C19 Xu Xiaoxiao

"What seems to be the problem?" Wang Anshi inquired.

"I've been told by the mental hospital that Ye Cheng returned drenched in blood. They're suggesting that he might have committed murder."

Murder?

How could Ye Cheng, a madman, be capable of such a thing?

Upon hearing this alarming news, Wang Anshi couldn't just sit around. He quickly gathered his team from the Supernatural Bureau and headed to the mental hospital, only to find Director Chen Yangguang amidst the turmoil.

"Director Chen, what's the situation with Ye Cheng?"

Fidgeting nervously, Chen Yangguang replied, "We're actually not sure. This morning, the nurse found Ye Cheng had come back covered in blood. He wouldn't explain what happened."

"Covered in blood? Did anyone examine him?" Wang Anshi pressed further.

"His behavior was alarmingly normal, so much so that he didn't seem insane. He just kept saying he was tired, and we didn't dare press him. All we could do was wait."

With no other options, even Director Chen was at a loss to convince Ye Cheng. As the Director of the Supernatural Bureau, Wang Anshi couldn't resort to extrajudicial measures to compel a physical examination.

The group waited anxiously in the director's office until the afternoon when finally, the individuals monitoring Ye Cheng's door returned.

"Director, Ye Cheng is awake and currently playing with the Purple Fox," they reported.

"Let's go check on him immediately!"

Wang Anshi led his team to Ye Cheng's location, instructing them to remain outside to avoid startling him. He entered the room alone to assess the situation.

Inside, Wang Anshi saw Ye Cheng on the bed, just as Director Chen had described. He cautiously asked, "Ye Cheng, what brings you back? Is there something wrong with the meals at the bureau?"

"The meals? They're quite good," Ye Cheng responded with a chuckle, stroking the soft fur of the Purple Fox.

Wang Anshi was wary of the Purple Fox cradled in Ye Cheng's arms and kept his distance, choosing to stand at a safe remove.

Suddenly, he remembered something else.

"T300, respond if you can hear me!"

Upon hearing the code name, Ye Cheng tossed the Purple Fox onto the bed and leaped up. "Headquarters, this is T300 reporting in!"

Wang Anshi finally breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that Ye Cheng hadn't forgotten. Otherwise, Wang Anshi would have had to devise a new strategy to regain Ye Cheng's trust.

"T300, headquarters needs to know your whereabouts from last night."

"Last night?" Ye Cheng was confused, his recollection of the previous evening hazy. Then it hit him. "Someone was speaking in my head all night. I don't know how, but I ended up following them."

"Someone speaking to you?"

Typically, when someone claims to hear voices in their head, it's a sign of mental instability. Wang Anshi considered Ye Cheng's experience to be a symptom of psychosis.

But wait, how did he get all that blood on him?

"T300, where did this voice lead you? And why are you covered in blood?"

The memory of the previous night ignited Ye Cheng's anger.

"I was fine until you brought it up. Last night, something just appeared in front of me, and I took it down swiftly. Otherwise, I wouldn't be this exhausted."

Hearing this, Wang Anshi discreetly signaled to someone outside the door. The person waiting outside hurried in with equipment and, after testing, found that some of the blood on Ye Cheng was human, but some was not.

"Are you hurt?"

Ye Cheng dismissed the concern with a wave. "It's nothing major, just some scratches. Nothing to worry about."

Thankfully, the injuries were minor.

It appeared that Ye Cheng had encountered a ghost the previous night and had fought with it, which explained the blood. The mental hospital staff, lacking the proper equipment to test for such things, had mistakenly believed Ye Cheng had killed someone.

To ease Ye Cheng's mind, Wang Anshi decided to keep him in the mental hospital for a few more days for observation before taking him back.

Ye Cheng felt as comfortable in the mental hospital as if it were his own home, spending each day cradling the Purple Fox and roaming the halls, much to the other patients' dismay. Chen Yangguang was at a loss for how to handle him, especially since Wang Anshi had already warned him about Ye Cheng. The Purple Fox in Ye Cheng's embrace was no ordinary pet; it was a millennia-old spirit, which only added to everyone's reluctance to approach Ye Cheng.

One afternoon, a BMW pulled up to the mental hospital's entrance. A woman in a smart uniform stepped out and, after making some inquiries, located Ye Cheng in the courtyard, playing with the Purple Fox. As soon as the woman removed her glasses, Ye Cheng recognized her.

"Huh? It's you? Have you recovered from your illness?"

The woman was none other than Xu Xiaoxiao, whom Ye Cheng had previously told was unwell. She nodded, her face etched with concern. Initially, she had dismissed Ye Cheng's words as ramblings, but after returning home, she felt unwell and a hospital visit later revealed she had uterine cancer, which had progressed to the terminal stage.

Now aware of her illness, yet facing the terminal stage, she understood that beyond medication, the doctors were unable to offer any further assistance.

Before arriving, Xu Xiaoxiao had pondered how to interact with someone with psychosis, but upon seeing Ye Cheng, she hesitated, as he appeared far from what she expected. She found herself at a loss for words.

"You're here to see me, aren't you?" Ye Cheng broke the silence, seeing her hesitation.

Fidgeting with her glasses, Xu Xiaoxiao replied softly, "I was wrong about you before. I am indeed ill."

At that, Ye Cheng perked up. "I told you there was something foul in your belly. I'm not one to lie."

"I'm sorry. Without your warning, I would have been none the wiser. Sadly, it's too late for treatment now," Xu Xiaoxiao said, managing a strained smile.

"I understand. You're here because you want my help with your illness, right?" Ye Cheng asked, smiling warmly.

Xu Xiaoxiao didn't deny it and simply nodded in agreement.

She was facing a grim prognosis; the doctors had issued a final ultimatum. Her body was in its last stages, and while medication might buy her some time, the persistent pain was becoming unbearable.

Yet, Ye Cheng's arrival was like a sip of water in a parched desert. She knew it might not make a difference, but having a sliver of hope was essential to keep going.

Ye Cheng picked up on Xu Xiaoxiao's mindset and glanced at the Purple Fox sprawled beside her. He gestured towards Xu Xiaoxiao with a subtle movement of his hand.

Xu Xiaoxiao caught on to what Ye Cheng was hinting at and hastily pulled out a stack of money she had prepared in advance, pressing it into Ye Cheng's hands.

"The amount might not be substantial, but it's a token of my appreciation. If it's not enough, I can try to scrape together more," she offered.

Upon seeing the cash in the paper bag, Ye Cheng's eyes sparkled with delight. It was a more generous sum than what Wang Anshi had given him, enough to buy a mountain of snacks. This was truly wonderful!