C1 Marriage in the Mental Hospital

In Jaafmont, at the mental hospital, a group of patients, each with their own peculiar mannerisms, were causing a commotion in the courtyard. Tang Hao, however, stood out from the rest. Dressed neatly in his hospital gown, he lay on a bench under a tree, the picture of relaxation amidst the chaos.

"Eat your medicine," the nurse said briskly, dropping a few small blue pills before quickly moving on.

The other patients seemed to give Tang Hao a wide berth, none daring to bother him. They all knew too well that tangling with this man, known for his violent streak, would end badly. They would not only suffer a beating but also be subjected to needle after needle until they resembled a porcupine.

"What's there to be scared of? I'm not going to stick you with needles..." Tang Hao muttered as he popped the pills into his mouth, crunching them with apparent relish.

Three years prior, Tang Hao was on a mission to take down a violent gang. During a standoff, the criminals detonated a bomb, killing themselves along with their hostages. Among the victims was the son of a prominent political figure. Tang Hao had tried to save the young man, but despite his best efforts, he failed. Unable to shirk the responsibility for this tragedy, his superiors had no choice but to hide him away in this secluded mental hospital at the base of the mountains. Three years had passed, and Tang Hao was growing impatient, longing for the day he could leave and reunite with his sister, whom he hadn't seen in years. He was tired of this life among the mentally ill, feeling an urgent need to escape this wretched place.

...

"Lin Mengyao, this is all your own doing," came a menacing voice from the entrance of the courtyard.

Tang Hao caught sight of four towering men, each well over six feet tall, their muscular physiques evident. Yet, for all their intimidating appearance, they seemed ineffectual.

The burly men stepped aside, making way for a man and a woman walking shoulder to shoulder. The man strolled with an air of smugness, while the woman, Mengyao, appeared timid and reluctant, clearly under the man's threatening influence.

"There are countless places across the nation where you and your parents could settle down and live comfortably. Why won't you just leave? Are you still clinging to the hope of getting a piece of the Lin estate? You're dreaming!"

Lin Qing was seething with anger, his teeth clenched.

Completely abandoning any pretense of being a gentleman, he dragged Lin Mengyao into the courtyard of the mental hospital, gesturing at the patients with a sinister grin. "Grandma has spoken; today, even if it means finding an idiot, you're getting married off."

"Cousin, I have no desire to vie for the Lin estate. My father's health can't withstand such stress. Moving away would be the end of him."

Lin Mengyao, though dressed in a professional suit, lacked the assertive air of a powerful woman. She continued to plead with Lin Qing, "I assure you, the moment my father's health shows any sign of improvement, our family of three will leave Jaafmont at once."

"Thinking of leaving? You're too late! But since you still address me as cousin, I'll let you choose someone to your liking."

In desperation, Lin Mengyao implored him, "Cousin, we're family! You can't treat me like this! I need to see Grandma. She's cherished me since I was little; she would never let me marry someone with a mental illness."

"Five, four..."

Lin Qing was indifferent to Mengyao's tearful pleas. What good were her cries now?

Why hadn't she acted sooner?

He began to count down with growing impatience.

"You're all heartless, only interested in profit, with no regard for family ties! Heartless..."

Mengyao wept and cursed, yet she knew it was futile.

This outburst would only serve to diminish her in the eyes of others.

In that moment, she was consumed by despair...

"One!"

"If you won't choose, then I'll choose for you. What about this one?"

Lin Qing pointed at random, and his bodyguard immediately seized a bald, greasy-looking middle-aged patient. Lin Qing frowned in dissatisfaction and shoved the man aside, "He's too old to be my brother-in-law; it would be a joke for the Lin family. Wait a second..."

Suddenly, Lin Qing's gaze fell upon Tang Hao, who was spectating from a bench under a tree. His eyes gleamed, "This young man looks decent, clean-cut, and seems like he could be well-kept by a woman."

