I
At six in the morning, Lu Shiyan was woken by knocking again.
He didn't need to check his phone to know who it was—Uncle Wang's voice was simply too distinctive. It sounded like an erhu sharpened with sandpaper, both raspy and piercing.
"Time to get up! Time to get up! The sun's already burning your butt!"
Lu Shiyan opened his eyes, stared at the water stain on the ceiling for three seconds, and then did something he himself found unbelievable—
He sat up.
Not only did he sit up, he put on his shoes and walked out the door.
In the corridor, Uncle Wang was going door to door waking people. When he saw Lu Shiyan, his eyes lit up. "Oh! No need to drag you out today? You're improving!"
Lu Shiyan didn't reply, just gave a faint "Mm."
He didn't know why he was being so obedient. Maybe because he'd slept well again last night—fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow, slept straight through till morning. Maybe because of that dream, where Su Tang was laughing, Uncle Wang was singing, and that patient who claimed to be an alien was flying in the sky… When he woke up, he actually felt pretty good.
"Come on, let's go do exercises." Uncle Wang pulled him toward the stairs.
"I don't do exercises." Lu Shiyan refused automatically.
"No exercises, no breakfast."
"I don't eat breakfast."
"Then go hungry." Uncle Wang didn't push and went down himself.
Lu Shiyan stood in the corridor, watching Uncle Wang's retreating back, silent for three seconds, then moved his legs.
It wasn't for breakfast.
It was for… well, he couldn't quite say why.
II
In the courtyard, the patients were already lined up.
Su Tang was wearing a light blue athletic suit today, her hair tied in a high ponytail. She looked even more energetic than yesterday. She held a folder in her hand and was writing something.
Lu Shiyan walked to the back of the line and stood there.
Su Tang looked up, saw him, and paused.
Then she smiled.
That smile reminded Lu Shiyan of a phrase—spring warming, flowers blooming. Though the phrase didn't fit his image at all, it popped into his head anyway, unstoppable.
"Mr. Lu, good morning." There was a hint of surprise in Su Tang's voice. "You're joining morning exercises today?"
"Just passing by." Lu Shiyan's face was expressionless.
"Oh, just passing by." Su Tang nodded, but the curve of her lips gave her away. "Well then, carry on passing by. We'll start our exercises."
The music began, and Su Tang started leading.
Today's movements were different from yesterday's—yesterday's had been barely normal. Today's… after three seconds, Lu Shiyan regretted coming.
First movement: palms together, raise overhead, then slowly bend forward, like bowing to Buddha.
Su Tang called it "Sun Salutation," said it would help absorb solar energy.
Lu Shiyan thought: Is this a mental hospital or a temple?
Second movement: hands on hips, twist left and right.
Su Tang called it "Shake It Off," said it would relax the waist muscles.
Lu Shiyan thought: What's the difference between this and those square-dancing aunties?
The third movement was the worst—arms flapping like wings, spinning in place, making a buzzing sound with their mouths.
Su Tang called it "Little Bee Gathering Nectar," said it would lift the spirits.
Lu Shiyan stood at the back, watching the row of people spinning in place going "bzzz bzzz bzzz," and felt his sanity visibly slipping away.
Uncle Wang was spinning the most enthusiastically, shouting as he spun: "Bzzz bzzz! I'm a hardworking little bee!"
"The Alien Prince" was spinning too, but his movements were noticeably faster, shouting: "Bzzz bzzz! I'm an alien bee! I want to go back to my home planet to gather nectar!"
Lu Shiyan took a deep breath and turned to leave.
"Mr. Lu!" Su Tang's voice came from behind. "You're done passing by?"
"Done."
"Do you want to try? It's really fun."
"No."
Su Tang watched his retreating back. She didn't chase after him, just smiled and continued leading.
She knew that getting him to come downstairs was already a big step.
The rest could wait.
III
Breakfast was rice porridge with salted duck eggs.
Dr. Zhang was in a good mood today and had fried an extra batch of youtiao. The fried dough sticks were golden and crispy, looking very tempting.
Lu Shiyan sat in the corner, with a bowl of porridge, a salted duck egg, and half a youtiao in front of him.
He hadn't planned to eat, but the duck egg's yolk was oozing oil, golden, looking… very appetizing.
He picked up his chopsticks and put a little yolk in his mouth.
Salty, rich, melted on the tongue.
Lu Shiyan paused, then took another bite.
"Good, isn't it?" Uncle Wang had somehow appeared across from him. "Old Zhang doesn't have many skills, but his salted duck eggs are top-notch. He cured this one for a month. That's why the yolk's so oily."
Lu Shiyan didn't reply, but his chopsticks kept moving.
Uncle Wang peeled his egg as he talked. "Young man, the way you eat, you look like a robot."
Lu Shiyan's hand stopped. "What do you mean?"
"Too proper." Uncle Wang shook his head. "Eating should be big bites, big gulps. Eating happily is what eating is about. You count each bite, like it's some task you have to complete."
Lu Shiyan was silent.
He was used to that. Eating, sleeping, exercising—everything was a task to him. Completion was what mattered, not enjoyment.
"Eating isn't for happiness," he said.
"Then what's it for?"
"To stay alive."
Uncle Wang looked at him, didn't reply, just pushed the half youtiao from his own plate toward Lu Shiyan.
"Eat more. Staying alive is important, but staying alive can also be happy."
Lu Shiyan looked at the youtiao and didn't refuse.