After far too long in a hazy stupor and sleep, the long dream seemed to have finally reached its end.
Tong Shan's eyelids fluttered as he opened his eyes.
Outside the window, afternoon sunlight shone as voices bustled through the outpost.
"Whoa, the plant's awake?"
A scarred face wrapped in bandages poked in. It was Ji Liu, grinning and waggling his brows. "Actually, you've been unconscious for twenty years. It's twenty years later now, right, Little Snow?"
"Yeah, yeah, that's right!"
Ji Xue nodded wildly from her wheelchair, beaming. "The doctor said some parts were damaged too badly to save, so they cut them off... Brother Shan, you're already a pretty girl now!"
Tong Shan's lips moved with difficulty, his voice faint as a thread. "You..."
"Hm?"
Ji Liu froze, waved for Ji Xue to fetch a doctor, then leaned closer. "What's wrong? Where does it hurt?"
Tong Shan's voice was barely audible. "You... are sitting on my oxygen... tube..."
Ji Liu looked down in horror, only to find nothing beneath his butt.
When he turned back to Tong Shan, he saw the sly smile at the corner of his mouth.
Unable to hold it in any longer, he burst out laughing.
"Welcome back, Brother Shan!"
He bent down and hugged him tightly.
The commotion went on for a little while. After his colleagues finished visiting and the doctors completed their examination, he finally relaxed and heard a crisp knock at the door.
"Excuse me, I was in a meeting room just now, so I came a little late."
She waved the flowers she had just snatched from the meeting room, casually tossed them into a vase, and sat down. "I didn't expect you to wake up after only two days. How are you feeling?"
"A little... weak."
"Your Matrix