Chapter Two: Rebirth

Pain... endless pain...

Qin Yu found it strange. She should have been dead, so why could she still feel pain? Was everything she’d been through just a dream? The terrifying zombies, the irrational people, Li Mo’s arrogant sneer... Was all of it just a dream?

So tired. She just wanted to sleep... As she was thinking this, her consciousness began to blur again.

In a haze, she seemed to hear someone calling her, “Xiaoyu... Xiaoyu...”

“Doctor, why hasn’t Xiaoyu woken up yet? Didn’t you say she was fine?” A sweet voice broke the stillness of the hospital room, its urgency and worry clear to anyone who heard.

“She should’ve woken up by now. Xiaomengmeng, don’t worry~ Trust your husband’s skills, okay?” replied a teasing male voice. Despite his tone, there was a hint of concern within it.

“Don’t call me Xiaomengmeng! You’re not my husband! I’m not that lucky! And if anything happens to Xiaoyu, you’re dead!” Zhao Meng snapped, her irritation obvious. Only heaven knew how worried she’d been when she heard that Xiaoyu had fallen down the stairs. It had already been a week, and Xiaoyu still hadn’t woken up. Yet this guy still had the nerve to joke around! She really wanted to beat him up.

So noisy. But the voices sounded so familiar, so comforting. Who were they again? Who...

It’s... Xiaomeng... Xiaomeng! Suddenly, Qin Yu jolted awake, her eyes flying open.

“Xiaoyu, you’re finally awake! Do you know you’ve been unconscious for a whole week? If you hadn’t woken up soon, I would’ve beaten up this so-called ‘best internist in the country’! Xiaoyu, let me tell you—”

Qin Yu stared blankly at the face before her, as if trying to confirm something. Slowly, she reached out and pinched Xiaomeng’s cheek... It was warm, and a bit soft... Was this real?

“Xiaoyu! Why is the first thing you do after waking up pinching my face? I’m a beauty, you know! What if you ruin my looks? But seeing you like this, you must be fine now. That’s great.”

“Xiaomeng... Is it really you? Xiaomeng, Xiaomeng...”

“What do you mean, ‘is it really me’? I’ve always been me, Xiaoyu! Don’t tell me you’ve gotten silly from sleeping so long? If that’s the case, then I’m the smartest one here, ha!”

Qin Yu looked speechless at her friend, who was once again basking in self-admiration. Yet her heart filled with laughter. She had really been reborn... How wonderful. Truly wonderful.

“Ahem... Xiaomengmeng, Qin Yu just woke up. Don’t bother her. Let her rest for a while. She must be hungry after being unconscious for so long. Let’s go buy her some porridge. You’ve been taking care of her for days, you must be hungry too. Now that she’s awake, you don’t need to worry anymore, right?” Xia Cheng looked at the two in the room—more precisely, at the completely self-absorbed Xiaomeng—and spoke helplessly.

“But... Xiaoyu...” Xiaomeng hesitated. She was hungry, but with Xiaoyu just waking up, she couldn’t help but worry.

“Xiaomeng, just go with him. I really am hungry. Bring me something to eat, please. I’d like some time alone,” Qin Yu said gently, looking at Xiaomeng’s uncertain expression.

“You see? Even Qin Yu says so. Let’s go, let’s go...” Xia Cheng pulled Xiaomeng out of the room.

As they were about to leave, Xiaomeng glanced back at Qin Yu with a gentle smile, but she suddenly felt that Xiaoyu had changed. Her gentle smile now held a trace of loneliness, a hint of sorrow, and an indescribable touch of hatred. More than anything, there was something Xiaomeng couldn’t quite understand. For a moment, she felt that Xiaoyu was so very far away, just like the first time she had met her—so distant, so untouchable.

Qin Yu watched the two leave the hospital room and began to laugh softly. The laughter slowly grew louder. She covered her eyes with her hands, feeling the scalding tears streaming down her face.

How wonderful, she thought. It’s so good to be back. So very good.

After a while, she gazed out the window, her thoughts drifting further and further away...