「Day four.」
Early in the morning, a rooster's crow awoke him. When Zhou Li opened his eyes, he felt clear-headed and refreshed, full of energy.
Turning his head, he saw Old Monster was also awake—or rather, had returned. He was lying in bed, lost in thought, or perhaps just bored from waiting for Zhou Li to wake.
Zhou Li thought for a moment and said, "Just as I was about to wake up, I thought I heard an alarm clock. Was it yours?"
"Do you think it sounded like one?" Old Monster asked without turning his head.
"Hard to say."
"How so?"
"Although you don't rely on an alarm clock to wake up, perhaps you use it to remind you to do other things."
"Your brain must be playing tricks on you," Huai Xu said flatly, rolling over to stare at him. "It was Little Zheng's alarm next door; she's getting up to make breakfast."
"I see."
Zhou Li took out his phone to check the time.
It was almost eight o'clock.
