A dull, heavy sensation pressed against Li Xiyan's body as she drifted into consciousness.
Her limbs felt leaden, weighed down by exhaustion and something deeper—pain.
A sharp, throbbing ache pulsed from her back, radiating outward with every shallow breath she took.
Her throat was dry, her head foggy, and for a moment, she couldn't remember where she was.
Her eyelids fluttered weakly, and as they finally lifted, the dim light filtering through the room stung her vision.
She inhaled softly, the sterile scent of antiseptic filling her nose, mingling with the faint traces of something… unfamiliar.
She wasn't in a hospital.
This room was quieter, warmer. The air held a faint trace of sandalwood.
Her mind struggled to catch up, memories slipping like water through her fingers.
Then, flashes of that night hit her—blood, pain, the numbing cold that had crept into her bones.
She was alive.
Across the room, Shen Rui sat at her small study table, her head buried in a book as usual. But the moment Li Xiyan stirred, the young girl's sharp eyes caught it immediately.
Shen Rui's gaze snapped to the bed, her book forgotten as she straightened up. She turned toward the nurse standing by the door, her voice quick and urgent.
"She's awake."
The nurse, a middle-aged woman with a composed demeanor, immediately stepped forward, her expression shifting into one of professional concern.
However, as Shen Rui rushed toward the bed, the nurse extended a hand, stopping her.
"Young Miss, you must not get too close to the patient," she reminded gently but firmly.
Shen Rui, who had already half-lunged toward Li Xiyan, frowned but didn't argue.
Her excitement remained evident in the way she fidgeted, her fingers curling into her sleeves.
She turned toward the nurse.
"Go inform my father," she instructed, her voice laced with authority despite her youthful tone. "And call the doctor."
The nurse nodded swiftly. "I will inform Master Shen and have the doctor come immediately. But, Young Miss, you still need to maintain distance."
Shen Rui pursed her lips but eventually gave a small nod.
As the nurse hurried out of the room, Shen Rui turned back to the bed, standing at the side, her wide, eager eyes fixed on Li Xiyan.
She watched intently as the woman on the bed continued to stir, her breaths uneven as she fully surfaced from unconsciousness.
When Li Xiyan's eyes turned toward her, the little girl froze, her heart skipping a beat.
She hadn't expected such a direct look—it made her feel small, exposed.
Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked away, voice barely a whisper. "T-The Doctor is coming…"
Li Xiyan, still trying to adjust to her blurry surroundings, was equally stunned.
What is she doing here?
Her head still spun from the disorientation, the last thing she remembered was being trapped in a dimly lit, cold room—alone, abandoned, and helpless.
How did she end up in a place like this?
As she tried to process what was happening, her body screamed at her to remain still.
Her limbs felt heavy and unfamiliar, as if they had lost all strength.
Her chest tightened in confusion, and she struggled to make sense of the soft surroundings.
Where am I?
Before she could gather her thoughts further, the sound of the door opening broke her concentration.
Two medical professionals entered the room.
Despite the confusion, she didn't speak, allowing the doctor and nurse to do their jobs.
Her eyes darted around the room, silently taking in the unfamiliar environment.
It looked nothing like the dingy, locked room she'd been trapped in for who knew how long.
The doctor noticed her unease and reassured her. "You've been in a critical condition. We'll explain everything once you're more stable."
Li Xiyan nodded slightly but didn't respond.
She didn't trust her voice just yet.
The doctor moved toward Li Xiyan's bed while the nurse was preparing a syringe to administer another dose of painkillers.
The nurse moved with a practiced precision, pausing only to ask Li Xiyan, "How are you feeling, Miss Li? Any discomfort?"
Li Xiyan opened her mouth to respond but found that her throat was dry.
She could only nod slightly, still too dazed to offer much of an answer.
Shen Rui, though still nervous, watched quietly, her heart racing.
She shifted slightly but stayed rooted to her spot, unable to take her eyes off of the person who had been lying there, seemingly so far from her world just a few days ago.
After a few moments, when the doctor had finished his routine check, he turned his gaze toward the young girl.
Shen Rui shifted uncomfortably, not wanting to speak, but the words bubbled out of her before she could stop them.
"Doctor... is she finally okay?"
The doctor smiled gently at her, nodding reassuringly. "She's still fragile, but she's made it through the worst. It will take time for her to fully recover, but her body is healing well. The surgery and care she received have stabilized her."
Shen Rui let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, her shoulders relaxing slightly. Her gaze darted back to Li Xiyan, who was still lying motionless in the bed.
Just then, the door opened, and the air in the room seemed to shift.
it was Shen Yuze.
The man entered with a purposeful stride, his presence filling the room immediately.
His gaze swept over the room before landing on Li Xiyan.
Li Xiyan's heart stuttered in her chest at the sight of him, her throat tightening.
She hadn't expected him to be here, to see him after everything.
Shen Yuze's eyes lingered on her for a moment, assessing her with an intensity that made her feel vulnerable in ways she hadn't anticipated.
Then, without a word, he turned toward the doctor and nurse.
"Report," he ordered, his voice low but firm.
The doctor nodded, stepping forward and giving him the rundown of Li Xiyan's condition.
Throughout the exchange, Li Xiyan remained silent.
When the doctor finished, Shen Yuze turned back to her, and his eyes softened ever so slightly, "You're awake."
Their eyes locked, and for the first time since regaining consciousness, Li Xiyan spoke.
"I... I want t—to leave."