The news that the patient had gone into cardiac arrest mid-operation quickly spread through the hallway.
After a chaotic flurry, Hayes Hughes put on his surgical gown and went in.
The tense atmosphere of the operating room collided head-on with the oppressive anxiety of the hallway.
In the end, there were no winners.
After what felt like a century, the tightly closed doors finally swung open. Hayes Hughes’s breathing was ragged, but he pulled down his mask and managed a smile for them.
It was impossible to tell who in the crowd was the first to let out a sigh of relief.
All at once, a relieved clamor filled the hallway.
Faintly, one could hear the sound of Buddha Beads snapping and skittering across the floor.
"Who cried?"
Lying in her hospital bed, Mia Grant was taken aback by Ian Sinclair’s words.
Ian Sinclair thought for a moment, not mentioning that he had cried too. "Your brother, I think. Oh, and Yates Donovan. He cried the hardest."
Mia Grant was a little surprised.
Ian Sinclair said, "When we heard you’d gone into cardiac arrest during the operation, it really terrified us."
Mia Grant thought for a moment. She seemed to have a vague impression of it, but she couldn’t recall many details.
She only vaguely remembered seeing her parents in a tide of people, drifting further and further away from her.
She had desperately pushed through the crowd, trying to chase them.
Suddenly, a force struck from behind as someone grabbed her arm in a death grip.
The force was immense, like vines sprouting from the soles of her feet, climbing up through her veins and yanking her back with all their might.
She couldn’t break free.
Her next moment of awareness was when she woke up yesterday.
Post-operative pain wracked her entire body. She couldn’t fall asleep, even after taking painkillers.
Thankfully, the news of the successful surgery allowed her to breathe a small sigh of relief through the pain.
The doctor said she could be discharged after a week. But some people were still worried and negotiated with the doctor to have her stay in the hospital for a few more days.
Mia Grant had wanted to protest, but after hearing she’d gone into cardiac arrest mid-operation, she figured a few more days wouldn’t hurt. ’Besides, I’m not the one paying the medical bills.’
She had fought so hard to get her life back; it was time to cherish it.
And so, Mia Grant stayed in the hospital for a full extra week.
By the time she was discharged, spring in Jynsia had quietly come to an end.
The air was already thick with the muggy heat of summer. The sun was blistering. After only a few steps, fine beads of sweat dotted Mia Grant’s forehead. She found relief only after hurrying into the car.
Not long after her discharge, the System contacted Mia Grant again.
Unlike before, this time it had come to say goodbye.
Mia Grant was puzzled. "But we haven’t reached the original ending yet, have we?"
"If you just leave now, won’t that affect things?"
System: [The original ending’s plot has been altered. You can rest assured, Host. There will be no more unexpected incidents.]
Mia Grant fell silent.
After a long pause, she asked, "Did... something happen?"
The System hesitated for a moment before replying: [I’m free.]
Mia Grant froze.
She later learned that on the day of her surgery, in the previous world, an Ariel had leaped into the deep sea.
The program was altered, and the System was set free.
Mia Grant’s heart was in turmoil long after she learned the news.
The System transferred the full prize money to her as promised.
Mia Grant had, in fact, already guessed the source of the money.
The sum in her account was far greater than what the System had originally promised...
So much that she probably couldn’t spend it all even if she squandered it recklessly every day for the rest of her life.
Mia Grant donated a portion of the money.
She made the donation anonymously, leaving only a drawing of Ariel behind.
Before it left, the System asked if there was anything else she wanted to know.
Mia Grant thought for a moment and shook her head.
She no longer had any desire to confirm whether that chaotic memory from the surgery was real.
She said with a smile, "Just this once, let me be a coward."
The System knew what she was thinking, but it didn’t force the answer on her.
Even for a cold machine, it could sense that for Mia Grant, the answer would be like a heavy bullet fired from the past.
One that would strike, silently, right between the eyes.
She couldn’t accept that her mother, whom she had resented for so long, had actually been on her side all along.
She couldn’t come to terms with it all.
The suffering of those years had left indelible marks on her.
She couldn’t tell whose fault it was anymore.
She didn’t feel she was at fault, either. But then another thought would surface. ’Maybe I never should have left with my mother in the first place...’
’Maybe I’m the root of all this suffering.’
Mia Grant knew exactly where that line of thinking would lead. It was better to run from it.
Jynsia’s rainy season was concentrated in the height of summer.
The period spanning late July and early August saw the heaviest rainfall in Jynsia.
It was right in the middle of summer vacation, so Mia Grant cut off all contact with the outside world, stocked up on a month’s worth of food, and prepared for an early "hibernation."
Mia Grant was on the floor, leaning against the sofa and idly staring at the television.
The weather forecast announced that a torrential downpour would hit Jynsia the next day, urging citizens to prepare, stay away from bodies of water, and minimize travel.
’I’m going to sleep all day tomorrow,’ Mia Grant thought.
With eight hours to go before the storm’s arrival, the doorbell rang.
Mia Grant tilted her head. Seeing the figure on the security monitor, she pushed herself to her feet.
The door opened to reveal Yates Donovan, whom she hadn’t seen in a while.
Dr. Quinlan had mentioned that he’d been attending therapy, and that the results were significant.
Mia Grant felt a sense of relief seeing the familiar smile on his face.
"What are you doing here?" Despite the question, she stepped aside to let him in.
But Yates Donovan didn’t move.
She gave him a suspicious look.
"What is it?"
"I’m here to pick you up."
"Where are we going?" The moment she asked, Mia felt the question was pointless. She shook her head. "If it’s something important, wait until September. I’m absolutely not leaving the house in July or August."
He leaned against the doorframe, feigning disappointment. "Is that so? But the flight plan’s already been approved. It’d be a shame to let it go to waste."
"A flight to where?"
"To see the aurora in Rykia."
"What?!" Mia Grant’s eyes widened, but before she could react, Yates Donovan grabbed her wrist. "Come on, let’s go! We’ll talk on the way!"
"Hey! I’m still in my pajamas!"
"You can change in the car!"
"?"
Even as the plane was taking off, Mia Grant still felt like she was in a dream.
But the concierge for the trip was already standing before her, briefing her on the itinerary.
Mia Grant’s head was spinning as she listened, but she was well-mannered enough to nod along cooperatively the entire time.
The moment the man left the cabin, she aimed a swift kick at the man beside her, who was elegantly sipping red wine.
Yates Donovan, ever prepared, set his wine glass back on the table just in time to avoid spilling it.
His leg, however, took the full force of the blow.
Luckily for him, she was wearing flats.
"What the hell? When did I ever say I wanted to go see the aurora?"
"It’s not often you get a long break. Why coop yourself up at home instead of getting out?"
"I had my own plans."
"And your plans were to what? Hole up at home and find happiness in junk food?"
"..." Mia was speechless.
She gave up the fight and asked him when the trip would be over.
Yates Donovan picked up his phone and added her to a group chat.
Her phone buzzed. Mia opened it to see:
[One Big Happy Family]
Group Members: 7
Mia: "?"