Xie Mingzhe calmed down in the hospital room overnight, sorting through the memories of the body's original owner.
The original owner had grown up in an orphanage. He was talented in painting and had been accepted into the Fine Arts Department of Capital University through the College Entrance Exam for Art. The new term would begin on September 1, and today was August 1, meaning there was only one month left to prepare.
First of all, he needed to get out of the hospital. The cost of staying in the intensive care unit was expensive. With no relatives in this world, he didn't know who had paid for his medical expenses. This thought made Xie Mingzhe uneasy. He quickly put on his slippers and went in search of the doctor in charge.
At 8 a.m., the boy in Ward 7 suddenly opened the door and stepped out.
Doctor Qin, who was making the rounds, raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Xie Mingzhe? What are you doing up and about instead of resting in bed?" Patients who had just woken from a vegetative state typically felt confused and had a hard time adjusting to the changes in the world. But this boy was different. He showed no signs of blankness or frustration. He had run out in slippers without socks, yet he appeared full of energy and alert.
"Doctor, when can I be discharged?" Xie Mingzhe asked seriously. "And how do I pay for my medical expenses?"
"Your body's vital signs are normal now. I'll observe you for another day, and if there are no issues, I'll give you a discharge certificate tomorrow." Doctor Qin walked toward him. Seeing Xie Mingzhe's bright and clear eyes, his tone softened. "As for the medical expenses, you don't need to worry. You had purchased critical medical insurance before, so the insurance company will cover the costs when you are discharged."
"Thank you." Xie Mingzhe sighed with relief. He remembered that the orphanage had bought medical insurance for him when he graduated from high school. Since the insurance company would cover the costs, he wouldn't end up in debt. This was a relief.
After returning to the room, Xie Mingzhe started to organize his personal belongings. Before his injury, he had gone to a themed restaurant for an interview but had accidentally fallen from the third floor, after which the crowd had sent him to the hospital. All he had were a room card, an ID card, and a smartphone.
The ID card had his photo on it and was linked to his bank card, so it couldn't be tampered with. His memory told him that this room card was for a temporary, low-rent apartment he rented, which was just 10 square meters. As for the smartphone, it was the cheapest one he could afford through hard work. His contact list was also small since he didn't have many friends in this world.
Therefore, no one would notice the change in disposition or soul within him.
After arranging his belongings, Xie Mingzhe walked over to the window in his hospital gown.
Outside, there were tall buildings and skyscrapers, some more than 100 floors high. Several suspended lanes, each about seven or eight floors above the ground, crisscrossed between buildings. Various strange-shaped vehicles zipped through these lanes. Xie Mingzhe looked out at the world with wide, curious eyes.
Since he was on the third floor in the intensive care unit, he could see everything clearly below.
Just then, Xie Mingzhe saw a girl walking by downstairs with a particularly adorable pet. It was something he had never seen before: a creature taller than a meter with long ears, hopping around on its feet. Was it a rabbit?
Could such a large rabbit exist? It was pink and cute. But didn't the hospital ban pets? Pets could carry infectious pathogens, so why would one be allowed inside?
Xie Mingzhe was confused. The answer couldn't be found in the original owner's memories.
As he thought about this, Doctor Qin opened the door and entered. The middle-aged doctor had a kind expression and a gentle voice. After a thorough examination, the doctor spoke. "Since you've been in bed and supported by the nutritive medium for two months, your muscles have atrophied somewhat, and you've lost weight. But you'll recover slowly with more exercise after discharge."
Xie Mingzhe had become very thin due to his injury. It was normal to lose weight after being bedridden for a month. He had been in good shape before and knew how to exercise, so he wasn't too concerned.
Downstairs, another girl passed by with a similar large rabbit pet. This time, Xie Mingzhe couldn't hold back his curiosity and asked, "Doctor Qin, what's that pet the little girl has? Are pets allowed in the hospital now?"
This was something he couldn't figure out from the memories of the original owner. So, asking about it didn't seem out of place.
"That's a card hologram." Doctor Qin explained. "The hospital doesn't allow pets. We're not veterinarians."
"Card hologram?" Xie Mingzhe was puzzled.
"Don't you play the game?" Doctor Qin joked. "There are just a few young people who don't play it these days."
"Well, I don't really pay attention to games," Xie Mingzhe replied with an awkward smile, scratching his head. He came from a poor planet and surely didn't know much about the fashionable trends of the prosperous capital. The doctor probably thought he was a bumpkin.
A card hologram? What could that be on Earth?
Xie Mingzhe silently remembered the term and planned to search for it once the doctor left.
After finishing his examination, Doctor Qin reminded him, "Your stomach is still sensitive. Stick to liquid foods for the next three days, and after that, you can start eating regular food again. But remember, avoid anything too stimulating. Keep that in mind."
Xie Mingzhe nodded obediently. "Got it. Thank you, doctor."