Chapter 29: The Blind Player

At 1 AM, at Sanqingshan District's Third Hospital.

Gao Yang rushed into the emergency building hall and immediately saw his younger sister sitting on a blue public chair. She was still in her pajamas, wearing slippers, her hair a mess, and her face streaked with tears.

Upon seeing Gao Yang, Gao Xin Xin rushed up to him and hugged him, crying even more.

Gao Yang gently patted his sister's head. "Where's Dad?"

"Second floor. I'll take you there," Gao Xin Xin said as she grabbed her brother's hand and began walking.

During the way there, Gao Yang had already learned the situation via phone.

His father had been drinking late after a business meeting and called a designated driver. Unfortunately, the driver, fatigued, crashed into a small truck at an intersection. The driver died on the spot. Gao Yang's father, wearing a seatbelt, was saved but severely injured. After being rescued, he was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment. Nurses found his wallet and documents while cleaning his clothes and called Gao Yang's mother.

His mother nearly fainted upon hearing the news and didn't even change clothes before rushing out with his sister. His grandmother, who had poor health, was already asleep, so they couldn't wake her up, let alone tell her.

Gao Yang and his sister rushed out of the elevator and saw their mother sitting in front of the surgery room. She was also in her pajamas and slippers, her hair messy, her face pale and eyes red from crying. She immediately stood up and embraced both her children.

"Mom, I'm scared…" his sister sobbed.

His mother didn't say anything, but her hands were trembling.

Gao Yang hugged both his mother and sister tightly. "It's okay, don't worry. Dad will be fine."

...

The surgery went on for a long time, well into the early hours of the morning.

The doctor came out of the operating room, covered in blood, wearing a medical mask, and looking tired. "He's temporarily out of life-threatening danger, but the situation is still not good. We've done everything we could; the rest is up to him. Also, you should be mentally prepared that even if he survives, he may be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life."

"Thank you, doctor! Thank you, as long as he survives..." Gao Yang's mother was extremely grateful, tears falling from her eyes.

"It's part of my job," the doctor said politely before leaving.

The family continued to wait outside. By 5 AM, the doctor confirmed that Gao Yang's father had passed the critical stage, and his mother finally felt a sense of relief.

Seeing how exhausted his mother and sister were, Gao Yang urged them to go home and rest, but neither of them wanted to leave.

After patiently convincing them, Gao Yang said, "We've all been awake all night, and Dad will need someone to keep watch here. You should go home and rest so you can come back later this afternoon. Plus, you're both still in pajamas, it's not appropriate. Go back and change quickly."

Only then did his mother agree, looking at her son with a comforting smile. "Yangyang has grown up."

Gao Yang was stunned. "Really?"

"Yes. Especially lately. Even though you've been coming home late often, I feel like... you've become more sensible."

Gao Yang felt a mix of emotions. After his awakening, if anything, he'd become more cautious rather than more sensible.

Soon, his mother and sister left, and Gao Yang continued waiting outside the intensive care unit. He was exhausted but couldn't sleep, his mind racing with thoughts of the past.

When he was younger, Gao Yang lived in a county town on the outskirts of the city. His grandfather was still alive, and the family of six lived in a two-story cement house they had built themselves. The house had a small front yard with a ginkgo tree, and every autumn, the ground would be covered with golden leaves.

The family ran a small shop called "Gao Xing Supermarket," selling snacks and daily necessities. It wasn't enough to get rich, but it was enough to get by.

His father was very smart and had a keen business sense. The house was full of books on successful business practices. He always boasted that once they saved enough money, he'd open a factory with friends, earn enough to move to the city, buy a school district house, a car, and provide a better life for the family.

The year Gao Yang graduated from elementary school, his father indeed made a little fortune and moved the family closer to the city.

His father partnered with friends to open a food processing plant, specializing in various bean products. To promote his products, his father constantly ran around to meet clients, storing thousands of contacts in his phone—mostly the owners of large and small supermarkets. As the business grew, so did his social obligations. Half of each month was spent drinking with clients, getting drunk every time.

"Da da da."

Footsteps approached, and Gao Yang instantly became alert.

He looked up and saw the attending physician who had been treating his father. Now he had removed his white coat and mask, changing into casual clothes.

"Would you like a drink?" The doctor offered two cups of coffee, sitting down next to Gao Yang and handing one over, the aroma wafting up.

"Thank you," Gao Yang accepted the coffee and took a sip, feeling the warmth spreading through him.

Gao Yang glanced at the doctor beside him. Despite his middle-aged aura, the doctor looked quite young, no older than thirty.

The doctor was tall, thin, with sharp, deep-set features. His hair was slightly curly, and he wore stylish black-framed glasses. His outfit—a dark grey woolen sweater, khaki trousers, brown Oxford shoes—was complemented by a vintage quartz watch on his wrist, and a simple silver ring on his long ring finger.

Without the white coat, the doctor looked more like a melancholic, artistic youth.

He sipped his coffee, looking out the window at the end of the hallway. The first rays of morning light poured in, soft and pure, as if from heaven.

"Of the day, this is the time I like the most," the doctor said in a low, gentle voice.

Gao Yang was stunned, realizing he was talking to him. He struggled to find the right words, finally saying, "Because... the morning sunlight gives hope?"

"No," the doctor chuckled. "It's because I can finally go off work."

