The other patients gaped at them as they stumbled out of the lift. Xie Ping clutched his stomach with one hand and the wall with the other. He gasped for air and croaked, “What the hell is the date? Why do I feel like I’m about to give birth?”
Yu Xiao long Liu Si Si over her shoulder, scratching her chin. “Beats me, I’m still a baby myself.”
“This is a hospital, you know,” Zhao Lan pointed out. “Maybe you should get yourself checked.”
Xie Ping’s face twisted into a grimace. He looked like he was going to hurl, and he did, twice. He whimpered, “I may have lost my pride, but I don’t want to die as a freak.”
“Then hide your mug,” Zhao Lan advised. “You’re not exactly a sight for sore eyes. The way they’re staring at you, I’m scared they’ll lynch you.”
Xie Ping shivered and quickly wrapped his coat around his head.
Yu Xiao hauled Liu Si Si along and said, “I thought we’d be fine once we got out. Come on, let’s save Liu Si Si.”
They dragged Liu Si Si to the hospital lawn. She was acting crazy, with bloodshot eyes, drooling mouth, and a single-minded focus on food. Yu Xiao dropped her on the ground, and Zhao Lan asked, “You think the emergency healing talisman will do the trick?”
“I have no clue, let’s give it a shot,” Yu Xiao said, flipping Liu Si Si over a rock on the lawn and then smacking her back to make her puke. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
Liu Si Si thrashed at first, but after a few smacks, she finally spat out a “wah”.
The air reeked of something rotten, something dead. Xie Ping couldn’t take it. His stomach lurched and he spewed his guts out, along with the rest of them.
Yu Xiao peeked at Liu Si Si, who was heaving up chunks of decay and squirming maggots. She shuddered. If she had swallowed what Liu Si Si had, she would be screaming in pain when she woke up. She dragged her to a cleaner spot, away from the vile mess, and slapped a talisman on her chest.
Liu Si Si coughed and blinked, coming to her senses. She was lying on a patch of grass, surrounded by Dragon Sister and the others. They looked worried.
“What happened to me?” She licked her lips and grimaced. “Ugh, what’s that taste in my mouth?”
Yu Xiao and the others exchanged uneasy looks as they helped her up. “You feeling okay? Anything hurt?”
“Just a bit of a sore throat, nothing else,” Liu Si Si looked around. “Are we out?”
“Yup,” Yu Xiao nodded. “We made it to the hospital’s ground floor. We’re out.”
“That’s awesome,” Liu Si Si sighed in relief, then frowned. “Did I black out? How long was I out for?”
“Not too long,” Zhao Lan said, holding her arm. “You took a hit, passed out, but you’re fine now.”
Liu Si Si wasn’t convinced, but Yu Xiao quickly changed the topic. “So, what’s our next move? Any suggestions?”
Xie Ping had none. “I can’t think straight right now, I’m sorry. But please, can we get out of this hellhole soon? I’m afraid if this continues, I’ll give birth to the child here.”
Luo Jin shrugged. “What’s the hurry?”
Xie Ping snorted. “You’re kidding, right? Come on, take a wild guess. Who do you think the baby will resemble when it pops out?”
Luo Jin didn’t miss a beat. “I think the real issue is Director Liao. Any instance should be safe as long as we follow the script. But this one is different. The patient director’s team based it on what Director Liao told them. We shouldn’t have any problems as actors. But something went wrong. Maybe Director Liao lied to us.”
Yu Xiao nodded. “Luo Jin has a point. Have you seen Director Liao? He’s sketchy as hell.”
She raised a finger and went on. “First of all, he’s loaded with religious stuff. A peach wood bracelet, a Bodhisattva pendant, and that’s not all. He even wears something on his feet.”
Liu Si Si, who had finally stopped freaking out, asked. “So what? Maybe he’s just superstitious.”
