Chapter 1: A Meteor Strikes the Head

Hehe, look at me, I can't even shake my head. By the way, how many days have I slept? Now I don't even dare to move my hands, fearing it will trigger the pain in my head. The anesthesia might have worn off, and even without moving, there is still a slight tearing sensation. My head feels like a giant cauldron, and even while lying down, I still feel as if I am bearing a weight of a thousand pounds. There is a numbness that pierces through with a tearing sensation, as if countless ants are gnawing at my marrow, twisting and turning in pain.

Beijing—farewell, my once cherished dream

I took a look. After receiving the tool handed to me by my assistant, I lifted Li Feng's eyelid and examined it, letting out a sigh of relief. "It's nothing, I was really worried. Young man, you nearly scared us to death, hahaha." The people around all breathed a sigh of relief, and laughter filled the small hospital room.

There is no way back, truly, there is no way back. Gazing out the window, at the moment he hung up the phone, Li Feng tried hard to be strong, enduring as he curled up like an infant, leaning against the door, weeping softly. Did he really make a mistake?

Xiao Man, I am Li Feng, please transfer me to Manager Liu

"Mom, how are you? Did you receive the money I sent a few days ago? Don't be stingy with spending it. Dad, tell him to drink less; it's not good for his health." Li Feng crushed the cigarette butt in his hand, gazing dreamily at the bright high-rise buildings in the distance, each window representing a possibility. When will he have a small room there, free from the need to wake up early to queue for the bathroom, and no longer having to endure stomach pains at midnight

Thank you, doctor, thank you everyone. Li Feng broke out in a cold sweat, realizing that he had not gone to a paradise, but rather to the gates of hell. However, it didn't seem that way. Li Feng touched a green bean-sized lump under the skin behind his ear, confirming that it was not a dream. At this moment, Li Feng dared not press anything carelessly.

Oh, your phone is out of battery. How about I lend you a phone? You can wait a moment while I get a book. The nurse glanced at Li Feng's belongings nearby; the phone had long been out of battery.

White, entirely white. Li Feng opened his eyes, as if a century had passed. He raised his head, feeling a sharp tearing pain, gasping for breath. Looking at the IV drip hanging in front of him, he couldn't help but smile bitterly. He had gone out to see a meteor shower, but unexpectedly ended up with a head injury. He wondered if at that moment he resembled a ripe watermelon bursting open, spraying crimson juice everywhere.

"Oh, you are awake. How are you?" The nurse, seeing Li Feng awake, walked in with a cheerful smile, holding a bottle of medicine, apparently to change the dressing.

"A few days?" Li Feng was taken aback, "Miss Nurse, could you help me find my phone?"

"Child, it is cold outside, dress warmly. As long as there is enough money to spend, that is good. Your parents are all hoping you will return soon." The woman's voice carried a hint of longing. In the quiet night of this bustling city, in the small room, it was so clear. Li Feng felt droplets of water streaming down his face. Truly, can he go back?

"Mom, how is your health? How is Dad?" Li Feng's phone vibrated with a notification. Looking at the number, a warm smile appeared on his face. He rubbed his somewhat stiff cheeks and turned on the incandescent light, which was a bit dazzling. The glowing filament burned with bright sparks, still as beautiful as ever, casting a faint halo. The room contained only a wooden bed, a wooden table, and some toiletries leaning against the wall. A notebook was casually placed on the bed, and one corner of the lazy bug's desk was somewhat damaged.

It seems that this is not available. The nurse also appeared somewhat puzzled, observing that Li Feng's reaction suggested he did not know much about that young lady, and even seemed unfamiliar with her.

It seems that no one has visited this place for a long time. Looking around, apart from the area where he stands, everything is hazy, as if shrouded in dust. Li Feng cautiously touched it; it felt somewhat like frozen skin, soft and slightly elastic. Seeing that there was no danger, Li Feng applied a bit of force, and it bounced back with a snap, indicating that this area could be traversed. Li Feng felt a sense of fear; where was he? He was not in the hospital. Finally, he touched his ear, and as Li Feng's vision darkened, he opened his eyes to see that he was surrounded by people.

