Having paid the fare, the driver swiftly drove away.

I practically rushed into the convenience store at the entrance of the hospital and twisted open a bottle of mineral water to drink.

I drank several bottles before feeling a slight relief from my thirst.

I buried my head and settled the bill under the astonished gaze of the shopkeeper, then hurriedly ran out as if escaping from something.

"How did I end up like this?" I squatted at the entrance of the hospital, filled with anxiety.

My stomach was filled with heavy water, yet my throat and skin remained dry and itchy, rubbing off large flakes with a single scratch.

"Rushing through countless dangers, carrying water and mud to cross the mountains, it's a great calamity." Not far away, an old beggar hunched in a corner, pointing and gesturing at me in the air with his fingers.

"Bah, you old good-for-nothing, not a single kind word in your mouth."

I disregarded the grumbling voice of the convenience store owner as I frantically ran into the hospital for a complete physical examination.

While waiting for the examination results, my phone vibrated incessantly. My boyfriend called one after another, as if he would keep calling if I didn't answer.

I pursed my parched lips and weakly answered, "What's wrong?"

"Nan Nan, are you at the hospital? Why aren't you answering the phone?" A familiar and warm female voice came from the other end of the line—it was Aunt Yu.

I instinctively sat up straight, glanced around, and only after a while did I speak, "Yes, I have a friend..."

Before I finished, she interrupted me, saying, "What can the hospital do? You're in good health, and in the future, you'll definitely have several healthy and chubby kids. Listen to me, hurry back home."

Her words made me feel nauseous. Just then, I looked up and saw the doctor gesturing for me to come in, so I hung up the phone without saying a word.