Yu Jingjing relished the carefree things she experienced with Xu Changqing — even small, unscripted moments now felt vital. She looked at Xu Changqing's motionless figure in the hospital bed and vowed, "No matter what, I'll make you wake up and live — and I'll make your life better than anyone else's."
A week passed; he remained unconscious. Xiao Ran, Xiao Ya, and Ji Nianfang visited; Ji Nianfang left Yu Jingjing with words that moved her to tears. Xu Changqing's parents were delayed by work and missing IDs, so they hadn't made it to the city yet.
Back home in their small town, Xu Hai (Xu Changqing's father) and Dai Lanlan (his mother) continued their labor, struggling to make ends meet while worrying about their son. Life on the construction site was hard; their wages were low and every coin mattered. The family's daily routine and small kindnesses — like sharing a home-cooked meal or saving up small sums for school fees — were an essential background to the drama unfolding in the city hospital.
Meanwhile, people who noticed Xu Hai's skill and friendliness began to promise him opportunities, and a young apprentice, Wu Pengfei, admired Xu Hai and saw him as a mentor figure. Local foremen like Wang Fusheng recognized Xu Hai's talent and suggested he might be promoted if he gained the right exposure. There was tension between staying humble and seizing opportunities in a world where social savvy sometimes mattered as much as skill.
Back in the city, Xu Changqing's consciousness started to stir. He could sense pain and fragments of memory. He thought of family and friends and felt a fierce urge to live. But opening his eyes felt impossible, like his eyelids were glued shut. He tried again and again, determined to break free.
At home, Dai Lanlan worried about her son and managed family chores. They worried over trivial and practical things: school meals for a niece, household chores, and the pressing need for steady income. The family's love and frugality was sincere and untidy in equal measure.
Wu Pengfei's suggestion that his uncle Wang Fusheng might help Xu Hai advance to being a foreman gave the family hope. Meanwhile, Xu Hai returned home muddy but proud of two pieces of good news: he received his wages and felt he might be promoted to a contractor role with a crew. Their small home filled with laughter and tender familial banter.
Later that night, Xu Changqing's sister-in-law brought up a matchmaking idea: she had a potential girl in mind for Xu Changqing. It was a small-town arranged meeting — typical and earnest — and the family debated the pros and cons. Their domestic concerns contrasted acutely with the hospital's high-level struggles.
As the family discussed marriage prospects and money, Xu Hai reflected on his humble life as a former soldier turned bricklayer. Though he earned little, he valued honesty and diligence. People like Wu Pengfei and Wang Fusheng urged him to aim higher, to learn to network and be bolder. Wang Fusheng, hardened by years of construction life, believed "in this world you have to be ruthless to survive" — "clear water has no fish" — advise to be pragmatic.
Wu Pengfei, younger and idealistic, felt conflicted but respected his mentor's experience. The family moved on, arranging a meeting with the girl's family and preparing for small steps that might change their livelihood. Love, marriage, and social mobility were constantly on the family's mind, even as the hospital drama in the city continued to loom.
Back in the hospital, Xu Changqing's consciousness was clear, but his eyelids would not open. He felt everything — pain, thoughts of loved ones, fragments of life — and a burning need to survive.
Unexpectedly, something tiny, like a speck of grit, entered his brain. He felt a voice: "Ding! Matchmaking system implanted in a foreign organism! Current level -9!"
Xu Changqing was bewildered and angry. "Who's messing with me? Turn the volume down!" he muttered. He was unaware how surreal the moment would become.
Another voice chimed: "Matchmaking system implanted! Current level -9! Task available! Do you accept?"
He repeated and repeated the strange announcements like some maddening chant. The ward's caretaker, hearing the commotion, dropped her queue and fainted. People nearby were shocked at the sight; his hair turned white overnight, and he laughed wildly.
The haunting laughter and bizarre behavior scared the nanny away; nurse Chen Xi and Dr. Fang Yuan jumped into action. They found Xiao Ran outside who rushed in and nearly attacked; Xu Changqing, in his frenzy, grabbed Xiao Ran's arm with terrifying strength.
"Bro! I have special powers! Hahaha, can you hear me?" he cackled, and he nearly twisted Xiao Ran's arm out of socket.
With Dr. Fang's help they pried him off Xiao Ran. Dr. Fang did everything he could and arranged quick discharge procedures to get the patient out of the hospital's liability if necessary — a bureaucratic step to protect the emergency center's reputation. Xiao Ran, angry and embarrassed, demanded to take Xu Changqing home.
As they were about to leave, Xu Changqing's behavior intensified: he laughed, spoke of powers, and even began to thrash. Staff were alarmed. Chen Xi lost her composure, throwing tantrums in the hall and embarrassing herself. Xiao Ran, furious, told her to be reasonable.
Finally, with Dr. Fang's help, they got the discharge approved. Xiao Ran and his aides carried Xu Changqing out. "Brother, I'm taking you home," he said. Xu Changqing grabbed Xiao Ran's sleeve again and held on tight. "Hua Hua, I have a special power now! Can you hear me?" he screamed.
It took all their strength to free Xiao Ran's arm. Dr. Fang later told Chen Xi to stay away and calm down — they could not afford professional chaos. The small drama wound down as Xiao Ran carried Xu Changqing out into the unknown — now a man who claimed to have a strange implanted "matchmaking system," and who had gone temporarily mad.