Bai Jing stared at the white space in front in a daze. Flashbacks of what happened earlier kept replaying in his mind. It was a sunny day, and he went out for a stroll at the ice cream mall. The mall was parked with lots of people, he waited in line for three minutes before it was his turn. After getting his three-flavor ice cream of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberries, he walks out of the mall feeling refreshed. The next thing he knew, the weather suddenly changed, and a lightning bolt came down striking him.
Thinking over and over, Bai Jing still couldn't tell where he went wrong. The Heavens should be playing jokes on him.
Bai Jing was a child born into a wealthy family but during his birth, an undutiful nurse exchanged him with another family baby. That family was not what you call a healthy family. The man and his wife argue and fight all day long. They did not care for their child, leaving poor Bai Jing to feed himself. After the family business declined, the home workers and servants all ran away.
When Bai Jing was just three years old, the man and his wife broke up. None of them wanted to care for the unwanted baby and thus sent him to the orphanage. Bai Jing grew up in the orphanage with other orphans; although things were okay there, he was not able to eat his fill every day.
It wasn't until Bai Jing turned five years old, he started doing chores that he was able to eat at least two meals a day.
On Bai Jing's fifteenth birthday, the Bai couple came to take him home and explain the unseen event that took place during his birth. They promise to make it up to him.
When Bai Jing was taken to the Bai residence, he was treated like a young master. This made him forget that he used to live in the gutter. It has been a year since then and now, here he was, in a white space after a premature death.
The more he thought about it, the more irritated he felt. Why didn't that bolt of lightning come when he was suffering? Now that his parents had taken him back and he was enjoying life, he died just like that!
"We apologize for your loss. Due to a system error, you were caught in someone's heavenly tribulation for another world and transported here." A voice sounded within the space.
Bai Jing was instantly awakened; he looked around for the source of the voice but saw nothing. He was brought here by mistake? Wouldn't that mean he could go back? The mere thought fills him with excitement.
I knew it! There is no way I could have done something wrong to provoke the heavenly tribulation. Bai thought excitedly, then asked with expectation: "So.... Can you send me back, kind sir?"
The voice sighs softly: "Although you came here by mistake, I can't send you back."
"Why?" Bai Jing felt like a bucket of icy water was poured on his head.
"A month has passed since your death, and your body has already been laid to rest."
"What? Impossible!" Bai Jing stood there in shock.
He could swear that he had only been here about an hour since his death.
Noticing his doubt, the invisible person explained: "This is the boundary between the worlds. From your world, an hour here is equivalent to a month there. Do not worry, I will compensate you by sending you to another world."
To another world? That means I still have a chance. Bai Jing cheered up again' "Can I choose which world to go to?"
Forget about being sad, since he won't go back to his real world anyway. He might as well make use of this opportunity.
"Unfortunately, No. Considering the time difference, it is easy for an error to occur. Stand in that formation." Said the voice
Bai Jing looked around and saw a formation circle that was lit up. It looks like a magic circle at first glance but with a closer look, you could see the programming. He cautiously walked to the center as instructed. A blue light shone when the formation was activated.
"I have given you everything you will need. From this point on, it all depends on you. Every decision and choice you make has an impact on your story."
Bai Jing felt drowsy, and his body was light as he fell into space.
…...
Bai Jing felt a sharp pain in his head when he woke up. His entire body was heavy and numb, but the throbbing pain in his head made it worse. He groaned quietly as he tried to sit up, but the pressure on his head forced him back down again. He blinked slowly before he heard running footsteps.
"Xiao Jing!" A voice called out across him. Bai Jing turned his head slightly and saw Zhen Ping running towards him.
He looked worried as he reached him quickly: "What happened?"
Bai Jing could barely get the words out: "It..." His voice cracked and he coughed weakly. "Hurts."
Zhen Ping placed his hand gently against Bai Jing's forehead: "You almost died after that fall. Luckily, only your foot was broken... You should lay back down."
Bai Jing closed his eyes and shook his head: "I'm sorry for causing you trouble. It won't happen again."
Zhu Ping sighed softly and shook his head: "You…, It doesn't matter; you have your own life to live. It's my fault for being so useless and not being able to protect you."
He moved away from the bed and headed towards the door. Before he left, he turned around and said one last thing: "You need to be more careful, Xiao Jing! You have always had a bad habit of pushing yourself too much. If you keep doing this, you could lose things that are important to you." He stared at Bai Jing's bandaged leg carefully before heading to the door, shutting it behind him with a soft click.
As soon as Zhen Ping was gone, Bai Jing let himself slide back onto the bed and held a hand over his chest. He squeezed his eyes shut tightly; he was very confused.