HorizonyiFin Finds Himself

Preface:

The most precious thing in life is pursuing what's real and being happy with who you are.

—David Tao

[Part 1 · Understanding Everything]

"Time to get up!"

Chen Pingping shook her husband awake—

—Bai Zhenzhen had dark circles under his eyes, as if he'd stayed up playing on his phone last night and gotten barely five hours of sleep.

"Can't I sleep a little longer?"

Chen Pingping was fuming. "Hey! We agreed! We were supposed to go explore the national park yesterday!"

"I want to take a vacation in the hotel. Is that so bad?" Bai Zhenzhen pleaded. "It's so hot outside!~"

The tropical storm didn't seem to be letting up. Far in the distance, dust devils swirled over the barren grassland.

"Does it matter where you sleep? Honey!" Chen Pingping let out a piercing shriek. "Should we book a flight and go sleep back home instead?~"

"Ow!" Bai Zhenzhen climbed out of bed with a pitiful look, his steps unsteady and his limbs weak.

He went through his usual morning routine and brushed his teeth. Seeing his zombie-like complexion in the mirror, he suddenly felt that once a person passed twenty-five or twenty-six, their body started going downhill.

When he was little, around thirteen or fourteen, he could run around a soccer field for four or five hours, driving his uncles crazy like some kind of energy monster as he chased a little ball around without ever getting tired.

"Hello! Room service!" A familiar voice came from the door.

Bai Zhenzhen was startled and hurried over to peek—

—Chen Pingping had already opened the door. She immediately called out, "Mom!~"

9527 pushed a cleaning cart, back in the room attendant uniform she'd worn when she was young. Her eyes were still sharp beneath her sagging eye bags