Having stayed in the hospital for two weeks, Lu Shiyin’s wounds were more than half healed.
After giving Lu Shiyin a thorough physical examination and finding no major issues, the doctor reassuringly told them they could go home.
The journey home gradually transitioned from a bustling, vibrant commercial center into a road surrounded by lush greenery.
The car wove through patches of woodland, free from the clamor of crowds, with only the chirping of birds.
Gradually, a magnificent estate came into view.
The entrance of the estate featured an antiquated iron gate overgrown with vines and flowers, resembling the gateway to a fairy-tale world.
The car passed through the gates and drove down a wide, tree-lined avenue bordered by tall trees on both sides.
Continuing along the tree-lined avenue, flowerbeds blooming with blossoms gradually appeared on either side, their edges lined with a small pebble pathway, while the outer perimeter was encircled by a lake.
The main estate villa stood in the very center of the large property. The building before them was constructed from sturdy bricks and stones, its exterior walls carefully painted in a light gray coating, making it look both antiquated and dignified.
Exquisite patterns and carvings were etched into the walls, with every single detail appearing refined and meticulously crafted.
The entire estate exterior conveyed a solemn yet elegant impression, highlighting the status and taste of the estate’s owner.
Lu Shiyin was completely dumbfounded. He never expected that he would one day live in an estate like this.
After getting out of the car, he was led by his eldest brother straight into an elevator and up to his own room. The room was massive, resembling not just a bedroom, but a three-bedroom apartment with a living room.
There was a bedroom, a study, and a walk-in closet.
“Xiaoyin, you must be tired from the car ride. Rest first, and don’t rush to unpack your things.”
“Downstairs, there are gifts I bought for you earlier. You can go take a look when you have free time.”
“Okay, thank you, Brother.”
After Lu Shiyige left, Lu Shiyin finally began to inspect the room.
The bookshelves lining one entire wall of the study were stacked full of books of various genres, all of which showed signs of having been thumbed through, clearly reflecting the original owner’s love for reading.
The walk-in closet was filled with current-season haute couture, private bespoke clothing, and various limited-edition items.
The bedroom was very simple, dominated by a minimalist black, gray, and white palette, with very few items inside.
The bedding was entirely brand new, presumably replaced by the estate’s domestic staff.
After taking a quick, general look around the room, Lu Shiyin returned to the bedroom. He was slightly carsick, and even though the chauffeur had driven very smoothly, his head still felt swollen and ached with a dull throbbing by the time he arrived home.
No longer forcing himself to stay up, he climbed onto the bed to rest.
Perhaps because he had gone out today, Lu Shiyin’s sleep was unsettled.
Half-asleep, he felt as though he were inside a helicopter, the roar of the rotor blades echoing in his ears while the wind howled against his face.
He leaped out, deploying his parachute before hitting the ground, but a terrifying large hole had torn right through the middle of the canopy.
The wind rushed fiercely through that hole, causing him to rapidly lose balance and plummet toward the ground.
In a flash, the scene shifted to his own funeral. His friends were all there, yet there were no tears and no grief.
They acted as if they were holding a banquet, placing a portion of any delicious food they ate right in front of his photo to invite him to eat together, raising their glasses in a toast to him as well.
There was a display board covered entirely in photos of him alongside group pictures with others, and everyone was smiling brightly.
The only thing missing was the figure of a single person.
It was Shiyao, the sunny youth who had always called him older brother.
At this point, Lu Shiyin was already dead, but his soul was still drifting in the air.
He searched for Shiyao’s figure, but no matter where he drifted, he could not find a trace of him.
He returned to the place where Shiyao lived, but it was completely empty, showing no signs of anyone having moved in.
Panicking, Lu Shiyin began frantically shouting Shiyao’s name, but he was merely a soul, and no one could hear his voice.
He couldn’t find Shiyao anymore.
He called out, his voice growing fainter and fainter as his strength faded.
Suddenly, he felt a bit cold, yet he was only a soul—how could he possibly feel cold?
He crouched down by the wall, curling up and hugging his arms.
Vaguely, he heard someone calling his name and felt someone gently stroking his head.
Lu Shiyin wanted to respond, but he had no strength left at all.
“How is Xiaoyin doing?”
“He has a fever. It’s likely from exhaustion, but fortunately it’s not a high fever, so injections aren’t necessary. I’ll prescribe some medication, and he can take it once he wakes up.”
“Alright, sorry to trouble you.”
The ones speaking were Lu Shiyige and the private doctor.
Since Lu Shiyin had not yet woken up, the group stepped out to the living room to talk, worried about disturbing his rest.
“Even though he’s discharged, Xiaoyin’s body is still far too weak.”
Hearing Lu Shiyige’s words, Lu Shijian nodded in agreement.
“This kind of recovery can’t be rushed. We have to build his health back up slowly.”
“From now on, we should encourage him to go out for walks more often and interact with other people. It will be better for his future recovery, and we should try to avoid letting him contact people from his past alone,” Dr. Ji added.
While the group discussed Lu Shiyin’s condition, Lu Shiyin woke up from his dream in bed.
Opening his eyes, his entire body felt sore and aching, his throat burned with a searing sensation, and his mind remained hazy and heavy, feeling no better than before he went to sleep.
He even suspected that everything that just happened wasn’t a dream; otherwise, why would he feel so exhausted?
Lu Shiyin got out of bed and poured himself a glass of water. The cool liquid slid down his parched throat, finally making him feel a little more comfortable.
The sound of conversation drifted from outside the door. Feeling puzzled, he pushed open the bedroom door.
Both of his older brothers were there, along with a third person he had never seen before.
“Xiaoyin, you’re awake! How are you feeling?”
Noticing him standing at the doorway, Lu Shijian walked over, draped an arm around his shoulders, and led him toward the sofa.
Perhaps due to his illness, Lu Shiyin’s mood was quite poor. He didn’t speak, simply nodding at Lu Shijian to signal that he was fine.
Suddenly, Lu Shijian placed a hand on his forehead, pulling it away a moment later.
“You still have a slight fever. I’ll go get you a glass of water so you can take your medicine first.” With that, he went off to fetch water.
Before Lu Shiyin could fully collect his thoughts, the eldest brother sitting across from him explained, “You caught a fever, probably because you pushed yourself too much today. Take the medicine and you’ll feel better. Don’t worry.”
“If you’re still uncomfortable, you can go back to bed and lie down for a bit.”
Regaining a bit more clarity, Lu Shiyin shook his head.
He hadn’t expected that simply taking a car ride would make him fall ill again. No wonder he felt completely off ever since returning home today.
He clearly needed to exercise more in the future.
Lu Shijian handed him the medicine and water, and he took them together.
Another person was still sitting on the sofa, his hair combed meticulously without a single strand out of place.
When Lu Shiyin looked toward him, the man merely nodded back in silence.
Tilted his head, Lu Shiyin asked, “And who might this be?”
The man opposite him put on a signature smile and said, “Hello, my surname is Ji, Ji Xun. I’m a doctor. If you feel any physical discomfort from now on, feel free to come find me. We can exchange contact information in a bit.”
“Of course, if you need help with anything else, that’s fine too.”