I AM

Chapter 28

Yezun caught Zhao Yunlan before he fell, and as he looked at the unconscious form in his arms, he threw the arrow from him, closing his eyes. When he opened them again, the poisonous look was gone.

"Just for you, Zhao Yunlan," he whispered as he bent down and returned Zhao Yunlan's kiss.

There was a siren blaring in the distance, and a strange pressure on his stomach. He was so tired...he wanted to sleep, but someone kept poking him with needles and calling his name, asking if he was alright. Uh, duh, he was covered in blood - did it look like he was "alright"? Some people could ask the stupidest questions, and it was irritating him. He wanted to rest...

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Someone was prying open his eyelids and shining a light into both of his eyes. How rude, he had just dozed off. He realized that the ground was not moving; they must have arrived at a hospital. Why do people keep asking the same questions - "Are you alright? Can you hear me?" And then more serious sentences - "He's lost a of blood...his heart stopped once on the way over...the surgery room is ready...we don't have time..." Hmm, that did not sound very good. Was this what death felt like? He vaguely remembered a scene from some Harry Potter movie. "Does it hurt? Dying?" "Quicker than falling asleep." Sleep...that was what he wanted to do now...he was so tired...

And amidst the noise and people shouting around him, one quiet voice chased away the thoughts of death and made him want to live again...

"Yunlan? I'll be waiting for you."

Shen Wei. Or was it Yezun? Or Sang Zang, Brother Chu, Wang Zheng, Lin Jing, Zhu Hong, or Da Qing? It did not matter. He would live for them. He had to. They were waiting for him.

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A constant beeping and the sound of pumps woke up Zhao Yunlan. He tried to open his eyes, but his eyelids were too heavy. There was something on his face, but he was able to breathe easily...an oxygen mask? Was he that weak? Yes, he had been stabbed and had lost a lot of blood. He had surgery, and his body ached here and there, and he was so drowsy. It must be the painkillers. He tried to work his mind and stay awake, but sleep overcame him again.

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There were fewer machine sounds around him, but there was still a dull ache around his abdomen area and other parts of his body. He tried to move, but his body was so heavy. They still had him on painkillers.

But there were many voices around him.

"Yunlan, you have to get better. You promised to take me to a movie."

"Yezun stopped me from pounding Zhu Jiu more. I wasn't done yet. Come on, wake up, Zhao Yunlan. We need to have another race."

"Zhao Yunlan, I'm going to step out and get some snacks. I'll bring back a custard bun for you if you wake up soon."

"Please come back to us, Zhao Yunlan. I promise I won't talk about dying anymore."

"Hey, Zhao Yunlan. You need to pay me extra for watching over you tonight."

"Zhao Yunlan? You need to help Shen Wei with his archery."

"Come on, wake up Zhao Yunlan. Let's play hide-and-go-seek with the security cameras again."

"If you get up, I'll let you drive any of my cars. Shen Wei drives too slow. You can speed all you like, Zhao Yunlan."

They were all different in intonation and speaking style. But they were all Shen Wei's voice. The personalities must have been taking turns checking on him.