Chapter Eight: I Was, After All, Familiar with Mobius's Schedule

With that, the hydraulic rods inside the rear legs supporting the weight began pressurizing and locking into place. The load shifted backward in sync, while he braced himself with both hands out front, holding them level like a jack.

"What are you talking about!? You can't withstand that kind of force—you'll die!"

"914 is my project! How could I let him kill anyone!?"

The train was closing in. Even without powered traction, it was still traveling at least 50 km/h—he had to give it an opposing force!

"HK Particles, full coverage—stop right there!!"

"Bang!!"

······

"When you're prepared, the god of death won't come for you... Xu Qi."

The words spoken in his dream had never been so clear.

Yet Xu Qi's own consciousness had already become extremely muddled. He wanted to sink into it, but someone seemed determined to drag him out of the depths of his consciousness.

"Hemostat."

"Establish a second venous access."

"Xu Qi, hang in there. I won't let you sleep through this..."

A doctor...

Was I—brought to the operating table?

What did I do? Why was I brought to the operating table?

"Doctor Su! The patient's heartbeat has returned!"

"And it's still speeding up! Is this... a miracle?"

"I'm afraid it isn't a miracle—it's this guy's will to survive. It's far too strong."

Outside the operating room.

Professor Mobius stood with her arms crossed. Beside her was a woman wearing a magician's hat and a black evening gown, as if she had just stepped down from a stage. She paced back and forth.

"Tsk! I'm saying... could you stop for a moment?"

Professor Mobius looked displeased.

"You've been pacing back and forth this whole time. Aren't you tired of it, Vil-V?"

"Huh!?" Vil-V rushed up to Professor Mobius. "Are you talking about me? If you're so capable, then stop tapping your fingers over there!"

"Enough. Be quiet."

Kevin's words did indeed quiet the corridor, but the atmosphere... only grew heavier.

"Where's Elysia?"

"She went to look after Mei." Yae leaned against the wall nearby. "The girl had just arrived and couldn't take the shock, so she fainted—she really does love Xu Qi."

"Having blessings but no life to enjoy them is still useless."

Kalpas rested both hands on the back of a chair. His words were harsh, but anyone could feel the fury he was holding in his chest.

Kosma frowned and was about to say something, but Aponia stopped him.

"Kalpas only means that Xu Qi doesn't cherish himself enough."

"But his choice saved the lives of everyone on the train." Even now, Kevin still wore that icy expression. "No one died. That is undoubtedly a miracle."

It truly was a miracle. It was just that the price was equally difficult to bear.

Kevin's phone suddenly rang—it was Eden.

"How is Xu Qi?"

Eden's anxious voice came through the phone. Even Eden couldn't maintain her usual unhurried tone at a time like this.

"Su is doing everything he can to save him."

"I see... Is everyone there?"

"I had Fu Hua and Pardofelis take Griseo back first. The Golden Courtyard can't be left empty."

"I understand. Notify me immediately if there's any news."

"Mm... It's still the middle of the night where you are, right?"

"Yes... If Elysia hadn't told me, I'd probably still be asleep... That's all for now. I believe he'll pull through."

"Mm. I do too."

As he spoke, Kevin hung up.

Professor Mobius suddenly said, "Actually, there's no need to worry too much anymore."

Everyone's eyes turned toward the professor.

"That kid tested my medicine for half a year. Mm... I have to admit, most of my experimental drugs weren't particularly successful."

Kosma narrowed his eyes—she really had the nerve to bring that up?

"But the medicine's effects definitely remained in his body. They may simply have accumulated over time without showing themselves. I think... Su should have noticed something already."

Vil-V raised an eyebrow. She could more or less understand what Professor Mobius meant.

Yae asked directly, "Noticed what?"

"That this little fellow's body is... somewhat absurd."

······

Six hours later, when Su stitched the final stitch into Xu Qi's wounds, he still couldn't believe that so much time had passed.

Now, looking at Xu Qi lying perfectly intact before him, Su let out a long sigh of relief.

"Everything you saw in the operating room today must be kept strictly confidential. Understood?"

"Understood, Doctor Su."

