BANG!
"I told you a thousand times!"
"You never listen!"
"Oh,so now it's my fault?!
"Damn it is!"
Crash! A plate shattered
----
"Ugh....."
Jin woke up to the sound of his parents arguing again. Their voices echoed from the living room, breaking the early morning silence. He lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, listening. It was always the same—his mother's sharp words, his father's tired retorts. Their unending banters.
If it was some years ago,he would be weeping and begging them to stop,
but now? , He felt....tired
and he had stopped caring .let them shout all they want.
With a sigh, he pushed off the bed and got dressed for school. The shouting didn't stop. Plates clattered, a chair scraped against the floor. He didn't bother checking what the fight was about this time. It never mattered.
When he stepped out of his room, the smell of freshly cooked rice and miso soup filled the air. Breakfast sat untouched on the table, but neither of his parents even glanced at it. His mother stood with her arms crossed, his father rubbing his temples in frustration. Jin walked past them without a word.
Slipping on his shoes, he grabbed his bag and stepped outside the noisy house.
The crisp morning air brushed against his face as he raised a hand to hail a taxi. One pulled up almost immediately, and he slid into the backseat.
"Shenghua College," he muttered.
The driver nodded and pulled into traffic. Jin plugged in his earbuds, letting music drown out the world. His fingers scrolled through his phone, aimlessly checking messages he had no intention of replying to. The streets blurred past the window, the steady hum of the car almost lulling him into a daze.
Then—
A loud screech.
His body lurched forward as the taxi swerved violently. A blinding flash. The sharp blare of a horn.
And then—everything went black.
------
A dull ache throbbed in Jin's head as his eyes fluttered open.
'Blink'
'Blink'
His vision was hazy at first, the ceiling above him swimming in and out of focus.He blinked a few times, adjusting to the dim, golden light filtering through embroidered curtains.
It took him a few seconds to realize something was… off.
This wasn't a hospital!.
Slowly, he sat up, his body feeling oddly light. The room around him was vast and elegant, unlike anything he had ever seen. Dark wooden beams lined the ceiling, engraved with intricate carvings of dragons and celestial patterns. The furniture was made of polished mahogany, each piece adorned with delicate gold inlays. A silk tapestry hung on the far wall, depicting a scene of mountains floating above the clouds. The scent of sandalwood lingered in the air, calming yet unfamiliar.
Jin swallowed, his heartbeat steady but uncertain. Where am I?
His gaze landed on a set of tall doors leading to a balcony. Something pulled him toward them—curiosity, unease, or maybe the lingering fear that this was all some strange dream.
He pushed open the doors.
The cool air brushed against his skin as he stepped outside. Then, he froze.
A sprawling manor stretched before him, vast and endless. Rows of traditional buildings stood in perfect harmony, their curved rooftops adorned with jade tiles and golden ridges. Crimson pillars supported high archways, each decorated with intricate calligraphy and glowing talismans that pulsed faintly with energy. Cobblestone paths wound between serene courtyards, where cherry blossoms drifted lazily in the breeze.
To his right, a towering pagoda loomed over the estate, its peak lost in the mist. The soft hum of running water reached his ears—stone bridges arched over koi-filled ponds, their surfaces reflecting the sky like mirrors.
In the distance, he spotted figures moving gracefully across a training field, their robes billowing as they practiced swift, precise movements.
Beyond the manor's walls, far in the distance, a city sprawled across the horizon. It was unlike anything he had ever seen.
Towering pagodas and grand pavilions stretched toward the heavens, their rooftops glimmering under the morning sun.
Bridges of white stone connected different districts, and markets bustled with life. Even from here, he could see glowing lanterns floating through the air, carried by unseen forces.
Jin gripped the balcony railing, his breath unsteady.
This isn't Earth…
His fingers trembled.
Where the hell am I?