DF Chapter 34

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Zhen Yi didn’t answer, instead pointing to the eerie painting in the living room: “I’ve seen that before. Wu Zhe drew it, right? Song Yi, whether you’re protecting the killer or you are the killer, it’s all for Tang Shang.”

Song Yi stepped out of the sunlight, her beautiful face darkening in an instant, turning vicious. She moved quickly, grabbing Zhen Yi and shoving her out the door. “Get out!”

Zhen Yi stumbled as she was pushed outside. Song Yi stood in the doorframe, staring at her intensely. For a fleeting moment, her eyes showed sadness and disappointment, but then they returned to their usual coldness. “Zhen Yi, you said I should be completely honest with you. I was. But did you believe me? Ha, you’ve made me into a joke.”

Before Zhen Yi could say anything, the door slammed shut. She stood there, feeling stifled, as if she were sinking into the deep sea.

Later that afternoon, Zhen Yi returned to the psychiatric hospital.

The patients were all napping, and the courtyard was peaceful. The sky was blue, with fluffy white clouds drifting by, and the grass by the stream shimmered in the breeze. In the corner, willow branches swayed gently.

The grass had just been watered, and the air smelled fresh. Zhen Yi took a deep breath, suddenly thinking that living here seemed quite serene. As she walked over a small hill, she noticed a figure in a white hospital gown standing on a wooden bridge with a male nurse.

A patient out for a walk, perhaps?

The patient looked relaxed, head tilted back, eyes closed, and a smile on his lips as he soaked in the sunlight. The nurse, on the other hand, appeared much more cautious.

Zhen Yi approached the small wooden bridge. The patient, still with his eyes closed, was facing the sun. The light illuminated his high nose and clean, delicate face. He wore a loose-fitting white hospital gown, and his pale face seemed almost translucent in the sunlight.

She had seen him before—the one she had noticed when she spoke with Yan Ge. Up close, he was strikingly beautiful.

Suddenly, the patient opened his eyes. A second later, his gaze fell on her, calm and steady. Zhen Yi felt startled. She had never been this close to a psychiatric patient before, so naturally, she felt a little uneasy. But as she met his eyes, something stirred inside her, as if struck by a deep vibration. His eyes were incredibly deep—peaceful, with no ripples on the surface, but as if concealing dark currents underneath.

In that brief moment, he smiled faintly and said, “Hi.”

Zhen Yi’s heart skipped a beat, and she responded, “Hi.” Without stopping, she quickened her pace. He kept his eyes on her, and as she moved closer, he gazed up at the green leaves in the trees and said, “Spring is almost over. Time flies, doesn’t it?”

Zhen Yi smiled. “It’s not time that’s fast. It’s us who are changing.”

The patient narrowed his eyes, looking intrigued, and asked, “You must be feeling pretty tired these days, right?”

Zhen Yi hesitated for a second and shook her head. “No, not really.”

His expression was hard to read. Then, he asked again, “What’s your name?”

Zhen Yi was taken aback and didn’t answer, unsure whether she should stop or keep walking. The nurse, sensing something was off, stepped forward and removed his earphones, glaring at the patient. “You’re not allowed to talk to others.”

The patient smiled obediently, nodding and closing his mouth.

Zhen Yi felt puzzled. The nurse approached her, speaking softly, “Sorry, this patient is severely ill and isn’t allowed to talk to people. Please understand.”

Zhen Yi nodded and gave the patient one last glance before continuing on. She noticed the nurse putting his earphones back in—was he trying to avoid being spoken to? Strange. That patient didn’t seem sick at all.

Inside the building, a nurse led Zhen Yi to see Yan Ge.

As they turned the corner of the hallway, Zhen Yi peeked through the glass window. Yan Ge, dressed in a white coat, was standing at a table, pointing to some papers and speaking to a group of doctors gathered around him. Even though they were all wearing white coats, he seemed to stand out with his refined presence.

Zhen Yi watched for a moment before reminding herself that he was someone else’s boyfriend. She quickly looked away.

A short while later, the meeting ended, and nurses emerged from the duty room, announcing that the “crazy patients” were waking up. Zhen Yi could tell they used “crazy” affectionately here.

She tilted her head to look through the glass at the patients on the other side. Groggy from their naps, they were wearing loose white clothing, rubbing their eyes and lining up to be escorted to the activity room by the nurses. One by one, they shuffled along, and Zhen Yi found them oddly adorable.

Her view was interrupted by a swish of white fabric. Slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet Yan Ge’s calm, steady eyes. He asked, “Is your arm better now?”

Zhen Yi thought for a moment before realizing he was referring to her dislocated arm. “I’m not that fragile.”

“Is there a connection between fragility and a dislocated arm?”

“…” Zhen Yi was speechless. “I came to investigate Wu Zhe’s case.”

“What about him?” Yan Ge asked as he turned to walk ahead.

“You…” Zhen Yi glared at his back, frustrated. She had already explained everything over the phone.

Holding back her irritation, she followed him and explained again. “Forensics found a large Luminol reaction in Room 36. While the blood’s composition hasn’t been determined yet, they’ve already started gathering more evidence from Room 36. It’s likely the crime scene wasn’t Room 31 after all, but Room 36.”

“Mm,” he replied without looking back. “And how does this relate to Wu Zhe?”

“The victim’s body was found in Room 31, and Wu Zhe’s description of the room matched that of Room 31, which misled the police. They didn’t realize something was off with the crime scene.”

“And what role do you think Wu Zhe played in this case?”

“At the very least, he knows something.” Zhen Yi muttered. “This should’ve been a straightforward murder, but with so many steps like clearing the scene, moving the body, and witnesses, it’s gotten complicated. Everyone’s a suspect, yet there’s no solid evidence against anyone.”

“Try simplifying the complex,” Yan Ge said. “Out of the four suspects, who’s at the center? Start there.”

“You’re saying Song Yi? But she’s not cooperating. Thankfully, she passed the polygraph test. If she hadn’t, she wouldn’t be able to protect anyone and would’ve ended up incriminating herself.”

He glanced at her sideways. “Polygraphs are only for reference; they’re not always accurate. Especially not for someone with unstable mental health.”

“But I think Song Yi’s behavior that day was quite genuine,” Zhen Yi replied. “And Wu Zhe… his current condition…”

Before she could finish, a patient approached, staring at Yan Ge with wide eyes. “Dr. Yan, I’ve been dreaming again lately. It’s strange—I haven’t killed anyone in my dreams recently.”

“What did you dream about?” Yan Ge asked softly, stopping to listen.

“I dreamed I found a lot of gold, then I went swimming,” the patient said, his gaze fixated on Yan Ge. “Dr. Yan, what does this dream mean? Is something wrong with me?”

Yan Ge didn’t answer, instead asking, “Was swimming difficult?”

“No, not at all.”

“How could it not be difficult while carrying gold?”

“I returned the gold to its owner,” the patient said, a little panicked. “I didn’t smash his head with it. Does that mean I’m getting better?”

Yan Ge nodded. “Returning what doesn’t belong to you is commendable.”

The patient, relieved, beamed like a child and happily ran off.