With a dull agony coursing through his body and his head pounding, Yang Xiu slowly opened his eyes. As he blinked, his vision and senses clearing, he instantly realized he was in a hospital room.
The sound of breathing filled the silence, and a heart monitor beeped regularly in the corner.
"What the.." A figure sitting in the chair next to him stirred and turned to face him when he shifted, speaking in a little, feeble voice.
A calm voice asked, "Yang Xiu?" and a face with concern written across its features came into focus.
Cheng Li, Yang Xiu's closest buddy, could be identified sitting next to him. Not only was Cheng Li a close friend, but he was also an idol himself—and a well-liked one at that. He had started out as a trainee in a large company, and had worked hard to advance through the ranks and establish himself. Now, he was known for his powerful voice and charismatic stage presence. But despite his success, he was always humble and down-to-earth.
Cheng Li's brow was furrowed, and although his dark blue eyes had crimson rims, they were now filled with what appeared to be relief after having been crying. "You're fine!" He let out a sigh of relief and raked his hands through his gray hair.
"What happened?" Yang Xiu questioned with a dry, raspy voice. "How long have I been out?"
"I'm not exactly sure what happened," Cheng Li retorted nervously. "You collapsed, and the doctors have been conducting tests all day. They believe you might have experienced a seizure or some other type of fainting episode, but they are not quite certain. I'm glad you're awake. You had me so worried."
The care that his friend expressed touched Yang Xiu, who feigned a smile. "I'm fine, I just feel a little sleepy." Then, as he carefully sat down on the hospital bed, he couldn't help but admire his reflection in the mirror that was mounted on the wall directly across from him.
The bright white linens beautifully framed his gorgeous face. And when he tried to brush his hair with his raised hand, it was too heavy, so he threw it back to the bed and complained. "What have they done to me?!"
Cheng Li sighed deeply. Despite being Yang Xiu's friend, he was not resilient enough to put up with Yang Xiu's whines. But he was making an effort. "They haven't done anything to you; all they did was give you some sleeping pills, and now you're just a little groggy. You'll be back to your normal self in no time."
Yang Xiu, however, was not having any of it. "This is unacceptable!" He cried out. But quickly stopped himself when the memory of all what happened leading to what caused his blackout dawned him.
That jarring headache... The feeling... That wrath.. that strange wrath... What was that? What rule had he set that someone was breaking? What kind of feeling was that?And the pain... The pain felt so... Yang Xiu paused, biting his bottom lip. Hard. Until he could taste his own blood.
"Why are you doing that?!" Chang Li snapped, startled but made no move to touch Yang Xiu in any way.
"What did the doctors say?" Yang Xiu asked, sucking his lower lip nonchalantly.
Chang Li stared, his face turning scarlet. "I.. um.."
"You.. um.. what?!" Yang Xiu mimicked and let out a heavy breath through his teeth. "I didn't faint because I am sick, so they better find something! I am the most healthy person in the universe! No germ can ever come close to me!"
"Hehe... I think you should calm dow..."
"How am I supposed to calm down when I'm in the institution of germs? How am I supposed to calm down when I know I've been touched?" The idea that he had truly been carried made him scream angrily, his heart racing with wrath. He couldn't believe this! Whatever triggered that episode... he didn't want it to happen ever again!
He grabbed the blanket and removed it, then looked around to see that he was still dressed in his old clothes. At least they didn't try to get him dressed in those hideous hospital garb.
Knowing how disgusted Yang Xiu was right now, Cheng Li sighed and continued to watch. As soon as the door opened to reveal the doctor in care of Yang Xiu, he stood up and grinned brightly in anticipation of hearing the good news of Yang Xiu's discharge. Maybe?
The doctor said, "I am glad you are awake, Yang Xiu," with a cool smile that softened his worn-out, aging features.
Yang Xiu remained silent and started looking through his pocket for his knife. His goal was to leave the hospital. He didn't care to know why he had fainted; all he wanted was to return to his condo and spend some quiet time alone without worrying about needless fanservice videos, photo shoots, and tours.
The doctor, who felt hurt by his silence, forced a grin before turning to look at Cheng Li. "Now that he is awake and alert, he is free to go."
"Huh?" Cheng Li was shocked. "What do you mean by that?!"
"Nothing strange was discovered. There is no justification for keeping him here." The doctor reported continuing to grin in a cordial manner but Cheng Li looked panicked.
Noticing this friend's reaction while still searching for his pocket knife, Yang Xiu raised a brow. "He's right, I feel fine. What's wrong with you?"
Cheng Li rubbed the back of his neck, blinking slowly. "I.. um... Is he indeed in perfect health? Can we at least keep him here until...?"
Yang Xiu was furious by those words that were coming out of his friend's mouth. "What the hell are you talking about?" He lost his cool and leapt off the bed. "You want me to remain here? Do you despise me? This place reeks of death and is covered in germs. And it's not a good kind of death!"
The doctor chuckled apprehensively. "I'm not sure if there's a good kind of death."
"Yang Xiu, I am doing this to protect you." Cheng Li said, gesturing to Yang Xiu that everything was alright. His whole body was trembling in a way that no one could notice, not even the doctor who was a specialist.
Yang Xiu twitched his lips. He was beginning to experience a headache once more, and it was coming on stronger this time.
He grumbled and rubbed his brow as he passed them, as if that would make the pain go away. "Did you steal my knife for that reason? I'm out of here. I need a long bath and my beauty sleep."
"Yang Xiu!" Cheng Li called in panic not knowing how to stop him.
Meanwhile, the doctor was frozen in mid-action, his countenance resembling that of someone who has seen a ghost or monster. His lips were struggling to move, sweat was covering his brow, and his face was pallid.
"Stay away from me." Yang Xiu moaned angrily, his vision becoming increasingly foggy as he approached the door. But when he unintentionally glanced at his reflection in the mirror, he was horrified by what he saw. He didn't at all resemble himself in the mirror reflection. His face was coated in red scales, and his eyes were fiery and serpentine.
He was instantly overcome by a startling sense of familiarity and horror. And when he reached out to touch the mirror, the intense pain returned abruptly and became even more harsher than before, causing him to giggle.
As his headache started to have an odd quality, he groaned through his laughter and fell to the ground finding himself yearning for and craving the pain. But as he closed his eyes and let the anguish wash over him, that rage came back in the most terrifying way.
"MY BARRIER!" he cried out with a deep, monstrous growl before once more succumbing into the dark.