Chapter 187: Hospitalization

"Hey! Teacher, I'm here!" Wu Shiqing rang the doorbell at Lin Qingshan's apartment.

It was work hours, but she had arrived a bit early today. However, Lin Qingshan, who usually answered the door quickly, didn't respond for a long time.

"Teacher?"

Wu Shiqing thought it was a bit odd but didn't worry too much. Maybe Lin Qingshan was just in the bathroom or something. She decided to call him.

The call was answered quickly, but Lin Qingshan's voice sounded extremely weak. "Hello… Shiqing?"

Wu Shiqing, initially not too concerned, felt a sudden panic upon hearing Lin Qingshan's unusually frail voice.

"Teacher? What happened to you?"

"Nothing… just a bit of stomach pain. I… I'll open the door for you."

After hanging up, Lin Qingshan opened the door to find Wu Shiqing standing there. His appearance shocked her: he looked extremely pale, his lips dry and white, and he was hunched over, clutching his stomach as if in great pain.

"Teacher… are you really okay?"

"It's just… a bit of diarrhea," Lin Qingshan said, trying to appear casual as he forced a smile. "Come in…"

Wu Shiqing hesitated but entered the apartment. She noticed that the sparrow Lin Qingshan had rescued was missing, probably released. She didn't think much of it.

Lin Qingshan poured her a glass of water and took some anti-diarrheal medication.

"Did you eat something wrong?" Wu Shiqing asked cautiously.

[Translator: sauron]

"Not really," Lin Qingshan said, giving a thumbs up. "It's just a minor issue."

Just then, Chen Chunqiang and Yashita Yuta arrived.

"I… I'll come right away."

Lin Qingshan attempted to answer the door, but as he walked, the pain in his stomach intensified, causing him to collapse before he could open it.

"Teacher!"

Before losing consciousness, Lin Qingshan heard his assistants' terrified voices.

---

In the Manga World Company's editorial department, Ito Ayumi was working at her computer when her phone rang. The caller ID showed "Qingshan Teacher."

"Qingshan Teacher?"

Ito Ayumi was puzzled, as Lin Qingshan rarely called her during work hours. She usually called him. Nevertheless, she answered the call.

However, it wasn't Lin Qingshan on the other end, but a familiar voice.

"Ms. Ayumi, Qingshan Teacher collapsed at his apartment due to acute gastroenteritis. We're at the hospital now. Please come quickly!"

Ito Ayumi was taken aback and alarmed. "Qingshan Teacher… hospitalized for acute gastroenteritis?"

Given Lin Qingshan's robust health over the past two years, it was strange and concerning to hear he was in the hospital. But she didn't have time to dwell on it.

"I'm heading to the hospital now. Where are you?"

Ito Ayumi quickly grabbed her briefcase and car keys, leaving the office.

After driving for half an hour, she arrived at the hospital and rushed to the room specified by Chen Chunqiang.

"How is Qingshan Teacher?"

She called out before entering the room. Lin Qingshan was lying on a hospital bed in a patient gown, hooked up to an IV. Chen Chunqiang, Wu Shiqing, and Yashita Yuta stood by the bed.

"He just had his stomach pumped. He should be okay now," Wu Shiqing said.

Ito Ayumi breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm glad he's alright."

"But… how did he suddenly get acute gastroenteritis?"

Ito Ayumi looked at Lin Qingshan with confusion.

"The doctor said it's probably food poisoning from eating something unclean," Wu Shiqing explained. "So, what exactly did Teacher eat recently?"

Lin Qingshan scratched his head, suspecting he knew what caused the sudden illness but feeling embarrassed. "I'm not sure. I cooked it thoroughly and used a lot of ginger and garlic. Could it still cause a problem?"

Ito Ayumi's face grew serious. "What did you eat? Was it something from outside? Where did you get the food that it was so unsafe?"

"Also, since the food at your home might be the cause, it should be discarded."

"No!" Lin Qingshan said, looking anxious. "I can't just throw away those seafood and mountain delicacies! It's not their fault!"

"Then what exactly caused it?"

Wu Shiqing asked, curious if Lin Qingshan knew what caused the food poisoning.

With a sigh, Lin Qingshan decided to reveal the truth. "Actually… I released the sparrow I brought back yesterday. Later, a wild cat killed it, and I brought the carcass home. I was going to give it a proper burial."

"But if buried outside, it would still be eaten."

"So, I thought, if it was destined to be eaten, why not let me eat it…"

Ito Ayumi, Wu Shiqing, Chen Chunqiang, and Yashita Yuta were left dumbfounded by Lin Qingshan's explanation.

**End of Chapter.**

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