Claire stayed groggy in bed at the hotel until noon.
She struggled to sit up and felt her forehead—it was burning hot.
Her heart sank.
Last night, when she walked along the river, she only thought the wind felt a little chilly. Wearing a slip dress and a thin cardigan, she had been fine enough; she'd chatted happily with Sarah, and before she knew it, they had walked for quite a long time.
Leaning against the headboard, she tugged the corner of her mouth in a self-deprecating smile.
'Turns out I'm 28 now, not 18 anymore.'
She forced herself out of bed and asked the hotel front desk for fever patches and fever reducers.
After taking the medicine, she lay back down in bed.
All day long, she only barely managed to get up a few times to drink water and eat a little congee sent by the h
