C1 The First Chapter

Struck by Lightning

In the early fall of 2030, night descended, bringing a welcome coolness to the once-scorching earth. Nestled within the distant mountains of Yanjing, this hint of chill was a hard-earned reprieve.

Lee Yuanhong, a salesman hailing from the northeast, was often mistaken for a southerner due to his modest stature of just 1.73 meters, earning him the playful moniker of "third-class cripple" back home. His slightly dark complexion, paired with intelligent eyes and an unconventional oval face, lent him a delicate, almost scholarly appearance that would have been recognized in ancient times. But in today's society, where money trumps looks, even the most pleasant features seldom earn a second glance from the opposite sex.

On this refreshingly cool autumn evening, Lee Yuanhong was drenched in sweat, wearily making his way back to his rented room. A streak of bad luck had left his business floundering, necessitating late-night client meetings that kept him out well past eleven—now a routine occurrence. It was nearly midnight by the time he finally reached his humble abode.

Yuanhong's rental was a cramped space in a three-bedroom apartment, barely ten square meters, but its saving grace was a small balcony that lent the room a breath of fresh air. It was this feature that justified the steep 1800 yuan rent in his mind. Upon arriving home, he swiftly shed his drenched clothes and seized the opportunity to shower before the other tenants claimed the bathroom. Afterwards, he stood on his balcony, chest bared, allowing the cool breeze to whisk away the last traces of dampness.

Unbeknownst to him, thick clouds had gathered in the sky, their ominous presence obscured by the cloak of night. Had Yuanhong noticed, his cautious nature would have kept him far from the balcony; he remembered the old warnings that lightning could strike through windows, a danger he never tempted during storms.

But without warning, the heavens split open—a jagged fissure slicing through the dark canvas. A bright light burst forth, and at that instant, the amassed clouds unleashed their first bolt of lightning. The light, as if hitching a ride on the electrical surge, hurtled toward the earth. Tragically, its target was none other than Yuanhong, blissfully unaware and basking in the gentle wind. In a flash, he was struck by lightning, collapsing unconscious on his balcony before he could even register what had happened.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Lee Yuanhong's head throbbed with numbness, and a chill ran through his body. A loud sneeze erupted, jolting him awake. Groggy, Lee Yuanhong lifted his head to survey his surroundings and discovered he was in his underwear, lying on the damp balcony. He racked his brain for memories of the moments leading up to his blackout but drew a blank. Suddenly, a voice near his ear snapped, "Lazybones, time to get up."

"Who's there? Who's speaking?" Lee Yuanhong scanned the area but saw no one. Had he encountered a ghost?

"It's you who's the ghost!" the voice retorted. Yet the room remained empty.

"You... You... Who are you?" Lee Yuanhong's voice quivered as he asked.

"Look at your hand!"

That's when Lee Yuanhong noticed an electronic watch on his right hand, which hadn't been there before. On its screen was a tiny girl, reminiscent of a sprite from a cartoon, her butterfly wings shimmering as she gazed at him with endearing eyes.