"Mr. Miller, Aunt Lowe, you should hurry over to Aunt Warren's. She's so kind-hearted. She won't turn you away."
With that, Evelyn Ford turned and went straight back to the kitchen. As for the cursing and grumbling outside, she just gave a cold smile and pretended she hadn't heard a thing.
Inside the kitchen, Evelyn Ford boiled a bowl of ginger tea. The temperature was dropping too fast, and it was easy to catch a cold at a time like this.
An hour later, the thunder and lightning started up again. Someone was struck by lightning on their way back.
A utility pole was leaking electricity, and three people in the complex had already died of electrocution. The group chat was filled with complaints. Some people were arguing, while others were cursing up a storm. The good news was that at 6:30 p.m., the power to the complex was surprisingly restored. Evelyn Ford took the opportunity to simmer a pot of lamb soup. After drinking a large bowl, she felt her whole body warm up.
She poured the lamb soup into plastic containers and stored them in her space. Evelyn Ford picked up her phone to check the group chat messages. Unexpectedly, someone from Building A was cursing people out in the group. Evelyn scrolled up and finally figured out what had happened.
There was a supermarket in the complex, but it had closed on the first day of the downpour. Just a while ago, a few men had broken down the supermarket door and looted it. Because they were wearing masks and a heavy fog had rolled in during the afternoon, no one knew who did it. But everyone was certain they were residents of the complex.
Evelyn Ford saw the person calling them bandits and wishing them a horrible death, so she stopped reading.
At 10:00 p.m., the power went out again. A wave of angry curses and miserable wails rose from the complex. Evelyn Ford placed an emergency lamp on her bedside table and tried to read a book on acupuncture. Maybe because it was too cold, she couldn't focus and just felt incredibly sleepy. Just as she was about to fall asleep, someone suddenly started pounding violently on her door. Evelyn rubbed her eyes.
"Evelyn Ford, please save our Indy! You're a medical student, I'm begging you, please open the door."
Evelyn Ford recognized the voice as Miss Lowell from 901. She got up, put on her clothes and shoes, and walked to the door, carrying the emergency lamp.
Through the peephole, she could see Miss Lowell and her husband, Leo Jennings, standing anxiously at the door. Leo was holding a child of about three. The couple had married and had their daughter, Indy, in their forties. She was the apple of their eye, their whole world.
"Evelyn Ford, please open the door! Indy is unconscious. I'm on my knees, begging you! Please save her."
Evelyn Ford's brow furrowed. Carrying the emergency lamp, she opened the door. When Miss Lowell saw her, her eyes lit up with a mixture of surprise and desperation. Evelyn brought the lamp close to Indy's face and began to check her condition.
"Indy was probably frightened by the thunder and lightning. A severe scare can cause a high fever, sweating, and dilated pores, which leaves the body vulnerable to the cold. First, you should take her temperature. If it's below 38.5 degrees Celsius, physical cooling methods will be enough. If it's above 38.5, she'll need medicine or a trip to the hospital."
Miss Lowell's hands were trembling, and large tears streamed down her face. "We don't have a thermometer at home."
Evelyn Ford was silent for two seconds, then touched Indy's forehead. "Go home and put a cold compress on her forehead and give her a sponge bath with rubbing alcohol. Once she's a little better, give her a warm bath. Don't let her get caught in a draft, and calm her down."
"Okay, okay. Thank you, Evelyn Ford. Thank you so much! So Indy doesn't need any medicine, right?"
"Right."
Leo Jennings said his thanks and carried the child home. Miss Lowell bowed repeatedly in gratitude. Evelyn waved her off, telling her to hurry home and take care of the child. Only then did Miss Lowell go downstairs, full of thanks.
After closing the door and returning to her bedroom, Evelyn Ford found she was no longer sleepy. 'In my past life, during the heatwave, Leo Jennings was robbed and beaten to death while out looking for food. Miss Lowell and Indy died at home, too.'
Evelyn Ford walked to the balcony, pushed aside the insulation panel, and looked down through the thick glass. The rain was pouring, and lightning flashed across the sky. But what truly unsettled her was the sight of a body floating in the water below.
The trees that hadn't been uprooted by the tornado swayed wildly, their branches creaking. CREAK... CREAK... It sounded just like a knife being sharpened.
Pushing the insulation panel back into place, Evelyn Ford let out a deep breath.
* * *
The next day's news alerts: A landslide wiped a village off the map. An unknown virus emerged on Continent F. Wild animals overran cities in another country.
Evelyn Ford had just finished breakfast when someone started pounding on her door again.
"Ford, my grandma has a fever. Can you come take a look?"
It was Lauren Keller from 902 downstairs. They knew each other a little; they had met before at Mr. Grant's farewell party. Coincidentally, Lauren also studied at Corinth University, majoring in law.
'In her past life, Lauren Keller had given her half a steamed bun. That half a bun had saved her life. It was a debt Evelyn Ford had etched into her memory.'
Evelyn Ford wanted to repay this debt. She went back inside, put on a wool hat and a mask, then opened the door and went downstairs with Lauren.
"Thank god we have a resident doctor right here in Building D. Otherwise, I really don't know what I would've done. The emergency line is busy, and with the floodwater so deep downstairs, there's no way to get out."
Lauren's face was etched with worry. Her grandparents were elderly; her grandfather had dementia, and now her grandmother had a high fever. Her parents were also at retirement age. As an only child, the responsibility on her shoulders felt even heavier now.
"I'm still just a novice."
"Don't be so modest. You're a genius, Evelyn Ford. I heard a commotion outside your door last night. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Thinking about what happened last night, Evelyn's expression turned a few shades colder.
Arriving at 902, she heard a suppressed cough the moment she stepped inside. Lauren's grandmother was lying in the bedroom, covered by three thick quilts. Her complexion was somewhat sallow. The old man was lying on another bed, staring blankly, but he seemed to be in decent spirits. Evelyn took the old woman's temperature. Seeing it was 40 degrees Celsius, Evelyn frowned slightly.
Stepping out of the bedroom, Evelyn pulled Lauren aside. 'I remember that in my past life, Lauren's grandmother died suddenly. Back then, I was a complete mess myself and couldn't pay attention to anyone else. Lauren never came to me for help. I only found out later after hearing someone mention it.'
'Anyway, the last time I saw Lauren, she was the only one left in her family.'
"Lauren, her temperature is 40 degrees Celsius. This isn't just a high fever; she might also have a lung infection or a central nervous system infection."
Lauren's face went pale, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.
"Ford, is there anything you can do?"
"Ford, is my mom's condition very serious?"
Mr. Keller looked at Evelyn Ford with an anxious face. Mrs. Keller, who had been bailing water out with a basin, also stopped and looked over worriedly.
Evelyn Ford fell silent for a moment. 'The old woman's life is in danger. I don't want to get into trouble. But I have to repay Lauren's kindness.'
"I have two fever reducers and some antibiotics at home. But, given your grandmother's condition, going to a hospital would be the safest option."
A look of surprise flashed in Lauren's eyes. She grabbed Evelyn's hand and said urgently, "Evelyn, can you sell me the medicine? I'll pay you three times the price! Or I can trade you water or rice for it! In her condition, I don't think my grandmother can go to the hospital. It's too cold outside, and the water is so deep. I'm afraid her condition will only get worse if she goes out in the wind."