Chapter 61: Perhaps You Should Offer Yourself in Return

Deep in the mountains, in a hidden cave.

Zhou Qinglang leaned weakly against the stone wall, his forehead beaded with cold sweat, his entire body burning with fever. Yesterday evening, he had gone with the little golden monkey to pick wild fruit nearby. Suddenly, a snake burst out of the underbrush, its gaze fixed menacingly upon them. The little monkey, terrified of snakes, let out a wail and leapt into his arms. Perhaps the monkey’s startled movement provoked the snake; in the next instant, it lunged and sank its fangs into Zhou Qinglang’s left hand.

Blind, Zhou Qinglang had long since learned to act by intuition. The moment he felt the bite, his right hand shot out and wrenched the snake’s jaws apart. Only then did he realize the serpent was as thick as his own wrist. Having once served in the army and lived alone in the remote wilderness, Zhou Qinglang knew snakes’ weaknesses. As the snake’s tail coiled around his right arm, relaxing its guard, he swiftly pulled back his left hand, retrieved a dagger from his pocket, and stabbed it at the vital spot beneath the snake’s head.

The snake, cunning and quick, writhed away, flinging off the dagger and vanishing into the brush. Once the danger had passed, Zhou Qinglang sucked the venom from the wound on his left hand. Perhaps he hadn’t removed all the poison, for soon a wave of dizziness overtook him. On the way back, he stumbled and fell into a pit, where a wooden stake pierced his calf—right at a spot still unhealed from a previous injury. The fresh wound reopened, bleeding profusely. Without any medicine on him, Zhou Qinglang could only wrap the injury with a piece of his clothing.

Perhaps the wound became infected; from last night until now, his fever had not abated. Burning hot and trapped in the stuffy cellar, he brought the little monkey with him to the mountain cave, hoping to cool down and feel a little better. Yet it seemed nothing helped. His strength dwindled, the fever worsened, and gradually, Zhou Qinglang slipped into unconsciousness.

In a hazy trance, he seemed to see his parents—gone from this world for so many years—standing before him. They still wore their familiar white coats, their faces alight with gentle smiles.

“Dad! Mom!” Zhou Qinglang cried out in delight, hurrying toward them with outstretched arms, longing for an embrace—only to find his hands passing straight through their forms.

“Don’t rush, Qinglang,” his mother said tenderly, smiling. “We’re no longer here in this world. It’s only natural you can’t touch us.”

Staring at their familiar faces, Zhou Qinglang’s eyes instantly reddened.

He had been only fifteen when his parents met their fate. From that day on, a chasm separated them, never to meet again. Ten long years had passed. Zhou Qinglang never imagined that one day he would see his parents once more, if only in a dream.

“Dad, Mom, I’ve missed you so much…”

“We’ve missed you too, son. In the blink of an eye, you’ve grown so much.” His father gazed at him with loving pride and sighed, “You inherited our will and carried it forward so well. We are proud of you.”

Zhou Qinglang shook his head, a trace of bitterness in his voice. “No, I haven’t done well enough.” If he had completed his mission perfectly, he wouldn’t be in such dire straits now. He blamed no one for what happened at the research institute but himself, for not being strong enough.

“My child, you set the bar too high for yourself. You’ve already done so much,” his father said gently. “To us, you’ve always been extraordinary. We believe in you. You’ll get through all of this.”

His mother echoed, “That’s right, my good boy. Now, go back. Remember, your parents are always by your side. We are proud of you.”

With those final words, their figures faded slowly away. Zhou Qinglang stood frozen, watching helplessly as they disappeared into the void.

—Remember, your parents are always by your side. We are proud of you.

That phrase echoed over and over in his ears, warm and soothing. He realized, at last, his parents had never truly left him; he had never been alone. A faint, contented smile curved his lips.

“Comrade Zhou, are you awake?!”

A clear, familiar voice sounded at his ear. Zhou Qinglang opened his eyes to a world still blurred and indistinct. Was everything that had just happened nothing more than a dream?

“Woo-woo!” The little golden monkey, seeing its master awake, leapt onto his chest, nuzzling him incessantly with its furry head. Feeling the soft creature pressed against him, Zhou Qinglang, after a moment of confusion, felt at peace. Dream or not, his parents would always live in his heart. They were right—he would endure.

Now that he had survived, he must look ahead, focusing on overcoming the challenges before him. The first thing Zhou Qinglang noticed upon waking was that his fever had broken. He thanked Lin Xiaodou earnestly, without questioning where the medicine had come from. Since she had been able to save him, it meant she had her own means. Everyone has their secrets; he understood that. He also felt that his leg had been rebandaged.

Zhou Qinglang touched the dressing and sincerely praised, “Comrade Lin, your bandaging skills are quite impressive. Did you study before?”

“Yes, I taught myself some veterinary medicine,” the girl replied cheerfully, her laughter bright. “I’ve only ever bandaged cats and dogs before; you’re my first human patient.”

Zhou Qinglang’s handsome features froze for a moment, then a smile flickered in his dark eyes, like starlight. “Well, I feel rather honored.”

“Of course! My skills are top-notch—absolutely foolproof!” Lin Xiaodou laughed. “Actually, you should thank your little monkey. If not for it, you really might not have made it.”

When the little monkey brought her, there was a huge black snake, over a meter long, crawling into the mouth of the cave. If she hadn’t acted quickly and killed it, the snake would have bitten Zhou Qinglang again. Only after the monkey explained did she realize how vengeful this snake was—it had come back to attack when no one was watching.

After hearing Lin Xiaodou’s account, Zhou Qinglang’s heart ran cold. He patted the little golden monkey’s head, his voice full of gratitude, “You little rascal, thank you for saving me. When I’m better, I’ll catch you all sorts of tasty things to eat.”

“Woo-woo!” The little monkey squealed happily, snuggling into his arms.

“What about me?” Lin Xiaodou leaned closer, grinning. “I saved you too—how will you repay me?”

Yesterday, when they spoke from a distance, Lin Xiaodou had only glanced at him briefly, already struck by his remarkable looks. Now, standing nearer, she saw his features more clearly—her breath caught in her chest. She wasn’t one to swoon over appearances, but she had to admit: this man’s striking handsomeness was truly captivating.

On a sudden impulse, Lin Xiaodou teased, “If you can’t think of a way to thank me, why not offer yourself to me instead?”

Zhou Qinglang was taken aback, then broke into a gentle smile. “That’s not out of the question.”