Knock, knock, knock!
"Come in."
Lin Qiye pushed the door open and stepped into the consulting room.
On the other side of the desk sat a middle-aged male doctor, lab coat draped over his shoulders and a conspicuously thinning ring of hair encircling the crown of his head — a classic sign of wisdom, if ever there was one.
Lin Qiye took a seat, and the doctor asked in an unhurried tone:
"So, tell me — what's bothering you?"
"I'm not actually sick."
"If you're fine, what are you doing here?"
"I'm fine — but I have a friend. And that friend has a very serious mental illness."
The doctor looked at Lin Qiye with a bemused expression, running his fingers over his sparse hair and grinning.
"This 'friend' you mentioned… Are you sure it's not just you?"
Lin Qiye answered seriously, "No, it really is a friend."
"Alright then," the doctor said, shifting back, "So what exactly is wrong with… not you, your friend? What are the symptoms?"
Lin Qiye paused, considering, "That might be a bit hard to describe…"
The doctor chuckled, "Then just pretend you're that friend and show me how he actually behaves."
Lin Qiye gave the doctor a strange look — hesitated for a moment, then, with a sigh, nodded his agreement.
He slowly rose from his seat, walked over until he was standing directly in front of the doctor.
Next, Lin Qiye pulled the doctor's head into his embrace, stroked the few sparse hairs, and, with a warm look in his eyes, spoke softly.
"My darling boy, Papa's finally found you!"
The doctor: "…"
For the following ten minutes, Lin Qiye unleashed his full arsenal of debate tactics, fervently assuring the doctor that he did not, in fact, belong here, narrowly dodging the fate of being forcibly admitted as a patient.
"So, your friend sees anything and thinks it's her child?"
"Exactly!"
"And she cries for a long time?"
"She's been crying nonstop."
"She likes sitting in the yard telling stories to vases and benches?"
"That's right."
"How's her sleep?"
"She doesn't sleep."
"…"
The doctor frowned, "Your friend is really in bad shape! I strongly recommend bringing her to our hospital for inpatient treatment."
"Her situation is complicated — hospitalization isn't an option," Lin Qiye replied, shrugging helplessly.
Of course, he couldn't tell the truth. If he admitted that the patient in question was Nyx, the Goddess of the Night—currently residing in the psychiatric ward inside his own mind—the doctor would have him admitted on the spot.
The doctor hesitated for a moment, then started typing on the keyboard. "If hospitalization isn't possible, medication is our only option for now. I'll write a prescription — make sure she takes it. If her condition doesn't improve, you must bring her to the hospital."
Lin Qiye looked uneasy.
Could real-world medicine even be brought into his mind?
He honestly didn't know, and even if he could, he doubted that ordinary, human remedies would do much for a goddess.
"Doctor, besides medication, is there anything else that could help?"
The doctor thought for a moment before answering slowly, "Your friend's symptoms fall under severe delusional disorder. I've seen quite a few patients like this. For instance, there was a man who dearly loved his wife, but after she died in a car crash, he often talked to thin air, imagining she was still right beside him.
This sort of illness is usually triggered by deep psychological trauma. Subconsciously, the patient rejects reality and creates a false sense that their loved one is still with them.
If you can address the underlying cause — give some kind of psychological support—there's a chance for improvement. But without medication, it's very, very difficult.
Medication and psychotherapy go hand-in-hand; they complement each other. Do you understand what I mean?"
Lin Qiye nodded thoughtfully.
So it all hinged on understanding the cause… Yet when it came to Nyx's past, he was completely in the dark — he had no clue where to begin.
He'd have to prepare better before acting.
Grabbing the prescription slip, Lin Qiye decided he wouldn't pay or pick up the medicine. For a goddess in his head, normal medicine seemed useless, so why waste the cash?
Besides… those pills were way too expensive!
After leaving the hospital, Lin Qiye boarded the return bus.
The trip to the mental hospital had been worthwhile — it had at least given Lin Qiye somewhere to start.
He'd have to guide Nyx psychologically, but to do that, he'd need to know her well enough first.
So, Lin Qiye got off the bus at one of the stops and headed straight into the Cangnan City Library.
***
No. 6 High School, at the main gate.
"Hey, do you know who that guy is?"
"No idea, probably just some parent."
"I saw him at the gate around seven this morning."
"Me too. He was wearing sunglasses and a dress shirt, leaning against the wall with a cup of coffee in his hand. I actually thought he looked pretty cool."
"How come he looks like a beggar now? His eyes are all red."
"Do you think he's been here since morning?"
"No way—it's almost ten already."
"Who knows… Oh, did you guys hear? Two students got attacked on their way home after school last night!"
"For real?!"
"It's true, I heard that…"
"…"
Across the street from the school gate, a desolate-looking man sat alone on the curb, surrounded by a scattering of cigarette butts. Under the streetlight, his silhouette radiated a quiet, unspoken sorrow.
Zhao Kongcheng flicked his cigarette. No matter how much he thought about it, he just couldn't figure out where things had gone wrong.
He'd been posted there since six in the morning, all the way to ten at night, practically baked senseless by the sun — yet not once did he catch sight of that kid.
And he was certain he'd seen the No. 6 High uniform last night!
Could it be that the little punk figured me out and just skipped today?
Damn it… My backside's numb from sitting here all day.
Zhao Kongcheng braced his hands on the curb, slowly getting to his feet. He casually brushed the dust off his pants, stretching his arms and legs.
Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a teenage boy in street clothes strolling slowly across the road on the other side, carrying a stack of books…
That kid… he does look a bit like that guy's build…
A bit like…
Wait…
Zhao Kongcheng froze and blinked several times.
Crap!
Whoosh—
Without another word, Zhao Kongcheng launched himself at the teenager like a gust of wind, eyes blazing red, a wild and menacing look on his face!
But when he was about twenty meters away, the teen suddenly seemed to sense something—he jolted, then took off running!
The two of them tore down the street, one chasing, one fleeing.
Lin Qiye wanted to smack himself. Out of all the roads he could've picked, why this one?
Yesterday he'd ditched this guy — now the man was after him again!
Lin Qiye wasn't exactly slow, but compared to Zhao Kongcheng he was no match. In just a few seconds, Zhao Kongcheng caught up.
Zhao Kongcheng grabbed Lin Qiye by the shoulder with a vicious grip and let out a cold laugh.
"So, we meet again, kid!"
Lin Qiye stiffly turned his head and tilted it slightly:
"And you are…?"