed, playing with a toy. The little girl's hair was unkempt, her attention seemingly fixed on her plaything. She looked up nervously at the sound of their approach. This case felt deeply personal; the girl was approximately Galen's age, and Lily hadn't anticipated encountering such a young patient.

"Is she also infected?" Lily asked, her finger trembling as she pointed at the child, silently hoping for a negative response. Dr. Blanc nodded. Dr. Morris then read from the medical record: "Patient 33. Three years old. Female. On the seventh day of diagnosis, the patient was coughing, had a high fever, and experienced widespread pain. Symptoms were poorly documented due to the patient's age."

Anxiety swelled within Lily as she cautiously approached the child, mindful of not frightening her. She knelt beside the bed, forcing a smile. "Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere today?"

The little girl stared at Lily with wide eyes and shook her head. "Who are you?"

Suppressing her own unease, Lily offered a reassuring smile. "I'm a doctor here to help you! If you feel uncomfortable, you must tell me, okay?"

"Are you going to poke me again?" The girl recoiled, clearly frightened. The reflex action intensified Lily's distress.

Lily extended a hand, but the girl flinched further away. "No. I'm not going to poke you. I just want to feel your wrist to see if you've lost weight. Is that okay?"

"Are you really not going to poke me?" The little girl eyed her suspiciously, as if doubting her words.

Lily nodded emphatically, raising her hands. "I promise! Look! I don't have any needles. How could I give you a shot without needles?"

Reassured, the little girl slowly extended her arm. Its thinness was alarming; it looked fragile. Lily gently placed her finger on the girl's wrist, studying her face. Her heart pounded; the sight of this child was deeply upsetting.