"This is my home. I don't want to go anywhere else," Lin Fan said.
He was accustomed to life at Qingshan Mental Hospital. He had long considered it his home.
Old Zhang said, "Wherever he goes, I go."
The two looked at each other, seeing a firm belief in their friendship in each other's eyes.
"Will we never be separated?" Old Zhang asked.
Lin Fan smiled. "Yes."
Director Hao was moved by their friendship. They consider Qingshan Mental Hospital their home, which means I've done a good job as director. No regrets. But the key issue was… they had to leave.
He pleaded, "Give me some face, be obedient, okay? Look at him, he's hoping you'll stay with him for a while. Besides, Qingshan Mental Hospital is operating at a loss. We're at a critical point. If you go with him, you'll get a salary every month and contribute to Qingshan. Since this is your home, can you bear to see it struggling financially?"
To coax Lin Fan and Old Zhang into leaving, he started feigning poverty, hardship, and exhaustion.
"Alright, we'll go," Lin Fan said.
Director Hao beamed. Success!
Soon, Lin Fan was leading the demonic rooster on a rope. The rooster looked utterly despondent. Its secret was out, its life no longer in its own control. But at least it was still alive.
A black car was parked at the entrance of Qingshan Mental Hospital.
The three of them walked towards the car.
Director Hao waved, feigning reluctance. "Remember, this is your home. Come back and visit often!"
Lin Fan and Old Zhang stood at the entrance, waving back.
"We will."
Only when the black car disappeared around the corner with a dramatic flourish did Director Hao breathe a sigh of relief.
"I'm truly going to miss them."
Looking down at the contract in his hand, his mood brightened considerably.
"I never thought making money could be so easy."
Of course, the biggest question on his mind was whether electric shocks and needles could truly make someone stronger.
This was his greatest doubt. Lin Fan had grown up in Qingshan Mental Hospital. He, more than anyone, knew exactly who Lin Fan had and hadn't interacted with.
Inside the car, the demonic rooster was extremely nervous. The one-eyed man's stare made it uncomfortable all over. A strong person's gaze was like a thousand sharp blades, piercing its body. It just wanted to find a good home, hide itself well, and wait for the right opportunity.
Now, it desperately wanted to tell its companions: I'm stuck in quicksand, with no way out. Learn from my mistake.
The one-eyed man locked his gaze on the demonic rooster. He usually killed any demonic creatures he encountered. He looked up at Lin Fan and saw him smiling back. He didn't like that look. It was like Director Hao's, always carrying an unusual meaning.
"Can you trust me one more time?" Old Zhang asked, then pulled out his "treasure" from his pocket. "This is the one you gave me. I've kept it in good condition. If you're willing to let me give you a few injections, I won't disappoint you."
The one-eyed man looked at Old Zhang. A thousand words converged into a single one: "Get lost."
He didn't say it aloud, instead looking out the window.
Lin Fan said, "Old Zhang is very skilled. He's been studying your situation and has come up with a very good treatment method that can help your other eye grow back. The prerequisite is that you have to blind your good eye."
The driver's hands trembled slightly. What is this guy thinking? Picking people up from a mental hospital… Their way of communicating was a bit unnerving, even chilling.
"Thank you for your kindness, but I don't need it at the moment," the one-eyed man said gently.
"Alright," Lin Fan replied.
"That's a shame," Old Zhang said.
The Special Department headquarters was a tall, imposing building located in the city center, a landmark of Yanhai City.
"We're here. Get out," the one-eyed man said.
When the demonic rooster appeared, red lights flashed inside the Special Department headquarters, indicating the presence of a demonic creature nearby. This immediately put everyone on high alert. These demonic creatures are getting bolder and bolder. Hiding in Yanhai City was one thing, but now they were appearing right outside the Special Department, clearly showing no fear.
A group of people rushed out of the building.
"Boss!"
They greeted the one-eyed man respectfully, then looked at Lin Fan and Old Zhang, finally settling their gazes on the demonic rooster with the rope around its neck.
"It's nothing. Go back inside," the one-eyed man waved them off. He knew why they had come out. A demonic creature! In broad daylight, a demonic rooster appeared here without any disguise and hadn't been killed yet. This was a disgrace to the Special Department.
"So tall!" Lin Fan looked up at the building, praising it sincerely.
"So big!" Old Zhang exclaimed, looking at the building.
Study math and science well, and you'll be able to travel the world without fear. "So tall, so big" could describe anything and everything. This was the epitome of a lack of education.
"Come in," the one-eyed man said.
Lin Fan led the rooster inside, but its legs were weak, and it collapsed on the ground, refusing to go any further. To ordinary people, this was just an ordinary building. But to the demonic rooster, it was like staring into the abyss.
"I forgot to feed you breakfast, that's why you have no energy. It's my fault. I'll prepare some food for you inside," Lin Fan said, picking up the demonic rooster and carrying it inside.
No… I don't want to go in. Please let me go! I know I'm wrong. I'll never ask a human to hide me again. I want to go home! Its cries were silent.
Middle age was a time when one had little control over their own life. The demonic rooster never thought it would encounter such a situation.
Passing through the gate…
Beep! Beep!
The alarm sounded.
Swish!
Security personnel went on high alert.
The one-eyed man waved his hand, signaling them to relax. It was just a level three demonic creature. Even if it came in, it was nothing to worry about.
In the office, the one-eyed man had them sit down and brought them two cups of hot water.
"Thank you."
"Thank you."
Lin Fan and Old Zhang looked curiously around, holding their cups and sipping the water.
The demonic rooster crouched on the floor, not daring to move, keeping its head down, its body trembling. If it weren't afraid of attracting attention, it would have even pooped out of fear.
But for some reason, it felt a little smug. Look, have any of you demonic creatures ever been to the human strongmen's headquarters? Although I'm just a level three demonic creature, I'm here now, a place you'll probably never be able to come to in your lifetime.
Knock, knock!
A knock came at the door.
"Come in."
A petite, stunningly figured woman with long hair that defied scientific explanation walked in, holding a file.
She was very cute.
After entering, she looked curiously at Lin Fan and Old Zhang.
They looked back at her, smiling and staring.
Such a cute girl.