**Chapter 438: [Epilogue] Shen Wei (1)**

“Beep—”

“Beep beep—”

The sound of the life monitor echoed in her ears.

Shen Wei's consciousness slowly returned. She felt as if her eyelids weighed a thousand pounds. She couldn't help but wonder if it was her age catching up with her, or perhaps the excessive sweets she had indulged in recently that had caused her eyes to suffer from a serious ailment.

She struggled to open her eyes.

Voices surrounded her—

“The patient in Room 3 is awake! Quick, notify Dr. Fang!”

“It’s a miracle! Both patients in Rooms 1 and 3 woke up on the same day.”

“A comatose patient for three to five years can still awaken—what a miracle!”

The commotion around her was overwhelming.

Shen Wei felt the smart hospital bed shift slightly, and with the help of the equipment, she slowly propped herself up. The light was bright, and she squinted, trying to adjust to it.

This room, filled with machines, was not her royal villa.

She saw three or four doctors in white coats and protective gear approaching her—wait, doctors?

Shen Wei's mind snapped back into focus.

Doctors!

Had she returned to the modern world?

Shen Wei found it hard to believe. Mo Xun had told her before that the equipment was completely broken, and they could never return to the modern era.

But now, miraculously, she was back.

Shen Wei felt dazed and bewildered.

Just then, a tall figure in white approached her. He stood in front of Shen Wei, gently lifted her eyelid with his fingertip, and shone a small light into her pupil. Then, he began checking the data from the machines.

“Shen Wei, can you hear me?” the young doctor asked.

Shen Wei furrowed her brow. The years had stretched on so long that she had nearly forgotten her past. She studied the clear contours of the face before her, thinking hard, before finally saying, “Fang... Fang Xuezhang? Dr. Fang?”

If she remembered correctly, the doctor in the white coat was her senior from university.

His name was Fang Zheng.

Fang Zheng let out a sigh of relief. “It seems your memory is intact. You just woke up; we’ll need to draw some blood for tests, and then you can have some liquid food.”

Shen Wei nodded wearily.

She leaned back against the bed, watching the nurses bustle about. The needle pricking her hand brought a subtle sting, and it was then that Shen Wei accepted this was not a dream.

She had truly returned.

Shen Wei found it hard to adjust. After Mo Xun's death in the Kingdom of Qing, she and Li Yuanjing had wandered through Qing, Yue, Nan Chu, and Dong Lin, traversing countless mountains and rivers.

She couldn’t sit still; her life needed purpose, and traveling satisfied her craving for novelty.

As she grew older and her legs became less cooperative, Shen Wei decided to settle by the lake in Yanjing City. Her goal was clear: she wanted to live to be a hundred, free from illness and die peacefully.

Li Yuanjing knew of her grand ambition and decided to accompany her on her journey to longevity. He was delighted to settle down and even happily started a vegetable garden.

Unfortunately, Li Yuanjing's wish was unfulfilled. At eighty, while picking lotus flowers for Shen Wei by the lake, he slipped and fell into the cold water.

After being pulled out, he fell gravely ill. In his final moments, he clutched Shen Wei's sleeve, his eyes filled with reluctance, as if he had a thousand words to say.

After Li Yuanjing passed away, Shen Wei firmly believed she could still live to be a hundred.

She had thought that his death wouldn’t affect her too much. But ever since he left, her energy had dwindled, and she felt increasingly unmotivated, her days dull and her spirit low.

She remembered that she had simply taken a nap as usual, and upon waking, she found herself back in the modern world.

What a pity she hadn’t lived to a hundred; it left her with a tinge of regret.

Shen Wei closed her eyes, spending half an hour digesting her long past in the Kingdom of Qing.

...

...

Shen Wei returned to her body. She looked down at her thin, frail hands. Having lived in a sterile room for so long, her skin was almost translucent. Her fingernails were neatly trimmed, and she was clean and tidy.

Clearly, her caregivers had been diligent.

That afternoon, after waking up, Shen Wei leaned against her hospital bed, watching TV, eager to catch up on the three years she had missed. Suddenly, a familiar figure rushed into the room.

“President Shen! Shen Wei! Oh, thank the heavens, you’re awake!”

Shen Wei looked up.

She smiled, “Oh, it’s little Ho, you’ve changed so much in these years.”

