Chapter 40: I Don't Like Eating That

Deputy Director Li was preoccupied.

He wanted to send the two psychiatric patients back. Based on his years of observation, these two patients were terrifying, and keeping them in the hospital wasn't a good thing.

Just in the single day they'd been hospitalized, the hospital had already suffered losses.

Light bulbs had been replaced, sockets blackened.

These things cost money, even if it was just small change, it was still money. Even if he were snatching red envelopes, he didn't know how long it would take to recoup those losses.

However, Deputy Director Li had a soft spot for Lin Fan.

Leaving aside the bone marrow donation, just the fact that they'd seen each other every few days for so many years… even if you raised a dog, you'd develop feelings. Although the analogy wasn't entirely appropriate, that was the general idea.

Feelings develop over time.

Moreover, thanks to these two psychiatric patients, the doctors had become very experienced in the operating room, accumulating a high number of surgeries and becoming seasoned surgeons.

According to the test report, Lin Fan didn't need a mobilization agent; his hematopoietic stem cells were growing and releasing into his peripheral blood.

This was a very peculiar situation.

Perhaps it was normal for mental patients to be a bit special.

He immediately made arrangements for the doctors to transfer Lin Fan to another ward and begin collecting the hematopoietic stem cells. The sooner it was over, the sooner they could be sent back.

Although I love you very much, this love thrives on anticipation, not your presence before my eyes. Seeing each other every few days is enough.

Inside the ward, Lin Fan lay in bed next to a blood drawing machine. Doctors bustled around him. Two blood collection needles were inserted into his arms, one drawing blood to a separator to filter hematopoietic stem cells into a collection bag, and the remaining blood returning to his body.

Recycling, nothing wasted.

A doctor sat by the machine, feigning composure, but his heart was racing. With two psychiatric patients present, how could he not be afraid?

Although he knew these two psychiatric patients were the hospital's VIP clients, he had barely seen them.

He noticed some wires nearby and imagined the psychiatric patients stealthily picking them up and strangling him. He pretended to block the wires, hoping they wouldn't notice them.

Old Zhang sat by Lin Fan's bed, watching nervously.

"Any unusual sensations?" the doctor asked. This was a mandatory question in the procedure. If there was numbness, they'd need to supplement calcium.

"No," Lin Fan replied calmly.

The doctor sat stiffly. He was very tense. Being in the same room with two psychiatric patients was incredibly stressful. He would rather be with two violent criminals, at least they'd show a ferocious expression before attacking, giving him some mental preparation.

At that moment, the doctor noticed Lin Fan looking at him, a smile playing on his lips, just quietly observing him.

Out of politeness, the doctor smiled back at Lin Fan, giving him a thumbs-up, praising him for saving a family.

But gradually, he felt a chill under Lin Fan's gaze, like sitting on pins and needles. He lowered his head, lacking confidence, not daring to meet Lin Fan's eyes. It's too terrifying. Can you please stop looking at me like that?

I'm a grown man.

Your stare is making me clench.

Old Zhang took a banana from the fruit provided by the hospital, peeled it, took a bite, then held it to Lin Fan's mouth. "I just had some. It's very sweet, tastes good. You'll like it."

Lin Fan opened his mouth and swallowed the bite. "Mmm, it is sweet."

"Do you want to go back? I kind of miss our home," Old Zhang said. He missed life at the青山 Mental Hospital. It was free and easy there; he could run in the grass under the morning sun. But here, he was confined to a small room, with no enjoyment at all.

"Yes," Lin Fan replied.

Old Zhang rolled up his sleeve, pointing to the watch on his wrist. "I told you last time I'd buy you a Rolex, but I'm saving a bit slowly. Just wait a little longer, I'll definitely buy you one."

"Okay," Lin Fan replied calmly.

He enjoyed spending time with Old Zhang. Since being there, he had tried to communicate with others, but found they all seemed a bit abnormal. He could only engage in superficial conversations, not deep ones.

But Old Zhang was different.

He knew what he wanted to do, and he also knew what Old Zhang wanted to do.

"Hee hee!"

"Hee hee!"

Old Zhang rested his arm on the bedside table, his chin in his hand, tilting his head to look at Lin Fan. The two of them just smiled at each other for no apparent reason.

Their smiles were radiant, their eyes crinkling into slits.

They maintained these smiles, such warm and tender smiles that warmed the ward. But for the doctor, it felt like being in an ice cellar, his hair standing on end. Terrifying.

No!

I need to get out of here for a bit.

The doctor stood up cautiously, afraid of making any noise that might startle the two psychiatric patients.

After stepping out of the ward, which wasn't far from the corridor, he took a deep breath in the hallway. That feeling had been too oppressive. He couldn't understand what those two were thinking. How could they look at each other and smile for so long? Didn't they find it terrifying?

He didn't understand. In fact, it was genuine affection.

Parents who haven't seen their children for a long time, personally cooking for them, might not eat at the table, their eyes fixed on their children eating, feeling content and happy.

The child might say: Mom, I'm eating. You're staring at me so much I can't eat.

Because they don't understand that look, they can't eat. Only later will they understand what it means.

And by then, they've already become experienced in the ways of the world.

A passing nurse saw Dr. He standing in the corridor and asked with a smile, "How's it going with them?"

Dr. He forced a calm smile. "Pretty good, they're very friendly. I enjoy being with them."

False words.

He was actually terrified.

Ding ding!

Dr. He looked at his phone. A message had arrived. The sender's name: Good Brother.

[Good Brother: Hey He, I have something going on. Could you lend me 10,000 yuan?]

Dr. He stared at the message, lost in thought. He didn't reply immediately, afraid of the "typing…" indicator appearing.

10,000 yuan.

This was a difficult request.

He stared at the message for a full ten minutes, his mind racing, wondering whether to lend the money or not. If he didn't, what excuse could he make to refuse, one that would convey his willingness to help but his inability to do so, without damaging their relationship?

Ding!

[Good Brother: It's alright, thanks anyway, brother.]

Seeing this message, he instantly replied.

[Dr. He: Ah! I was seeing a patient just now, just saw your message. Glad it's alright. Call me next time if anything comes up.]

Oh!

That scared me.

He felt a sense of relief, his mood suddenly improving.

Back in the ward, he saw the two psychiatric patients still smiling at each other. Old Zhang was holding an apple, taking a bite, then Lin Fan taking a bite, the smiles on their faces still radiant.

To outsiders, it felt rather sinister.

"Delicious, right?" Old Zhang asked.

"Mmm, very delicious," Lin Fan said, smiling.

"There's one more here, but I don't really like eating it, so I'll let you have it," Old Zhang said, looking at the last remaining apple. It was sweet and crisp, he liked it very much.

But Lin Fan liked it.

He was willing to give good things to his good friend.

"Let's each have a bite."

"No, I like Sprite. I don't like eating fruit."