Chapter 59: Backlash

It was just past eight in the morning, and the air had turned refreshingly cool. Yet the sunlight at this hour felt warm and gentle, washing away the grime of the atmosphere together with the morning dew.

In the emergency ward of the City First Hospital, Dong Ye lay on his bed, weakened by a prolonged fainting spell. Thankfully, he had regained consciousness and, aside from exhaustion, the doctors assured him there were no injuries.

“Remember when we went to Thailand? You were the one lying there then, now it’s the two of you swapped,” Qi Yan remarked from the side, sounding as drained as Dong Ye.

Xu Dan nodded. “To this day, my memory of that night is blank. It was... a wild night.”

Their wounds had all been treated, and they’d undergone a series of examinations. Xu Dan’s fingers were wrapped in bandages, and a small patch was bound on her head. Qi Yan looked a little better, though the wrap around his head still hurt, and he had some abrasions. They’d all received tetanus shots, given their wounds had been exposed to rust and a lot of dust, which needed prompt cleaning.

“The doctors say I’m fine, just a bit nauseous from dizziness...” Dong Ye clearly had no recollection of his collapse, which was expected. After listening to Qi Yan’s brief account, he was still shaken. “So... I just walked out of the house and disappeared? And I tried to stab myself with a needle? God... I—I want to know what happened after. How did you two get out of that cement factory?”

Qi Yan inhaled and lifted his eyelids. “Hmm... The maze effect stopped working after a while. We were both injured but had to drag your unconscious body along. We haven’t slept all night, and honestly, I don’t want to recall last night. Too complicated, too terrifying. Let’s not dwell on it now. We all need to rest.”

Dong Ye frowned slightly, hesitating as if he had more to say.

Xu Dan sat by his bed and reached for his hand. Tears, which she had already wiped clean from her face, began to flow again. “I’m sorry. So stupid... I was so stupid. Thinking about how you took care of me last time when I hurt my mouth, just a month ago... Really, this time it was my fault. There was no need to be so petty about such trivial things.”

“Do you know, when Qi Yan came to our house and woke me up, but you weren’t there, my mind felt like it was about to explode. That inexplicable, deep fear surged up from nowhere. The dread that something terrible would happen to you—I never want to feel that again.”

“And when we wandered around the cement factory searching for you... God, I was truly scared. Not just of that red-clothed... whatever it was, but more afraid that you’d really be in danger.

I couldn’t believe I managed to summon courage in such a terrifying situation, and it was all because I was worried about you.

I won’t throw tantrums anymore. Compared to these memories of nearly dying, the tiny conflicts between us mean nothing. I’m sorry... I’m sorry.”

She closed her eyes, and tears streamed down again.

Dong Ye, though still unclear about the details, felt a lingering fear just imagining it. He shifted closer, pressing Xu Dan’s hand to his dry lips. “Don’t cry, don’t cry. The real fool is me. Isn’t it normal for us to quarrel and make up all the time? I insisted on drowning my sorrows in drink instead of admitting fault right away, like I used to. How childish... As a man, apologizing to his woman is only right, isn’t it? Sweetheart, don’t cry. Do your fingers still hurt?”

“Mm... Much better now.”

Qi Yan massaged his throat and rolled his eyes. “Now I feel like throwing up too...” He got up and walked out of the ward. Despite his exhaustion and the mushy exchange, a smile lingered on his face.

A terrifying incident caused by a single red thread—dangerous though it was, it had made these two’s bond stronger than ever... How fitting, a red thread, after all...

Qi Yan gently closed the door. Just then, a middle-aged physician approached. Seeing Qi Yan, he said, “Ah, I was just looking for you... Your CT scan is out. Fortunately, there’s no concussion, and the other bruises are nothing serious, just some swelling.”

“Thank you, doctor.” Qi Yan nodded. The story they’d given upon arriving at the hospital was that they’d tried to hike at dawn and all accidentally got hurt.

The doctor glanced down at his clipboard, brows furrowing as he pursed his lips. “But... From the exams, it seems you haven’t been resting well lately? Or maybe your work is intense, frequent late nights? Do your hands and feet get cold at night?”

Qi Yan was taken aback. “Wh—what’s wrong?”

“Nothing major,” the doctor replied, “just want to remind you, even though you’re young, you should pay attention to your routine and diet. Your blood work isn’t ideal—some immune markers are low. Keep an eye on your health; even if you feel fine now, long-term neglect will take a toll.”

Sensing he might be unclear, the doctor emphasized, “Cut down on late nights, try some exercise or herbal remedies. Maybe you’ve caught colds often lately? That’s not surprising, with the season changing... You’re a bit physically weak. Let me ask, is your mental state off? Do you feel sleepy by day, can’t sleep at night, night sweats?”

Qi Yan hadn’t thought much of it before, but reflecting, he realized he had indeed felt more drained lately—even during the day, his energy lagged, his appetite dwindled, night sweats, cold hands and feet... All present, and increasingly obvious.

Prompted by the doctor, he ran through these seemingly trivial issues in his mind, his expression turning dazed. He recalled what Li Lan had once said...

“It’s... devouring your aura as payment, forcibly so. Maybe you haven’t noticed yet, but if this continues... you’ll slowly become like me, able to see things invisible to the naked eye. That’s not even the worst part. The most terrifying thing is... your health will deteriorate, even your lifespan affected!”

Qi Yan hadn’t realized it, but at that moment his hand unconsciously clenched his pants, cold sweat breaking out, and... his hand started to tremble, minutely but noticeably—not something he’d done on purpose.

“Are you... listening?” The doctor leaned closer, pulling him back from his thoughts.

“Ah? Uh... Yes, I’m listening... Thank you, doctor,” Qi Yan replied, though he had barely registered the last part.

After the doctor left, Qi Yan’s breathing quickened.

Only then did he notice his hand trembling uncontrollably, something he’d never experienced before. His body shivering, even just a little—it didn’t hurt or itch, but the sensation was deeply unsettling.

He looked up at the corridor, where medical staff and patients passed before him, but he couldn’t focus his attention.

Dazed... bewildered... afraid.

Instinctively, he shoved his hands into his pockets and strode quickly toward the restroom at the end of the hall, hardly noticing when he bumped into a couple of shoulders along the way.

He turned on the tap, scooped up a handful of icy cold water, and splashed it onto his face.