The newcomer was her childhood friend, Huo Ze. They had grown up in the same village. In her junior year of college, she had decided to start a business and had dragged Huo Ze along. Together, they had spent five years expanding a small tech company from just the two of them to a mature enterprise with five hundred employees, successfully going public.

Huo Ze seemed to have rushed over; his suit was slightly disheveled, and his youthful features had matured significantly.

Yet in Shen Wei’s eyes, he still looked like a child who hadn’t grown up. He scratched his head, “Sis, don’t tease me. Just call me by my name.”

Shen Wei asked, “Did the company go under?”

She was genuinely concerned.

The company had just gone public when she, a veteran of the firm, had an accident. Many products she had personally overseen were still incomplete, and after the IPO, they might face trouble and risk bankruptcy.

Huo Ze rolled his eyes. He leaned against the glass window, chattering away, “Sis, I’ve been following you since we were kids. I’m no slacker! When you had your accident, I felt like the sky was falling... Luckily, the foundation you left behind was solid, and with government and research support these past two years, our company has been thriving, making billions in net profit every year! We’re planning to expand overseas, and we need you at the helm.”

“Our company can’t do without you! God knows how I’ve managed these past few years! Every day at work felt like a funeral, dealing with eight hundred things! I cried outside your hospital room every week, and the nurses thought I was a rare, devoted man, always bringing me fruit and tissues.”

Seeing him ramble on, Shen Wei interrupted, “Compile the financial reports and industry trends into a booklet and send it to me tonight.”

Huo Ze froze, his gaze sweeping over the IV drip on Shen Wei’s hand, the monitoring equipment on her head, and the oxygen mask on her face—

Huo Ze scratched his head, “You’re still sick. Why don’t we wait until you’re discharged? Oh, sis, you’re really too dedicated, looking at financial reports while wearing an oxygen mask.”

Huo Ze had always known that Shen Wei was a workaholic.

Back in their village, Shen Wei would walk for hours to school without ever being late. She was like a finely-tuned machine, setting goals and executing them flawlessly.

Later, she became the most successful child in the village, rising from nothing to amass a fortune. Even after achieving financial freedom, Shen Wei never stopped striving.

Shen Wei replied, “If I’m going to be idle, I might as well look at the financial reports to pass the time.”

Huo Ze hesitated, ready to concede, “Alright then, I’ll go back and—”

Before he could finish, steady footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor. Shen Wei’s attending physician, Fang Zheng, had arrived.

Fang Zheng glanced at Huo Ze and told him, “The patient needs to rest.”

Huo Ze beamed, turning to Shen Wei in the room, “Dear President Shen, it’s not that I don’t want to give you the financial reports—it's just that the doctor won’t allow it. I’ll head back to the company now, and I’ll come see you tomorrow. Love you lots!”

With that, Huo Ze dashed away.

Shen Wei rolled her eyes secretly, then turned her gaze back to the news broadcast in the room, eager to catch up on the direction of the times.

The news broadcast served as a barometer for national development, containing insights into industry trends, making it worth watching.

Fang Zheng, now in his protective gear, entered the room. After checking Shen Wei’s blood pressure and heart rate, he informed her, “You’ve been lying down for three years. After you’re discharged, it’s best to rest for at least another six months and avoid getting too caught up in work. Additionally, you’ll need regular check-ups every month.”

Shen Wei replied, “I’m aware.”

She had never been one to joke about her health; she always chose the path that was most beneficial for her.

Fang Zheng looked at Shen Wei thoughtfully and nodded gently.

In the days that followed, Shen Wei worked hard on her rehabilitation, using her free time to catch up on news and financial reports. Strangely enough, her body seemed to recover quickly; within half a month, she could walk and eat normally.

Even Fang Zheng was surprised.

After passing all her check-ups, Shen Wei quickly arranged for her discharge. Fang Zheng happened to be free and personally drove her home.

...

It was the weekend, and the city streets were bustling with traffic, skyscrapers towering above.

Fang Zheng started the car, and Shen Wei sat in the passenger seat, gazing out at the cityscape, her emotions a mix of nostalgia and wonder.

The car drove through the city, arriving at a villa area in the southern district. Shen Wei owned a spacious flat here.

She activated the fingerprint lock and opened the door. Huo Ze was always thorough; knowing Shen Wei was coming back, he had arranged for the place to be cleaned in advance.

