Shi-Han was thinking those words to herself, Xiao-Tong softly called her name from behind.
Xiao-Tong: "Shi-Han."
Xiao-Tong had actually returned to the hospital because Shi-Han had called and asked her to come. She had already seen the news report covered by the media. As soon as Xiao-Tong called out to Shi-Han, Shi-Han shot her a fiery glare and placed her index finger against her lips—
Shi-Han: "Shhhhhh."
Shi-Han signaled Xiao-Tong not to speak. She gently freed herself from the sleeping Jun-Yu's embrace and carefully laid him down on the bench. Then she picked up the coat Jun-Yu had taken off and draped it over him like a blanket. Thinking to herself, she—
Shi-Han (thinking): "Jun-Yu has finally fallen asleep after the whole day, I think. Who knows when he last slept? Never mind, I won't wake him up now. Jun-Yu is extremely tired; he needs some rest. But what kind of dream is Jun-Yu having that he hugged me in his sleep? And what were all those things he was saying? Does Jun-Yu have some kind of conflict with his father?"
As Shi-Han thought these things to herself, she placed Jun-Yu's phone beside his head. Then she grabbed Xiao-Tong's hand and briskly walked out of the hospital with her.
★★★
Xiao-Tong: "Shi-Han, what are you doing? Let go of me! Why are you dragging me around like this? If you had just told me, I would have come on my own. I wouldn't have become an obstacle between you and Jun-Yu."
Shi-Han was extremely angry, but why? Whether it was because Xiao-Tong had interrupted the moment between Jun-Yu and Shi-Han, or because of Ji-Xuan's call from the club, only Shi-Han knew.
Dragging Xiao-Tong along, Shi-Han entered her apartment. After finally letting go of her, she roared while smashing things around the room—
Shi-Han (angrily): "Shut up, Xiao-Tong! Jun-Yu was exhausted and dreaming in his sleep. Why do you always think such strange things?"
Xiao-Tong: "Alright, sorry. Now calm down. What happened? Why are you so angry?"
Shi-Han: "Why did you go to that bar?
Because of you, everything in my life has been ruined. If you hadn't gone to the bar, and if I hadn't gone looking for you, none of this would have happened."
Xiao-Tong: "Shi-Han, don't blame me. No one can know the future. After enduring so much humiliation, slander, contempt, and suffering, when I finally learned my true identity after all these years, I went out for a drink because of my anger, sadness, and happiness all mixed together. I've heard that people drink to clear their minds. They say drinking helps ease the pain. But how could I have known that so much would happen at the bar? If I had known, I would never have gone there."
What fault did Xiao-Tong really have in everything that had happened over the past two days? She had simply gone to the bar for a drink. Shi-Han understood this too; she was unfairly blaming Xiao-Tong for everything. As soon as Xiao-Tong finished speaking, Shi-Han gave a sorrowful, broken-hearted smile and said—
Shi-Han: "You're right, Xiao-Tong. No one can know the future. But my future has gone dark. You don't understand, Xiao-Tong, how much darkness the Gaming Queen Shi-Han had to overcome, how many deep abysses, towering mountains, fierce storms, and hardships she crossed before she could shine like a star in the sky and become the Gaming Queen Shi-Han. And today, within just a few minutes, because of the media reports, Gaming Queen Shi-Han has fallen back into that same endless abyss of darkness."
Although Shi-Han began speaking with a smile, she eventually broke down into tears as she continued talking to Xiao-Tong. Seeing Shi-Han like this, Xiao-Tong also began to cry and said—
Xiao-Tong: "Shi-Han, it feels like both your life and mine were destined only to suffer. Even though we're sisters born from two different mothers, our fates seem tied together by the same thread. Don't cry. Everything will be alright. Director Jun-Hao isn't here anymore. With your gaming performance, they'll definitely give you your position back someday."
★★★
Last night, after Shi-Han and Xiao-Tong left the hospital, Shu-Yang finally regained consciousness around midnight. When Shu-Yang first woke up, he had some difficulty breathing. However, little by little, he adjusted to breathing natural oxygen again and gradually returned to a normal condition.
