Chapter 82 Taking Care of Them (1/2)
Chapter 82: Taking Care of Them
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
When Li Du was discharged, April had arrived.
Hans stopped ridiculing him. His cold had lasted for a week, which was much longer than they had expected. If Li Du continued in that state, Hans had planned to send him to a national hospital.
Li Du was hoping to transfer to Saint John Red Cross Hospital, but considering that Sophie was a specialist, his sickness was not in her field, so he gave that hope up.
Hannah came every day to visit and provide him meals. She was the most self-reliant. Rose disliked housework, while Hans wouldn’t even eat the food he cooked for himself.
As for his cold, Hannah said, puzzled, ”You haven’t gotten a cold in the half a year you have lived in Flagstaff; why was this one so bad?”
Li Du was sensitive enough to pick up on the implication of her question, and asked, ”What the h*ll kind of look is that? Stop making fun of me—I was just drenched in the rain!”
Hans laughed and didn’t say anything. He waited until Hannah left before pulling a chair over and sitting down.
”What?” Li Du could sense that his attitude was different.
Hans said, ”I have something I need to tell you. Prepare yourself. Since I think you have a big heart, I bet you won’t be bothered, but this kind of thing…”
”Don’t beat around the bush like a sissy! Spit it out!”
”Okay—because you were down with a cold for so long, the treasure hunters spread rumors that you weren’t down with a common cold, but that you contracted HIV and have AIDS.”
”Huh?” Li Du was stunned. ”AIDS? Which piece of sh*t made that up? Who the hell would be so vicious?”
To hear Hans say this so seriously made Li Du believe it was clearly a big issue. If not, he would have said it as a joke.
Hans said, ”Don’t be afraid, you’re not infected…”
”Of course I’m not infected—I’m still a virgin!” Li Du furiously interrupted. ”How the hell would I have contracted HIV?”
As he had not fully recovered, he started coughing due to his raised emotions.
Ah Meow nimbly ran over with a paper cup in its mouth that was half-filled with water.
Hans gestured to him to stay calm. ”I know you’re not infected. In fact, the hospital had speculated such in the preliminary stages of your stay. Because with such a serious cold, it showed that your immune system had some problems.”
The HIV virus that leads to AIDS was not directly harmful to person’s life, but it would slowly destroy the immune system. Once that immune system was destroyed, the person would have no protection against foreign organisms.
If the common cold virus infected a normal person, it would be cleansed by their immune system within a few days. But when an AIDS patient was infected, it would become a heavy cold and then worsen into meningitis, pneumonia,...and could ultimately lead to death.
”The hospital tested you for HIV and found that there were no issues; just that your CD4 and CD8 immunity cells were low. Of course, after treatment, you’re healthy again.”
”CD4 and CD8? What are they?” Li Du was confused.
Hans gave him an expression that said: ”You’re really a bumpkin.”
”They are the crucial immunity cells within the immune system. But that’s not what’s important. Anyway, you’re healthy now.”
Li Du knew, of course, that he was healthy. But other people might not think so.
On the second of April, the skies were clear. After the storm, Flagstaff had warmed up; it was full of lush greenery, and flowers bloomed all over.
In the morning, Li Du was about to go out for a walk, when he received a call from the owner of Phoenix Steampunk Hostel.
On the phone, Ironman Bedes first inquired about his health, and then said, ”Li, don’t lose faith in life. AIDS is actually not that scary. I have an old friend that has carried the virus for over 20 years. He knows a lot about this. Do you need me to introduce him to you?”
Li Du said helplessly, ”Bedes, I don’t know where you heard these rumors, but I don’t have AIDS!”
”Ah? D*mn it, did someone spread this rumor? Then I’m sorry—I thought that it was unlikely you would have contracted AIDS. Enjoy the sun; see ya, buddy.”
This call made him realize the gravity of the situation. When nighttime arrived, Li Du called Hans over. ”Bring me to a treasure hunter’s bar.”
Hans said hesitantly, ”I thought you didn’t like going to bars.”