A few days later.
The sequel to "guoba the god of cookery" had just begun. Lovia was writing a scene where Guoba secretly added a mysterious seasoning to Xiangling's newly developed dish. This caused the diners to briefly gain a "Geo Infusion," nearly shattering their teeth, yet they unexpectedly found it incredibly satisfying.
She was writing with great enthusiasm, her pen tip flying across the paper, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips.
However, just as she was conceiving the next humorous scene, she suddenly felt a strange wave of dizziness.
The pen tip dragged across the paper, leaving a crooked ink mark.
"Hmm?" Lovia shook her head, trying to dispel the discomfort. "Have I been writing too long? Is it low blood sugar?"
She instinctively reached for the bowl of "raspberry mixed with ore" beside her and stuffed a small handful into her mouth.
The familiar crunchy texture and subtle sweet-and-sour flavor spread through her mouth, but the dizziness didn't subside. Instead, it was accompanied by an indescribable sense of weakness.
It was as if... some kind of energy in her body was slowly draining away, and the "foundation" maintaining her normal activities was becoming unstable.
Immediately after, a wave of cold hit her. It wasn't the external temperature dropping, but a chill emanating from deep within her body, making her shiver uncontrollably.
"What's going on?" Lovia put down her pen and hugged her arms in confusion.
She tried to stand up to pour a glass of hot water (though she knew hot water might be useless for a Melusine, it was a habit from her time as a human), but her limbs felt weak, and she nearly failed to stay upright, almost falling back into her chair.
A strong desire to curl up took hold of her.
It was only then that Lovia finally realized something was wrong.
Dizziness, fatigue, chills, weakness... this felt very much like the symptoms of a severe cold and fever from her past life as a human.
But! But she wasn't human anymore! She was a Melusine!
Do Melusines get sick too???
Huh?!
Lovia was stunned. She had been in this world for so long, and while she occasionally felt a bit listless from staying up late to write, this obvious "sickly" state was a first.
There was absolutely no specific information in her memory about Melusines getting sick. So, games and reality really were different?
Moreover... Melusines and humans had completely different constitutions. Could they really get sick?
"Is it because I've been too excited lately and my schedule has been irregular? Or did I eat something dirty?" Lovia thought hard as she shivered and crawled into bed, wrapping herself into a ball with a thick quilt. "That's not right... the ores I eat are carefully selected, the Berries are very fresh... and the Fluorescent Fungus was bought through normal channels..."
She couldn't figure it out, but the physical discomfort was very real.
The cold and weakness radiating from the inside out became more and more apparent, leaving her without even the strength to think.
Her head felt groggy, and she just wanted to close her eyes and sleep. But a voice in her subconscious kept reminding her: You can't sleep, you have to find a way... a way to cure this?
But... how?
Go to a doctor? To the famous "Bubu Pharmacy" in Liyue Harbor?
As soon as this thought emerged, Lovia dismissed it.
That probably wouldn't work!
Setting aside whether Mr. Baizhu could even treat a Melusine, just the thought of exposing her identity as a Melusine (especially a Humanoid Melusine) to a human doctor was enough to make her drop the idea, considering the potential trouble it could cause.
What if she was captured for research as some rare creature?! What if they found out the taboo of the Humanoid Melusina?
"Ugh..." Lovia wrapped herself even tighter, leaving only a pair of watery eyes visible due to the discomfort, staring helplessly at the ceiling.
It turned out that having her own house didn't mean she could live without worries.
Being afraid to see a doctor when sick, and not having an "Exotic Pet Doctor" around—this was truly one of the biggest challenges of surviving in another world!
What should she do now?
Just tough it out?
How strong was a Melusine's self-healing ability? Could she survive this?
All sorts of chaotic thoughts intertwined with her physical discomfort, making her feel an unprecedented sense of loneliness and fragility.
The small house was quiet, with only the faint sound of waves outside and her own somewhat rapid breathing.
Manuscripts were scattered on the table. The prank story that had excited her just moments ago had lost its appeal. Now, she only hoped this mysterious "illness" would go away quickly.
Lovia thought groggily, her consciousness gradually blurring. Eventually, unable to resist the intense weakness, she curled up in her quilt and drifted into a daze of sleep.
In her dreams, she seemed to be in a cold sea, surrounded by giant shell buildings and her swimming marine biological kin... Then, a call originating from the depths of her bloodline faintly echoed. It was vague, and she couldn't understand what it specifically was.
She just felt cold, very cold.
Time passed quietly in her stupor.
When Lovia regained a bit of consciousness, it was already deep night outside.
She was woken up by hunger, but the lingering weakness and cold were even stronger. Her stomach growled, and her craving for "raspberry mixed with ore" reached its peak; it was the only thing she could think of to replenish some "energy."
But... that bowl was on the table, only a few steps away from the bed, yet at this moment, it seemed like an impassable chasm.
Lovia tried to move, but her whole body was sore and weak, and her head felt as heavy as lead.
"No... have to eat something..." Lovia struggled, barely supporting her body. She practically rolled off the bed and toward the table.
She was out of breath after just those few steps. With great effort, she reached the table and stretched out her hand for the bowl.
Her trembling fingertips touched the edge of the bowl, but she lost her grip—
Crash!
The wooden bowl holding the last of the "raspberry mixed with ore" smashed onto the floor. The snacks scattered everywhere, some even rolling into the cracks in the corners.
Lovia looked at the mess on the floor and then at her empty hand. A massive sense of grievance and powerlessness instantly surged within her.
When it rains, it pours!
Her snacks were gone!
The physical discomfort, the solitude of being alone, the fear of the unknown illness, and the miserable situation of not even being able to eat her snacks—multiple emotions intertwined, finally breaking Lovia's psychological defenses.
Crystal tears began to well up in her eyes.
She sniffled, looking at the broken bowl and scattered snacks, then at the small house she had just acquired. For the first time, a thought occurred to her: Maybe... having a friend who knows my secret... wouldn't be a bad thing?
At least at a time like this, she wouldn't be so lonely and helpless... She couldn't hold back the tears eventually, and they slid down her cheeks, dripping onto the floor and creating small, dark circles.
Lovia squatted down, not to pick anything up, but to hug her knees powerlessly. She buried her face in them and began to sob quietly.
Loneliness and pain were like a cold tide, completely submerging her. She had never realized so clearly as in this moment how "different" and isolated she was in this world.
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Greyhounds
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"