Ah, the young lady who brought your deposit has covered twenty thousand for you. The nurse put away her phone, looking at the boy on the bed with a puzzled expression. His resolute cheeks still bore a hint of youthful innocence, and a faint smile suggested that everything that had just happened was as if it had never occurred.

As the train departed, he gazed at the distant city, gradually merging into the dark night. Li Feng felt an unusual calmness within; home was drawing near. His heart raced as he stepped off the train, the familiar sounds of his hometown resonating in his ears: "Mom and Dad, your son has returned"

Lying in the shadows deep within the small grove, I raise my eyes to the sky, the only place I truly possess. The sky is devoid of twinkling stars and a bright moon, appearing dry and grayish. Perhaps this is how summer in Beijing is meant to be.

Oh, thank you. Li Feng knew that he might never see his savior again; perhaps the person had already forgotten that night when they saved a poor soul.

The television in the adjacent room buzzed, broadcasting the rare meteor shower tonight. Li Feng looked up, then stepped out of his room; he was unwilling to stay in that small space for even a moment longer, except to sleep. Outside, it was still bright as day, with lights and pedestrians; the distant splendor seemed somewhat unreal, like an ethereal shadow, drifting aimlessly. Li Feng reached into his pocket and revealed a faint bitter smile; he had forgotten to bring cigarettes. When did he become unable to live without them? Who was stirring his soul in the darkness of the night? Outside, it was still bright as day, with lights and pedestrians; the distant splendor seemed somewhat unreal, like an ethereal shadow, drifting aimlessly. Li Feng reached into his pocket and revealed a faint bitter smile; he had forgotten to bring cigarettes. When did he become unable to live without them? Who was stirring his soul in the darkness of the night?

"Young man, just now you were on the brink of death, almost losing your heartbeat. The situation earlier frightened several young nurses; you were fine and awake, but suddenly you were sweating profusely and your face turned pale, as if you were experiencing another major hemorrhage. They hurriedly called the doctor. Looking at Li Feng's heart racing, the young doctor was in a panic, sweating profusely, instructing the nurses to summon the on-duty supervisor.

Has that young lady come over these days? Li Feng only remembers the last time he saw a blurred world, the ethereal and distant sounds, the indistinct face, and the faint figure growing further away.

With a heart full of grandeur, the young man slowly walks along the uneven path, where wounds pierced by thorns have bled profusely onto the ground. In Li Feng's eyes, memories of his childhood seem to emerge—lush green mountains and clear waters, the cheerful chirping of birds, and a joyful youth. He wonders if the distant ridges are already adorned with blooming flowers, and whether his mother's hair has turned gray with age. It has been nearly six years, and his heart feels weary.

As the evening glow descended and the neon lights illuminated this lonely and bustling city, Li Feng waved goodbye to his colleagues and strolled along the wide, chilling street.

Step by step, moving away from the neon lights and into the dimness, Li Feng opened the somewhat decayed wooden door, entered, laid down his coat, and lit a cigarette. The flame became the only light in this small space, flickering. The windowsill allowed the distant clamor to seep in; the neon lights remained, yet they grew ever more distant.

"Doctor, what is wrong with me?" Li Feng looked at the room full of doctors and nurses, feeling somewhat puzzled. He had only slept for a short while, so why was there such a commotion?

Meteor. In the distance, a girl's scream pierced the air. Li Feng looked on in terror as a white light flashed before him, time seemingly frozen in that moment. Abruptly bright, the last thing Li Feng saw was a streak of vivid red. A figure in the distance drew closer, engulfed by infinite darkness. The girl's cries faded into silence.

Having failed to understand the situation earlier, Li Feng felt it was better to observe the changes quietly, as his own life was of utmost importance. As for everything else, he would address it after being discharged from the hospital

Thank you. "Dialing the familiar number, "Hello, Hengke Real Estate, how may I assist you?"

