The White Olive Tree

Chapter 62

Song Ran had a very long dream, where it was boundless darkness.

She struggled to open her eyes, trying to see something, but there was no light at all, only occasional gunshots, sometimes near, sometimes far away.

She groped around, wanting to run, but couldn't escape, nor find a direction—her feet couldn't touch the ground, someone was holding her tightly, running in the darkness.

She knew it was A Zan.

She heard his breathing, heavy, urgent, tense, fearful; she couldn't see him, she wanted to touch him, but couldn't. She panicked, calling out to him, but couldn't make a sound.She was exhausted, very exhausted, even though she didn't exert herself, her mind flickered, and she fainted.

When her consciousness returned, it was still dark.

This time, she heard crying. A Zan's crying.

Soft, with endless sadness and bitterness, he said, "Ran Ran, take me away."

Her heart shattered, searching for him by following the sound, wanting to hold him, but she couldn't grasp anything.

His voice seemed to come from the void, she couldn't touch him. It was a cycle, an infinite loop.

She struggled in such dreams repeatedly, ultimately grasping nothing, losing consciousness again and again in the chaos.She wandered in that dark world for who knows how long until one day she woke up, and it was still pitch black.

But this time, something was different.She moved her fingers and grabbed the sheet on the hospital bed.

The next moment, unfamiliar shouts came, in Chinese: "Patient in room V3 is awake!"

Then, a bunch of unfamiliar voices rushed in, all speaking Chinese.

There were doctors examining her body, asking how she felt in various parts, nurses attaching metal pieces to her limbs, she couldn't see anything, feeling both flustered and shocked.

"Where's A Zan?"

No one knew or cared who A Zan was.

They held her down for examination and questioning.

She struggled to no avail, pinned to the bed, a nurse said, "You need a corneal transplant, but currently, cornea donations are queued up, it might take over a month. Don't panic. We've already notified your mother, she'll be here soon."

Just then, a familiar voice came, "Ran Ran?"

It was He Shanran.

Song Ran was startled, realizing she was back in the imperial city.

She didn't hear what the doctor and He Shanran were discussing. Shortly after, the ward quieted down, leaving only He Shanran.

He sat by her bed, gently holding her thin arm through his sleeve, reassuring, "Ran Ran, don't be afraid, you're back in the country, very safe. Don't worry about your eyes, just wait for the cornea..."

"Where's A Zan?" she turned her head to look at him, her gaze unfocused, pupils dilated, "Where's Li Zan?"

He Shanran smiled, "He's still in Dongguo. He'll be back in a month."

She was taken aback, asking, "How long have I been asleep?"

"Not long, just two or three days."

"Why... does it feel like a long time?"

"People who are in a coma often feel that way."

"Is it February now?"

"Yes. February 10th."