Yu Xiao shook her head. “No, no, no. If he was superstitious, he would stick to one faith. But look at him. He’s got Buddhism, Taoism, and Christianity all mixed up. That’s not superstition. And his tattoos… I can’t see them all under his clothes, but I bet they’re not the usual dragons or tigers. He’s not into religion. He’s into warding off evil.”
“Warding off evil?” Zhao Lan couldn’t help but nod, “That makes sense. Some people who need to exorcise evil, they get scared or confused, and they try anything they think might work. That’s why he’s got this religious mess on him.”
Xie Ping tilted his head. “What’s with all the anti-ghost gear?”
Yu Xiao snorted. “He’s a scaredy-cat, that’s what. Thinks the dead are after him.”
Liu Si Si frowned. “What dead? His old pal who offed himself?”
Yu Xiao shook her head. “Nah, that was ages ago. If his pal wanted to haunt him, he would’ve done it by now. Besides, why would he haunt him? He’s the one who killed himself, not him.”
“Maybe he’s been doing this for a long time?” Xie Ping wondered.
“Nope,” Yu Xiao said. “I looked at them. The red strings and the peach wood bracelets are all new. He just started wearing them recently.”
Zhao Lan tapped her chin. “That’s weird. His pal and his wife both croaked twenty years ago, but he only got spooked recently. Maybe his ghost problem has nothing to do with them?”
Yu Xiao nodded. “Something must’ve spooked him real good. He’s a big deal movie director, you know. There should be tons of stuff about him online.”
And there was. Director Liao was famous for his movies, but lately, he was more famous for his bad luck. The latest news was all about his mishaps and misfortunes.
The production was cursed from the start. Films got scrapped halfway through, actors got caught in compromising positions, and stuntmen broke bones left and right. It was a disaster of epic proportions.
And then there was Director Liao, the mastermind behind it all. He was the unluckiest of them all. One day, he was on set, watching the scene from a safe distance, when a flying actor came crashing down on him. How did that even happen? Directors were supposed to be behind the scenes, not under them.
He barely survived the accident, only to find out he had cancer. And then his company got audited for fraud. And then his dog died. It was like someone had a vendetta against him.
“He’s screwed,” Liu Si Si said, shaking her head as she watched the news.
“Maybe he has a ghost pet,” Zhao Lan piped up.
“A what?” Yu Xiao frowned.
“A ghost pet. You know, like a ghost kept as a pet. They’re supposed to grant you fame and fortune, but they can also turn on you and ruin your life,” Zhao Lan explained. “I used to be obsessed with celebrity gossip in school, and I saw a lot of cases like this. It’s like karma, but worse.”
“That sounds plausible,” Luo Jin nodded, pointing at the screen. “He was nobody before, just a lowly assistant in some crappy films. And then he became a big shot overnight.”
“But what does that have to do with us?” Liu Si Si asked. “We’re just here to film his story.”
Yu Xiao rolled her eyes. “Maybe he’s just lying through his teeth,” she said. “Trying to make himself look like a saint. How can a saint raise ghosts? And even if he didn’t raise any ghosts, he must have done something shady, or he wouldn’t be in such a mess.”
“So we’re going to find out the truth?” Xie Ping asked.
“Are we going to crack this case?” Liu Si Si clapped her hands excitedly. “What’s the plan?”
Luo Jin looked at Yu Xiao. “Where are you going to start digging?”
Yu Xiao smirked. “I think I’ll just storm into that ward and give Director Liao a piece of my mind’, force the truth outta him.”
Luo Jin blinked. “Sounds like a plan.”
“But I’m afraid Mr. Wang might get in the way and spoil my fun,” Yu Xiao said. “It’s better to avoid the doctor unless we have to.”
“But you already provoked Mr. Wang before,” Liu Si Si reminded her. Dragon Sister was not one to back down from a fight.
“That was nothing…” Yu Xiao waved her hand. “Who cares about that?”
“I think he does,” Liu Si Si said solemnly. “Did you see the look in his eyes? He wanted to murder you.”
