Chapter 369 You Might Be the Variable
Samuel lowered his eyes, falling into a long silence.
He seemed deep in thought.
It took a while before he finally looked up, meeting Jean’s eyes. “I think you might…”
But halfway through, he cut himself off and said nothing more.
Jean frowned and immediately tugged at his sleeve, impatient. “Are you serious right now? Don’t stop halfway–you’re gonna kill me with suspense. Might what? Just say it!”
Right then, she looked like a soft little steamed bun–plump, pale, and slightly crumpled–with a touch of playful petulance in her voice. It was oddly pleasant to the car.
Samuel couldn’t help but smile.
He gave in with a small nod and finally said, “I was going to say-”
“You might be the variable.”
Jean blinked in confusion. “Variable? What does that mean?”
Samuel glanced at Hector, still asleep on the couch, and replied in a slow, calm tone, “I can’t say for sure… but maybe there’s something about you–some kind of energy‘ or presence–that calms him down. Calms the mania, eases the insomnia… maybe even allows him to sleep peacefully.”
“What?!” Jean stared at him like he’d just told her aliens were real. Her eyes widened with disbelief. “You think I’ve got some kind of magic? I’m not a superhero…”
All she had was a bit of skill in medicine.
“That’s why I said I’m not sure,” Samuel said with a helpless shrug. “We’d have to do some follow–up testing to figure out what really triggered the change…”
“Testing?” Jean raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me I’m the test subject.”
Samuel gave her a sly smile: “Naturally, the experiment would involve you. Otherwise, how could I confirm the connection between you and Hector… But not now.”
Jean fell silent.
She turned to look at Hector, half–reclined on the couch. Right now, he looked serene and fragile, like an exquisite porcelain doll–quiet and compliant.
Then came a violent fit of coughing-
Jean looked up sharply, tracking the sound.
It was Samuel.
His breath had turned ragged and uneven. The coughing wouldn’t stop.
Oh no…
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Chapter 369 You Might Be the Variable
Jean rushed over, brow furrowed. “Your asthma again?”
Samuel didn’t answer right away. He only glanced back at her and gave a small, wordless nod.
His face had gone pale with sickness. His long fingers fumbled across the desk until they found a bottle of pills.
Jean recognized it instantly–his asthma medication.
She had almost forgotten that this tall, healthy–looking man actually suffered from a severe case of asthma…
After taking the medicine, his symptoms quickly cased.
“You’re kind of a glass cannon yourself,” Jean said, blinking at him with a mix of concern and amusement
Samuel turned his head to meet her gaze, the corners of his lips lifting. “I used to be even more fragile. I’m much better now.”
Jean tilted her head, her expression shifting into one of quiet confidence. “Not sure if I ever told you this…
“But I can cure your asthma.”
Samuel’s expression froze for a second.
He remembered the last time he’d tried to treat Jean–how it led him to truly observe her for the first
time.
That was when he realized he could hear her thoughts.
And when he began to suspect… she knew things about the future.
Things he didn’t.
His asthma… it might just be a thread leading to something larger, something that could affect his future.
“Samuel?” Jean called out softly, seeing him space out with his head lowered. “What are you thinking about?”
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(11)
When the Book–Traveling Girl Meets the Reborn Girl
