"I'll go in and take a look," A-Yu said, pushing open the bedroom door.
The furnishings were extremely simple. A few rattan chairs were casually placed next to an old wooden table, creating a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. Some fishing nets and buoys were piled up in the corner.
On a simple wooden bed by the window lay an injured man. His left cheek and jawline were carefully wrapped in gauze, and through the gaps in the gauze, one could vaguely see the burns that had already scabbed over.
The man's right leg was tightly wrapped in thick bandages, from his ankle to his knee. His right leg was clearly badly injured and unable to bear the weight of his body. He could only lie quietly on the bed, waiting for the wound to heal.
Ayu cautiously approached the bedside, her gaze fixed on the man's pale, paper-white face. His brow was furrowed, as if bearing a thousand pounds of weight, and the fine beads of sweat on his forehead revealed the agony he was enduring. Ayu gently took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Suddenly, the man opened his eyes abruptly. He struggled to sit up, the movement so violent that he pulled on the IV needle in his arm. A sharp pain shot through him, and his expression instantly contorted.
Ayu was startled, but then a surge of joy welled up inside him. He shouted, "You're awake? That's great!" Then he yelled towards the kitchen, "Xingxing, he's awake!"
Hearing Ayu's call, Xingxing, who was busy in the kitchen, immediately ran in with a spatula in hand. Seeing the man awake, a happy smile bloomed on her face. However, after a moment's thought, she looked at Ayu with concern and said, "Ayu, look at his blank expression, could he have amnesia?" Her tone revealed deep worry and unease.
“My name is Lu Jia.” The man’s voice was hoarse and deep. He slowly raised his eyes, his gaze shifting back and forth between A Yu and Xing Xing, as if trying to find answers from their expressions. His eyes revealed a sense of confusion and bewilderment, as if he felt completely unfamiliar with his surroundings.
"Thank goodness, it's not too serious. I heard that as long as you remember your name, it's not a big deal!" Xingxing patted her chest and said to Ayu. She forced a smile, trying to ease the tense atmosphere.
"It was A-Yu who saw you floating on the sea when he went out to sea to fish, clinging tightly to a piece of the boat's float, but you were almost unconscious," Xingxing explained as she leaned closer. "This is A-Yu, and my name is Xingxing." Xingxing pointed to A-Yu, then to herself, and then described how A-Yu bravely jumped into the water and did everything in his power to pull the man onto the boat. "Luckily, A-Yu found you in time and was able to save you; if it had been a minute later, your hand would have slipped off the float."
Recalling the scene, Xingxing still felt a lingering fear. She shook her head with deep emotion, as if she were thankful that the man had escaped death.
"Thank you." Lu Jia patted his head, looking somewhat annoyed. He tried hard to recall the past, but his mind was blank.
"Do you remember where you live? Who are your family members?" Xingxing sat down on the edge of the bed and asked with concern. Her voice was gentle and soft, as if offering the man comfort and support.
"Family?" Lu Jia pressed his aching temples, trying to think. His eyes revealed pain and struggle, as if he were recalling the past. Suddenly, he murmured, "Zhi Qiu."
"Zhiqiu?" Ayu and Xingxing asked in unison.
“Zhi Qiu, that’s the only name I remember,” Lu Jia repeated. His voice trembled slightly, as if he were recalling the beautiful times associated with that name. His eyes revealed a longing and yearning, as if this name was the only solace and hope he had in his lost memories.
"Zhi Qiu?" A Yu sighed. "Do you know her last name?"
“I don’t remember,” Lu Jia shook her head, a picture flashing in her mind of a girl in a white dress standing on a hillside, turning back with a smile, “but I know she is important.”
Lu Jia's voice was gentle and sweet, and a smile appeared on her face when she spoke of her.
“Zhi Qiu,” Lu Jia murmured, closing her eyes and trying hard to remember.
"Ayu," Xingxing called out quietly, stood up and walked to the side, "Do you think he has amnesia?"
"I guess so?" Ayu said uncertainly, frowning as he looked at Lu Jia, who was deep in thought. "Let's not guess. We'll call the doctor to take a look at him in a bit."
The afternoon sun shone through the windows of the wooden cabin, where Lu Jia slept peacefully. The medication had plunged him into a deep sleep once more; his breathing was steady and deep, completely cut off from the outside world.
The doctor entered the room, his steps light, not wanting to disturb the tranquility. He walked to the bedside, carefully observing Lu Jia's complexion and wounds, occasionally making notes in the medical record.
Ayu and Xingxing anxiously stood by his side. Ayu couldn't help but ask, "Doctor, how is he? It's not good for him to be in a coma every day!"
The doctor looked up and smiled reassuringly at them, "As long as he's awake, it means there's nothing seriously wrong." His voice was gentle yet firm, which was reassuring. He continued, "I've stopped his medication. When he wakes up again, he can try to get out of bed and walk around a bit, but we need to make sure his right foot doesn't touch the ground. We'll prepare a cane for him."
Hearing the doctor's words, Ayu and Xingxing both breathed a sigh of relief. Xingxing happily said, "Okay, okay, thank you, doctor." She smiled and saw the doctor out the door, not forgetting to turn back to Ayu and say, "Ayu, then go and prepare a cane for him."
Ayu nodded and followed Xingxing out of the cabin. They walked on the beach, the sand rustling softly beneath their feet. The sea breeze gently caressed their hair and clothes, bringing a touch of coolness and comfort. Their mood lightened and brightened accordingly.
"Star, do you think this one will do?" Ayu climbed up the kapok tree, gently broke off a branch, and asked.
Xingxing tilted her head, looked at it carefully, and nodded. "Okay!"
Ayu pulled a small knife from his trouser leg, slowly cut the tree trunk into sections, and threw them down. Although the tree trunk was simple, after Ayu polished it, it became a straight walking stick. Ayu tested its stability and comfort, and after confirming that there were no problems, he took it into the house.
Lu Jia had already woken up. Seeing the two of them, she slowly moved her body and sat up, saying in a pleading tone, "I want to go home."
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