He was actually still alive? He was actually still alive even after falling from such a high cliff?
It must have been because he had a very good moral character. The Heavens couldn’t bring itself to collect him, and left him to continue to wander upon the earth. Whatever the case, surviving was a good thing. The only issue was that he didn’t know whether he’d broken his arms and legs or not; he couldn’t feel... his hands, or his feet, he couldn’t feel anything. He broke out into cold sweat from fear. It was true that being alive was a good thing, but if he had become a cripple, wouldn’t that be a fate worse than death?
“Zhou Xiang? Zhou Xiang? Are you awake?” A middle aged woman’s voice suddenly entered his ears. Her voice was grievous, sorrowful, and extremely tearful.
Zhou Xiang used a great amount of effort to turn his neck. The owner of the voice was a woman in her fifties. She was really skinny and had a very kind face. She was calling his name but Zhou Xiang didn’t recognize her. Who was she?
“Zhou Xiang...” That woman wanted to cry, but forcibly stopped herself. She staggered to the door, caught hold of a nurse, and cried out in excitement, “My son is awake!” My son is awake! Hurry and call a doctor over!”
Son? Who is your son? Zhou Xiang opened his mouth, wanting to speak. However, his throat was painful and dry like someone had set fire to it. He tried for a long time but still couldn’t produce any sound.
Gradually, he recovered feeling in his four limbs. He moved his toe. It was all there; his hands and feet were all there!
A short while later, a doctor and nurse came rushing in. They bustled around him for some time. The nurse clucked her tongue and sighed. “He really is awake. He actually woke up after being in a coma for two years. This is truly a miracle. Congratulations, Aunty.”
That middle aged woman smiled as she cried. She was so emotional, she couldn’t speak properly.
One nurse poured Zhou Xiang a glass of water and feed him some with a spoon. After letting him drink just that tiny amount of water, she put the glass away and said softly, “Don’t rush. Right now, you need time to properly adjust.”
Zhou Xiang said hoarsely, “What... What happened to me?” His voice was so hoarse it practically didn’t sound human.
“Zhou Xiang.” That middle aged woman threw herself at him, touching his face, crying as she said, “Mummy knew that you would definitely wake up. You’re finally awake now, Mummy almost couldn’t hold on any longer. “
Zhou Xiang looked at her with shock. Did this woman truly believe that he was her son? Zhou Xiang reviewed his own memories, excellent and undamaged. Everything that had happened in his thirty years of life was all vivid in his mind. Although that period of time before he died was too wretched and horrible, and he wanted to wipe everything concerning that person clear from his memory, he was absolutely certain that he hadn’t forgotten anything, and this woman truly didn’t exist in his memories. Even though... Even though her tears made him feel bad; even though her tears were so hot, and were tears that belonged to a mother.
“You... You are... Aunty, I don’t know who you are.” Zhou Xiang reluctantly finished his sentence.
The crying stopped and that woman looked at him with shock. The doctor and nurse were also taken aback. After a long while, they finally reacted. The doctor patted that woman’s shoulder. “Ms Chen, Zhou Xiang suffered a serious head injury. He could have been in any kind of state after waking up, if he’s merely just suffering from memory loss, then he’s already extremely lucky. “
Chen Ying wiped away her tears. She tremblingly touched Zhou Xiang’s face. “Zhou Xiang, son, you truly don’t remember me? I’m your mother.”
His name was indeed Zhou Xiang, but his mother died when he was eight. He had always dreamed that his mother was still alive, but...
“Ms Chen, please control your emotions, don’t give the patient too much pressure. How about you go and have a short rest, we’ll carry out further tests, is that okay? “
The doctor signalled the nurse with his eyes. The nurse held Chen Ying and softly placated her, “Aunty, let’s go out first, okay? Give yourself time to calm down.” After she spoke, she took her out of the room without giving her time to speak.
Zhou Xiang was pushed out of the hospital room. They took x-rays and performed other examinations. His head felt murky and heavy. After a while, he felt sleepy again. He inadvertently turned his head, and saw his face which was reflected on the doctor’s black computer screen.
Upon taking a closer look, he was shocked witless.
Although that face wasn’t completely distinct on the pitch-black monitor, it was still clear enough for him to identify its facial features. Zhou Xiang stared at that person’s lifeless expression. Who was he? This was not his face... Who was this person?
The doctor waved a hand in front of his face, “What’s wrong?”
“Mirror.”
“What?”
Zhou Xiang suddenly yelled coarsely, “Give me a mirror!”
The doctor was startled. He thought for a moment, and then passed over a mirror. “Your face is fine. Relax, don’t get so worked up.”