Hello, Manager Liu, I am Li Feng, sorry, I... Before Li Feng could finish, a roar came from the other end, "Don't give me any excuses, you are still alive. Let me tell you, Li Feng, you have been fired from the company, your belongings have already been thrown away, don't come back." Bang, the last sound echoed in the white hospital room. Li Feng was stunned, smiled, perhaps feeling relieved. Looking at the astonished nurse beside him, he smiled slightly and handed the phone back. "Thank you, sister. By the way, what about the medical deposit?" The last sound echoed in the white hospital room. Li Feng was stunned, smiled, perhaps feeling relieved. Looking at the astonished nurse beside him, he smiled slightly and handed the phone back. "Thank you, sister. By the way, what about the medical deposit?"

Li Feng felt somewhat dazed, unable to believe what lay before him: a clear spring, three thatched cottages, and two acres of farmland, with a few green bamboos in front and behind the house. Li Feng rubbed his eyes and took a few steps forward, bending down to touch the corn stalks in the field. Upon contact, they turned to dust, oxidizing. Li Feng continued to touch the corn stalks before him, and in less than half an hour, apart from a solitary thatched cottage, there was no other existence besides the clear spring.

With a forceful press, there was a loud bang, and Li Feng's body trembled as if a long-dormant machine had suddenly started up, shaking violently. Li Feng's vision darkened, and a hollow, cold mechanical sound echoed in his ears: "Activating Life Assistant Space, Number 2012. Space docking successful, host confirmed, Galactic Blue Water Star, Time: Star River Calendar, Year 2012."

As the nurse stepped out to make rounds, the ward fell into silence once again. Li Feng raised his hand to touch his head, taking a few sharp breaths of cold air. Hmm, Li Feng touched the back of his ear and found a small, hard lump the size of a green bean. Li Feng was somewhat surprised; when had such a little thing appeared on his ear?

"Doctor Zhang, he has woken up," exclaimed the female doctor who was examining Li Feng, surprised.

Beijing, a vast city that leaves Li Feng unable to find its boundaries, why does he have no place to call his own? When he resolutely bid farewell to his beloved girlfriend and stepped onto this international metropolis, he was full of ambition, but gradually, reality wore away every bit of that edge. Once a campus celebrity, once adorned with all honors, he slowly found himself in a state of calm in reality, quietly staying alone in a ten-square-meter low-rise urban village.

Having possibly experienced life and death, Li Feng's mindset became much more optimistic, and he no longer dwelled on the company's decision to dismiss him. As his wounds healed and his body recovered, he spent each year basking in the sun and reading books, gradually transforming the restlessness and discontent in his heart into a gentle, flowing calm. The bravado was gone, and the unfulfilled ambitions seemed to matter less and less. Li Feng increasingly longed for his hometown, where there were mountains and rivers, lush green wheat fields, a blue sky, and endless mountain ranges in the distance. In search of a quiet and peaceful life, Li Feng felt weary. After being discharged from the hospital, he tidied up a bit, paid his rent, and informed the landlord that he would no longer be renting. The landlord said nothing and accepted the money, then took someone to view the apartment in the afternoon. Watching the young face following the landlord, innocent and full of hope, Li Feng was momentarily taken aback, reflecting on how similar he once was.

Ah, Li Ge, what has been going on with you these days? Manager Liu has been very angry. The girl, with a hint of concern, made Li Feng feel a slight warmth.

"Good, all is well. Xiao Bao, how are you? Don't overexert yourself!" The voice of his mother, filled with concern, was perhaps the last ray of warmth in this late autumn. Li Feng put on his coat, a faint smile appearing on his face as he looked up at the towering buildings. The promises and grand declarations of the past seemed so laughable.

"Hehe, you are quite lucky, having slept for more than ten days." The nurse said this while skillfully changing the IV fluid and taking notes, before turning back with a smile.