Yu Xiao scanned the faces of her companions, a wicked grin on her lips. “We can’t let Mr. Wang ruin my fun, can we?” she said. “Anyone got a brilliant idea to keep him from finding out about Director Liao?”
They all looked at each other, clueless and nervous. Mr. Wang was no ordinary NPC. He was the freaking attending doctor, with powers that made most ghosts and monsters look like kittens. And they couldn’t just beat him up, either. That would break the hospital rules and get them in big trouble.
Luo Jin cleared his throat. “Mr. Wang will figure out we’re not in the studio as soon as he checks on us,” he said. “We can’t stop him, and my cards are useless.”
Zhao Lan frowned. “What do you mean? Don’t you have those disposable affection cards? They should work on him, right?”
Luo Jin shook his head. “I gave those to Lu Xu. The only cards I have left are for fighting, like invincibility.”
Yu Xiao reached into her pocket and pulled out a shiny copper coin. She tossed it to Luo Jin. “I have a solution,” she said. “You remember this, don’t you?”
Luo Jin caught the coin and stared at it. He didn’t say anything, but his face said it all. He had owned this coin before, and he knew it was bad news.
“What did you do to it?”
“I upgraded it, of course. It’s not so nasty anymore.”
Luo Jin raised an eyebrow. He didn’t trust her one bit. He had seen what this coin could do, and he didn’t want any part of it.
“What’s the catch?”
Yu Xiao shrugged. “No catch. Just a minor side effect. When I upgraded it for the first time it made people and ghosts fall in love or hate with each other within ten metres of the user. That’s all.”
Xie Ping couldn’t take it anymore. His stomach felt like a blender on high speed, and he needed to get out of there fast. He grabbed the Coin of Great Observation from Luo Jin’s hand and said, “Hate or love, it doesn’t matter. As long as they don’t hurt me, I’m good. I’ll go.”
Yu Xiao gasped. She was about to snatch the coin back when Luo Jin snatched it from Xie Ping. He held the coin tightly and said, “No, I’ll go. I can handle myself better than any of you.”
They looked up and saw Mr. Wang stumbling out of the outpatient department, holding a thermos flask. He noticed them whispering in a corner and his eyes bulged out. How did they escape from the basement?
Luo Jin cursed under his breath. “This is bad. We don’t have time to waste. Let’s split up and move.”
He ran towards Mr. Wang, leaving Yu Xiao behind. She tried to catch him, but it was too late. The coin in his hand had been upgraded for the second time and its side effects completely changed…
“Come on!” Zhao Lan pulled Yu Xiao along. “We need to find Director Liao and get some answers!”
Yu Xiao hesitated, watching Mr. Wang coming their way. She bit her lip and followed the others upstairs. Mr. Wang was the doctor; he wouldn’t hurt them, right? And the coin’s side effects couldn’t be that bad, right?
They entered the building, but Mr. Wang was close behind.
Luo Jin jumped in front of him and grabbed his arm.
Mr. Wang’s eyes flashed with anger. “You dare stop me?”
Luo Jin looked at the coin in his hand and thought, “Of course, it’s the negative side. This thing will never do anything good.”
Luo Jin let go of Mr. Wang’s arm, feeling a swirl of mixed emotions inside him. He decided to give it a shot. “Mr. Wang, can you please stop chasing them?”
Mr. Wang’s eyes lost their angry glint in a flash. “Sure.”
Luo Jin: “?”
Was Luo Jin hallucinating? Had the upgrade turned Coin of Great Observation into a miracle worker?
“There’s just one thing,” Mr. Wang said.
“Go on,” Luo Jin wondered what Mr. Wang would ask for. It was a love-hate situation, so agreeing to his demand would be a gesture of affection. But what if his demand was fueled by spite?
“Hold my hand,” Mr. Wang’s wrinkled face was dead serious. “Hold it tight, like you did before.”
