"Phew, I'm finally back," Li Huowang exhaled in relief, speaking into the microphone by his bedside.
Moments later, his attending physician entered the room, carrying a white tablet and accompanied by a nurse.
"Li, how are you feeling? Any new changes to your hallucinations this time?" The doctor asked kindly, settling into a chair.
"It was the same setting, and I was doing the same things," Li began. "But this time, that scabby-headed master brutally killed someone right in front of me—and then used her to refine an elixir."
The doctor nodded as his fingers flew across the tablet, recording notes.
After a moment of hesitation, Li asked, "Doctor, what do these different hallucinations mean? Do they reflect something about my inner psyche or emotions?"
"No, don't focus on that," the doctor replied, shaking his head. "What you need to monitor is the duration of each hallucination and your overall mental stability."
"Remember, these are all illusions—completely unreal. You've made significant progress in overcoming hallucinatory perception disorder. Don't let yourself slip back into it."
"As long as you act logically within the hallucinations and follow the treatment plan here, you'll recover soon," the doctor encouraged.
Hearing this, Li felt a surge of determination. His recovery would determine when he could leave the hospital, and he couldn't afford any setbacks.
"You've improved a lot already," the doctor added. "When you first arrived, you couldn't distinguish reality from fantasy. Keep up the good work, and you'll get there."
As they spoke, the sound of light footsteps approached the door. Both turned toward the noise.
A teenage girl in a black turtleneck sweater peeked shyly into the room. She looked about sixteen or seventeen, her youthful beauty radiant, like a flower on the verge of blooming.
Her porcelain skin glowed softly, and her jet-black hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall.
Noticing the interaction between the two young people, the doctor smiled knowingly. Adjusting his glasses, he stood and turned to leave.
"I'll leave you two to it. And Li, don't forget to take your meds later," he said, exiting the room.
The girl entered, and she and Li exchanged smiles. Warmth spread through Li's chest, melting away his worries about his condition.
"Stop grinning—you look ridiculous," she teased, pulling a canvas bag from behind her back. "Look what I brought you—your review materials, straight from the teachers!"
Li's face fell. "Nana, we've been friends since childhood, and this is how you repay me?"
Yang Na grinned mischievously as she shut the door. She pulled a handheld gaming console from her bag and waved it teasingly. "And this! Call me your big sister, and it's yours."
"Sis! You're my big sis!" Li exclaimed, lunging for the console.
Being cooped up in the hospital was suffocating. Without distractions, he felt like he'd go insane.
"Don't forget to do your homework," Yang Na chided, sitting on the edge of the bed as Li eagerly powered on the console.
"Yeah, yeah," Li muttered, his focus entirely on the screen.
Her slender fingers tugged at the hem of his hospital gown. "Hey, don't forget what you promised me."
Li paused the game and looked up at her, his expression serious. "Yeah, we promised to get into the same university."
Yang Na blushed, lowering her gaze. "Take care of yourself. I'll wait for you..."
Li suddenly pulled her into a gentle hug, holding her as if she were the most precious thing in the world.
Blushing, Yang Na whispered, "You big pervert."
The two didn't do anything else—just holding each other brought them immense joy.
After a while, Yang Na prepared to leave. As a high school senior, finding even half a day to visit was a luxury.
Though her visits were brief, they were a ray of light in Li's otherwise bleak days.
"I'll walk you to the gate," Li offered, slipping on his hospital slippers.
As they walked to the door, Li suddenly froze. On the bedside table, he spotted the mortar he used in his hallucinations.
His body stiffened, and he took two steps back. When he looked again, the mortar had turned into his lunchbox.
"You okay?" Yang Na asked, concern on her face.
Forcing a grin, Li replied, "Ha! Gotcha! I scared you, didn't I?"
Yang Na pouted and pinched his side. "How old are you? Stop being so childish."
"I just wanted to make you laugh," Li said, reaching for her hand. She swatted it away at first, but eventually, their hands intertwined.
In the courtyard, other patients basking in the sunlight smiled at the sight of the young couple. Their youthful love seemed so pure and sweet.
Though they walked slowly, they eventually reached the hospital gate. Yang Na lingered, reluctant to leave. "I'll come back next week. Be good, okay?"
"You don't have to come," Li said. "I know you're busy. You only get half a day off each week, and you shouldn't waste it on me."
Yang Na stomped lightly on his slippered foot. "Don't compare me to yourself, slacker. I've never ranked below the top three. There's no such thing as study pressure for me."
Li clutched his chest dramatically. "Ah! That hurts, sis!"
Yang Na laughed, playfully punching him before bounding off toward the bus stop.
Watching her bus disappear into the distance, Li's smile faded. The memory of the mortar resurfaced, filling him with unease.
Back in his room, Li tossed and turned, unable to sleep. His mind raced with worries about his future with Yang Na.
"What if my condition worsens? What if I can't leave the hospital in time for the college entrance exams?" he thought. "What if I can't get into the same university as her?"
Despite the stigma of being labeled a "madman," Yang Na had confessed her feelings for him before his admission. He couldn't let her down.
Frustrated, Li sat up and poured himself into the study materials Yang Na had brought.
He kept studying late into the night, using the dense material to drown out his fears.
As he finished an English test, he stretched and rubbed his temples. "What time is it? Must be late," he muttered, heading for the bathroom.
But as he scratched his chest, he felt something odd.
Lifting his shirt, he saw a sticky, brownish-black lump on his skin.
The sight triggered a memory. Dipping a finger into the substance, he tasted it.
The bitter sweetness made his eyes widen in shock.
It was the candy given to him by the woman in his hallucination.
Somehow, something from his delusion had appeared in reality.