The next day.
Early morning, the sky was just beginning to brighten.
At Dong Xuebin's home, in the Master Bedroom.
Dong Xuebin woke up to the sound of a phone call. Ring, ring, ring. Ring, ring, ring. He reached in the direction of the ringing, laboriously felt around for his phone with one hand, and tugged at his wounds, making them ache. That cleared some of his drowsiness, and he answered with a yawn.
It was Yao Cui calling.
"Hello?"
"You're not up yet, are you?"
"Mm, I was asleep."
"I brought you some breakfast. I'm heading over now."
"Don't come all this way. I'll be fine on my own."
"My parents asked me to bring it to you. Besides, can't I visit an old classmate?"
"Then... all right. Now that you mention it, I really am hungry. Heh, I'll wait for you?"
"Mm, I'm leaving now. I'll probably be there in about twenty minutes. See you soon, Xuebin."
"Mm, no rush. I'll get up too. Be careful on the way."
After hanging up, Dong Xuebin checked the time on his phone. It was nearly eight. He tossed the phone aside, blinked at the ceiling to wake himself up, then suddenly froze. Only then did he remember something. He shot upright in bed, but with injuries this severe, that sudden movement nearly killed him. He grimaced in agony, his waist feeling as though it had nearly snapped. But he had no time to care about the pain. He hurriedly supported himself as he painfully climbed out of bed and into his wheelchair, inching his way to the door. When Dong Xuebin put his hand on the doorknob, it was trembling. Only after gritting his teeth did he turn it.
The door opened.
The living room was filled with the gentle