What would someone think before their death?
Lin Yie didn't get to experience that. He died too suddenly, such that he was not mentally prepared for ending his twenty years old life and leaving behind the family he spent twenty years with. He thought that was it for him, but he heard his mother and her sobbing.
He opens his eyes.
Summer's sun is always so blinding.
(Please blow up, you big ball of fire...)
The sounds of cicadas surrounding him.
His mother is standing next to him, wiping tears with one hand and holding his medical report with another. He wants to hold her hand intuitively, but he notices how he has to look up to see her because he only has half of her height.
"Mom. Mom." His voice is surprisingly delicate, "Why are you crying?"
She wipes her eyes and forces on a smile, "Nothing. The doctor said you are very healthy. Let's go back home."
Then, she holds his hand, and we go and pass through a quiet alley.
The kids are curious and hyperactive and Lin yie wasn't an exception.
Soon, Lin Yie finds a snow-white stray cat looking for food. He lets go of his mother's hand and runs to the cat. She calls his name, but he doesn't listen and if he does he just ignore it.
The stray cat notices Lin Yie and turns around to leave.
"Kitty. Kitty." He calls, hoping the cat would wait for him.
His mother catches up to him and grabs his hand. She is looking really upset, "Why are you running? Do you want to hurt yourself?"
"But there's a cat, mom." He points at the trash pile.
"Stray cats are everywhere," She says, "What do you want?"
"I want to keep it," he tells.
"No." She rejects that right away and pulls Lin Yie away.
"But I can take care of it." still he stubbornly wants it.
"Take care of yourself first." She says, "With your health, it's hard to say if you are going to take care of the cat, or the cat is going to take care of you."
"But I can take care of it..." Lin Yie stubbornly says.
Unfortunately, Lin Yie couldn't get past his mother, and he was dragged away, but he still turned around take a last look at the white cat.
The cat stares at him curiously, its blue eyes shine like pearls.
...
Lin Yie opens his eyes again.
This time, he is looking at a white ceiling and smelling the familiar disinfectant.
(Well, f***. I am back in the hospital.)
Then, he hears the familiar voice.
"As I expected."
He turns around and sees Shining sitting next to him. Her legs are crossed, and her black sword and staff are set aside. Her hood is taken off, showing off her white horns and elvish ears.
"What did you expect?"
"The time you woke up." She looks at the clock on the wall, "It's my expertise."
"... How long did I pass out?"
"Not long. Around 10 hours." Shining says, "More accurately speaking, you weren't unconscious. You were resting. I already treated your wounds last night, but you were mentally exhausted."
"Really? And Thank you."
"Hmm?"
"It was you who saved me, right?" Lin Yie says, "I owe you one."
"You don't have to thank me." Shining says, "I was there earlier than that."
"Hmm?" Lin Yie doesn't understand, "What do you mean?"
"We were waiting there." Shining repeats, "Even before you let the girl leave, we were watching you in the crowd."
Lin Yie blanks out for a few seconds before sitting up,
"So, let me get this right. You were just watching as I'm getting my ass kicked?"
"Relax." Shining confidently says, "With my skills, as long as you are not killed on the spot, I can save you."
"That's not my point here." Lin Yie is speechless, "So why? You didn't have to save me. "
"Two reasons."
"Hmm?"
"For the first, do you remember what I asked you before you left?"
Lin Yie thinks for a second, but he is not sure, "What I think about the Infected? If I'm not mistaken. "
She nods, "That's a very important question. You should know over half of Rhodes Island's employees are infected."
"Hmm..."
"You know what happens to the Infected in the end?" Shing looks into his eyes, "Not what oripathy does to the mind. The real ending. Do you know?"
Lin Yie thinks for a second, "They explode?"
"It seems that you know." Shining tilts her head, "That's why I was curious. You knew how dangerous the Infected are, but you still went to a place full of Infected."
Lin Yie scratches his head, "So they really do explode? I only heard about it, but I have never seen an Infected explode personally."
"That's because it can be controlled." Shining says, "Which is why Chernobog quarantines the Infected."
"Then everything is fine." He says, "Most of the Infecteds in the hospital are still new. Logically speaking, they shouldn't be anyone that could explode in there. So it was safe to go in. "
"That's true." Shining says, "But knowing that, not everyone would dare to go in. You did, and you did it for an Infected. I am very satisfied with your choice."
Lin Yie is getting excited and asks, "Do you mean I am approved for Rhodes Island?"
"No. I am not part of HR." Shining shakes her head.
"... Then why did you tell me this?"
"I only helped you apply, but it is not hard to get in. We are just a pharmaceutical company."
He looks at her sword and staff.
(Sure... And I'm a florist.)
"Oh right." Lin Yie remembers something, "You said there were two reasons. What was the other?"
"The other reason..." Shining's ears shake lightly, "I was hoping you could get my friend's approval."
"Your friend?"
"Hmm. There was some misunderstanding. She thought you were a con-artist." Shining says.
"Originally, your performance last night should have made her feel less dissatisfied. Everyone calls her a knight, and she acts like one, which was why I didn't save you but instead waited for her to do so. Other than her employer, she only helps those she acknowledges."
Lin Yie is reminded of those flame-like golden eyes, "And?"
Shining sighs, "It all went well, but... why did you grab her tail?"