Luo Jin: “…”
**
The elevator doors slid open, and Yu Xiao’s crew spilled out. They chatted away as they headed for Director Liao’s room.
Halfway there, Yu Xiao dialled Zhou Xiao Zhen again, but got no answer.
She said, “Misty, can you track down Precious? I can take care of Director Liao by myself.”
“Sure thing.” Director Liao was just a patient, and he didn’t need a crowd. Zhao Lan agreed without hesitation.
“I’m coming with you,” Liu Si Si said. “I’m freaking out about Wang Chun. She’s not picking up.”
“Okay, you guys go look for them. Xie Ping, if you can’t walk, then tag along with me to Director Liao’s room,” Yu Xiao delegated swiftly.
Yu Xiao turned to Zhao Lan before they left. “If we’re out of luck. Ring up Luo Jin.”
**
The single-patient ward reeked of decay. A vase of lilies withered on the bedside table, their petals falling like tears.
Director Liao rolled his wheelchair to the balcony. The sun cast a harsh light, and a gentle breeze caressed his face. He stared at the ward from the balcony, his eyes wide and empty.
The curtains danced in the wind, and he trembled like a frightened rabbit.
“It’s coming, it’s coming…”
“Stay away, w-w-w… I’m sorry, okay…”
Bang! The door flew open with a kick.
Director Liao nearly had a heart attack, his face contorted with fear, frozen in horror.
Xie Ping limped in, clutching his waist, gasping. “Is it just me, or is my belly growing? I’m winded after a few steps.”
Director Liao snapped out of his fright and into a frenzy when he saw Xie Ping. He babbled like a madman, “Ah! What are you doing here? Keep away! Hahaha… you came looking for me at last. W-w-what a sorry way to go, you had it coming…”
Xie Ping’s eyes widened in confusion. “What the hell is happening?”
“Maybe he snapped?” Yu Xiao said, biting her lip. “Do you think he can still spill the beans if he’s cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs?”
She crept closer to Director Liao, who was clawing at his skin like a rabid animal. She snatched one of his arms and pinned it down. “Hold still, you lunatic!”
She waved her free hand in front of his face. “Yo! Earth to Director Liao! Do you know who I am?”
He blinked a few times, his eyes unfocused, then slowly cleared. “Oh, it’s you!”
He gulped some air and looked around. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be on set? And what’s up with him?” He nodded at Lu Xu’s swollen stomach.
“That’s none of your business,” Yu Xiao said, scanning him from head to toe. Her eyes lingered on the jade Buddha pendant hanging from his neck and the peach wood bracelet on his wrist. “We’re here to get some answers.”
“What answers?” Director Liao straightened up, his face darkening. “Who gave you permission to barge in? I’m not in the mood for visitors. Get out.”
“He’s playing hardball,” Zhao Lan said. “Let’s cut the crap and get to the point.”
“Good point,” Yu Xiao agreed.
“What point?” Director Liao said, pointing a shaky finger at Yu Xiao. “What are you up to?”
Yu Xiao didn’t answer. She grabbed his collar and ripped it open, shredding his hospital gown. She yanked it off him and tossed it aside, leaving him exposed to the cold air.
“What the hell are you doing?!” exclaimed Director Liao, his voice reaching a piercing pitch.
After she had undressed him, Yu Xiao held his head firmly to prevent any sudden movements. Then, her eyes fell upon the colossal portrait inked on Director Liao’s back. The image depicted a grotesque ghost clutching onto an iron chain, with a smaller ghost tethered to it.
It was Zhong Kui. Director Liao indeed had some secrets. Zhong Kui was known for banishing spirits and demons; it was not common for people to have him tattooed on their skin.
(Zhong Kui (钟馗): A figure from Chinese mythology known as the Demon Queller. He is often depicted as a fierce warrior who hunts down evil spirits and demons.)
“Do you have a bloody ghost pet?” Yu Xiao asked.
“You’re talking nonsense!” Director Liao erupted. “Get out of here! Where’s Dr. Wang? Dr. Wang!”
