C5 Return Trip

A rapid patter of footsteps echoed through the corridor before a doctor's gaze fell upon Situ Yu, who lay in the hospital bed with his eyes wide open.

The middle-aged attending physician approached the bed and shone a small flashlight into the patient's eyes, noting the pupils' contraction. After asking Situ Yu a few questions, he offered a warm smile and said, "Young man, you're quite the miracle. To be rescued after so long and then wake up in just half a day and a night shows remarkable resilience. Right now, you don't need to worry about a thing. Just focus on resting for the next few days. I'll notify your workplace leadership."

With that, he stood, turned, and exited the ward, leaving the nurses to carry on with their duties and room checks.

Later that afternoon, Second Master Wu, clad in a crisp suit and carrying a bit of extra weight, hurried into the hospital and approached the bedside.

Upon seeing Situ Yu awake from his coma, his face broke into a radiant smile. "Little Yu, how are you feeling? Don't stress about work; just concentrate on getting better. We'll handle the rest later."

Situ Yu eyed the middle-aged man, recalling the grueling times when he first started at the mine, how this man had seemed to have it out for him, leaving a lasting impression.

Now, as he watched the man's chrysanthemum-like smile, a wave of nausea hit him. He managed a polite response, "Thank you for your concern, Director Wu. I'll make sure to rest up."

Wu Renxin gave Situ Yu's shoulder a gentle pat and pulled out a large envelope from his bag, saying, "Here's a little something from the company."

He then placed the envelope beside Situ Yu's pillow.

Situ Yu glanced at the envelope, which was nowhere near as thick as a brick, and estimated it contained about 20,000 yuan. A bitter smile crossed his lips as he thought, "So, my life is worth just these 20,000 yuan."

Looking up at Wu Renxin, Situ Yu replied with a gracious smile, "I appreciate the company's gesture and your concern, Director Wu. And thank you for taking the time to visit."

Wu Renxin was just about to offer more words of comfort to Situ Yu when his phone buzzed to life in his bag. He stepped out to the balcony to answer the call.

"Second Brother, it's your elder brother speaking. We've got an official situation on our hands. I've smoothed things over on the surface. Right now, the priority is to console the families of the victims and the emotions of the injured workers," Wu Renzheng stated with gravity.

"Don't worry, Big Brother. These guys won't make any big waves. I've got plenty of tricks up my sleeve to handle them."

Glancing back at Situ Yu, he went on, "And this last kid, we've been stringing him along for two years—that's enough. Let him do his own thing from now on. We can't be responsible for him forever."

It sounded as if Situ Yu hadn't lifted a finger in work, just freeloading off them, and for what? A meager salary.

"Alright, handle it as you think best," Wu Renxin said, ending the call. He took a moment to survey his surroundings and enjoy a smoke. Flicking the cigarette butt away carelessly, he returned to Situ Yu's bedside.

"Little Yu, I've got to deal with some company matters, so I'm heading back. You just focus on resting, and I'll take care of your discharge paperwork."

Situ Yu watched him, puzzled. "Since when did Wu Renxin become so charitable?"

"Go on, then. I'm fine," Situ Yu replied.

After leaving the ward with a sardonic chuckle, Wu Renxin approached the attending doctor to arrange the discharge. The doctor was visibly shocked—Situ Yu had only been admitted the day before, and now they were rushing him out.

If Wu Renxin hadn't been a man of influence, the doctor might have contested the decision.

With a sigh, the doctor processed the paperwork. Wu Renxin left the hospital, his expression icy. The thought of compensating the bereaved families made his wallet ache.

He resolved to send some toughs to strong-arm the families. Climbing into his Mercedes-Benz S320, he sped away.

Back in his hospital bed, Situ Yu stared at the slim envelope before tucking it under his pillow. Could anyone really believe Wu Renxin had changed? The more he pondered, the weirder it seemed.

Knock, knock, knock. In came Nurse A, holding a slip of paper. She gave Situ Yu a curious look and handed it over. "This is for you," she said.

Situ Yu was taken aback. Could this be the fabled love letter? He chuckled to himself, wondering if his charm was off the charts.

He casually took the note from the other person's hand and peered at it.

"Seriously? I knew no one would buy it. They set a trap for me to fall into." The note wasn't a love letter at all, but a discharge certificate from the hospital.

Situ Yu tossed the paper onto a nearby table, seething with resentment. "No one believes me, no one has any faith. Just wait. I'll be back to settle the score with all of you!"

