Chapter 6: A Man's Merit

"Ah... You're quite awesome," Chen Yu replied sarcastically, instantly losing the desire to converse with the other person. He turned his head towards the TV, waiting for the local news program to replay.

However, the short criminal suspect continued to talk incessantly, "When it comes to crimes, rape is the most despised in prison. You'll definitely get beaten up. Right, young man?"

Chen Yu replied, "Exactly, exactly."

"Regretting it now?" The short criminal suspect reprimanded his companion. "Dare you do it again in the future?"

"I won't dare," the companion criminal shivered in fear.

"Now you're scared? Where's your arrogance from before?!" The short criminal suspect gloated and looked at the duty police officer. "Hey, bro, isn't a rapist the bottom rung in prison?"

The duty police officer remained expressionless and took a sip of tea. "They're all criminals. There's no need to differentiate between them. Whether they get bullied or not inside, it doesn't matter what crime they committed."

"You're inexperienced, old comrade," the short criminal suspect clicked his tongue. "You've clearly never been inside."

The old police officer: "..."

Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, the short criminal suspect continued his "street talk" for a while before shutting up reluctantly.

Chen Yu was finally able to watch TV quietly for a while.

About half an hour later, the rebroadcast of the midday program began. He successfully saw himself on the screen.

Upon seeing it, he was terrified.

The director of the local TV station had actually turned the material about him into a segment called "Exploring Science"!

"Why is the youth trapped in a murder case?"

"Is the future gruesome death unchangeable?"

"Is all of this fate's arrangement? The loss of humanity? Or self-staged?"

"Duang!" (Close-up shot of Chen Yu, accompanied by drum beats, black and white footage.)

"The words 'dead body,' simple and straightforward, are like an unshakable curse, making it difficult for the young man to break free. It leaves the police helpless..."

"Can experienced and responsible police officers save this innocent and vibrant life from the hands of death?"

"All of this and more in Qingcheng TV's special midday news program, 'Death by Destiny'..."

Chen Yu: "..."

Chen Yu: "Fuck this shit."

"What the fuck?" The short criminal suspect beside him was surprised, pointing at the TV. "The person inside looks just like you?!"

Chen Yu: "..."

After a moment of silence, Chen Yu fell into contemplation, his brow furrowed.

A complete stranger could recognize him, yet his own mother managed to overlook this...

…

The next morning arrived in the blink of an eye.

Early in the morning, the "highly acclaimed chief psychiatrist" arrived at the police station to provide "treatment" for Chen Yu's "mental illness."

"Ah..." In the interrogation room, Chen Yu yawned, still sleepy-eyed.

He sat opposite the psychiatrist, and neither of them spoke.

But as time passed second by second, Chen Yu's lack of concentration gradually faded, and he became restless.

Originally, he had planned to lie down and let the police do whatever they wanted. Once the "title" above his head changed in a few days, he would leave quickly to avoid any further complications.

However, the caring expression of the psychiatrist, treating him as a "mentally ill patient," made him extremely annoyed and irritated. He couldn't help but speak up, "You said I have bipolar disorder. Do you fucking have any evidence?"

"Ah," the psychiatrist scratched his chin. "If we talk about evidence, there wasn't any before, but now there is."

Chen Yu: "..."

After a moment of silence, Chen Yu composed himself, calmly explaining to the psychiatrist how he ended up in the police station, how he was hospitalized and had a tube inserted for a day, how the television station portrayed him as "entertainment," and how it was impossible for him to maintain a stable mood...

The psychiatrist kept nodding, expressing agreement and understanding. He continued to write and draw with his pen.

After about twenty minutes, Chen Yu's mouth was dry, and he said he was tired. He had finished speaking and glanced at the content of the psychiatrist's notes. He found that the diagnosis given to him was still "bipolar disorder," and even "severe irritability disorder." He exploded in an instant, "What the fuck..."

"Calm down, Mr. Chen," the psychiatrist suddenly stood up, taking out a pocket watch from his pocket with a serious expression.

The pocket watch was silver-white overall, hanging from a golden chain, exquisitely beautiful.

Chen Yu's spirit immediately shivered, "Are you going to hypnotize me?"

"No," the psychiatrist opened the pocket watch and glanced at the time. "I just wound it. Would you like me to set an alarm?"

Chen Yu: "...Get lost."

The psychiatrist nodded. "Alright."

Watching the psychiatrist leave, Chen Yu sat on the chair of regret, sighed deeply, and rubbed his face.

He understood.

Whether he had "bipolar disorder" or not didn't matter to him.

But for that psychiatrist, it was important that he was diagnosed with "bipolar disorder." That way, the psychiatrist could earn money from the police station day after day.

Following this logic, the "police station" and the "television station" probably thought the same way…

...However, their goals were different from each other.

"..."

"..."

"...Wait, if that's the case..."

Chen Yu suddenly lifted his head, feeling an overwhelming sense of crisis.

"Creak—"

The door of the interrogation room was pushed open.

A policewoman poked half of her head in and observed Chen Yu for a moment before saying, "Um, the hospital contacted us this morning. During the doctors' consultation, they found some issues in your medical examination report. They suspect you might have a rare disease."

"...," Chen Yu retorted, "So you mean I have to undergo a whole day of medical examinations again?"

"Um...yes, besides that, there will also be two minor minimally invasive surgeries," the policewoman cautiously said, "They will be painless and quick. The leaders at the bureau have already agreed."

"Do I have a say in this? Are you fucking milking me all by myself?" Chen Yu's fear and anger surged. He stood up, slammed the table, and shouted, "Let me out! I want to go home!"

...

"Still want to go home?"

In the afternoon, in the operating room of the Second People's Hospital.

The dean, holding a syringe filled with a sedative, addressed Chen Yu gently. He was adorned with titles such as "Ph.D. supervisor at the Medical University," "authority expert," "national-level academician," and "Vice President of Qingcheng Second People's Hospital."

"I'm not going back," Chen Yu smiled and lay quietly on the operating table. "Please put down the anesthesia first."

"Okay." The dean put down the sedative and calmly explained to Chen Yu, "Don't be too nervous, my young friend. For the sake of your health, we're just taking a tissue sample for pathological examination. We want to rule out the possibility of any diseases."

"Sure, you say, I believe," Chen Yu suppressed his smile. "In any case, I want to stay awake and watch your surgery. No tricks."

"That's fine," the dean suppressed his amusement. With the help of his assistant, he checked his surgical gown and sterile gloves. "Young man, have you heard a saying? Scars are a man's most important achievement. Where do you want to leave this 'achievement' of yours?"

"Can it be on the foreskin?" Chen Yu asked.

The dean: "..."

Everyone in the operating room: "..."

The dean: "Alright."

Chen Yu: "Make the scar deeper."

The dean: "No problem."

…