Jing Lei probably didn't realize I had recovered my memory, only indulging in the happiness of my returned affection. My hand reached for hers again, this time with a larger movement that startled her.
"Hua Zi, what's wrong? Are you hungry or thirsty?" she asked.
I slightly opened my eyes. The room was dim, likely to prevent bright light from hurting them.
She turned on a bedside lamp by the head of the bed, illuminating the room. I could then see her clearly.
My lips moved, and in a very soft voice, I said, "Jing Lei, I love you too!"
Jing Lei seemed to disbelieve her eyes, staring at me wide-eyed. I said it again, "I love you!"
She burst into tears and threw herself onto me, sobbing uncontrollably!
The fear, despair, and pain of the past few days erupted all at once, allowing emotions to run wild!
Although I couldn't move, I could feel her emotions. Tears also streamed down my face. I knew how much pain I had caused her and Lan Ya during my unconsciousness. How had they endured watching over someone facing a potential death sentence?
After crying for a long time, she sat up, wiped her tears, and picked up her phone to call Lan Ya. With a choked voice, she said, "Hua Zi is awake, completely awake!"
I could hear Lan Ya's joyful reply, "That's great, I'm coming right over!"
Indeed, so many things were waiting for me to handle. If I didn't wake up, I didn't know how all these matters would be resolved.
Jing Lei put down the phone and ran to fetch hot water. She wet a towel and carefully wiped my forehead, face, ears, and neck. She wiped gently, bit by bit. I hadn't woken up for days, and she had no idea how many times she had cleaned me. I felt fortunate to have such a caring person looking after me.
She and Lan Ya had so much to deal with every day. I couldn't imagine how they had managed through these five or six days.
Just then, I heard hurried footsteps. Lan Ya rushed into the room and quickly approached me, looking down at me. "Hua Zi, you've fully recovered, right?"
I blinked my eyes. Yes, Lan Ya was truly before me. I was no longer as confused as when she had left me before; I had truly returned to my former self.
It was just that my movements were still not under my command, and I needed continued rest.
Jing Lei called the on-duty doctor. The doctor checked my eyelids and tested my reflexes. After a while, he said, "It's truly a miracle. The scan results from this morning clearly showed pressure from bruising, and it's absorbed so quickly. However, he still needs rest for now to prevent any uncertain factors that might worsen his condition."
The two nodded. My consciousness recovery was the most important thing; everything else was just a matter of time.
Lan Ya went to change the basin of water and helped me wipe my hands.
After finishing, they gave me some water and told me it was late, so I should get some good sleep, and perhaps I would be better by tomorrow.
My lips moved, and still in a soft voice, I said, "I'm fine, you two should find a place to rest too."
Lan Ya said, "We'll stay by your side, one on each side. This way, we can still get some sleep. If we slept separately, we might not be able to sleep at all."
I believed her. If it were me, I would do the same.
I had no choice but to let them have their way. They each held one of my hands, resting their faces against my body, accompanying me as I drifted to sleep.
What greater happiness is there in life?
I had no dreams, or perhaps I was already in a dream.
It was just that this dream was a bit long, so long it made one anxious. Brother Bao and Da Kui arrived at my ward early the next morning. He walked up to me and said, "Brother, I know you're a strong one. As long as you have breath, nothing is impossible. When you're up, we'll go and show them, let them know we're not sheep to be slaughtered."
Tears welled up in my eyes. He wiped them away with his thick hand. I tried to lift my hand and said with difficulty, "Brother Bao, let's get things done first. He's right there, he won't run away. Don't let this worm delay our important business."
Brother Bao: "Brother, I'll listen to you. Rest well. Leave the matters outside to me, your elder brother!"
I squeezed his hand with all my might, letting him know that although I was lying here, my spirit was not defeated.
Brother Bao gave a few instructions to Lan Ya and the others and left with Da Kui. Before leaving, Da Kui came over and squeezed my hand firmly without saying a word, then followed Brother Bao out.
Suddenly, I realized I hadn't heard my parents' voices and asked Jing Lei why my mother wasn't here. Jing Lei whispered in my ear that my condition at the time was terrifying, almost like I was dead. She hadn't dared to tell them the truth for fear of scaring them, saying instead that I had gone to deal with matters in Myanmar and hadn't returned.
I didn't say anything further. Since growing up, I had never made them worry less. Just a while ago, my father was kidnapped by Prince. I knew Jing Lei meant well by not letting my parents worry.
But, if I had died like this, how regretful they would have been, not even getting to see me one last time.
However, all that is in the past. I didn't report to the King of Hell. Perhaps he wasn't expecting me, and I still had many missions to complete. Even if I had gone, I would have been sent back.
Death is not frightening; there isn't even an opportunity to be afraid. By the time one knows fear, life has already returned to the body.
Jing Lei told Lan Ya to go back and rest. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief at my improved condition. They couldn't all stay here; they needed to maintain their strength to deal with more matters.
Brother Bao had just mentioned that Gong Kang had been very active these past few days. He had temporarily closed his timber business and spread word that he would be hosting a rough stone trading fair at his estate on the same day as our opening. Clearly, he was opposing us.
There were still six days until the opening. If we couldn't attract customers from outside the region, relying only on local players and tourists in Ruili, with Gong Kang taking some of them away, even with ample supply, few would patronize us.
Everyone knew that Gong Kang had been deeply involved in Myanmar for decades, possessing countless hidden treasures. If he was opposing us, he had already gained an advantage in the quality of the rough stones.
Our preparations were insufficient, and we had no private reserves. Tens of tons of raw materials would only be enough for a show; the big players wouldn't even glance at them.
I felt a sense of urgency. Although Jing Lei's father had agreed to bring out his private collection, it was still too weak for a market. I needed to find a way to get more high-quality stones to make a statement, to live up to the name of a rough stone emporium.
Gambling, it had to be gambling again.
I thought of the Ong Ki brothers. They had stock. I wondered if I could gamble out a few exceptionally rare pieces!
Even a small piece of Imperial Green could attract important guests.