The clock ticked relentlessly toward six in the morning when the heavy door to the examination room swung open. The doctor emerged, his face weary but resolute, a mask of calm determination. Donghua had slumped into a restless sleep, his head bobbing on the chair, while Yifong paced the dim corridor like a caged animal, every line of his body trembling with anxiety.
"How is he, Doctor?" Yifong's voice wavered, the urgency cutting through the silence.
"I did what I could," the doctor replied softly, his tone measured. "Now, it's in his hands."
Those words hit Yifong like a cold wind, chilling, final, and heavy with unspoken dread.
"You both need rest," the doctor continued. "There's a guest room upstairs where you can regroup. He's stable for now."
Feeling the crushing weight of helplessness, Yifong gently nudged Donghua awake. Together, they ascended the creaky staircase to the second floor, their minds swirling with fear and uncertainty for Kai's fate.
In the darkness of his unconscious mind, Kai found himself transported back to the Thor residence. The surroundings were shadowed and oppressive, shadows flickering like whispers in every corner. In a forgotten nook, Xing Li sat curled against the wall, trembling and tears streaking down his face. Kai's chest tightened with a mixture of sympathy and confusion.
"Who's there?" Kai's voice wavered, fragile and uncertain, echoing through the silence.
Xing Li spun around, eyes wide with fear. "Who are you? How did you get here?" His voice was raw, suspicion tangled in every word.
"I don't know," Kai stammered, heart pounding. "I don't understand what's happening."
Xing Li's eyes narrowed. "Are you the one inside my body right now?"
Kai hesitated, then nodded and tried to explain himself. "Look, I didn't mean to take your body."
Kai went on to tell his side of the story from when he got hit by a truck to the moment he was poisoned.
Xing Li looked away, voice trembling. "All I remember is falling into the water. Since then, I've been trapped here. Like I'm lost in a dream I can't wake from."
They stared at each other across the shadows, two strangers caught in a nightmare. The air thickened with silence until Xing Li finally said, "When I fell into that water, I was wishing for a god. I wanted out of the Thor house. I wanted to escape my brother's watchful eyes. It's not normal how he looks at me."
A cold shiver ran down Kai's spine. He didn't know much about Xing Li's story from the novel, but Rong Yue's wicked deeds were enough to understand how Xing Li must feel.
"I'll help you get away," Kai said softly, voice full of resolve.
Xing Li looked at him, hope flickering in his eyes. "How? Can you really do that?"
Kai's gaze softened. "You wished for a god. Maybe I was meant to be that. Maybe I can help you escape."
Xing Li hesitated but then nodded. "That poison… I can help you."
Kai's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Suddenly, the world around them began to fade, shadows dissolving into emptiness. The voice of Xing Li echoed faintly, trembling and distant.
"Be cautious of Rong Yue," he warned.
With a jolt, Kai's eyes snapped open. Cold sweat drenched his skin, and the early morning sun cast long, golden streaks across the room. He blinked, trying to shake off the lingering dread of the nightmare. Just as he sat up, a loud noise at the door made him freeze.
Yifong and Donghua burst in, but both of them froze in confusion as they stared at him.
"Uh, sorry, young master. We got the wrong room," Donghua stammered.
Just as they turned to leave, Kai called out, "Where are you guys going, Yifong? Donghua?"
Yifong hesitated. "Xing Li?"
"Yes…?" Kai answered softly.
Suddenly, Donghua's eyes widened in shock. "NO FREAKIN' WAY!"
Kai looked down at himself and froze. His hair, once a cascade of dark ebony, now shimmered with an ethereal glow. It was a brilliant, shimmering gold, catching the morning light like a crown of sunlight. The very essence of his being seemed to have changed.