Zhou Xiang snatched the mirror from him. The mirror clearly reflected a young handsome face. It looked around twenty five; its eyes were not big but were very spirited. Although the face was pale, it was still really masculine.
This was not him, Zhou Xiang!
No wonder that Aunty was calling him her son. She wasn’t wrong. She merely didn’t know that there was a wild soul was dwelling in her son’s body.
Which is to say, he did die after all. How could his body not be torn and crushed after falling from such a high cliff? However, his soul had been reborn into someone else’s body, the body of this young person whose name was also Zhou Xiang.
The doctor looked at him, baffled, “What’s wrong? Do you feel strange anywhere?”
Zhou Xiang tossed the mirror to the side and limply lay back down onto the bed. He covered his eyes with his hands, and mumbled, “Nothing.”
He was still in a state of shock, how was he supposed to accept the reality before him?
Could it be that the Heavens collected the wrong soul because they had the same surname and given name?
Whatever the reason, everything was too strange. He had always been an atheist and had never believed in ghosts and monsters, or been scared of them either, but this situation right now rattled his beliefs. Right now, besides being shocked, he really didn’t know how he should react.
The doctor said sympathetically, “Have a little rest. You’ve just woken up after being unconscious for two years. It’s a big mental burden. Don’t pressure yourself. Go to sleep.”
The doctor’s wise and deep voice had a hypnotic effect. Zhou Xiang closed his eyes, exhaustion surged up, and gradually, sleepiness overcame him.
This was good too. He would live on using a whole new identity. This was a chance that the Heavens had given him, to let him start over. He could throw away the past and lead a happy life.
Throw away that... Failed past which he never wanted to look back on.
---
“Here, drink up this chicken soup. Drink soup first then eat, it’ll help nourish your stomach.” Chen Ying lovingly watched over at Zhou Xiang. The devotion in her eyes made Zhou Xiang feel sad.
He was incapable of telling this mother that the body of her son which she had painstakingly raised now housed a different person.
“Drink, why are you staring at me blankly? Even if you don’t remember me, you will definitely remember this flavour. You’ve loved drinking my soup since you were small, drink up.”
Zhou Xiang accepted the bowl, scooped a spoon of the fragrant chicken soup and drank one mouthful. It was delicious and addictive. He couldn’t help but drink many more mouthfuls.
“Slow down, don’t burn yourself.”
Zhou Xiang finished off the bowl of soup. Looking at Chen Ying, he said in a low voice, “Aun... Mum, don’t deliver me food every day, the hospital provides food.” It had already been three days since he woke up and had been raining nonstop for the past two days. Every time Chen Ying came in, her trouser legs would always been completely soaked. For the sake of bringing her son a meal of hot food, this small, thin and weak woman needed to ride the bus for half an hour and walk over ten minutes. He was both sad and moved. This was how it felt to have a mother. He had thought that he would never be able to experience it again in his lifetime.
Chen Ying sighed with emotion, “What’s so hard about bringing you food? When I brought you food before, you couldn’t even eat it.” Remembering the hardship of the past two years, the rims of Chen Ying’s reddened slightly, but she laughed immediately after. “Let’s not talk about that. You’re awake now so it’s all good. Mum won’t seek anything from you anymore, and won’t force you to do anything you don’t want to do, as long you’re well and alive.”
Zhou Xiang could faintly sense that there was some hidden meaning behind Chen Ying’s words, however he didn’t pry, fearing that it would touch upon a distressing memory. Based on what she and the doctor had told him, he knew vaguely that this body had been crushed by a heavy falling object two years ago. Originally, everyone thought that he would be in a vegetable state the rest of his life. No one expected that he would actually wake up. Zhou Xiang also knew that it had already been two years since he accidentally fell down a cliff during a rainstorm.
He couldn’t help but cast a glance over at the elderly man on the hospital bed next to him. This hospital room was a two person ward. This elderly man suffered a stroke which left him paralysed in bed for over half a year already. Although he still had consciousness, he was almost no different from dead person. This old man had already lost his wife and only had a son. His son was busy with work and normally only came to visit once or twice a week. Chen Ying would sometimes help the hospital carer to look after him. Zhou Xiang saw how Chen Ying and the carer were both utterly tired and dripping with sweat helping the old man wipe his body, and could easily imagine how Chen Ying had looked after him these past two years. After Zhou Xiang woke up, this woman hadn’t mentioned even a word of how much hardship she had suffered for her son. As Zhou Xiang looked at her, he couldn’t help but wonder if his own mother would worry and toil herself like this for him if she was still alive.
