Chapter 683: Kangning

Chapter 683: Kangning

Although Li Huowang was a key individual under the street office’s assistance program, he was generally not permitted to leave the residential complex.

However, the reason for visiting a psychiatric hospital for follow-up treatment was quite reasonable—there was no valid excuse to refuse. After all, if they didn’t allow him to return for a checkup and he were to relapse, things could get seriously complicated.

“You should’ve mentioned you were going for a checkup earlier,” said the woman, handing him a form. “Miss, are you his caregiver? What’s your relationship with him?”

After Li Huowang had filled out several forms under the watchful eye of Aunt Qi, a ride-sharing car was already parked at the entrance of the residential complex.

Before Li Huowang and Yang Na could get in, Aunt Qi stuck her head into the front passenger seat and instructed the driver: “Xiao Wang! Did you fill up the gas tank? Remember, we only stop at Kangning Hospital. Don’t make any stops on the way, and keep your phone on throughout the journey!”

“I also need to go to a fruit stand to buy something,” Li Huowang interjected.

“You’re supposed to be getting a psychiatric checkup. Why would you go buy fruits at a mental hospital?!” Aunt Qi’s eyes were full of suspicion, as though she feared Li Huowang might take the opportunity to run away.

“I made some friends there. Can’t I visit them while I’m here for my checkup?”

“Friends at a psychiatric hospital? Are they also mentally ill?”

This caused another round of commotion, which eventually ended when Yang Na went to the supermarket in the residential complex to buy what was needed.

Though the ride-sharing driver bore a striking resemblance to the police officer from before, Li Huowang didn’t give it a second thought. Whether it was surveillance or protection, it didn’t matter—he didn’t want any trouble on the road.

As the car turned onto the highway and began to accelerate, Li Huowang leaned his head against the window, staring blankly outside. His brow furrowed as he pondered over everything that had happened.

“Who exactly were those people? What do they want with me? What is it about me that makes them so interested?”

There were no answers to be found by asking others. Even calling the police wouldn’t help. Besides, they didn’t trust him anyway. The only clue he had now was Qian Fu, who was at the Kangning Hospital.

If they could alter surveillance footage, then it was highly likely that they had also put the needle in his food earlier.

“But... why? If they wanted to kill me, they could have just poisoned my meal. Why go through the trouble of injecting me with a needle?”

“A needle can only cause pain—it serves no other purpose. Wait... Could it be, as Qian Fu said, that they’re trying to sow discord between me and Qian Fu? That they want me to doubt him and distance myself from him?”

Thinking along these lines, Li Huowang became even more determined to meet Qian Fu again.

Noticing Li Huowang’s mood, Yang Na reached over and entwined her fingers with his, holding them tightly in silent comfort.

Li Huowang turned toward her and gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s okay. I’m just going back to ask some questions at the hospital. I’ll be back soon.”

“Mm, no matter what happens, don’t carry it all alone. I’m here for you.”

“Mm.” Li Huowang closed his eyes and gently embraced her, just like that night on the rooftop.

The car sped down the road, time passing slowly. As they drew closer to Kangning Hospital, Li Huowang’s heart grew increasingly restless.

Eventually, the car came to a stop. Li Huowang and Yang Na walked toward the white-walled, green-windowed hospital.

His attending physician, Dr. Wu Cheng, greeted him once again. Compared to how he’d been treated previously, his current treatment was far more comfortable.

In Dr. Wu Cheng’s office, Li Huowang sat with a disposable cup, chatting casually with the doctor.

“I heard you were kidnapped,” Dr. Wu Cheng asked, sipping his tea.

“That wasn’t a breakdown—I really was kidnapped,” Li Huowang explained to Dr. Wu.

“Of course. Don’t worry. I didn’t say you were having a breakdown. Since you left two fingers behind, there must have been a real person involved. What did the police say?”

“They told me to wait and even installed something on me. Now, it’s not easy for me to leave the residential complex,” Li Huowang said, lifting his left foot.

“Heh, don’t worry. With so many surveillance cameras, we’ll find them. By the way, what brings you back this time?”

“Nothing much. Just wanted a follow-up check to see if anything’s changed,” Li Huowang replied, naturally not mentioning that he’d come to look for Qian Fu.

“Heh, if you realize that much, it means your condition is probably fine. Since you’re here, let’s run a few tests.”

When he received the tablet and saw the test questions, Li Huowang couldn’t help but feel nervous. Perhaps he didn’t even realize it himself, but deep down, he harbored a sliver of self-doubt—was everything he’d experienced just a product of his illness?

He had gone through too much. Sometimes, he found it hard to trust his own perceptions.

One test followed another, and Li Huowang gradually became fully absorbed.

After completing all the tests, he patiently discussed the results with the doctor. Seeing Dr. Wu Cheng’s relaxed expression, Li Huowang exhaled deeply. It was true—his mind hadn’t failed him. Everything he’d experienced was real, not hallucinations brought on by his illness.

“Don’t be too tense. Rest assured, if there were anything wrong with you, we wouldn’t have let you go home. Once you’re back, relax and take your medication on schedule.”

Hearing Dr. Wu Cheng speak, Li Huowang knew his checkup was over. According to protocol, he should leave now. But he still had something to do.

Li Huowang stood up and looked toward the ward area, hesitating slightly before asking, “Doctor, may I visit someone else? I’ve spent quite a bit of time here and made some friends.”

“Oh sure, go ahead. You know the place well enough, so I won’t show you the way. Everyone else is still here.”

At the visiting room, Li Huowang felt oddly unfamiliar. Usually, he entered from the outside and exited from the inside—this was the first time he was entering from the inside.

He couldn’t go straight to Qian Fu; that would seem too obvious. Instead, he visited everyone he knew in the hospital. The bags of fruit he’d bought at the residential gate were meant for them.

Most of the visits went smoothly, but when he met Zhao Ting, who had depression, he immediately sensed a resentful glare from behind.

He lightly patted her shoulder. “I have nothing to do with her. I’ll explain when we get back. Just one more friend to see.”

Taking a deep breath, Li Huowang waited anxiously for Qian Fu to arrive—but no matter how long he waited, Qian Fu never showed up. Instead, he received terrible news:

“Qian Fu has relapsed and is now being held in the isolation unit. We’ll have to visit next time.”

Hearing this, Li Huowang’s heart sank. A bad feeling crept into his chest.

“What happened? Could it be I’m too late? Did they hurt him?”

(End of Chapter)