Lin Mengyao's gaze followed suit, landing on Tang Hao, who wore a calm and indifferent expression.

Instantly, she experienced a peculiar sensation.

Lin Qing hadn't lied; the man before her exuded a confidence that starkly contrasted with the disarray of the mental hospital.

"Young Master Lin, this patient is unsuitable. He's prone to violence..."

The dean attempted to intervene, only to be cut off by Lin Qing's dismissive wave. "I donate a hefty sum to this institution annually, and you're telling me I can't have one person?"

He strode over to Tang Hao, tilting his head up arrogantly. "Boy, fancy getting married?"

"Scram!"

Tang Hao sneered at Lin Qing. He had anticipated some entertainment, but what unfolded was nothing more than a tired trope of familial strife.

Such melodramatic storylines were a dime a dozen in Hong Kong and Taiwanese dramas of the 90s—utterly mundane.

"What? You dare insult me?"

Lin Qing, reluctant to stoop to a spat with a mental patient, was nonetheless infuriated by the insult. He spun around and slapped Lin Mengyao, "All this trouble to find you a lover, and I end up being cursed by a lunatic."

About to strike again, he found his wrist seized in an excruciating grip, immobilized as if clamped by iron.

"Hitting a woman? That's despicable."

"Smack!"

Tang Hao delivered a resounding slap to Lin Qing's face.

Preferring straightforward and effective methods over deceitful ploys, he dealt with the situation in his own blunt manner.

"Speaking to me without manners, are you?"

"Smack!"

Another hefty slap followed.

"What a tedious farce, interrupting my sleep."

"Smack!"

Three slaps in succession, not particularly forceful, yet enough to make Lin Qing see stars and nearly collapse.

"Young Master Lin, are you alright?" The bodyguards, finally snapping to attention, rushed to Lin Qing's aid and menacingly encircled Tang Hao.

The dean was equally shocked by Tang Hao's unexpected outburst.

Lin Qing, a benefactor to the institution, was now the one who had been struck.

Right in front of his own eyes!

Wasn't that just like offending the God of Wealth?

The most baffling part was that even as the dean, he had no clue about Tang Hao's background. All he knew was that he had been instructed to cater to Tang Hao's every need without causing any disturbances.

After all, if Tang Hao lost his temper, he could turn violent and kill someone in a matter of minutes. That's why, for three years, he had never exchanged a single word with Tang Hao.

Now, he felt like a pig looking at its reflection in the mirror—neither here nor there.

His face was etched with worry.

"No, no, it's nothing, haha."

Lin Qing, despite having been hit, laughed as if he had struck gold. "Him, I choose him. A violent maniac who loves to fight? Perfect for my dear sister. A foolish woman and a madman—what a spectacle!"

This foolish woman? She thinks she can vie with me for the Lin estate? I could crush her in an instant.

The thought of his cousin cuddling up to a lunatic made him want to burst into laughter.

At that moment, the dean approached Tang Hao and whispered, "You've always wanted to get out, right? Now the Lin family is looking for a son-in-law. You'll have food, drink, and a beautiful wife. Don't miss this golden chance."

"Can I really leave early?"

Tang Hao was bewildered. Every previous attempt to leave had ended with him being forcibly returned. Why was the dean suddenly so eager to let him go?

"I saw nothing. You never existed in this institution."

With that, the dean turned and walked away.

Damn, Tang Hao was flabbergasted.

The dean must be terrified of something.

"Li—little..."

Lin Qing tried to speak, but when he saw Tang Hao lift his hand, fear took over, and he instinctively flinched.

Realizing that Tang Hao was merely scratching his head and massaging his aching face, Lin Qing awkwardly stepped back. "Cars, houses, a gorgeous wife—all yours if you just nod. What do you say?"

"Idiot! Do you think I need you to give me what I want?"

Tang Hao rolled his eyes and strode over to Lin Mengyao, gesturing towards the patients in the courtyard. "Are you proposing to marry me off to one of them?"