No matter where you went, it seemed the ceilings of every hospital room were exactly the same, without exception.
As though all suspended ceilings were made by the same company, with no variation or aesthetic value whatsoever—uniform and tediously frustrating.
The air carried the scent of disinfectant, while the lingering sour bitterness of medicine filled his mouth.
The IV needle still remained in his wrist, the machine in the corner beeped away, and every inch of his body hurt like hell. He could not move at all.
More importantly, the afternoon sunlight was beating straight onto his face, dazzling and scorching.
It was too bright!
Nurse? Where was the nurse?! Could someone close the curtains?
Unfortunately, there was no nurse.
No gentle, kind Big Sister offering meticulous care, either.
There was only a familiar figure on the chair beside the bed, with a familiar thermos and Devil-Crafted Ball at hand, calmly bowing his head over a newspaper.
"Teacher?" Ji Jue stared in astonishment.
"Mm?"
Ye Xian looked back at him and merely nodded knowingly. "Awake?"
"Yeah." Ji Jue's voice was hoarse. "Is there any water? I'm so thirsty."
"On the table. Pour it yourself. If you can't, press the bell."
There was not the slightest warmth in her words. Her usual indifference actually made Ji Jue sigh in relief. If Professor Ye had suddenly started speaking gently and taking careful care of him, he would have thought he had fallen under some kind of illusion.
Yet even the slightest movement of his fingers sent piercing pain through him.
Not just his body, but his soul as well.
He held the cup of water with trembling hands and spilled half of it.
He could not even get it into his mouth!
"Matrix overload. Normal. Rest for a while, and you'll be