<<Flashback Ends>>
Dai Zhiqiang was sure he had just talked with Ye Huizhong when a mysterious force suddenly sucked his consciousness. Before he knew it, everything became white in front of him.
[You have made a terrible choice, my child. You and her].
'Who is that?' Dai Zhiqiang tried to open his mouth but realized he had no mouth to speak and only wandered in the form of a spirit. Did he cross the river of death without realizing it?
No, wait. That was incorrect. He voluntarily chose to cross that river by himself.
With her, the one he had always longed for.
'Where is Li Caiyi?!' Dai Zhiqiang looked around, but there was only him in this white space of nothingness. He couldn't even differentiate which was up and down, left or right.
'Whoever you are, tell me why isn't she here with me? We are supposed to leave the world together!'
Dai Zhiqiang couldn't speak, but he was confident that the being who talked just now could have heard his voice.
He promised Li Caiyi they would never be separated, even in death.
After a long and tiring journey, he could finally have revenge on Huang Zhen and free himself. However, that happiness was short-lived because his father passed away not long after that as if he had been waiting for Dai Zhiqiang to return before leaving.
Dai Zhiqiang saw no purpose in his life when those he loved weren't in this world anymore.
In such a devastating situation and peculiar timing, he met Li Caiyi again, like it was already fated.
He couldn't have her in his life, but at least he could be with her in death. That was already too much of a blessing for someone like him, who had failed numerous times and dirtied his hand.
Was it because Li Caiyi was a good person and he wasn't, that was why he was transported here alone? Or was it because Li Caiyi somehow survived and only he had died?
The latter seemed impossible since they jumped from such a tall building. So he was more inclined to believe the former option.
[I have watched you all this time and saw how you have led a miserable and lonely life. Even so, to throw your life away like that isn't the way to do it. I have to say, I'm disappointed].
'Are you some kind of God?'
[Who I am is not important. I regret how a noble and pure soul like you is now covered in sin, so I will give you a second chance to fix your mistake].
'A second chance?'
[The child who came here with you, I have sent her first. Although she made the wrong choice, her soul is still clean and untainted, so I gave her a little present. However, you, on the other hand…]
Dai Zhiqiang could almost feel God's disdain in that brief pause.
[Whatever your reason, you have sinned by giving yourself in the pursuit of revenge and eventually ending someone else's life. I will give both of you an equal chance, but to claim your 'present', you must first feel the importance of life. Let this be a lesson for you too].
The more he listened, the more confused he became. However, the entity that talked to him didn't give him any chance to ask questions and continued.
[This is the best I can do for you, my child. I hope you won't disappoint me again this time. Cherish your life and live it to the fullest. I wish you good luck].
A sphere of light suddenly appeared in front of him, and Dai Zhiqiang could feel his body—or his soul was sucked again. The sensation of your body turning into smoke and scattered everywhere felt new and weird at the same time.
'Wait! I still have a lot of questions for you!'
[It's about time you stop asking and start moving toward your new future. I hope I will never see you again here. Farewell, my child].
That was the entity's last word before Dai Zhiqiang completely lost himself. He didn't know how much time had passed, but when he came to his senses, he saw a familiar white ceiling again.
Dai Zhiqiang blinked his eyes a few times while feeling extremely disoriented.
What kind of unrealistic dream was that? And why couldn't his body move?
Everything seemed to overlap in his mind, making his head ache.
While Dai Zhiqiang gathered his thoughts, the door was opened, revealing a bald man with gips on one of his arms. Their gazes met, and both looked equally surprised to see each other.
"Kiddo?"
"Senior Lin?"
Lin Xiang's lips quivered as his eyes moistened. However, it would look uncool if he bawled here, so he held it back. "I know you will wake up. Man, why are you doing this to me?"
However, oblivious to Lin Xiang's touching atmosphere, Dai Zhiqiang dreaded as he had just seen something horrific. "Senior Lin, didn't we just hold your funeral? Are you a ghost?"
