I opened my eyes slightly, my head spinning as a wave of dizziness swept over me. My vision blurred, and the room swayed like a distant dream. The sharp beeping of a heart monitor pierced through the haze—beep, beep, beep—mingling with the urgent voices of doctors, hurried and indistinct.
I tried to focus, to move, but my body refused. The pain surged through me, raw and relentless. Then, everything faded. Darkness pulled me under again, leaving only the ache in my body and the heavy weight of stillness. I couldn't see anything—just endless, suffocating darkness.
Wait!... I can see it—a light piercing through the darkness, pulling me away from it. The ache in my body is gone, replaced by a soothing warmth and gentle moisture. It feels so comforting, almost serene. Am I in heaven? Have I returned to the heavens? Am I dead?
As I opened my eyes, I realized I was in a completely different place. Sunlight streamed through the windows, its warm rays gently kissing my face. The room around me felt inviting, with the soft scent of flowers lingering in the air.
I was lying on a bed, the covers light and comforting. Slowly, I swung my legs over the side and tried to stand, but my knees buckled beneath me. I fell slightly, catching myself on the bed with trembling hands. Determined, I pushed myself upright again and tried to walk, but my legs felt unsteady, as if I had forgotten how to move them.
At first, walking was difficult, but with each step, it became easier. I could walk—truly walk again. As I moved through the house, I was taken by its magnificence. It was full of warmth, light, and the sweet scent of flowers lingering in the air.
While exploring, my eyes caught someone by the window. He stood there, doing push-ups, his movements steady and controlled. His black sleeveless top revealed broad, powerful arms, and I could see the faint outline of his abs beneath the fabric. His physique was striking, but I couldn't see his face clearly. Curiosity pulled me closer, step by step, as I tried to get a clearer look.
The sunlight streaming through the window blinded me, forcing me to close my eyes briefly and blink to clear my vision. But before I could focus, he suddenly moved towards me, swift and deliberate. His hand clasped around my neck—not to choke, but with just enough pressure to make his intentions clear. His cold, piercing gaze bore into me as he spoke, his deep voice firm and unyielding. "Who are you?" he demanded, his brows furrowed, his expression sharp and relentless.
Imagine, you wake up after an accident in a place you've never seen before. You're bewildered, trying to piece together what happened. Then, out of nowhere, a man storms toward you, grabs your neck—not to hurt, but firmly enough to terrify you—and demands, who are you? What would you even do? How could anyone react to that?
Of course, I would react the same way you guys would. I was stunned—my eyes bulged out as I stared at him, paralyzed by his sudden action, leaving me momentarily frozen in shock."
After a moment, as he realizes it was me, his strong, cold gaze softened. He pulled his hands away from my neck and, with a hint of concern in his voice, he asked, "Are you okay? When did you wake up?"
I blinked in confusion. "Uh, do you know me?" I asked, my voice unsteady.
"Yes, I know you," he replied, his tone calm. "Because... I've been with you for three months."
"Three months?" I repeated, stunned. "With me?" I couldn't process it.
"Mm", he nodded casually. "After the accident, you've been in a coma for three months. I was hired to take care of you."
"What? I'm in a coma for three months?" I repeated, still in shock. I couldn't believe how I ended up like this.
"Wait," I said, my mind racing, "you said you've been taking care of me for three months, right? Then... do you, do you change my clothes? Every day?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest instinctively, like a protective barrier.
He sighed, shaking his head. "No, it wasn't me. It was her who helped you with that." He pointed toward a woman who had just entered the room.
I blinked, then relaxed a little. "Ah! You really scared me for a moment."
Then, my curiosity piqued, I looked at him again and asked, "Who hired you? Who asked you to take care of me like this?"
"It's me," a voice said.
I turned around to see a man walking toward me, his features sharp and refined despite the signs of age. He looked to be in his fifties. With a calm, steady tone, he said, "Hello, I'm Xu Feng, owner of Xu Group, he extended his hand for a handshake. I reached out and shook his hand, "Hello, I am Su Yan", I said, still processing everything.
"Why did you save me? And why did you take me here?" I asked, my voice shaky.
