Li Yi's eyelashes fluttered briefly before his eyes snapped open, jolted awake from a nightmare.
The first thing he did after sitting up on the bed was to look down at his own body. His arms were there, his legs were intact, and everything was accounted for. Thankfully, he hadn't lost any "parts."
After thoroughly checking himself over, even sneaking a glance inside his trousers, he let out a long sigh of relief.
Who would have thought that the massive provincial library would have such a poor fire safety system? In the sweltering 37-38°C weather, his own home was unbearable, so he'd gone to the library to enjoy the air conditioning while brushing up on some books to elevate his "intellectual vibe." But he hadn't expected to doze off while reading. When he woke up, sweating profusely, the place was already empty, the staff and visitors nowhere to be seen.
Everywhere his eyes could see was engulfed in flames. The fire had even spread to the bookshelf right beside him. If he hadn't woken up from the heat just in time, the headline the next day might have been: "Massive Fire at Provincial Library, Male Reader Dies in Blaze While Napping."
When Li Yi realized the danger, he bolted toward the fire escape. But as he got up to run, a massive bookshelf toppled over, and before he could react, everything went black.
Given the circumstances, it was a miracle he hadn't died or even suffered any injuries. In his heart, Li Yi silently gave a hundred thumbs up to the heroic firefighters.
So, this must be a hospital, right?
He looked around the room. The bed he lay on was a makeshift frame made of two planks of wood, and it was so hard it jabbed into his back. The air carried a faint musty smell, and the bedding who knew how long it had been since it was last washed? The experience was so subpar that Li Yi vowed to leave the hospital a terrible review after he was discharged.
Surveying the room further, he noticed a rickety low table that looked as though it might collapse at any moment, with a few tattered, thread-bound books resting on it. There wasn't even a television. This hospital was seriously outdated. Wait a second what was that on the corner of the table? An oil lamp?
What kind of hospital is this…? Wait, is this even a hospital?
Li Yi, still a bit groggy, suddenly realized this place looked nothing like a hospital!
Outraged at how poorly he was being treated, he jumped off the bed, barefoot, and ran outside without even putting on his shoes.
Moments later, Li Yi stood dumbfounded beside a crystal-clear stream that flowed past the front of the house.
The water was so clear that it mirrored the image of a young man, startling the fish that had been playfully swimming in it.
The reflection revealed a youth with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, his skin fair, and his features so delicate and refined they seemed sculpted by the gods. Dressed in a pale moon-white scholar's robe, his hair tied up in a high bun, the young man was the very picture of a genteel and handsome scholar. This kind of ethereal beauty would surely leave countless young maidens swooning.
Even Li Yi couldn't help but admit: this guy was stunningly handsome.
Li Yi stood there staring at the reflection for half an hour, feeling as though he were on the verge of a crisis of orientation.
But there was a bigger problem he didn't recognize this unbelievably handsome young man!
And that wasn't even the most serious issue.
The more pressing problem was that this flawless young man… was his reflection.
Li Yi slapped his face in disbelief, and the young man in the water mirrored his actions. Li Yi furrowed his brow, and the reflection furrowed its elegant brows as well. He looked completely bewildered, and the reflection stared back at him with an expression that seemed to say, "What in the world is going on?"
"Hahaha, I get it! This is just a dream! I must be dreaming!"
Li Yi burst out laughing and slapped himself hard across the face. The stinging pain brought tears to his eyes.
An elderly man with gray hair, walking by with his hands behind his back, stopped in his tracks and stared at the laughing, self-slapping Li Yi with a look of utter disbelief.
"This Li family boy… has reading driven him mad?" the old man muttered in shock.
Li Yi, still reeling from his situation, hadn't noticed the old man. He sat down by the stream, legs going weak, and stared blankly at the water like a philosopher pondering the great mysteries of life.
"Who am I?"
"Where did I come from?"
"Where am I going?"
As these profound questions surfaced in his mind, Li Yi was on the verge of contemplating "to be or not to be" when he finally calmed down.
Coming from the 21st century and having read countless novels and dramas, he quickly pieced together a hypothesis he could barely believe himself.
But before confirming anything, he needed proof.
Looking down at the reflection in the water again, the face staring back at him wasn't the one he'd known for over twenty years. No matter how he looked at it, something felt indescribably off.
"Ugh, pretty boy!" he muttered, spitting disdainfully at the reflection.
Behind him, the elderly man's face grew even more alarmed.
In his decades of life, the old man had never seen someone laugh madly, slap themselves, and then spit at their own reflection.
"This Li family boy… has he really gone mad?"
Li Yi, looking to get some answers, turned and spotted the old man standing on the path behind him, staring at him with a mix of fear and pity.
Li Yi was overjoyed finally, a living person!
Plastering what he thought was a kind and approachable smile on his face, Li Yi walked up to the old man and asked, "Excuse me, sir, could you tell me what year it is and where this place is?"
The old man's face turned pale.
It's over, he thought. The Li family boy has really lost his mind. He doesn't even recognize himself and is speaking utter nonsense. The old man had no idea what to say.
Seeing the old man's confused expression, Li Yi thought he might not have heard him clearly. After a brief moment of thought, he rephrased his question: "Kind sir, may I ask, what year and month is it, and what is this place called?"
This time, the old man understood.
With a long sigh, the old man's expression turned to one of deep regret.
Who would have thought such a promising young man, with intelligence and looks that were unmatched, would lose his mind from reading too much? The old man had even entertained the idea of marrying off his unmarried granddaughter to him. But now sigh what a tragedy!
Spotting two burly men carrying hoes in the distance, the old man waved to them and shouted, "Dazhuang! Quick, come here! This Li family boy has lost his mind. Don't let him run off tie him up!"