As soon as Shu-Yang regained consciousness, the doctor informed Jun-Yu of the good news. However, because Shu-Yang's breathing pattern was still unstable, the doctor did not allow Jun-Yu to meet him that night. For now, Shu-Yang is out of danger, but his body is extremely weak. It is already around twelve noon, and Shu-Yang is still asleep. Perhaps the doctor gave him a sleeping injection.
Standing in front of Shu-Yang's cabin, Jun-Yu held his phone to his ear and said—
Jun-Yu: Mom, can you come to Shanghai today?
Mei-Xue: How is Shu-Yang? And of course I'll come. You've grown up so much, haven't you? Spreading your wings and flying across the sky, right? My flight has already been booked, and I've almost reached the airport. Very soon I'll clip your wings and tie a rope to your feet. Hang up now.
After saying all of that in one breath, Mei-Xue finally stopped. Her nonstop stream of words left Jun-Yu's ears practically ringing. He pulled the phone slightly away from his ear, looked at it, and said—
Jun-Yu: Mom, please don't scold so much. I was trying to say—! Ah, she hung up.
Then he noticed Shu-Yang's nurse coming out of the cabin and asked—
Jun-Yu: Sister, how is Shu-Yang? Has he woken up? Can I see him now?
The nurse answered Jun-Yu's question—
Nurse: Yes, but don't talk about anything that might make him emotional, and don't stay too long.
After saying that, the nurse left.
Shu-Yang was sitting against a pillow, wearing a white bandage wrapped around his head and a blue-and-white striped hospital patient's uniform over the bandages on his chest. Jun-Yu had not been able to talk to his friend for two days, but now he entered the room with the eagerness of someone seeing his friend healthy again after two hundred years—
Jun-Yu: So the Racing King raced against death and came out victorious.
Hearing Jun-Yu's words, Shu-Yang smiled faintly, clenched his fist, and fist-bumped Jun-Yu as he said—
Shu-Yang: No, I came back because I still have to defeat the real Racing King on the track. I still haven't shaken the field with my roar alongside you, Jun-Yu.
As soon as Shu-Yang said that, Jun-Yu gently hugged him and said—
Jun-Yu: I've already lost—lost to your friendship. Please, don't ever scare me like this again.
While carefully hugging Shu-Yang so he wouldn't get hurt, Jun-Yu shed tears of joy because his friend had recovered.
But Shu-Yang's body, which had been struck by a bullet, was still suffering from pain. The moment Jun-Yu hugged him, Shu-Yang cried out—
Shu-Yang: Ah! Jun-Yu, let go of me! It hurts so much. Wait, what happened to me, Jun-Yu? Why am I in the hospital?
Jun-Yu quickly released Shu-Yang and said apologetically—
Jun-Yu: Oh, sorry, Officer. You got shot, remember? I was so busy thinking about racing with you again that I completely forgot you're actually a police officer.
A little surprised, Shu-Yang asked Jun-Yu—
Shu-Yang: Shot? I was shot? By the way, how is that girl whom the gang took into the secret room?
Jun-Yu scolded him lightly and said—
Jun-Yu: Racing King, come back to racing and stop investigating. You're sick right now. The girl is fine. Forget about all that. There will be no missions or investigations for the next two months. For those two months, you're staying with me at Long-Ying-Ting. You need rest now. I'll go bring you some food. Eat and then sleep.
★★★
More than a day had passed without Jun-Yu and Shi-Han seeing each other. Today, Jun-Yu came to the university. Being a science student, Jun-Yu had missed two days of university. Moreover, he had not informed the professor before being absent for those two days. Wan-Qing had also missed one day of university because of Jun-Yu.
Today, they were both standing with their heads lowered in front of Professor Lin Boshi. Wearing his lab apron, the professor sat in his chair and questioned the two lazy students—
Lin Boshi: Jun-Yu, tell me, what is science?
Jun-Yu kept his head lowered and stood silently. It was as if the professor had asked such a difficult question that Jun-Yu did not know the answer.
Lin Boshi (angrily): What's wrong? Why are you silent? You two are science students! In one or two years, you'll become scientists, work on major projects, and yet this is the condition of your studies?
