While Song Jin Cheng may be academically lackluster, he has a good heart. Though he kept mentioning that Song Qing Shi's father should come to pay the bills, he used the twenty or so spirit stones in his possession to pay for Song Qing Shi's accommodation, quality medicine, and new clothes, aiding in his recovery.
While recuperating, Song Qing Shi sorted through both his memories and his mustard seed bag. He tried to correlate the information in his mind with what Song Jin Cheng had provided, analytically searching for clues to his identity post-time travel.
The first thing he ruled out was the possibility of being an influential figure.
He's merely a novice at the Foundation Building stage; he has no connection with any big shots. Plus, there are very few memory fragments of any formidable figures, not even their appearance. It's probably an error that occurred when the system malfunctioned—like a few green beans mistakenly mixed into a large bucket of soybeans, hardly worth mentioning.
Next, it was confirmed that he was Song Qing Shi, a medical student from modern times.
This set of memories is complete. Aside from a lapse due to eating alcohol-filled chocolate at the age of eight, he remembers everything—family, professors, online friends, books, and all sorts of modern medical knowledge and experiment data. It's likely a genuinely lived experience.
What finally made him hesitant was his identity as an immortal world's physician named Song Qing Shi.
He can vividly recall wandering out alone from the deep mountains and acquiring the inheritance of the Medicine King. However, some details differ; for instance, he could masterfully control the Netherworld Ghost Fire and Red Lotus Mystic Fire within him during the Foundation Building stage. That was something he couldn't do in his memories. He also remembers many alchemy techniques and medical skills not in the Medicine King's legacy, along with various books he had read. His professional knowledge seems intact, and his original cultivation level might have been higher; it's just that he's forgotten people and events for a period.
After synthesizing all of the above,
Song Qing Shi believes that he has traveled from being medical student Song Qing Shi to becoming immortal realm physician Song Qing Shi. Due to severe injuries, his cultivation level has dropped, resulting in partial amnesia. However, he's uncertain if it's temporary or permanent.
As the personality, thought patterns, and lifestyle habits of medical student Song Qing Shi and immortal realm physician Song Qing Shi are extremely similar, he's adapted well psychologically. He's not worried about identity issues, but...
He sorrowfully said, "I feel like I don't have a father."
Song Jin Cheng nearly dropped the melon he was holding, "I've invested my entire fortune in you, and now you're telling me this?!"
"I'm an orphan, without any relatives," Song Qing Shi summarized after assimilating memories from both lives. "I'm also quite unsociable and seem to lack friends." Seeing Song Jin Cheng's near-teary expression, he hastily added, "Don't worry, I'm sure someone gave me pocket money! Maybe a godfather? Let me think, I might remember later."
He emptied out his mustard bag, shaking out a hodgepodge of strange items—a wooden box containing a dead Illusion Gu, a book named "The Three Tiger-Slaying Brothers," colorful clay bird figurines, several talismans he made himself, some commonly-used herbs, and a notebook filled with medical records scribbled with experimental ideas.
There's also a small note on the Illusion Gu's wooden box that he wrote himself, saying "Do Not Peek."
After reading the note, he dutifully put the wooden box back, handing the talismans and herbs to Song Jin Cheng, "I remember these could fetch some money."
Song Jin Cheng became even more melancholic: "These herbs are farmed, and the talismans are mass-produced. They're worth, at most, two spirit stones."
Song Qing Shi looked puzzled: "Are talismans really that cheap?"
"You really must be from the countryside. You've read even fewer books than I have," Song Jin Cheng sighed. "Over a thousand years ago, Lady Nian developed a method for mass-producing talismans, making common ones a household necessity. Yours look hand-drawn; did you make them yourself?"
Song Qing Shi nodded. He gave up the idea of selling talismans for money and suggested, "Once my injuries heal, I'll sell elixirs. I'm excellent at alchemy, and the elixirs I produce will be in high demand. We'll earn the money back quickly."
"You, a Foundation Building cultivator, talk a big game," Song Jin Cheng scrutinized his youthful face and skeptically asked, "Can you refine Heaven-Earth Dark Gold Pills? How about Xuan Yuan Positive Qi Pills? Or Xue's Tranquility Pills? Or Lady Li's Herbal Ointment?"
All of these are currently the most popular and best-selling pills on the market, easy to make and with simple ingredients.
When the senior disciples of Medicine King Valley are short on cash, they often concoct elixirs for sale to earn some spirit stones.
Listening to the names of these formidable elixirs he had never heard of, Song Qing Shi felt devastated. His confidence took a massive hit.
"Don't push yourself," Song Jin Cheng said, his voice softening at the sight of Song Qing Shi's almost tearful expression. "In Medicine King Valley, we have a creed to heal and help others. You're my first patient, after all. Never mind, the medicine has been administered. Pay me back when you can afford it. Take your time. My family is well-off, and my parents do provide me with an allowance. I just didn't dare ask for money this time because my exams didn't go well."
Song Qing Shi was moved. "You're truly kind. I'll keep you company in your studies from now on."
In the future, he resolved to be nicer to academic underachievers. With twenty sets of papers every day, he would transform him into an academic powerhouse to repay this kindness.
Song Jin Cheng found Song Qing Shi's naiveté amusing. He casually responded, "Sure, sure. First, get yourself admitted to Medicine King Valley."
The two continued to sort through the heap of miscellaneous items. Song Jin Cheng stumbled upon a curious notebook. The handwriting was neat, and flipping through a few pages revealed it to be a record of someone's daily habits: favorite foods, colors, activities, even their birthdate. He handed the notebook over with a teasing grin, "Is this someone you're secretly enamored with?"
