The winter night in Huadu was cold, with the chilly wind creeping through the gaps in the car window, sending a piercing chill through the air. The streetlights on the overpass stretched out in the distance, lighting the way home for Lu Yunfei. At one o'clock in the morning, the highway was nearly deserted, with almost no other cars in sight. The soft voice of a late-night radio host could be heard over the radio, accompanied by the sound of the wind outside, adding to the feeling of fatigue.
Lu Yunfei pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to fight off the drowsiness creeping in. He had just finished a long day at work, with back-to-back meetings that had stretched his mind to its limits. Thinking he was only ten kilometers away from home, he pressed harder on the gas.
"Just a little longer," he muttered to himself, trying to wake himself up with his voice.
Suddenly, a blinding white light appeared directly ahead, as if it were coming from the heavens, with no warning. Lu Yunfei squinted, instinctively raising his left hand to shield his eyes, but the light seemed to penetrate everything, overwhelming him.
Then, the screeching sound of tires and the sharp, grinding noise of the brakes filled the air. He felt the car shudder violently, and in the next moment, his body was thrown into the air as if by some unseen force. The intense collision caused a searing pain in his neck, sharp enough that he almost cried out.
Then, everything went silent.
When Lu Yunfei woke up, his vision was filled with a strange white ceiling. The lighting was soft, and the air carried a faint, fresh scent that wasn't quite disinfectant, but had a disquieting coldness to it. He blinked in confusion, trying to lift his hand to touch his forehead. But his movements seemed slower than expected.
"Am I still alive?" he muttered softly, his voice hoarse and deep.
He pushed himself up and realized he was lying in a soft bed. The room was unusually clean, with simple furniture: a bed, a desk, a few chairs. The walls were smooth and undecorated, with no hooks or outlets. The whole room was so pristine it felt almost unreal.
Lu Yunfei looked down at his hands. The skin was the familiar color, the lines of his palms still delicate, his fingertips slightly cold. Everything seemed normal. Yet, an indescribable sense of unease lingered in his mind.
He tried standing up. His movements were smooth, and there was no abnormality in his limbs. He patted his legs and gently pinched the back of his hand—pain surged through him, just as he remembered.
"Where is this place?" he whispered to himself, scanning the room, trying to find an answer.
Just then, the door to the room gently opened, and a man walked in. He was dressed in a dark uniform, his expression calm and indifferent. Lu Yunfei immediately tensed up, his instincts on alert.
"You're awake," the man said as he stood by the bed, his voice deep and emotionless.
"Who are you? Where is this place?" Lu Yunfei asked cautiously, his eyes never leaving the man.
"I'm an attendant," the man replied curtly, his tone devoid of any extra emotion. He looked at the device on his wrist and continued, "You've just experienced an accident, and we need to confirm whether your body is functioning properly."
"Accident?" Lu Yunfei repeated, frowning deeply. "What accident?"
The man didn't answer directly. Instead, he took out a small device from his pocket and placed it on the table next to the bed. The device automatically powered on, emitting a low buzzing sound, and a beam of light projected onto Lu Yunfei's face.
"What is this?" Lu Yunfei instinctively turned his head, but the man raised his hand to stop him.
"It's just a simple physical checkup. There's no danger," the man said, his tone still calm. "Please stay still. It'll be over soon."
The light swept over his face, then moved down his neck, shoulders, and arms. Lu Yunfei felt a faint warmth brushing his skin, like sunlight touching him, but without any real heat.
A few seconds later, the device stopped working. The man pressed a button, and the light retracted. He glanced at the screen, nodding in approval. "Very good. All the indicators are within normal range."
"Normal?" Lu Yunfei's voice was filled with disbelief. "What normal? What's going on?"
The man looked at him for a moment, his voice still calm. "I know you have many questions. We'll explain everything gradually. But before that, please cooperate with our arrangements."
"Arrangements?" Lu Yunfei stood up, his voice tinged with suppressed anger. "I don't even know where I am, why should I follow your orders?"
The man wasn't disturbed by his reaction. Instead, he showed a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "I understand your confusion. Once you get used to this place, everything will make sense."
With that, he turned and walked toward the door. Lu Yunfei tried to ask more, but he found his steps heavy, as if some force was holding him back. He could only watch as the man's figure disappeared behind the door, leaving him standing alone in the room, his frown deepening.
He stared at the device, a vague sense of unease settling in. Things were far from as simple as they seemed. And the man's unnervingly calm attitude sent a chill down his spine.
"This place… is definitely not normal," he muttered to himself, clenching his fists. His gaze hardened with a growing sense of resolve.