The room was dim, the only light coming from the faint flickering of incense burning on a small wooden table near the bed. The air was thick with the scent of medicinal herbs, their sharp yet soothing aroma lingering in every corner. Zhang Mei sat in the familiar chair beside Li Chen's bed, her eyes red from sleepless nights, but her spirit as resolute as ever. It had been days since Li Chen had returned to them—alive but unconscious, locked in a battle far more complex than anyone in the room could understand.
Zhang Mei reached out, gently stroking his hand, as if her touch could guide him back from the place where he was lost. Every breath he took was a small victory, but the silence and stillness weighed heavily on her heart.
"Come back to me," she whispered, her voice trembling. "The twins... we need you."
