Dream or Not: A Devil or An Angel

Chapter 1: Who Am I

"Ouch! My head hurts, my hips too... Why does it hurt everywhere?"Alina Li groaned as the pain rushed through her entire body. It felt as if she'd just been run over by a truck.

Her nose scrunched up as a strong smell of disinfectant wafted towards her. From the smell, it seemed that she was in a hospital. She wasn't dead.

Her shoulders sagged in relief.

The bullet train that she'd taken went off the rails. With everything happening in just a minute, she thought that she was about to die. Now, lying in one of those hospital beds, she felt incredibly blessed.

'I'm safe...' she thought repeatedly, her lips inching up into a smile.

However, even then, she couldn't help but feel sorry for the people who must've died in the bullet train crash. Her eyebrows furrowed mournfully. 'God bless those souls.'

Alina Li glanced at her surroundings and pursed her lips, noticing the lack of beds and patients beside her. If it weren't for the pure white decorations and the distinct smell of disinfectant, she'd think that she was living in a five-star hotel room.

It seemed the country truly did improve its healthcare budget. As she admired the room even more, someone opened the door. Alina Li turned her head to see a beautiful woman in her thirties rushing in.

'Do the nurses wear luxurious uniforms now?' Alina Li tilted her head.

"Alaina! You're awake," the woman exclaimed, hurrying to her side. "How are you feeling? Do you feel anything-anything at all? Do you need me to call the doctor?"

Alina Li was even more confused when the woman started addressing her so intimately. "I'm sorry, who are you? I think you have me confused for someone else," she said politely.

The woman was stunned for a second. Her lips quivered. "Alaina," she started. "I'm your mother. Are you okay, dear? Do you remember falling down the stairs?"

'What?' Alina Li furrowed her eyebrows. From what she remembered, her bullet train got derailed. She didn't fall down the stairs. 'When did that happen? Why didn't I know?'

Besides, this woman was not her mother, not even close! Alina Li might have been on a bullet train accident, but she could recognize her own mother.

From the woman's curly hair and expertly placed make-up, the woman looked more like her sister!

"Please, Alaina, don't scare me." Her eyes were glassy now.

"Wendy, why are you crying? Is Alaina awake?" A powerful voice sounded from the door. Alina Li turned to see a middle-aged man come in. He wore a pair of rimless glasses, a straight suit, and polished shoes. From the way he walked, he looked like a successful elite.

"Honey, Alaina doesn't seem to recognize me. She doesn't know who I am!" she cried. "Did she hit her head that hard?"

The man frowned. "Alaina, do you remember me? I'm your father."

Alina Li narrowed her eyes. Who was this man, and why the hell did he assume he was her father?

"Alaina, do you remember Dad?" The woman tried once again, taking Alina's hand into her own.

Following the woman's movement, her gaze fell on the hand her 'mother' had taken. Her eyes widened. It wasn't her hand.

Her hands were filled with callouses and blisters. These hands-these hands were ones belonging to an elite!

'What's going on? What happened? Who am I? Where am I?' Although she was shocked, Alina didn't show it.

"Alaina, Alaina," the woman cried, waving exasperatedly at her. Alina was only staring blankly ahead. "Please, say something. Anything!"