Binhai People's Hospital.
Chen Mo's eyes snapped open.
For a second, he was disoriented, staring at the white ceiling above his hospital bed.
Was it all… a dream?
He felt a dull ache in his head. But something else was there too—a memory, vivid and intact.
The Low-Level Human Potential Development Technology.
It was real. The Library of Science and Technology was real.
Closing his eyes again, Chen Mo reached inward.
And instantly, the colossal hundred-meter gate appeared before him once more. Blinding white light engulfed him, and just like that, he was back—standing in that endless, otherworldly library.
Bookshelves stretched into infinity.
Not a dream.
When he opened his eyes again, the sterile smell of disinfectant brought him back to the hospital. He looked around, slightly dazed.
Still in a ward. His head throbbed faintly, and when he reached up to touch it, he found a lump under the bandage. Pressing it made him wince.
That's when he noticed the weight on his right arm.
He glanced down—and paused.
A girl was sleeping on his arm.
The girl from the library.
Dark hair in a simple ponytail, face relaxed and peaceful in sleep.
He stayed still, afraid to disturb her.
There was something about this quiet moment—her light breathing, the faint scent he remembered from the library—that tugged at a part of his heart he hadn't opened in a long time.
Eventually, she stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, and she immediately pulled back, flustered.
"You're awake!" she said quickly, cheeks turning red.
Chen Mo smiled. "Yeah. How long was I out?"
"Almost three days. The doctor said it was just a mild concussion. Nothing serious," she explained. "Thank you… for saving me in the library."
"No need to thank me," Chen Mo replied softly.
He glanced at her tired expression and felt a pang of guilt. "You've… been taking care of me this whole time?"
She nodded shyly. "Your advisor came by. Since the doctor said you'd wake up soon, they didn't want to worry your family. They asked me to look after you."
"…Thank you." His voice was warm.
"It's the least I could do—you saved me." She hesitated, then added, "My name's He Xiaoyu. You can call me Xiaoyu. Like 'little fish.'"
"Chen Mo," he replied. "Mo, as in 'silent.'"
Their eyes met.
Xiaoyu's face turned an even deeper shade of pink, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.
Grrrrrgle...
The awkward silence was broken by the grumble of Chen Mo's stomach. Xiaoyu laughed softly, and Chen Mo scratched his head, embarrassed.
"You haven't eaten in days. Just been on IV fluids. I'll get you something light," she said, standing up.
He watched her go, silently blaming his stomach. Traitor.
She soon returned with a warm bag.
"I got you porridge. Something easy to digest. If it's not enough, I'll get more."
"Thanks," Chen Mo said, reaching out—but he noticed the IV still in his hand.
"I'll feed you," Xiaoyu offered.
She picked up the spoon and gently brought it to his lips.
Her movements were careful, gentle—like a girlfriend nursing her boyfriend back to health.
Chen Mo didn't expect this kind of treatment. He glanced around and noticed one of the guys in the neighboring bed watching enviously.
He smiled smugly.
Their eyes met from time to time as she continued feeding him, her cheeks growing more flushed with each glance.
It was her first time caring for a guy. Three straight days of wiping, massaging, and helping him through everything. Even the nurses had mistaken them for a couple.
But Chen Mo had saved her life. And when no one else came, she had stayed.
After the last spoonful, she reached into her bag and pulled out a thick envelope.
"The accident in the library—someone got startled by the thunder and accidentally knocked over the bookshelf. That girl felt bad and paid your hospital bill. Ten thousand yuan."
She placed the envelope beside him.
"Thanks," Chen Mo said. "You look exhausted. You should go get some rest."
Xiaoyu lingered for a moment, hesitating. "Will you… be okay this afternoon?"
"Will you come back?" he asked with a smile.
She paused, then nodded, her ears turning pink as she hurried out of the room.
Chen Mo stared after her, heart light and fluttery. The corners of his mouth lifted into a grin.
There's hope.
It had been a long time since he felt this kind of warmth. He lay back on the bed, mind drifting—not just to the girl, but to the technology he now carried inside him.
Low-Level Human Potential Development. A whole new world was opening up.
Xiaoyu returned in the afternoon as promised.
By then, Chen Mo had recovered enough to be discharged. After a final check-up, they left the hospital together.
"Let's get something to eat," Chen Mo said, patting his stomach. "Three days of hospital porridge—time to reward myself."
"My treat," Xiaoyu offered. "You saved me—it's the least I can do."
"Nope, I'm treating you. You took care of me for three days."
He pulled out the envelope of money.
"That girl gave more than necessary. When you get the chance, return the excess to her. She's a student too. Probably doesn't have much."
Xiaoyu stared at him, then slowly accepted the money. Her expression softened.
After a simple meal, Chen Mo invited her to see a movie. The air between them was warm and natural, and he felt the invisible gap between them slowly shrinking.
After walking her back to the dormitory, Chen Mo returned to his own room—still grinning.
What a lucky day.
He'd gained a mysterious technology library and met a truly kind girl.
He flopped onto his bed and was barely settled before his phone buzzed.
A message from Xiaoyu.
"I returned the money. The girl said to tell you she's sorry."
Chen Mo replied immediately:
"It's fine. Honestly, I should thank her. She made my life a lot more exciting."
"Are you free tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow's the weekend. I took three days off and need to catch up at the library," Xiaoyu replied.
"Perfect. I want to go too. Let's go together?"
Chen Mo grinned.
He did need to go back. Shu Lao said reading science and engineering books could earn him points.
Every 100 books = 1 tech.
If he wanted to upgrade his access, he'd have to study like never before.
"Alright. I'll be there at 8 a.m. Rest well—you just got out of the hospital."
In the girls' dorm at Binhai University, Xiaoyu set down her phone, cheeks glowing.
She was smiling when a mischievous hand snatched her phone away.
A teasing face appeared in front of her.
"Xiaoyu~ Your eyes are sparkling, and your cheeks are pink! You sure you didn't fall for your hero?"
"No, no—give it back!" Xiaoyu said, flustered.
"Guilty conscience~ Let me see that chat," her roommate Li Ruoxuan teased, running away with the phone.
"Ruoxuan, seriously! Give it back!"
"Oh wow, he's already asking you out! 'You made my life more exciting~' Aww, our little fish is getting scooped up!"
"Don't say weird things! Give it!" Xiaoyu lunged, finally grabbing the phone.
"Tomorrow morning date at the library~ I can't believe the best cabbage in our dorm is getting picked already!"
"Go away!" Xiaoyu cried, blushing furiously.
Laughter echoed through the dorm room as Xiaoyu clutched her phone.
But behind the embarrassment, her heart was quietly, undeniably happy.