Chapter 1

But he is unable to do so

He closed his eyes, silently gathering strength. When his parents left, he pretended to be asleep, for he was afraid that he would be unable to hold back his tears and lose his last bit of courage

Thus, he could only frequently invite those friends from university and high school who shared his ideas to go out, have some drinks, vent their frustrations, and complain about the world.

But now all hope is lost

It was under such circumstances that he made the decision to report his superior

Countless young individuals like Wang Zhi have begun to quietly hide in the corners of the internet, criticizing the world and society

The end of the world? Ha, I wonder how many people will die on that day. However, after today, the world will have nothing to do with me.

Do you regret it

However, as the night passed, nothing happened

He was shouting loudly in his heart; at first, it was merely doubt, but soon he received confirmation from others.

At least, that girl is fine

So beautiful, he said to himself

But he simply cannot endure it

He said that after hearing these words, Wang Zhi's mother collapsed directly to the ground

Zhao Zheng said this, and it seemed he could see Zhao Zheng gritting his teeth and cursing at that girl. But shouldn't he be blamed as well? Wang Zhi clearly remembered that it was Zhao Zheng who first discovered the figures entangled in the alley, and he was also the first to rush forward. However, when those two people drew their knives, it was he who stopped in his tracks, watching helplessly as Wang Zhi charged forward alone.

He repeatedly told himself this, attempting to comfort himself in this manner, but the feeling of depression only grew stronger, making him wish to throw everything around him out.

He did not fail to consider, like others, pretending not to see it. After all, whether it is waste or embezzlement, the money spent is all public funds

Apart from one person, the world stubbornly continues to move along its trajectory in a certain direction

I am sorry

She is a slut

Without the testimony of the victim and without apprehending the perpetrator, it is impossible to prove that Wang Zhi was seriously injured due to acting in the interest of justice, relying solely on Zhao Zheng and several other equally intoxicated friends

It was precisely one month before the incident that Wang Zhi reported to the group company about the factory director and the secretary taking their wives and children on a trip under the guise of an inspection. When the group company sent personnel to investigate, Wang Zhi did not hesitate to come forward and testify against them for profiting significantly from the renovation of the administrative office building.

The elderly man in the adjacent bed was once again emitting that maddening breathing sound. Wang Zhi no longer hesitated and exerted all his strength to prop himself up. The excruciating pain caused his vision to darken, but he took a deep breath and resolutely crawled towards the edge of the bed.

He smiled and said that the nurse hesitated for a moment and left a crack in the window

She may have been afraid, or perhaps she was worried about something, but such reasons could not allow Wang Zhi to forgive her for her silent departure. When Wang Zhi was stabbed multiple times and fell into a pool of blood, she may have fled the scene out of fear, but now it has been a full ten days since then

Wang Zhi could not forget the expression of the police officer taking the statement, perhaps it was one of regret, perhaps of sympathy, but it could also have been mockery

Couples become strangers, believers abandon their faith, yet there are still those who make wishes upon shooting stars, and life goes on

Oh, today is the Leonid meteor shower, and many people are outside waiting to watch it. The young nurse carefully injected the medication into Wang Zhi's body and then adjusted his position. "Take good care of yourself, and in a few days, you will be able to go out and see it. The newspaper says it will last for several days," she comforted Wang Zhi.

However, he is often powerless

He asked himself once again, but he was unable to answer.

I am paralyzed I am paralyzed

Uncertain of how much time had passed, Wang Zhi finally positioned himself on the windowsill, his hospital gown clinging tightly to him as if soaked in water. He felt that all his strength had been exhausted, and the increasingly intense pain was nearly causing him to faint.

We are also at a loss; the police have said so, and the factory cannot just come up with the money. After all, this issue with Xiao Wang has not arisen overnight, and 12,000 yuan is not enough to resolve it. Moreover, if it were truly a case of fighting, according to the factory's regulations, it would warrant dismissal. Our factory leadership is indeed in a difficult position

He is only 24 years old, a graduate of a prestigious university, and a key technical backbone of the factory. Although he has faced exclusion from the party secretary and the factory director, he once believed that he could overcome all difficulties.

He can imagine his future, a patient who can only sit in a wheelchair for life, needing help from his parents for everything, suffering from incontinence, and forever living in the sympathy of others. Not to mention that the exorbitant medical expenses will completely ruin his family.