As Shen Wei stepped inside, the room was bright and elegantly styled. As she entered, the smart home system activated, adjusting the temperature to a comfortable level.

After dropping her off, Fang Zheng didn’t linger but carefully reminded her to take care of her health and not overexert herself.

Shen Wei said, “Thank you for bringing me back. I’ll treat you to a meal sometime.”

Fang Zheng smiled warmly, “It was nothing.”

Shen Wei closed the door behind her.

Fang Zheng took the elevator down. The elevator was empty, with one side being a full-length mirror. He glanced at his reflection; having just entered spring, he had chosen a simple, casual summer outfit, wearing a light blue shirt under a black thin jacket, and had styled his hair neatly.

In the mirror, he looked quite handsome by conventional standards.

What a pity Shen Wei didn’t spare him a second glance.

"Shen Wei returned to her house, slipping off her shoes and feeling the coolness of the wooden floor beneath her bare feet. Like a child, she wandered around the floor for several laps, relishing the sensation.

She made her way to the balcony, where large floor-to-ceiling windows offered a view of the winding city river and the lush greenery of nearby parks. The spring sunlight was warm, and Shen Wei closed her eyes, soaking in the gentle warmth on her skin. It felt delightful. The breeze brushed against her face, adding to her comfort.

Shen Wei basked in the sun on the balcony for the entire afternoon, feeling cozy and content, even her pores seemed to exude relaxation. As dusk approached, there was a loud knock on the door.

“Dear President Shen, I’ve brought you dinner! And flowers too!” Huo Ze exclaimed as he entered, carrying food and a bouquet.

The meal consisted of two dishes and a soup, rich in nutrition. The flowers were a large potted rosebush from the flower market. Huo Ze struggled to place the pot on the balcony and said to Shen Wei, “All the plants you had before have withered away, so I brought you some new ones. How about these roses? They’re easy to care for, bloom abundantly, and smell lovely.”

Under the setting sun, the vibrant roses swayed gently. Their petals unfurled, reminding Shen Wei of memories long past. Noticing Shen Wei’s silence, Huo Ze asked, puzzled, “Don’t you like roses? Should I take them back?”

Shen Wei shook her head, her tone flat. “Leave them. They look nice.”

The roses remained on her balcony. The television was on, playing gossip news from the entertainment industry. The host, with a tone of excited gossip, announced, “It’s reported that the famous Asian superstar Adrian has awakened! He was in a car accident two weeks ago, causing global concern among his fans. With his awakening, he has announced his return to domestic development, and fans…”

In modern life, watching TV during meals often served as mere background noise. As Shen Wei and Huo Ze ate dinner, he suddenly glanced at her with curiosity. “President Shen…”

Shen Wei took a sip of water. “What is it?”

Huo Ze’s expression turned strange. “Have you noticed that your choice of words has been a bit odd lately?”

Shen Wei was puzzled. “What do you mean?”

Huo Ze counted on his fingers, beginning to list examples. “When you were in the hospital, I brought you breakfast, and you called it ‘early meal’—ha ha, I was so confused at the time.”

In modern society, people typically say “breakfast,” yet Shen Wei had used the more formal term “early meal.” It was somewhat humorous.

Shen Wei took another sip of water. “Maybe my brain’s language center hasn’t fully recovered yet.”

Habits are hard to change. Huo Ze observed Shen Wei’s elegant manner as she ate, even the way she dabbed her mouth with a napkin exuded grace. It was as if she were partaking in a royal feast rather than a simple dinner.

After dinner, Shen Wei and Huo Ze discussed company matters. Since the company went public, it had stabilized, and as the founder, Shen Wei received substantial dividends each year. In other words, she no longer needed to work hard for money; the dividends ensured her financial security for the rest of her life.

Shen Wei decided to follow her doctor’s advice, taking a six-month break from work. When Huo Ze learned of her plan, he thought he had misheard. “A six-month break? I’ve known you for decades, and I’ve never seen you take more than 24 hours off! Come on, let’s go get you checked at the hospital again!”

Shen Wei shot him a glare.

Huo Ze quickly reined in his teasing. “Just kidding! Thank goodness you’re finally willing to take a vacation. Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on things at the company, and your dividends will remain intact. You should visit your hometown; I’ve invested in a beautiful guesthouse in your name, though the business isn’t doing too well.”

