Li Caiyi couldn't tell where she was now. She felt like floating but falling at the same time. It was a very mysterious feeling.
Her eyelids were heavy, and she couldn't tell which way was up and down, left or right. Was this how it felt to fly in space?
Then, she felt something was sucking her vigorously. It sucked the air out of her lung, and she couldn't breathe. Her lung was constricted in pain due to the lack of oxygen.
Was death always felt this painful?
Then she could hear a whispering voice from a distance. Thinking it was the voice of someone who might help her, Li Caiyi rushed toward the source of the voice. Suddenly, a blinding light shone upon her. There was a sensation of being flipped over that overwhelmed her. Before she knew it, something had blown her away.
"Haah…!"
When she opened her eyes, she saw a familiar ceiling. Her whole body was drenched in sweat, and her face was as pale as a sheet. The previous terror of being sucked into nothingness was terrifying; she couldn't stop shaking.
"Caiyi!"
She slowly snapped out of panic when she heard a very familiar voice. On her side, Li Chunhua was kneeling beside her bed while grabbing Li Caiyi's hand. Looking at a face strikingly similar to hers felt weird after those horrible experiences in an unknown space. It felt like her soul had exited her body and was now gazing up at her body.
'But that can't be. She is Li Chunhua, not her. The warmth of her hand, and that crying face, there's no way I could forget it.' She thought to herself.
Li Caiyi steadied her breath as she slowly calmed down. She didn't know what had just happened. Why did she go back to her bedroom at her family's house again? Wasn't she…
'That's right! Shen Qiang!'
Li Caiyi forced herself to sit up and gripped Li Chunhua's shoulder. Her eyes were bloodshot because she had just woken up; she looked a bit scary. "Xiaohua, where is Shen Qiang?!"
Her sister's sudden movement surprised Li Chunhua. She fell from her kneeling position to a sitting one from the momentum. She had never seen Li Caiyi so panicked before. "Wh-what are you talking about? Who is Shen Qiang?"
When Li Caiyi heard her answer, she suddenly felt a throbbing pain in her head. She winced in pain while holding her head.
"Xiaoyi!" Li Chunhua exclaimed in panic when she saw her sister in pain. "Wait here. I'll call Jie Ge!" She wasted no time and bolted out of the room. Li Caiyi's head was in so much pain, so she didn't stop her.
What happened? She and Shen Qiang had jumped from that abandoned building for sure, so why would she wake up in her bedroom? And without injury on top of that?
Li Caiyi looked around and felt something was wrong.
She remembered sharing a bedroom with Li Chunhua until her third year of high school, but they should've used separate rooms by now. Why were there two beds in her bedroom?
As someone who liked to read and write stories, a crazy idea flashed through her mind, and she gulped nervously.
'Don't tell me, I went back to the past?' Cold sweats ran through her back as she thought so.
Li Caiyi's head was still in so much pain, but she forced herself to get out of bed. She had to confirm her suspicion.
Li Caiyi kicked away her blanket and painstakingly fought nausea that came after the sudden movement. Then she trudged to the desk near the window and pulled one of the drawers. If she really went back in time, then that thing should still be here.
Li Caiyi rummaged through the drawer and finally found the key chain she had lost during her college entrance examination. This keychain was precious to her since this was the first gift she received from Meng Renshu. She treasured it so much, yet she still lost it.
Looking down at the smiley key chain made from the wood, Li Caiyi couldn't deny it even if she wanted to anymore.
A stinging pain suddenly hit her, and she slumped down and almost fell flat to the floor if not for her hand holding on to the desk.
"Xiaoyi, what are you doing?!"
Li Chunhua rushed over with an angry but worried expression from behind her. "Why did you get out of the bed in that condition? You're still sick, so don't force yourself!"
Li Chunhua was about to help her stand, but someone shoved her aside gently. "Xiaohua, you can't lift her with your body. Let me do it."
Then a pair of slender hands steadied Li Caiyi's body before he lifted her in a princess-carry. Li Caiyi looked up, and through her hazy eyes, she saw her older brother's face. He was as handsome as always, with phoenix eyes and thick eyebrows that frowned slightly. His sculpture-like nose cast a shadow on his lips, pressed together in a thin line.
However, Li Junjie's face still lacked the firmness of an adult he should have later. This brother of hers looked youthful and more approachable than the last version of him she saw.
Perhaps it was because she was still sick? She felt oddly emotional and wanted to cry when she received her siblings' care.
"Xiaoyi, are you crying? Where… where does it hurt? Let's go to the hospital now!" Li Chunhua's voice trembled to see her twin older sister shed tears without sound.
"Xiaohua, don't pester her with questions. Her temperature had gotten better, but she still needs full rest." Li Junjie dissuaded her.
"But she looked so much worse than yesterday. Xiaoyi has never cried, even when she's sick. Something must be wrong with her!"
Li Junjie stared at Li Caiyi for a moment before checking her temperature with his palm. His hand's temperature was much lower than hers, so she found his hand very soothing. She subconsciously leaned into his touch more.
Even if he didn't show it in his face, Li Junjie was taken aback by Li Caiyi's meek reaction. Usually, she would put on a strong front by now to reassure Li Chunhua, but this time, she was very docile, like a little lamb.
'Her fever must be worse than I thought.' Li Junjie thought to himself.
"We still have some porridge in the kitchen. First, you need to take more nutrients and drink your medicine. If your condition still hasn't gotten better when night comes, I'll take you to the hospital."
Li Chunhua calmed down after listening to her brother's calm decision. Li Caiyi wasn't in good condition to move around, so it might be the best course of action to take right now.
Li Caiyi's breaths were heavy, and she almost couldn't see clearly. She could vaguely tell that her siblings were discussing something, but her mind was elsewhere.
If Li Caiyi indeed went back in time, then how far to the past she had gotten back to? Recalling the keychain, it should be before her college entrance examination.
"Jie Ge, what happened to me?" She asked weakly.
"Don't you remember what happened?" His brows rose in astonishment. "You got home drenched from the rain yesterday and have been sick ever since."
"That's right. We were promised to go home together with Renshu Gege. He kindly offered to give us a ride, so why did you go home alone? Did you forget about it?" Li Chunhua continued Li Junjie's explanation.
Li Caiyi soon realized at which point of the past she returned to. How could she ever forget what happened that day?