IBO -Chapter 177 Awakening

This novel contains sensitive and taboo content like R*pe, Mu**er etc. Read only if you are comfortable.

“How is Song Yiran now? Did it work?”

“Don’t worry. It’s done. He’ll wake up soon.”

Xiao Zhong’er frowned worriedly at Song Yiran on the bed.

“Wake up soon…”

Moonstone sat nearby, munching fruit.

“Relax. With me here, he’ll live.”

“Thank you,” Xiao Zhong’er said.

“No need. You paid me well. Who doesn’t like money?” Moonstone wiped his mouth.

“Alright, my job’s done. I’m out.”

Moonstone clapped his hands and then, like a gust of wind, left the room.

Song Yiran, who had been lying completely still on the bed like a corpse, suddenly stirred.

Xiao Zhong’er immediately rushed over excitedly: “Song Yiran, are you waking up? Come on, you can do it!”

Song Yiran’s lips moved slightly, and then a soul-deep voice called out: “Fur… fur… furry…”

Xiao Zhong’er: “……”

“You… even your first words upon waking are about fluffiness! Hopeless, you plushie addict!” Xiao Zhong’er pouted angrily but then carefully poked Song Yiran’s cheek with a finger. “Well, as long as you’re awake, that’s enough.”

Song Yiran felt as if something was glued over his eyelids. He struggled immensely just to open his eyes.

When he finally did, the first thing he saw was the pitiful little Zhong’er.

The moment Xiao Zhong’er saw Song Yiran’s eyes open, he could no longer hold back: “Waaah… Waaah… Song Yiran, you’re finally awake!”

Tears streaming down his face, Xiao Zhong’er shook his trembling hands while sending a message in the family chat:

【555: Family, Song Yiran has finally woken up!!!】

【Song Buli: Waaa, big brother is finally awake!】

【Song Yuexin: That’s amazing!】

【Song An and Song Yang: That’s great!】

【Song Chiyu: Hooray! Big brother is awake, so excited!】

【Song Fu: Waaa… big brother is awake!】

【Song Xianyue: I’m going to ask the teacher for leave first.】

【Song Yinyun: I’ll go ask for leave too!】

【Song Yuan: Me too!】

【Song Yuetao: Add me in.】

After sending the message, Xiao Zhong’er stopped looking at the holographic screen and briefly recounted yesterday’s events to Song Yiran.

“What? Yesterday afternoon I suddenly lost consciousness and then couldn’t wake up?”

Song Yiran: subway, elderly, phone jpg.

“So you’re saying that yesterday afternoon I suddenly fell into a deep sleep, couldn’t be awakened by anything, and had no response to external stimuli? Is that it?”

Xiao Zhong’er nodded seriously: “Exactly.”

Song Yiran suddenly felt a wave of absurdity. He wasn’t ill, so how could he suddenly fall into a deep sleep out of nowhere? He must be sick!

He asked in disbelief: “Are you sure it’s not some kind of illness? Like narcolepsy or something?”

Xiao Zhong’er shook his head: “I scanned your body data, but all results show you were simply asleep.

I tried every method to wake you, but nothing worked…

Then I contacted Moonstone, and she discovered that your consciousness was trapped in the dream world. If it stayed there too long, one day you might never wake up in reality.

Moonstone could pull you out of the dream world, so in the end, I paid her to help you escape it.”

Song Yiran raised his hand: “Wait, I have a question.

I remember what happened in the dream world. At first, Moonstone kept hinting at things, and only at the last moment, when there was no more time, did she reveal a bunch of information to make me trust her.

If she could reveal all that to gain my trust, why didn’t you have her do it from the start?”

Xiao Zhong’er sighed: “Actually, I discussed this plan with Moonstone from the beginning, but your consciousness was so deeply trapped that abruptly revealing everything could have caused your mind to collapse in the dream world.

So I could only have Moonstone hint subtly at first, planting a seed of doubt in your mind, and then find a way to make it grow.”

Song Yiran pursed his lips and then changed the subject: “Weren’t you and the kids scared by my situation yesterday?”

Xiao Zhong’er pouted. He wanted to say he wasn’t scared, but he didn’t want to lie.