As the young nurse exited the ward, Situ Yu's anger subsided, and he began to plan his next steps.

He had worked in the coal mines for two years, earning just over 10,000 yuan. This recent incident had cost him another 20,000 yuan, leaving him with a total of about 30,000 yuan. Unsure of what to do with it, he decided not to dwell on it too much. He would head back to his rural hometown in S City first.

In the dead of night, the star core emitted a series of strange sounds:

"Ding dong. The Queen Mother's revival program has been initiated. Awakening in 24 hours." Then silence ensued.

After a restful night, Situ Yu was oblivious to the bizarre event that had unfolded in his mind. In the morning, he packed his simple belongings and strolled out of the hospital, looking around in confusion.

Where in X City was he? Despite the hospital sign in the background, he didn't recognize the place. With no other option, he hailed a cab and instructed the driver to take him to the long-distance bus station.

The taxi driver gave Situ Yu a cunning glance and smirked, thinking he had snagged an easy mark. He took a circuitous route before finally dropping Situ Yu off at the bus station.

Staring at the fare meter, Situ Yu's heart sank. A whopping 100 yuan—equivalent to a week's labor in the mines.

Reluctantly, he handed over the 100 yuan to the driver. As he disembarked, the driver flashed him a grin and said, "Looking forward to your next ride."

Situ Yu caught the driver's sly smile and instantly knew he'd been had. Taking a deep breath, he muttered to himself, "Live and learn," and headed for the ticket counter.

The queue was rather lengthy, and Situ Yu, with his small backpack, found himself at the very end. Inch by inch, the line crept forward. Just as there were only three people ahead of him, Situ Yu felt a sudden tug at his backpack.

Whirling around, he was taken aback. "You're trying to steal from me, looking as shabby as I do? That's just immoral," he silently chided the would-be thief.

He caught the thief's eye, who, acting as if nothing had happened, withdrew his hand and casually walked away.

Situ Yu was powerless to do anything since he hadn't caught the thief red-handed. Unable to administer justice, he let it go.

Ticket in hand, he entered the waiting hall, which was swarming with people and devoid of air conditioning. A few dilapidated fans spun lazily, turning the space into an oversized sauna, complete with the mingled odors of smoke and sweat.

Situ Yu wrinkled his brow and glanced at the clock on the wall. There was still ample time. He left the stifling hall, rounded a corner, and ordered the cheapest 20-yuan meal at the second-floor cafeteria.

Upon inspecting his meal box, he could only chuckle wryly. It was all "fish fragrance" with no strips of meat, accompanied by a handful of small, somewhat wilted greens that resembled the heart of a cabbage.

Accustomed to hardship, Situ Yu wasn't fussy. He devoured everything in the box with gusto and begrudgingly spent another five yuan on a bottle of mineral water, though he regretted not opting for a few sips of tap water at the washstand instead.

With a grimace, he wandered the station from end to end. Along the way, he stumbled upon a map of X City. It clearly showed that the Second People's Hospital was just a short stop away from the long-distance bus station. Yet, that unscrupulous driver had taken him on an unnecessary tour of X City before dropping him off. Where was the basic trust between people?

A wave of bitterness washed over Situ Yu. He felt like a fool, easily deceived. He resolved to bury himself in books and absorb more knowledge once he returned home. He couldn't afford to be taken advantage of like this again.

Time ticked away, and soon it was time to board the bus. Situ Yu found his spot and queued up. Blending in with the stream of passengers, he boarded the long-distance coach, found a window seat, stowed his backpack, and settled in to watch the onboard movie.

Despite its age, the film captivated Situ Yu. The mine offered scant entertainment, so this was a welcome diversion.

The bus remained stationary, the driver conspicuously absent. "Maybe he's eaten something off," Situ Yu mused with a hint of mischief.

Thirty minutes later, the driver finally boarded and the engine roared to life. They pulled away from the station and merged onto the highway, bound for S City in the Su Hang region.

Gazing out at the passing landscapes, Situ Yu reflected on how, two years prior, he'd witnessed these same scenes but with a heart in a different place, headed for a different destination.

Alternating between the scenery and the movie, time flew by for Situ Yu. Hours slipped away in a flash, and before he knew it, he was back in S City.

Stepping off the bus, he took in the bustling crowd and the environment that felt both familiar and slightly foreign.

Overwhelmed with sentiment, Situ Yu's inner voice proclaimed, "I, Situ Yu, have returned!"