Song Qing Shi took the notebook and glanced at it, freezing on the spot.
Once again, that red figure flashed through his mind. The feeling of affection was so overpowering it left him breathless, as if a piece of his heart had been gouged out. The emotional toll was worse than the failure of an alchemical concoction, more painful than the loss of lab rats. The void seemed unfillable.
Tears swirled in his eyes and fell uncontrollably.
Song Jin Cheng was alarmed, unaware that he'd touched some inexplicable sore spot. "Are you okay?"
Regaining his composure, Song Qing Shi wiped away his tears and affirmed, "It's someone I care deeply about, but I can't remember who."
Song Jin Cheng inquired, "Is there a name written in the notebook?"
Song Qing Shi shook his head, "No, only characteristics and daily habits are written down, but..."
"You're too involved to see clearly. Let me, an outsider, analyze this for you," Song Jin Cheng, ever the enthusiast, picked up the notebook again and flipped through it. "See, it says here, 'excellent at cooking, makes delicious meals, even better desserts, and the best ice pops.' Do you have a fondness for desserts?"
Song Qing Shi looked at him expectantly, "Yes! I adore desserts, especially ice pops."
Song Jin Cheng responded enviously, "If this person isn't a chef, then they must care for you deeply to make your favorite foods so often."
Song Qing Shi felt comforted by this perspective, alleviating some of his heartache.
Song Jin Cheng double-checked, "This isn't your mother, is it?"
Song Qing Shi shook his head, "I have no relatives in this world."
"That's really unfortunate," Song Jin Cheng patted him consolingly on the head. "The notebook says that this person is intelligent, beautiful, kind-hearted, considerate, and gentle. They prefer white and red, have a somewhat frail constitution with a sensitive stomach, and enjoy sword training, alchemy, reading, and studying... Let me think..."
He fell into deep contemplation, his expression gradually distorting.
Song Qing Shi looked at him expectantly, awaiting an answer.
"How did you get so lucky?" Song Jin Cheng visualized the person described in his mind, then became unrecognizably jealous. Seizing Song Qing Shi, he demanded, "This has to be a beautiful and virtuous girl—gentle, charming, and even a good cook! My God, she's the woman of my dreams! Tell me, how did you manage to captivate such a wonderful young lady? You must teach me!"
Song Qing Shi was shaken by his outburst: "A girl?"
He wasn't quite certain about his own sexual orientation; it seemed that gender didn't matter as long as there was love.
Song Jin Cheng continued his analysis, "Look, here it particularly notes that this person is emotionally sensitive. That doesn't sound like a carefree man, does it?"
Song Qing Shi concluded, "So, the one I'm fond of is a sentimental girl?"
"No, a goddess," Song Jin Cheng affirmed. "Just look at the various descriptions you've scribbled on the blank pages—graceful, beautiful, enchanting. Surely these adjectives wouldn't apply to a man. And you've written 'very beautiful' several times. Just how beautiful is she?"
Song Qing Shi struggled to picture the red figure in his mind, "Perhaps...beautiful enough to topple empires?"
"Nonsense! As if a stunner like that would give you the time of day," Song Jin Cheng felt he was shameless but remained incredibly envious. He scrutinized Song Qing Shi from head to toe, "You have a decent face, but you're rather skinny. You don't seem the type to be popular with girls. How can someone like you have a girlfriend while I, tall and handsome as I am, remain single?"
Song Qing Shi pondered briefly, "I tend to take the initiative."
"Take the initiative?" Song Jin Cheng was puzzled.
Song Qing Shi proficiently elaborated, "When you meet someone you like, you have to confess your feelings, share all your assets, give abundant gifts, and be obedient. If she tells you to go east, go east. If she tells you to kneel and wash clothes, do so. The wife is always right. If she's wrong, refer to the previous rule."
This was what his father in modern society had taught him, a lesson approved by both his mother and sister.
Knowing his emotional intelligence was low and that he was not skilled at expressing affection, he decided that when he found someone he loved, he would follow these guidelines.
This notebook proved that his approach to romance was effective.
Song Jin Cheng was conflicted, "What about a man's pride?"
Song Qing Shi asked earnestly, "Which do you want more: a girlfriend or your pride?"
Song Jin Cheng patted him on the shoulder, sighing, "Man, I've realized you're deeper than I thought."
Song Qing Shi stated gravely, "Although I can't remember who this girl is, I intend to find her again."
"Hold on," Song Jin Cheng suddenly pondered, "You said you don't have any relatives and are not good at making money, but someone gave you a lot of money..."
Song Qing Shi nodded in agreement.
Song Jin Cheng grew even more jealous: "You're not, by any chance, a boy toy kept by a woman, are you?"
Song Qing Shi's expression instantly darkened. He wanted to rebut, but couldn't find a counterargument. He was rendered speechless, infuriated like a puffed-up blowfish. After a while, he even began to wonder if Song Jin Cheng might be correct. Feeling despondent, he resolved to work hard to earn money, so as not to let down the woman he loved.
Song Jin Cheng opened the window and gazed outside, feeling a melancholy that seemed too old for his age. He sighed, "The world is really unfair."
From outside the window came the frenetic chirping of birds.
These days, he felt as though the birds had gone mad, flying and chirping everywhere, as if they were searching for something.
"So annoying," he muttered as he closed the window, "It's not even spring. What's gotten into them?"
Song Qing Shi concurred, "It is a bit noisy."