The sappy air immediately turned cold. Lin Xiang glared at the younger man, looking offended. "What the fuck? And those words came from someone with one foot in the grave. You want me to die so much you even have a dream about it?"
Dai Zhiqiang was confused. He just had a conversation with Ye Huizhong, and the boss clearly told him that Lin Xiang was already dead!
But then, who was this person in front of him?
Dai Zhiqiang felt a painful stab in his head and immediately grimaced in pain. Lin Xiang thought something was up with him and sprinted out of the room to call the doctor.
After he left, Dai Zhiqiang slowly began to reorganize his thoughts. It was clear that the scene inside his mind just now was just a dream, but why did it feel so real?
When he closed his eyes, Dai Zhiqiang could almost feel the dreadful sensation of Lin Xiang's warmth slowly dissipating from his body. He could still imagine the last peaceful expression on his face as he left his body to burn in that mansion.
"Urgh!"
A sense of nausea hit him like an avalanche, churning his stomach. Dai Zhiqiang hurled, but nothing came out from his empty stomach. It was the most terrible feeling ever.
"Kiddo! Are you alright?!" Lin Xiang exclaimed worriedly and was about to approach him if it weren't for the nurse to block him and usher him to stand back.
Dai Zhiqiang's mind scattered like a broken piece of a puzzle, so he grabbed the doctor's arm with bloodshot eyes. "I'm sorry, but can I ask what today's date is?"
The doctor seemed confused but still answered him, anyway. "It's September 10th, 20XX."
The grip on the doctor's arm loosened before his hand went completely limp.
Lin Xiang was very concerned seeing him behave like that.
Dai Zhiqiang was on the brink of death when he found him all bloodied.
Huang Zhen didn't finish him off, but the injuries he inflicted weren't light by any means. They probably would lose him forever if he was even ten minutes late.
Thinking about how such a promising young man almost lost his life while he only suffered a broken bone, Lin Xiang felt so ashamed of himself.
After the doctor finished examining him, he only said that the patient was shocked and needed further rest before he could get emotional stability. He warned Lin Xiang not to agitate him before leaving the room with the nurse.
Dai Zhiqiang hadn't said a word since then. He only looked down with a brooding look on his face. His brows creased like he was in deep thought.
Lin Xiang was unsure whether he wanted to talk or not, but he felt the need to share the current situation with him.
"Ahem. You must be confused, so let me explain what happened slowly."
Dai Zhiqiang still wasn't responding. Lin Xiang took his silence as affirmation and continued, "Your father is safe, and so is Miss Caiyi. I have ensured that your brother and father received our best protection before leaving. And Miss Caiyi was currently in Young Master Meng's residence and recuperating well."
Only then did Dai Zhiqiang show a reaction. He raised his head and stared at Lin Xiang for a long time with an inexplicable gaze, making him feel awkward.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Of course, I didn't tell them about your grave injuries since I know you don't want them to worry."
Dai Zhiqiang withdrew his gaze before relaxing himself on the bed. "I need to talk with the boss. Is he here?"
"No. His hands are full since the last fight cost us a few men. That Huang Zhen is really like a slick little snake! He will pay for this!" Lin Xiang said in resentment.
So he managed to escape again. Dai Zhiqiang had expected it, so he wasn't that surprised.
Meanwhile, Lin Xiang thought he seemed oddly composed in taking all this. Usually, Dai Zhiqiang would badger him with questions about his family and girlfriend by now. But he only listened quietly without interrupting.
"Uh, are you really okay? We can continue this conversation later when you get better."
"Please tell the boss that I want to talk with him directly. Tell him to come to meet me when he is free."
"Our boss is not your lackey, you know. Normally I will scold you for that, but I will make this one exception since you look like you have been hit in the head badly."
Dai Zhiqiang closed his eyes and felt the fatigue come back to him. He wanted to meet his family and Li Caiyi so badly, but knowing them safe and sound was enough for now.
The current him was too weak. He had to get stronger.
His lips curled up in a vague smile before he surrendered himself again to the darkness.
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