"...he just need some rest, he'll be fine in some days. I'll prescribe you some medicines."
"Thank you doctor for visiting at this hour."
As Yu han cracked open his eyelids, the hushed tones of the conversation drifted into his awareness.
His gaze began to wander, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. He was reclining on a plush, oversized bed, swathed in a crisp white blanket that seemed to glow in the soft light.
Two figures stood nearby, their voices hushed as they spoke in furtive tones, their words punctuated by occasional glances in his direction.
One of them was clad in a crisp doctor's coat, the stark white a testament to his profession.
The other, however, was a behemoth of a man, his broad shoulders and chiseled physique evident even beneath his fitted black shirt and gray pants.
He towered above Yu Han,his towering frame casting a long shadow on the floor, and even Yun Han's respectable height of 170 cm seemed diminutive in comparison. His short, raven-black hair was styled in a way that accentuated his sharp features, lending him an air of mystery and intensity that was impossible to ignore.
He turned around after seeing off the doctor out of the room and start walking towards Yu Han. He startled when he saw him walking but at the same time Yu Han was submerged in his face which was bright as moon, his eyes were intensely focused, with a sharp, angular shape that seemed to bore into Yu Han's soul.
His lips were thin pressed together, giving me a determined look. His face is so masculine with sharp jawline.
"How are you feeling now?" A deep ocean like voice asked Yu Han.
Yu Han came back into his senses after hearing this.
"I'm fine. Where am I?" Yu Han asked.
This man gave Yu Han a fierce look and said in cold voice.
"This is not paramount for me to tell you where the fuck you are. The important thing is that you tell me, did you send the confidential documents of our company to Shi Wang or not?"
When Yu Han heard this, he recollect the fragments of his memories.
_________________________
[Three days ago]
"Hey, Yu Han..are you coming with me to eat dumplings at night??" A smooth and velvety voice asked Yu Han.
"Umm..I want to but I can't, I have to go on my part time job for my night shift. We'll go there some other day."
"I know you are sad..did you visit your parents grave??"
"Yang Zi, you remembered my parents death anniversary??"
"Of course dummy, you are my best friend. I know everything about you. Then, I'm going home. Don't forget to eat something."
Yu Han assured Yang Zi that they'll definitely spend some time together doing his favourite things.
Yang Zi is Yu Han's best friend. He and his family has been always there for Yu Han after his parents death. Yu Han lives with him in his house. His parents brought Yu Han up like their own son. They also study in the same college in same department, Their major is finance.
This is already 7 PM, and Yu Han have to go on his night shift at a convenience store.
In Beijing, the night is always lively with large buildings but the store where he works is not on the main road, so there are always few people who come to buy things.
He is on the way to the store, this is a moonless night seemed to swallow the road whole in darkness.. he's still walking towards his destination with malevolent emotions in his heart.
" I don't know why I'm feeling this low right now may be because of the darkness."
Finally, the road of darkness comes to end and he pushed the Store's door where a man who saw him and start taking off his store's uniform and said,
"You came late Yu Han, you know na today is my date, I have to be on time." Shin Lao who is Yu Han's coworker, said this and walked out of the store in hurry, he didn't even heard him saying sorry.
He went in staff room, put on his uniform and started his shift. He sat on cashier's chair doing his homework.
It's already 10 PM, there are very few customers at this time. He started feeling hungry, he brought some snacks from drawer and start eating them. Time is passing like sand from hand.
He noticed the time, it's half past twelve, since, it's midnight means there is no more customers. He relaxed a little, put on his ear plugs and start listening to music.
~Let's go
With my freshly brewed milk coffee
And the long-lost sunshine of early summer~
Yu Han hummed softly, a faint smile playing on his lips as the indie-pop melody pulsed through his earbuds.
The rhythmic clang of the refrigerator door and the gentle hum of the air conditioning were the usual soundtrack of his late-night convenience store shift, perfectly overridden by his music. He tapped his foot idly, eyes scanning the rows of glowing snacks.
"THUD!!!"
Suddenly, a loud, jarring THUD echoed from just outside the automatic doors, cutting through the music's gentle rhythm.
Yu Han's eyes flickered open, pulling one earbud out. Before he could process the sound, the automatic doors hissed open, and a man stumbled in.
He was dishevelled, breathing heavily, eyes wide with terror, darting around the store as if pursued by a ghost.
The man spotted Yu Han, his gaze locking on him with an desperate intensity that sent a shiver down Yu Han's spine.
"Pen! Do you have a pen?! Quick, please, just a pen!" the man's voice was ragged, breathless, almost a plea. He edged closer, hands trembling.
Yu Han stared, bewildered. He was still holding the earbud, the music a muffled distant beat from the other."Apen? Now?"
"A... a pen?" Yu Han asked, pulling out the other earbud. "Sir, are you alright?"
"Just... just give me one! Please, now!" The man's desperation was palpable, his eyes darting towards the door he'd just entered.
Yu Han, unnerved by the sheer panic radiating off the man, quickly reached under the counter. He pulled out a cheap ballpoint and held it out. "Here... but what—"
The man immediately took the pen and wrote something on the paper, and then,
"BANG!!!!!!!!"
A deafening CRACK ripped through the quiet store, sharp and impossibly loud. The sound reverberated, a physical blow. The man in front of Yu Han froze, his eyes widening further, not with fear this time, but with a terrible, dawning comprehension.
Then, slowly, almost gracefully, he swayed. A dark, rapidly expanding stain blossomed on the side of his head, just above his ear.
Blood, vibrant and shocking, began to pool around his head, painting a grotesque contrast against the white floor.
Yu Han stood rooted. His mind refused to process what his eyes were showing him.
The man... the blood... the sound. His ears rang, the sudden silence of the store amplifying the frantic thumping of his own heart. A cold dread seeped into his bones, numbing him, then setting him on fire.
He felt a wave of nausea, the world tilting precariously. The bright fluorescent lights above seemed to spin. The air grew thick, suffocating. His knees buckled. A dizzying blackness began to creep in from the edges of his vision. He tried to brace himself, to grasp onto the counter, but his limbs felt like lead. A low groan escaped his lips as he too, fell.
His head hit the floor with a dull THUMP, the impact jarring his already disoriented senses.
As darkness enveloped him, a large, dark silhouette filled the automatic doors. Vaguely, he registered the imposing figure, a menacing shadow against the stark streetlights outside. He couldn't make out a face, just the sheer scale of the man, filling the doorway, casting a long, ominous shadow over the scene.
Then, everything went black.
"Am I dead?? What just happened?? Is that just a dream?? Am I dreaming??"
Lots of question popped up in his mind even in unconscious state.
___________________
[At hospital]
He woke up with strong smell of medicine from surrounding. He examined the surrounding from his blurry vision, there are lot of patients lying beside him, he was in a general ward of a hospital. A nurse saw him opening his eyes and said,
"How are you feeling right now Mr.? Can you tell me your name, I need it to register in our patient's record. If you are feeling well, please give us your contact details, we will contact your relatives."
He didn't remember anything from last night, he asked her in confusion,
"Why am I here?? What happened to me?? Who took me here??"
"Sir last night a man admitted you in here. You were unconscious and your clothes also stained in blood."
When he heard the word 'BLOOD' , the memories of last night flashed in front of him. His heart started beating uncontrollably, his body started trembling and his face turned pale.
The nurse saw Yu Han's pale face and said in comforting voice,
"Sir don't worry, doctor said you are fine. And your medical bills were already paid "
She doesn't know what made him shivering.
He gathered his courage and requested her not to call anyone.
"I have to leave!!"