Besides... even if they didn't keep it confidential, no one would believe them if they told anyone...

The young nurse looked at Xu Qi lying on the operating table as if he were a monster.

This guy's vitality was a little too vigorous, wasn't it...

The instant the red light turned green, everyone waiting outside the operating room stood up.

When Su and Xu Qi came out together, everyone couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

It was as if a huge stone had fallen from their hearts, landing heavily...

"The operation was a success. I think... with Xu Qi's recovery ability, he should be able to leave the hospital in about a month."

Chapter Eight: I Was, After All, Familiar with Mobius's Schedule

Xu Qi's consciousness gradually cleared. When he opened his eyes, what he saw was not a white ceiling—but pitch-black darkness.

Where am I...?

Sensation began returning to Xu Qi's brain from every part of his body. Aside from a faint numb swelling, there was also a little pain.

The soft sensation against his body was undoubtedly bedding. So, it seemed—I was rescued?

Right—in the operating room, I was rescued.

Xu Qi recalled the words he had heard while his consciousness was hazy.

They had been very vague, but they had definitely existed.

That meant it must already be nighttime.

Xu Qi tried to move his body—it was difficult.

He tried turning his head—it worked.

It seemed his spine and cranial nerves were fine. Then, how... had I been sent to the operating room?

The memories from before he lost consciousness surged before his eyes like a tide.

He... had tried to use the power of the Exoskeleton Armor to act as a brake for the subway train.

Had he succeeded?

He didn't know.

Xu Qi only knew that when the train hit him, even though he had made every possible preparation, the impact had been horrifyingly powerful.

It had truly felt like being hit and sent flying by a truck.

Even though the Exoskeleton Armor's force-dispersal mechanism was powerful enough, that didn't mean Xu Qi could actually operate it that way.

But he had survived.

He had gained another story to brag about later...

Xu Qi thought self-deprecatingly—it was as if he had completely lost his mind. He had actually tried to stop a colossal object of that scale. Wasn't that ridiculous?

If it happened again, I definitely wouldn't...

I'd still do it, wouldn't I...

Xu Qi suppressed the thought in his heart and turned his head, trying to observe his surroundings.

That faint snoring was so close that it aroused his curiosity—who could it be?

If it was a woman, I'd definitely win her over and make her my girlfriend.

Moonlight streamed through the window, falling across half of the girl's body. In the hazy scene, Xu Qi briefly thought that the person lying at his bedside was a celestial maiden who had descended to the mortal world.

Mei...

At that moment, Xu Qi might not even have realized how gentle his gaze had become.

Perhaps he really should seriously consider accepting the girl's feelings.

Perhaps she had sensed something, or perhaps sleeping in that position at the bedside simply made it impossible to sleep deeply. When Mei drowsily raised her head, her eyes met Xu Qi's open ones.

Their eyes met. Mei could not possibly have failed to sense the gentleness in Xu Qi's gaze—he likes me...

When those feelings were confirmed, Mei wasn't particularly shy. Everything was simply too natural.

Of course Xu Qi likes me, just as I like him...

They had met online three years ago and encountered each other in real life two years ago.

Mei was beautiful, but she had never accepted a confession from any boy. Xu Qi was outstanding, but he had never taken the initiative to pursue any girl.

They had both been waiting... waiting for the relationship that should have borne fruit long ago.

It was Xu Qi—he was just too awkward!

He had even said they should at least wait until he matured... Did he really think I was a child?

"You're awake?"

"What date is it?"

His voice was extremely weak, completely different from usual. A trace of heartache flashed through Mei's eyes.

She rose lightly, pulled the covers over Xu Qi, and smoothed his slightly disheveled hair before saying softly, "June 8th. You've been asleep for more than a day."

Calling it sleep was more accurately calling it a coma.

But now that he had awakened, even though it was nighttime, he didn't feel sleepy at all.

The clock on the wall showed that it was already a little past one in the morning.

"Then that really was... quite a long time."

"Next time... please don't do something like that again, okay?"

Mei held Xu Qi's hands and lowered her head, perhaps because she didn't want him to see her reddened eyes. But how could she conceal the sob in her voice?