A blinding white light slipped through the gaps in his eyelids. Yi Hai, lying flat on the hospital bed, twitched his brow.
As consciousness gradually returned, a searing pain suddenly surged up his throat. He reflexively turned onto his side and began dry-heaving.
"Blergh! Cough, cough—"
After vomiting up a stomachful of sour fluid, he was quickly pressed back down by two people in white coats.
Thinking he had been captured by the Velanders, he instinctively tried to struggle. But after hearing the conversation beside him, he stopped moving.
"Doctor! How is he?!"
"Cryosleep aftereffects... Cryosleep lasting over half a year requires a long-term hibernation injection. Using a short-term one causes this kind of reaction. Luckily, you found him in time. Another two months, and he really might have turned into an ice block."
"Brother."
Hearing that familiar voice, Yi Hai's consciousness finally returned to his body. He moved his stiff neck and looked toward the young man standing beside him.
"...Yi Chuan?"
"It's me!" Looking at the man on the hospital bed who was barely clinging to life, Yi Chuan's calm expression finally broke as he choked up.
He sniffed hard and forced out a smile meant to keep anyone from worrying.
"We came to take you home!"
Yi Hai's Adam's apple bobbed, and a look of relieved release finally spread across his haggard face.
"You came..."
"We will not abandon a single resident stranded outside. No matter the cost, we will bring them home."
A solemn voice arrived together with the sound of heels striking the ground.
Walking to the bedside, Wu Changnian patted Yi Chuan on the shoulder and continued in a gentle tone.
"Your family member is out of danger. For the sake of those who have not yet been rescued, there are some things I