Gao Yang smiled as well.

"How old are you this year?" the doctor asked.

"Eighteen."

"Eighteen, huh? So you're about to take the college entrance exam?"

"Yeah."

"Have you decided where to go to college?"

"Not yet."

"Considering your father's situation..." The doctor sighed lightly. "I think it would be better for you to stay in the city. The city university is quite good, a top-tier school."

Gao Yang sensed something was off. This doctor was being unusually friendly. He set his coffee cup down and subtly shifted away from the doctor.

The doctor, noticing Gao Yang's shift, smiled faintly. "Are you afraid of me?"

Gao Yang's heart tightened, and he stayed silent, discreetly scanning the hallway for the elevator, emergency exits, and windows. He feigned ignorance. "Afraid of you? Why would I be?"

"Afraid I'm a beast?" the doctor asked.

Gao Yang nearly jumped up, but was immediately grabbed by the doctor's wrist. The doctor's grip wasn't rough, but firm and precise. Gao Yang tried to break free, but couldn't. The doctor was controlling the strength perfectly, keeping just enough distance.

The doctor's smile returned. "Don't worry, if I wanted to kill you, you'd already be dead."

Gao Yang thought about it and realized it made sense. He gradually calmed down and, trying to stay composed, asked directly, "Are you an awakened one or a beast?"

"You tell me," the doctor replied with a smile.

"I don't know," Gao Yang answered honestly. The more he learned about beasts, the harder it was to distinguish them from humans.

"Red Eyes, Serial Number 131. I identify beasts from humans by temperature. Overall, beasts have slightly higher body temperatures than humans, and there are subtle but regular differences in distribution," the doctor explained, his brown eyes suddenly glowing with a faint red light. "So, I can tell at a glance that you're human."

Gao Yang let out a breath of relief, glad it was a false alarm.

"My name is Bai Li Yi," the doctor extended his hand.

"Nice to meet you... Mr. Bai," Gao Yang shook his hand, visibly relaxing.

"You've only just awakened, haven't you?" Bai Li Yi asked.

"How did you know?"

"You seem more afraid of beasts than awakened ones."

Gao Yang paused. "Shouldn't I be?"

Bai Li Yi smiled meaningfully. "What's there to be afraid of with beasts? As long as you follow the rules and continue playing the innocent lamb, you won't be in any danger. They're more like humans than beasts, possessing both human and beast personalities and bodies. As long as you don't trigger the switch inside them, activating the 'beast' personality, in a way, they're just like us, living among us."

Gao Yang thought about it, the explanation sounding similar to Officer Huang's understanding.

Bai Li Yi adjusted his sitting posture, leaning forward slightly. The morning light melted behind him, a soft golden glow flowing along the edges of his glasses. "Compared to them, humans are far more terrifying."

Gao Yang pondered the words, unsure how to respond.

He decided to change the topic. "You're a surgeon, performing surgeries every day. Most of the people you deal with are beasts, right? Don't they reveal themselves?"

Bai Li Yi shook his head. "Beasts, when not beastified, are no different from humans. Their metabolism, self-healing, and immunity are slightly stronger, and their reproductive system feels a little less real, but I've seen some near-perfect imitations. If it weren't for my red eyes, I almost got tricked."

Gao Yang immediately thought of Officer Huang's "pregnant" wife. Perhaps she was one of those near-perfect imitations.

Bai Li Yi continued casually, sipping his coffee as if discussing an ordinary topic. "Beasts also have a life cycle, similar to humans. They're fragile when young, strong when adult, and deteriorate when old. Since beasts constantly play the role of humans, their abilities weaken over time. Older beasts, even in their beastified state, might be weaker than an average adult human."

Gao Yang recalled the "Aunt He" who attacked him at the pleasure hotel. Officer Huang had mentioned she had deteriorated significantly, otherwise her combat strength would be many times stronger.

"Then what about my family? Are they humans or... beasts?" Gao Yang was dying to know the answer, but was also afraid of the truth. His throat tightened, and his heart raced as he asked.

"I can't tell you. It's against the rules," Bai Li Yi smiled apologetically. "Actually, by talking to you today, I've already broken the rules. Please keep it confidential."

Ironically, Gao Yang sighed in relief. He suddenly remembered something. "Are you part of the organization?"

"Organization?" Bai Li Yi toyed with the word. "If you must call it that, then yes, I belong to a certain organization."

"Mr. Bai, I've only just awakened, and I have many questions I want to ask you," Gao Yang couldn't miss this opportunity, and quickly blurted them all out.

"I've heard that beasts don't have a real reproductive system. How do they reproduce? How did we humans come into existence? Why do they put us among them and go through all this trouble to play this 'house game' with us? Why is it only when we discover the truth that we awaken our powers?

"Why do beasts try to kill us when we awaken? How many types of beasts are there? Are they all bad? Can humans and beasts have children? Is it just my situation, or is this the case everywhere in the world..."

Bai Li Yi smiled in amusement. "Poor kid, you've been bottling this up for too long."

Gao Yang nearly cried, his mind filled with these questions since his awakening. Thinking about them too much could drive anyone mad.

"Sorry, I don't know the answers to many of these questions, and even if I do, I can't tell you," Bai Li Yi said, pausing to think. "But here's one last thing I'll say to you."