Wan-Qing: Sir, please calm down. May I say something?
Because of the professor's anger, Wan-Qing was asking for permission to speak. At other times, she would say not just one thing but a thousand things and nearly talk the professor's ears off. When Wan-Qing asked for permission, the professor remained silent with a serious expression. Taking his silence as consent, Wan-Qing said—
Wan-Qing: Sir, on the 24th of this month, our university's annual Cherry Festival will take place. From now on, students from every department will be practicing for it. I was sick, so I only missed one day of class during this period. Why are you so angry? Please forgive me for that one day.
Wan-Qing's words seemed to make the professor even more irritated. However, his anger was directed not at Wan-Qing but at Jun-Yu. The professor had already scolded Jun-Yu that day for sleeping in the laboratory. Now Jun-Yu had missed university for two days. Thinking about what the professor might say today, Jun-Yu had completely shrunk into himself.
Looking at him, he seemed like a little child—someone who knew nothing and understood nothing. Anyone seeing Jun-Yu would think the professor was scolding this innocent boy for no reason. Before Wan-Qing had even finished speaking, the professor said to Jun-Yu—
Lin Boshi: What do students from other departments participating in the festival have to do with you? You were sick, and I'm sure you had a stomachache too, right, Jun-Yu? That's why you didn't come to university. Do you two think I'm that foolish? Don't forget, I also studied in school and college once. But this isn't school or college—this is a university, and you are science students. I will not tolerate this kind of laziness. Jun-Yu, today you must make a final decision: either call your guardian, or give up science. I want to speak with your guardian.
The professor's straightforward words made Jun-Yu a little nervous. Usually, words flowed endlessly from Jun-Yu's mouth, but now, under the professor's sharp remarks, he stammered—
Jun-Yu: S-S-Sir, p-p-please allow me t-to appeal your decision. I w-w-want to say something.
Seeing Jun-Yu speak like this, the professor secretly smiled. He thought that his harsh words had finally frightened this troublesome boy, Jun-Yu. He believed Jun-Yu would now become more serious about his studies. Though he thought this inwardly, he controlled himself and replied without smiling—
Lin Boshi: What do you want to say? The university has been open for nearly a week. What studying have you done during this week? You didn't complete your assignments, came to university one day and left halfway through, then stayed absent for two more days. Let's hear what you have to say.
Even after giving him a review of his entire week's performance and scolding him at length, the professor was still willing to listen. Realizing this, Jun-Yu let out a sigh of relief. Taking a deep breath, he said—
Jun-Yu: The day I left the university at noon, I had an allergic reaction because of a cat that afternoon. Then, that same night, my friend was shot by an illegal organization. And Senior became a little sick because she donated blood for my friend. Sir, I promise I will never skip university again. Please don't call my guardian to complain, and please don't tell me to leave science research.
After hearing the reason for Jun-Yu's two-day absence, Professor Lin Boshi's anger melted away. Thinking about the serious troubles Jun-Yu had gone through during those two days, the professor began to worry about him. Concerned, he asked—
Lin Boshi: So much has happened, yet none of you thought it necessary to inform me. Jun-Yu, you've grown up so much. You handle your responsibilities yourself and don't even think it's necessary to tell anyone.
Jun-Yu: Sir, I didn't have the time to inform you. Besides, I didn't even have my phone.
Lin Boshi: Alright, fine. Now get back to work.
The moment the professor calmly told them to focus on their work, the two of them immediately started walking toward their desks before he had even finished speaking. But before Jun-Yu had taken more than two steps, the professor quickly called out—
Lin Boshi: And yes, listen. The day after the Spring Festival celebration on the 24th, there will be a Science Exhibition. Make sure you have your best science projects ready. I can also help you with them. Think about what presentations you want to give and let me know.
Wan-Qing: Sir, you never told us the results of the virus formula test that was conducted in Zhang Miao Laboratory.
Lin Boshi: I told you to continue researching it. There will also be another written exam and a viva on the HIV virus. After that, based on the results, it will be determined who will be eligible to pursue a PhD.**