In his heart, he had gradually accepted the fact that Chen Ying was his mother and even rejoiced a little. He had always dreamed that he had a mother, and unexpectedly gained one when he woke up. The Heavens were truly generous to him, not only did they give him a second life, they even gave him a mum.
Under Chen Ying’s watch, Zhou Xiang finished off his meal. Chen Ying fanned him with a hand-fan, gazing at him with a smile, her eyes filled with love. Zhou Xiang started feeling a bit embarrassed being stared at like that. Chen Ying suddenly spoke, “Son, want to watch TV for a while?”
“Oh, yup.”
Chen Ying turned on the TV, but neither of their minds were focussed on the TV. Zhou Xiang asked, “Mum, when can I be discharged from hospital?” He could tell that Chen Ying was not well-off. He felt that he was all well now, and didn’t need to continue staying in hospital.
Chen Ying replied, “There’s no rush, so much money has already been spent these past few years, a few more days won’t make any difference. Mum just wants you to come out healthy. Let’s listen to the doctor. Those who have been treating you are all very good people, you’ll discharge from hospital when the doctors say you can leave.”
Zhou Xiang nodded. “Mum, can you tell me about our family and the past. The doctor said that if you tell me about it, I might even remember it.” Every time Zhou Xiang said the word, “mum” his heart would beat particularly fast. He didn’t know if it was because he was happy, or because of guilt.
Chen Ying laughed, “No need to rush. Wait until you’re discharged, and then I’ll find you your childhood photos. You can look over them while I explain. The doctor said that you must not overwork your brain. All you need to do now is to recuperate your health, you don’t need to think about anything else. “
Zhou Xiang didn’t push the matter either. His eyes unintentionally landed on the TV screen. The TV was broadcasting a news conference for a movie. The broadcast cut to another camera, and a familiar silhouette appeared on the screen.
Zhou Xiang’s eyes widened.
Wang Yudong!
The broadcasting director shot a large close up of the male film star. He was an undoubtedly exceptionally handsome man, graceful and outstandingly handsome. His perfectly fitting suit set off his slender, tall and straight figure; his slightly raised lips brimmed with a splendid smile like the spring breeze, bewitching the hearts of who knows how many girls. Zhou Xiang couldn’t be any more familiar with this famous film emperor than he already was. He had been that person’s martial arts double for many of his films because they had an extremely similar build and back-view.
If it wasn’t for that, Yan Mingxiu wouldn’t have considered him worth his notice. What a pity that he didn’t know that at that time. If he had known, he would have light-heartedly regarded Yan Mingxiu as a friend with benefits with no strings attached, and he wouldn’t have ended up in such a nasty and unsightly state.
There was a dull wave of pain in his heart. This heart shouldn’t be Zhou Xiang’s heart yet it could still feel pain because of that wretched matter; it was truly intolerable. Zhou Xiang smiled mockingly at himself. “Mum, switch channels.”
“Oh.” Chen Ying turned to glance at the TV. “Isn’t this Wang Yudong?”
“You know him?”
“Aiya, your mum hasn’t gotten so old that she can’t even watch TV.” Chen Ying laughed while giving him a sidelong glance. “Who doesn’t know Wang Yudong? He’s an extremely famous celebrity. When he got married in the first half of the year, that girl at Aunty Zhang’s house next door wailed and wept all day and night and tried to commit suicide, I really don’t understand what kids nowadays are thinking.”
Zhou Xiang’s body trembled. “He... He got married?”
Chen Ying looked at him strangely, “Son, you remember him?”
“No, no, I don’t remember. I just thought, don’t male celebrities all marry late? He looks like he’s in his twenties to thirties.”
“Yeah, the papers said that he’s been with his wife for many years, and her background is very mysterious. At any rate, she’s the daughter of a very influential family; the reporters couldn’t dig out much information. I just remember that his wife’s surname was especially nice sounding, ‘Yan’, not the ‘Yan’ for the bird swallow but...”
Zhou Xiang couldn’t quite register what Chen Ying said after that. A single matter echoed in his brain over and over again, that was: Wang Yudong and Yan Mingmei have gotten married.
They had married, then what about Yan Mingxiu? Did he wail and cry all day and night and try to commit suicide? He was so infatuated with Wang Yudong. Personally witnessing Wang Yudong change from his older sister’s boyfriend to his brother-in-law, he would go crazy, right?
Ha, how comical. In a manner of speaking, Yan Mingxiu, even though you and I belong in different worlds, we both have the same shortcoming: always coveting what doesn’t belong to us.
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