Coming to Myself

The flames roared and clawed like a monstrous beast, lunging toward them.

You Mingxu desperately stretched out her arms, trying to hold him.

But she couldn’t reach him no matter how hard she tried.

Instead, he remained as aloof and proud as ever, even as the fire scorched him.

She saw the darkness swirling in his eyes.

Then, with unwavering resolve, he pushed her away forcefully: "Go!"

You Mingxu reached out to grab him but caught only empty air. In an instant, he was swallowed by the flames and the blistering heat.

…

You Mingxu’s eyes snapped open, her back drenched in cold sweat.

She saw the white ceiling, smelled the distinct hospital scent, and noticed the dim light around her. The lights were off, and she had no idea what time it was.

As she moved, she felt a sharp pain throughout her body. Memories slowly trickled back into her mind—she remembered holding Yin Feng, using all her strength to roll them both to safety.

Alive. She had survived, but what about Yin Feng?

Propping herself up on the bed, she noticed a tall figure sitting in the dark corner of the room. Whether he had been asleep or awake before, he looked up as soon as he sensed her movement.

Their eyes met in the dim light. You Mingxu could see that he was also wearing a hospital gown, with several bandages on his face and hands. Only his eyes, identical to those in her dream, stared intently at her.

"You… are you okay?" You Mingxu spoke, only to realize how hoarse her voice was.

Yin Feng’s tone was surprisingly calm: "You held me so tightly that you shielded me from most of the damage. Of course, I’m fine."

You Mingxu wanted to laugh, feeling completely relieved and overjoyed. But the laugh tugged at the wound on her neck, causing a sharp pain, so she stifled it. Just then, he rose from the chair and sat beside her on the bed. You Mingxu pressed a hand to her head, feeling dizzy, and asked, "How long have I been asleep?"

"A day and a night," Yin Feng replied. "I’ve been awake for most of the day."

Seeing that he seemed perfectly fine, You Mingxu felt reassured. Aside from some superficial injuries, she didn’t think there was anything seriously wrong with her, but she still asked, "Are we both okay? There shouldn’t be any lasting effects, right?"

Yin Feng rested his hands on his legs and answered, "We both have mild concussions, but nothing else. Though, as you know, with my head, there’s no telling if this might trigger some strange condition. You’ll have to bear with me."

You Mingxu let out a soft "hehe" laugh, then grimaced—it hurt. The faint light filtering through the curtains fell across his face. He smiled too.

Then he reached out and embraced her.

You Mingxu threw herself into his arms.

The two held each other tightly in silence.

But the words they spoke were anything but ambiguous.

You Mingxu: "Are you insane? Who told you to trade yourself for me?"

"Should I have just let him take you away?"

So You Mingxu held him even tighter.

Sensing her dependence, Yin Feng’s heart felt as if it were sinking deeper, drowning in a vast, bewildering ocean. They held each other quietly for a while, as if no amount of breathing in her scent could ever be enough.

When You Mingxu tried to pull away, he didn’t let go, burying his face in the crook of her neck and mumbling, "Thank you."

"For what?"

But he remained silent.

You Mingxu understood what was weighing on his mind. Gently stroking his head, she said, "Who told you I’m just that awesome? I didn’t think about anything else at the time—I just knew I had to save you."He remained silent, his arm tightening as he pressed her against his chest, his chin resting on the top of her head while he continued to gently and silently nuzzle her. You Mingxu smiled faintly at being "tormented" like this and asked, "Is Yin Chen dead?"

"Mm."

"So... the Punisher Organization has been completely destroyed."

"Of course."

You Mingxu slowly let out a sigh.

"Ding Xiongwei came to see you this morning and told me you should rest and recover properly, not returning to work for another half month," Yin Feng said. "I don't know why he's become so talkative lately."

You Mingxu chuckled softly, "Because he's accepted you. Lao Ding only gets long-winded with his own people."

Yin Feng let out a scoffing laugh that sounded utterly infuriating to You Mingxu's ears.

Still, having a half-month break was truly good news. Moreover, with the Punishers eradicated, the nemesis that had haunted them for nearly two years was now gone. It gave her a feeling of facing the sea, with spring blossoms blooming—a sense of boundless peace and freedom.

You Mingxu's mood grew increasingly lighthearted. She even imitated him, nestling her head against his chest. Yin Feng chuckled deeply, then resumed his sarcastic tone, "No more taking such risks in the future, understood?"

You Mingxu lightly slapped his face and said, "Don't forget who's in charge in this household. Besides, I just saved your life. From now on, you should serve me diligently and obey my every command. Got it?"

He immediately retorted, "Didn't I save your life too?"

You Mingxu smiled, "That's different. Your life is more valuable."

They whispered to each other for a while longer, and then You Mingxu ordered Yin Feng to draw the curtains. Outside, dusk was settling, enveloping the world in a tranquil twilight. She then had him turn on the lights and bring her water to drink. Neither of them felt the need to call a doctor immediately—what was the hurry? They weren't going to die anyway. Compared to the injuries they had suffered before, these minor wounds were nothing more than a scratch.

Once You Mingxu was comfortably settled under his care, the two of them squeezed side by side onto the single hospital bed. You Mingxu leaned her head against his chest. After a moment of quiet, she asked, "How about we continue our trip to Guizhou and finish the vacation we never got to complete?"

She had always felt guilty for never properly spending time with Yin Feng. In contrast, whether his mind was sharp or not, he had stubbornly stuck by her side like an unshakable donkey, diligently assisting her in solving cases.

Yin Feng, however, seemed lost in thought and remained silent.

You Mingxu nudged him with her head again. He wrapped his arms around her and asked softly, "Finish the vacation we never completed? Do the things we never got to do?"

You Mingxu paused for a moment before murmuring, "Mm."

But he said, "I don't even want to wait a few days. A Xu, who contributed the most to taking down the Punishers? Who was wrongfully accused and nearly ended up in prison? Shouldn't you reward him?"

His voice was calm and unhurried, yet carried a hint of coaxing. It was nothing like the straightforward demands of the old You Yingjun, who would bluntly shout, "I want a reward! I want a reward!"

You Mingxu leaned against his chest, feeling its warmth and solidity. Gazing out the window at the deep blue sky and the city's sprawling lights, she said, "Tell me, what reward do you want? Let's see if I can give it to you."He suddenly released her and got out of bed. You Mingxu watched him quietly—dressed in a drab hospital gown, his hair disheveled, his face pale with a piece of gauze stuck to it, reeking of medicine, not even half as handsome as usual. Yet he seemed completely unaware, kneeling on one knee by the bedside, head slightly bowed, his handsome face tinged with an unusual flush.

As if performing a magic trick, he produced a small blue velvet box from somewhere, opened it, and placed it on the hospital bed. You Mingxu remained silent. He kept his head lowered for a moment before looking up, his flushed face still bearing clear, bright eyes:

"You Mingxu, I don’t ask for much. Hardships, dangers, life and death, fortune and misfortune—they’re all trivial matters. Only you are the most important thing, giving me pain and joy, making me admire and yearn for you. So all I want is you.

But I can give you a lot. My person, my money, my followers, as well as my madness, cowardice, courage, and kindness—I give them all to you. No one else will do; no one else in this world is acceptable.

Put on the ring. From now on, it’s settled."

You Mingxu wiped away her tears, picked up the ring, and slipped it onto the ring finger of her right hand. She said, "A writer is a writer, after all—full of well-rehearsed lines, aren’t you? I’ll let it slide for the past, but if you dare sweet-talk someone else like this in the future, I’ll still break your legs."