Chapter 40: You're Awake!

Xinlan Garden Summer Resort

A day had passed since the man in black had regained consciousness only to faint again. Xiaolian was still trembling with fear, unwilling to approach him, while Zhang Xiaolan remained as carefree as ever, eager to study him. She noticed a simple sun pattern on his wrist, clearly the emblem of some organization.

Zhang Xiaolan rummaged through her hiking bag and found her phone, intending to take a picture for her records. Fortunately, she had brought a solar charger, and after charging it, the phone was barely usable. She snapped a photo and saved it.

"Miss, what is this? I've never seen it before!"

Xiaolian watched as Zhang Xiaolan produced the device, and with a click, the image was stored inside. Her curiosity piqued, she pressed close to Zhang Xiaolan, scrutinizing the phone intently.

"This is called a phone. It's a common item where I'm from. It uses electricity, can take photos, and make calls—you can hear someone's voice from miles away. I told you before about the television, electric lights, and computers—those all require electricity to work."

Seeing her interest, Zhang Xiaolan handed her the phone, nostalgia softening her voice. She remembered how essential these things once were to her.

It had been a long time since she had seen any of them; she had not even had a chance to mention them. If not for needing to record a photo today, she might have forgotten she was a modern person entirely.

"Wow! Such a small thing can transmit voices over thousands of miles and store images inside it. So everything you said before is true—you weren't exaggerating!"

Xiaolian exclaimed, touching the little box-like object. She didn’t quite understand its use, but knowing it could transmit sound over great distances filled her with awe. That such a tiny object could possess so many magical functions—she truly thought it was a treasure.

"You thought I was exaggerating? So you and Haizi always saw me as a big liar?"

Zhang Xiaolan was sitting by the table, sipping tea. Hearing Xiaolian's candid words, she nearly spat out her drink. So, she had always been taken for a braggart.

"No, no—I always believed you, Miss! It’s just that I’d never seen one before, so I was half skeptical, half believing."

Xiaolian hurried to explain with an apologetic smile, embarrassed that she had let her true thoughts slip out.

"Tsk! You little rascal, come here. Let's take a selfie together."

Zhang Xiaolan clicked her tongue in mock annoyance, but then beckoned Xiaolian over, wanting to take a selfie with her, like close friends.

"Selfie?"

"It means we both put our image inside," Zhang Xiaolan explained, switching to more primitive language so Xiaolian could understand.

"Yes, yes!" Xiaolian was excited now. She had wanted to try it earlier but had been too shy. Now that Zhang Xiaolan invited her to take a photo, she agreed cheerfully.

"Cheese..." Zhang Xiaolan said, and Xiaolian, without questioning it, echoed her. Though she did not know that "cheese" was what they called "luosu," she followed suit.

Zhang Xiaolan lay back in the room's rattan chair, idly flipping through books she had borrowed from Li Rui's chamber. Lately, she had been studying the meanings of these characters. Li Rui had left several days ago; she used to be able to ask him, but now she could only research on her own.

At that moment, the man in black lying on the bed stirred. He slowly opened his eyes and glanced around, realizing he was still here. He tried to sit up, but after days without food and suffering injuries, he had no strength left.

He attempted to lift his hand, trying to grasp the edge of the bed, but his strength failed and his arm fell back. The sound he made was enough to alert Zhang Xiaolan, who excitedly put down her book and rushed over.

"You're awake!"