This reality caused him pain and anger, yet he remained powerless

July 31, haha, it is said to be the end of the world. The young nurse made a joke, tidied up his bed again, and then walked out carrying some items

Almost everyone in the factory knows about these matters, yet no one speaks of them. Only Wang Zhi, a reckless youth who does not consider the consequences, foolishly hopes that the people sent down from the group company will handle things fairly. When Wang Zhi saw the complaint he had written on the secretary's desk, he could hardly believe his eyes. The Secretary Chen from the Discipline Inspection Commission had clearly stated that he would protect whistleblowers and had solemnly guaranteed a thorough investigation.

The world is becoming increasingly complex, yet heroes are becoming fewer; bad deeds are on the rise, while happiness seems to drift further away, and desires continue to multiply

From that day on, Wang Zhi never had a good day again, which made him increasingly depressed.

This was the last sentence he spoke

Did I make a mistake

At that moment, he heard a gasp from behind him. Therefore, he exerted all his strength to lean forward

This is the day my life comes to an end, he said to himself

Faint cries came from the doorway, and Wang Zhi was unable to rise or turn his head, yet he knew it was his mother who was weeping

The Earth continues to rotate silently, and occasionally, meteors streak across the sky

No, he does not want that kind of life

However, they are often angry, yet they seldom step forward.

The ward is so quiet that it feels suffocating. The elderly man in the bed on the left is breathing slowly with the help of a ventilator. Occasionally, his lungs emit a strange noise that is indescribable, akin to the sound of the Grim Reaper's scythe scraping across iron, provoking an impulse to bang one's head against the wall

Wang Zhi asked himself this question. Tears seemed to well up, so he tightly closed his eyes

Society is gradually changing, and technology is slowly advancing

This day is July 31, 1999, when the Leonid meteor shower re-entered the atmosphere for the second time

Upon entering the workforce and engaging with society, this obsession has intensified. He had never imagined that the real world could be so unfair.

It was precisely in this state that he clearly saw the knives in the hands of the two assailants, yet he still charged forward

I am very sorry, but without new witnesses, we can only handle this as a case of fighting.

The great prophet Nostradamus predicted the end of the world

Ten days have passed, and he still has no sensation below the waist. Any slight movement triggers excruciating pain that radiates from his chest to the top of his head, draining all his strength, leaving him only able to breathe slowly with the assistance of a ventilator

Wang Zhi was unable to rise and could only listen as those around her hurriedly helped her up. Her father repeatedly called out her mother's name, yet Wang Zhi distinctly felt the confusion and despair deep within his heart

He opened his eyes only when the nurse came to close the window after the shift change

His father is a middle school teacher, and the education he received from a young age instilled in him a certain obsession with worldly matters. It cannot be said that he has an excessive sense of justice, but he certainly cannot tolerate any injustice. During his school years, he often found himself in disputes with classmates and teachers due to differing viewpoints. If he was unable to persuade the other party, he would often feel uncomfortable for many days afterward

He strives to present a strong facade in front of his parents, but deep within his heart, he has already made a decision

What is the date today? he asked finally

The sound of his mother's weeping still faintly reached him, confirming his thoughts. Although no one had told him, he could tell from the expressions on others' faces that his injury must be quite severe

But you just called an hour ago? Although it was said in the *picture* book, that nurse quickly brought the IV fluid. She is quite young and very easy to talk to, which is also the reason why Wang Zhi chose her

He would rather become a memory, a topic for casual conversation over tea and meals, where he can always be remembered as the clever, capable, and highly principled Wang Zhi, rather than a pitiful creature

Because he always believes that evil cannot triumph over good, and that justice and righteousness will ultimately prevail over all.

"Why is it so lively outside?" Wang Zhi engaged in conversation, speaking intermittently. In the final moments of his life, he hoped to say a few more words

In the deep blue sky, countless shining stars fall down, trailing long tails as they streak across the horizon

"Could you give me some Dilaudid? I am feeling particularly painful today and cannot sleep," he further requested. He had made similar requests in the past few days, and most of the time, they had been met.

Wang Zhi recalled the factory director's sarcastic voice. He did not come in that day, but pretended to comfort Wang Zhi's parents at the door. Wang Zhi's parents were honest people and did not detect the glee in his words, continuing to plead earnestly. Although he could not see it with his own eyes, it was not difficult for Wang Zhi to imagine his ugly face.

Can we open the window a little? It is a bit stuffy today

That reporter is a good person, but he is already powerless. The television station has broadcast it twice, hoping that she would have a change of heart and come forward to testify, but she has not shown up, which has left Wang Zhi in a desperate situation

Thank you," Wang expressed his heartfelt gratitude, stating that without this injection, he would not have been confident in completing the process of climbing out of the window

On this night, countless couples snuggle together, exchanging vows of eternal love; at the same time, countless believers gather, praying and awaiting the arrival of Judgment Day