Shen Nianzu's consciousness gradually returned to him in stages.
First, he became aware of his limbs and the intense soreness coursing through his joints. His head felt sluggish and heavy as though he had just breached the surface after being underwater for a long time. As he took a deep breath, the overpowering scent of disinfectant assaulted his senses, and he immediately knew that he was in a hospital right now.
Given his poisoning inside the Cycle, it was no wonder that he had collapsed as soon as he returned to the real world.
With another slow inhale, the buzzing noises beside his ears receded, allowing him to reconnect with his surroundings. He took in the monotone beeping of the heartbeat monitor nearby, the soft hiss of the air purifier, and the distant sound of Qing Mo's voice who seemed to be talking on the phone outside.
But most of all, there was a noise he could no longer ignore — the dramatic sobbing by his bedside.