As night fell, Huo Ze left Shen Wei’s apartment. She took a shower, changed into soft, comfortable pajamas, and sank into her bed, which she hadn’t seen in years. The bed was large, with freshly laundered, high-quality bedding that felt as soft as clouds.

Shen Wei snuggled under the covers and slept soundly until dawn.

...

For three days, Shen Wei lounged comfortably at home. When she felt ready to leave, she asked Huo Ze to help her book a flight back to her hometown in the south.

Upon landing, Shen Wei arrived in a small city in the south. Driving a black SUV, she followed the GPS to the small mountain village where she had grown up. Over the past three years, the muddy path to the village had vanished, replaced by a smooth, wide concrete road leading in all directions. The old, dilapidated houses had become rare, replaced by beautiful, well-crafted new homes. The sign at the village entrance read, “Longquan Mountain Scenic Area, AAAA Level.”

In just a few short years, the village had undergone a dramatic transformation, with her childhood home now part of a 4A tourist area.

Shen Wei parked at the visitor center at the village entrance. Following the path of her memories, she climbed the mountain and found three solitary graves. To her surprise, there was no wild grass on the graves, and offerings were placed in front of the tombstones. Clearly, during her three years of unconsciousness, Huo Ze had arranged for the villagers to regularly clean the graves and make offerings.

Next to the graves stood a tall, ancient tree, its roots deeply embedded in the earth, its branches lush and green.

Standing before the three graves, Shen Wei whispered, “I’m back.”

The mountain breeze was gentle. The graves lay quietly, as if they had merged with the earth. Inside were her parents, who had passed away too early, and her grandmother, who had cared for her for over a decade.

Gently touching the tombstones, she spoke softly, “I’ve lived many years in another world and almost thought I wouldn’t return. But don’t worry, no matter where I am, I always manage to live well.”

As darkness approached, Shen Wei returned to the village. Over the past three years, the small mountain village had become a popular tourist destination, bustling with night markets where visitors from all around came to taste the local wild delicacies and fruits, and groups would climb the mountain at night.

The Sanqing Temple, where she often sought refuge from the rain as a child, had been renovated and now gleamed with gold. It seemed a social media influencer had visited, as the temple was said to be particularly effective in granting wishes, turning it into a trendy spot.

Standing at the temple entrance, Shen Wei glanced at the golden statues inside but didn’t enter. She found the guesthouse Huo Ze mentioned, perched atop the mountain, with a style reminiscent of ancient times, though its business was mediocre.

Identifying herself, the young receptionist eagerly greeted her as “President Shen” and led her to the best room on the top floor. “This is specially reserved for you by Mr. Huo; it hasn’t been occupied before.”

That night, guests arrived at the guesthouse, and after showing Shen Wei to her room, the young receptionist went downstairs to attend to them.

Shen Wei settled in at the guesthouse. The air on Longquan Mountain was fresh, and the attic was relatively quiet at night, with clean food and drink. After staying for half a month, one night, Shen Wei drove down to the town to buy some beer.

The mountain roads were difficult to navigate at night, so Shen Wei turned on her high beams. But as she rounded a corner, she heard a loud thud from the front of the car.

It seemed she had hit someone.

Shen Wei immediately slammed on the brakes, cursing under her breath about the fool wandering in the middle of the road at such a late hour!

...

...

At the Capital International Airport, the arrival hall was packed with fans waiting to greet their idol, a mix of young and old. Brightly lit signs waved, and dozens of large screens displayed welcome posters for the international superstar.

The fans’ enthusiasm could almost ignite the street.

“Adrian is actually coming back to develop in the country! Oh my god, I still feel like I’m dreaming.”

“Which company is he going to sign with?”

“He’ll probably start his own studio; domestic entertainment companies are all traps.”

“The movie he starred in last year, ‘The Last Emperor,’ broke records in Asian cinema! I’ve watched it countless times; Adrian is a born emperor!”

“Didn’t he play an emperor before? His acting is incredible!”

“Adrian was abandoned by his parents as a child and started acting at three to make money. He’s been in the industry for twenty-five years, a seasoned actor who can embody any role.”

The fans chattered excitedly.

The silver wings of the plane cut through the sky as it landed. Guided by airport staff, the rumored superstar Adrian exited through a special passage.

In the garage, a door of a Cullinan opened, and a middle-aged man in a suit blocked Adrian and his entourage’s path.

