Before Dr. Zhang had time to think, Liu Yi had already carved "380" on the toilet partition door... which meant "definitely" yes.
And just as the circle that represented "0" was completed,
—
a familiar sense of disorientation suddenly overwhelmed him.
Dr. Zhang's eyes snapped open again!
It was just like the moment he had solved the "daily schedule" puzzle, startled awake... What he had just experienced still felt incredibly real in his mind, but upon reflection, it seemed like a dream.
Before his eyes was still that decayed red brick wall... and the scent around him had once again turned dusty.
He looked down and found he was still wearing that leather restraining belt around his waist.
All of this... incredibly, just as it had been minutes ago... He was still in that narrow room, sitting on that chair that, despite many years, had not decayed.
