“LinChu-Qing（初晴）!Howlonghasthatarmbeengoiup!”

        Thedoorknobturned.Mrs.Lin’svoice—irritatiooanger—cutstraightthroughthethinwoodendoor.

        Crausedeverythiopushherselfupright.Unsteady,sheshuffledtothedoorandunlockedit.Hercheekswereflushedwithanunnaturalheat.Shewasn’tevenwearingherrimlessgssesyet;hergazehadgo,unfocused.

        “Mom…”Hervoicewassohoarseitwasalmostinaudible.Sheleanedweaklyagainstthedoorframe.“IthinkIhaveafever…Itaketodayofffromeseliteraturecramschool…?”

        Mrs.LinfrownedandreachedouttofeelCra’sforehead.

        Itwashot—clearly.

        ButMrs.Lin’sbrowonlytightenedfurther.Withlessthanaweekleftbeforemidterms,“gettingsick”oftentraosomethingelseinananxiousmother’smind.

        “It’sjustalittlewarm.What‘seriousfever’?”Mrs.Linpulledherhandback,hertonefullofsuspiandseverity.“Cra,midtermsareintwoweeks.Areyoupretendingbecauseyoudidn’tfinishreviewingphysidmath,andyuilty—tooscaredtogotakethecramschooltest—sonowyou’reputtingonanae?”

        Crafroze.Herfever-heavymind,alreadyfogged,wasstabbedawakebytheaccusation.

        “I’mnotpretending…mywholebodyhurts…”shetriedtoexpin,butherweakvoicesoundedpaleanduselessagaiher’sforce.

        “Don’tgivemethat!”Mrs.Lin’svoicesharpened.“Don’tthinkIhaven’tnoticedyht’sbeenonuntilowhtthesepasttwoweeks.Whoknowsifyou’redoingmath—orreadingthoseuselessextracurricurbooksofyours?”Hereyesleftnorootiation.“Highschoolersdosickthateasily.Thisisbecauseyouneverfocusproperly,becauseyourmindisalwayssomewhereelse—andnowyou’relookingforexcuses!”

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