Ye Tian sat on the rooftop, his breathing steadying after the harrowing ordeal he had endured.
His frail, skeletal frame was no more, replaced by a revitalized body that radiated strength and vitality.
His muscles were firm, his skin free of blemishes, and his once-pale complexion now held a healthy glow.
His face, already sharp and well-defined, seemed to exude an ethereal charm that was both dangerous and alluring.
It was a face that belonged to someone who had returned from the depths of hell itself.
Yet despite this newfound strength, his mind was burdened with the memories of what it had taken to get here.
He looked at his hands, flexing his fingers as he felt the faint current of qi flowing through his unblocked vessels.
"It's not much..." he muttered, his voice tinged with both relief and frustration.
"But it's a start."
As he prepared to leave, a sharp pain tore through his chest.
"Urgh!" He bent over, coughing violently.
A thick stream of blood erupted from his mouth, splattering onto the ground below.
"Fucking hell!" he hissed, wiping his mouth with the torn sleeve of his hospital gown.
The metallic taste of blood lingered on his tongue, and for a moment, he swayed unsteadily on his feet.
He glanced at the dark, sticky puddle beneath him... his blood, mixed with the black toxins that had been purged from his body.
The sight was grim, a stark reminder of how close he had come to death.
'This body is still too weak...' he thought grimly, straightening up.
The faint qi circulating through him was doing its best to repair the damage, but recovery would take time.
With a sigh, he turned toward the rooftop door.
"Time to get back before she notices I'm gone..." he muttered to himself.
*****
Ye Tian stood before the door to his hospital room, his hand hovering over the handle.
He glanced down at himself... his tattered, bloodstained clothes were a mess, and he reeked of sweat and toxins.
"She's going to lose her mind..." he murmured, shaking his head.
Still, he pushed open the door and stepped inside, shutting it softly behind him.
The moment he turned around, a sharp crash shattered the silence.
The sound of breaking plates echoed through the room, freezing him in his tracks like a criminal caught in the act.
"Guess I got caught..." he said awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
Slowly, he turned around, only to be met with the sight of Li Na standing in the middle of the room, her face pale and her eyes brimming with tears.
She clutched the remnants of a broken plate in her trembling hands, her expression a mix of shock and worry.
"Li Na..." he began, his tone soft and apologetic.
"Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"
Before he could finish, she rushed toward him, her hands grabbing at his torn clothes as her tear-filled eyes scanned him from head to toe.
"What the hell happened to you?!" she demanded, her voice trembling.
"I thought you went to the washroom to freshen up! Why... why do you look like this? Why are you covered in blood?!"
"Uh..." Ye Tian stammered, struggling to come up with an excuse.
"It's not what it looks like."
"Not what it looks like?!" she cried, her voice breaking as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.
"You're covered in blood, your clothes are torn, and you look like you've been fighting for your life! What am I supposed to think?!"
"I mean..." he started, avoiding her gaze.
"It's not a big deal? I just... went for a walk, and this happened."
Her lips quivered as she stared at him, her disbelief evident.
"A walk?" she repeated, her voice low and incredulous.
"Y-yeah..." he said, scratching the back of his head.
"You know... for fresh air."
Her fists clenched at her sides, and for a moment, Ye Tian thought she might hit him. But before she could press him further, a sharp beeping sound interrupted the tense moment.
She froze, pulling her phone from her pocket.
Her teary eyes scanned the screen, and slowly, her expression softened.
Without saying a word, Li Na walked over to the small table near the bed.
On it sat a modest cake, adorned with a few candles that flickered softly in the dim light.
Her trembling hands lit the candles one by one, the soft glow illuminating her face.
She turned to face Ye Tian, a faint smile breaking through her tears.
"Sit down..." she said gently, gesturing to the bed.
Confused by the sudden shift in her demeanor, Ye Tian complied, sitting down cautiously.
She picked up the cake and held it before him, her voice soft as she began to count down.
"Three..."
Ye Tian's confusion deepened, his head tilting slightly.
"Two..."
Her voice carried a warmth that was almost soothing, despite the tears still clinging to her lashes.
"One..."
She placed the cake on the bedside table and threw her arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace.
"Happy birthday, Ye Tian..." she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.
For a moment, Ye Tian froze, her words taking a few seconds to register.
When they finally did, his eyes widened in surprise.
"It's..." he started, his voice soft.
"It's my birthday?"
She nodded against his chest, her arms tightening around him.
"Did you really think I'd forget?"
A small, genuine smile tugged at his lips, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, he laughed softly.
"Honestly? I wasn't even thinking about it."
The moment was warm and tender, the tension from before melting away as they held each other.
Ye Tian found himself smiling as she pulled back to look at him, her eyes shining with joy despite the tears.
But just as he was about to say something, the ground beneath them shook violently, cutting their celebration short.
The walls groaned as the hospital trembled, the overhead lights flickering ominously.