Xu Feng sighed deeply before speaking. "I am a friend of your mother," he began. "When I was on the brink of bankruptcy, your mother helped me. From then on, we became close friends, always there for each other in times of need. I respected her deeply and always felt indebted to her. She was a cheerful, generous and truly a good soul, but unfortunately, she died", he said, regret and sorrow filled his expression.
Then he added, "After I heard about your accident, I bought you here. You were in a coma for nearly three months. I hired this bodyguard to protect you while you recover."
I couldn't help but to appreciate their friendship. I gave a faint smile and said, "Thank you, Mr. Xu Feng, for protecting and helping my mother when she was alive. As I could remember, my mother was really a good soul who helped others in need and cares for them. She gave everything to people who didn't value her, especially my father. It's just…" My voice cracked, and I looked away. "It's unfair".
Xu Feng nodded, his eyes filled with understanding. "Sometimes, life doesn't give people what they deserve, but your mother's strength and love left a mark on everyone she touched, including you! Look how wonderfully you've grown, even among those evil people and through such difficult situations," he said, his voice filled with warmth.
I stared at the ground, lost in thought. I felt the weight of her fate, the pain of her sacrifices, and my own guilt for trivializing what love meant. The idea of playing with destinies of mortals suddenly felt hollow in comparison to the genuine, fleeting love she embodied.
For the first time, I felt that I have done something wrong by making trivial love fates for mortals.
Then Xu Feng smiled warmly and said, "Don't call me Mr. Xu Feng anymore. Just call me Uncle. From now on, think of me as family."
I couldn't help but smile back. "Alright, Uncle Feng."
He leaned forward slightly, his expression thoughtful. "Now that you've woken up, what's next? Are you planning to go back, or is there something else you want to do?"
"I nearly died escaping that dreadful place. For now, I won't return—not until I'm strong enough to reclaim my mother's legacy from them. I need to rise high enough that no one can trample me again," I declared, my eyes burning with determination.
Uncle Xu Feng nodded thoughtfully. "You can go abroad if you want. I heard that, Han Sheng doesn't believe you're dead and is searching for you everywhere, so it's better for you to leave now. I will ask my son, Xu Zhen, to arrange for you to settle down there and find the perfect job for you. If you want, you can also continue learning while you're abroad. You can bring your bodyguard with you as well", he said.
I felt it was a good idea, so I nodded in agreement. "Thank you, Uncle Feng," I said. After that, I turned to the bodyguard, wondering if he would agree to come with me. To my surprise, he seemed to understand exactly what I was thinking just by looking at my gaze. "I've been hired to guard you, to protect you, so of course, I have to follow you wherever you go," he said.
I was taken aback by his answer. It might take months, maybe even years, for me to return. How could someone agree to work with such determination, knowing it meant leaving their family behind?
With surprise evident in my voice, I asked, "It might take months, maybe even years, for me to return. If you come with me, it'll be the same for you too. Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Mm," he nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Then, with calm determination, he said, "It's my duty to follow my employer wherever they go. Even if it means leaving my family for a century, I have to do this."
Before I could say anything, Uncle Feng interrupted, "Su Yan, you might not know this, but he's an employee of PJC Security, China's top security firm. They handle everything, from minor tasks to protecting the most powerful assets. Their employees undergo rigorous training, and even losing their lives in the line of duty is considered part of the job. For them, leaving their family isn't unusual—it's what they're trained for. PJC wouldn't be the country's leading security company without that level of dedication."
Having someone to protect felt reassuring, so I agreed with Uncle Feng. After that, Uncle Feng arranged for my passport, and soon, I was ready to go abroad to start my new life.
I packed my luggage and headed to the airport, where I saw my bodyguard already waiting. He stood there calmly, watching the crowd. I ran up to him and asked, "What's your name? We're going to be together for so many years, so it's good to know your name, right? Come on, just tell me."
He looked at me and replied in a short, crisp sentence, "I'm Pei Jincheng." His words were brief but clear.
After that, Uncle Feng arrived to see me off. He gave me a reassuring smile and a few last words of encouragement before I boarded the plane. I took my seat, staring out of the window as the plane began to ascend.
And just like that, my new journey began.