The middle-aged butler respectfully addressed Adrian, “Young Master, the sir knows you’re back and specifically asked me to wait here to take you back to the old residence.”

The young man with black hair and sunglasses raised an eyebrow, sneering, “I don’t want to see him. I need to find someone very important, and I can’t be late this time.”

The middle-aged butler was puzzled. “Who are you looking for, Young Master? Is it the elder brother? He’s in the south—”

The black-haired youth interrupted him, “Don’t mention him to me. I used to hate him, but now that I think back on the past, I wish I could kill him myself.”

The middle-aged butler dared not say another word.

The conflict between the Li brothers was something he, as a butler, could not involve himself in.

Ultimately, the black-haired youth drove away.

His driver and manager asked, “Adrian, where are we headed?”

The black-haired youth closed his eyes and replied slowly, “To a company called Weinian Technology.”

This time, he was determined to meet Shen Wei before Li Yuanjing did.

...

...

At the town hospital in the south, Shen Wei exerted all her strength to help the unfortunate man, covered in blood, out of the car.

She handed the injured man over to the doctor and paid for his hospitalization, prepaying for his medical expenses. Shen Wei told the doctor, “Do whatever it takes to save him.”

After examining the patient, the doctor informed Shen Wei, “He’s lucky; he only has a head injury and is bleeding a bit. He’s temporarily unconscious but should wake up tomorrow.”

Shen Wei let out a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness he wasn’t dead.

If he had died, Shen Wei would probably end up in jail.

What kind of idiot wanders around on a mountain road in the middle of the night? Even with the headlights on, she hadn’t seen him. Shen Wei suspected he might have been trying to scam her for money.

She didn’t visit the unfortunate man in the hospital but instead hired two caregivers to look after him and returned to the guesthouse on the mountain to rest.

The next day, Shen Wei slept soundly in her warm bed. Oddly enough, while she had always dreamed of modern society during her time in Qingguo, now that she was back in her longed-for hometown, she rarely dreamed of Li Yuanjing.

“Beep—”

“Beep beep—”

The ringtone of her phone broke the silence.

Groggily, Shen Wei reached for her phone under the pillow, squinting as she answered, “Hello?”

On the other end, a voice said, “Hello, is this Miss Shen? This is the county hospital. Your family member has woken up today, but there’s something a bit off. We hope you can come to the hospital.”

Shen Wei sighed, “Okay, I’ll be there shortly.”

After hanging up, she looked out the window; dawn was breaking, and mist was rising in the mountains. Shen Wei pulled herself out of bed, putting on a gray trench coat before heading out.

It was Saturday, and the mountain was bustling with tourists, causing traffic jams on the winding roads. Shen Wei drove for a full hour before finally reaching the town hospital.

The doctor informed her, “Miss Shen, your family member is physically healthy, but he suffered a head injury, which may have caused memory loss and confusion. He can’t remember his name or anything else.”

Shen Wei rubbed her temples.

Amnesia?

Was this cliché really happening to her?

“I’ll go see him,” Shen Wei said.

She bought a fruit basket downstairs and made her way through the narrow hospital corridor to the patient’s room. The small hospital room had three beds. On the two beds near the door, one patient was screaming in agony from hemorrhoids, while another with a broken bone was also howling in pain.

Only the bed against the wall was silent.

It was an adult man.

He sat with his back to Shen Wei, his head wrapped in a white bandage, gazing out at the two red roses that peeked in from the balcony.

His back was quite sturdy, clearly the type who worked out regularly. Shen Wei noticed the white shirt he wore was an expensive brand, and he sported a luxury watch on his wrist.

He must come from a well-off family.

Shen Wei was even more puzzled. What was a wealthy young man doing wandering around on a mountain road at night? Shopping?

“Cough, I heard you have amnesia. I came to visit you,” Shen Wei cleared her throat.

At the sound of her voice, the man turned to face her.

Their eyes met.

The fruit basket in Shen Wei’s hands fell to the floor with a thud, apples rolling everywhere.

Shen Wei thought she was seeing things. Instinctively, she glanced around; this was a rundown town hospital room, not the royal estate at Luoyue Lake in Qingguo.

But the person before her undeniably had the same face as Li Yuanjing. After getting used to the sight of the elderly, wrinkled Li Yuanjing, she was now staring at a younger version of him, not yet thirty.

Shen Wei was left speechless for a long moment."