“Yes, I was nearly scared to death yesterday. The kids were almost frightened too. We thought… we thought you would never wake up…

We all wanted you to open your eyes, but you just wouldn’t… Waaa…” Xiao Zhong’er cried, tears and snot streaming, “No matter what we tried, you just wouldn’t wake… I dreamed last night that you woke up, but when I woke up, you were still lying there with your eyes closed.”

Song Yiran sighed, then silently pulled out a piece of paper and wiped Xiao Zhong’er’s tears.

Xiao Zhong’er sniffled: “Song Yiran, I want your braised pork…”

Song Yiran gently patted his back: “Alright, I’ll make braised pork for you today!”

After crying for a while, Xiao Zhong’er calmed down. He sniffled: “The kids wanted to stay home with you, but today is school, so I sent them to kindergarten.

I thought, if you didn’t wake up, the kids couldn’t just stay home with you forever. They’re still so young and should experience a richer life.

So I stayed at home with you. I have nothing else to do, I can stay with you. Even if you never wake up, I’ll still be here with you.”

Xiao Zhong’er was revitalized, hands on his hips: “Right, the kids must be eager to see you too. I’ll go pick them up from kindergarten now.”

Just as he said this, Song Buli’s furry head peeked through the doorway: “Big brother! You’re finally awake!”

Song Buli, like a little whirlwind, ran in and jumped onto the bed, throwing himself into Song Yiran’s arms.

The other kids followed closely, running in from outside.

Each child acted in perfect sync: first standing at the door shouting, “Big brother, you’re awake!” then dashing over and leaping into Song Yiran’s embrace.

“Waa… big brother, you’re awake! We were so worried!”

“Waa… big brother, it’s good you’re awake!”

“Big brother, we were really worried… luckily you woke up!”

All the kids cried together, noses running, tears matted in their fur, looking utterly pitiful.

Song Yiran held them tenderly and patted their backs gently, again and again.

Half an hour later, the kids finally stopped crying and calmed down.

Xiao Zhong’er finally asked the question he’d been holding back: “How did you get back? Shouldn’t you be in kindergarten right now?”

Song Buli sniffled: “After seeing the message, we asked the teacher for a day off and walked back together.”

Xiao Zhong’er immediately frowned: “What? You walked back by yourselves? Don’t you realize that’s dangerous? You’re still so little—what if something happened on the way?”

Song Fu flicked his tail, unwilling but defensive: “We walked together and didn’t talk to any strangers on the way.”

Song Chiyu added quietly: “We just really wanted to see big brother…”

Xiao Zhong’er wanted to say more, but Song Yiran shook his head. He sighed and let it go.

Song Yiran patted the kids’ heads: “Alright, alright, I know your intentions were good, so just this once. Next time, if something similar happens, send a message to me or Xiao Zhong’er first, and we’ll come get you. It’s safer that way.”

The kids nodded obediently: “Okay~”

It was morning now, and the kids had the day off, so they could spend the whole day at home.

Since yesterday afternoon, when Song Yiran suddenly fell asleep, the kids had been on edge, fearing he might never wake up.

Now that he had, their hearts could finally relax, and they were happily playing in the yard.

Song Yiran stretched in his room, and out of the corner of his eye, noticed something on the bedside table.

There was still the mutated Karen flower crown the kids had given him.

Seeing it, Song Yiran smiled softly.

Just looking at it brought back memories of when the kids had given it to him. So nostalgic…

Next to the crown was a single mutated Karen flower made from pale pink metallic wire.

Song Yiran frowned. He had no memory of this metallic flower at all.

Where did this come from? Why didn’t he remember it?

He felt like he’d forgotten something important, but what was it?

He couldn’t recall.

Xiao Zhong’er, who had stayed in the room, saw Song Yiran’s expression and sighed: “Song Yiran, are you thinking that maybe you’ve forgotten something?”

Song Yiran immediately turned to him: “Xiao Zhong’er, do you know something?”

Xiao Zhong’er pursed his lips awkwardly: “Well… I do know, but according to regulations, I can’t tell you directly.”

Song Yiran’s eyes dimmed for a moment, and Xiao Zhong’er quickly added: “Although I can’t say it outright, I can tell you in another way. Song Yiran, from now on you can ask me questions, and I’ll answer with yes or no.”