**
In the office, Mr. Wang heard the commotion. He grabbed Luo Jin’s hand and said, “I have to make a quick trip to the wards. Are you coming with me?”
“I’m not going,” Luo Jin said, enduring the goosebumps creeping up his skin. “I’m staying right here.”
Mr. Wang hesitated for a moment, seeking reassurance. “Can you promise to stay put until I’m back?”
“I can’t promise,” Luo Jin replied. “Even if I do, I’m not sure I’ll stick to it. I’m not one to keep my word.”
“Hey, you… you can’t escape me!” Mr. Wang shouted, his voice cracking with excitement. “You’re mine, you’re not going anywhere but with me! No one else can have you!”
Luo Jin: “…”
Luo Jin knew that Yu Xiao must have been lying. What love-hate feeling? Did Mr. Wang have some twisted crush on him? He acted no different from a possessive yandere. But since Luo Jin was already involved, seeking revenge could wait. Right now, the main focus was keeping Mr. Wang occupied.
“Whatever, I’m not moving,” Luo Jin said, smirking. “If you want to go, be my guest.”
“Oh, my sweet ancestor…” Mr. Wang was losing it.
**
Zhao Lan and Liu Si Si searched the hospital, asking everyone they saw, but they couldn’t find Zhou Xiao Zhen and the others.
Tired, Liu Si Si sat on the stairs, panting. She asked Zhao Lan, “This is hopeless. What did Sister Dragon say before? Why can’t we find them, and why did she mention Zhuge?”
Zhao Lan was quiet for a moment, clearly thinking about Mr. Wang’s obsession with Luo Jin. She didn’t explain, just said vaguely, “I don’t know either. I’ll call Zhuge and ask.”
“Is that a good idea?” Liu Si Si said, nervous. “Zhuge is dealing with Mr. Wang. Isn’t it wrong to bother him?”
“But can we find them by ourselves?” Zhao Lan said.
After some thinking, they decided to call Luo Jin. Liu Si Si trusted Sister Dragon wouldn’t joke about a teammate’s life.
**
The ringtone blared in Luo Jin’s ear.
“Ghost gourds, ghost gourds, seven flowers on a vine…!” (This is a line from the theme song of the Chinese animated series “The Legend of Nezha” (哪吒闹海).)
What kind of sick joke was this? Who would call him at this ungodly moment? He grabbed the phone and snapped. “Yeah, what?”
“It’s Zhao Lan.” She sounded panicked. “We can’t find Zhou Xiao Zhen or the others. They’ve vanished. Can you ask Mr. Wang if he knows anything?”
Luo Jin: “…”
He felt a surge of anger. Lu Xun was right. Those three idiots from Yu Xiao’s ward were nothing but trouble. They were like foxes in the henhouse, always scheming and sneaking around.
“Who’s that?” Mr. Wang’s voice cut through the silence. “Is that a woman? Who’s the wild woman on the phone?”
Luo Jin: “…”
Zhao Lan heard Mr. Wang’s voice and his insult. She clammed up, afraid to say more. She spoke quickly. “Just find out where they are. Text me when you do. See ya.”
“See ya?” Mr. Wang’s eyes narrowed. “She wants to see you later?”
Luo Jin wanted to bang his head on the wall. He had been in Fourth Hospital for years, seen all kinds of things, but this was the worst. Why couldn’t he trade places with Lu Xun? Lu Xun was so much better at handling rich old sugar daddies.
**
A scream ripped through the air, making a passing nurse jump.
“Ahhhhhh—!”
She ran to the door of the ward, pounding on it. “What’s happening in there? Is the patient okay?”
“It’s fine!” a woman’s voice answered.
“Fine? How is it fine? That was a freaking scream! And it sounded like a man! Who are you to the patient?” The nurse yelled. “I’m coming in.”
She reached for the doorknob, but the door flew open.
The first thing she saw was a huge belly.
Then a man’s voice said, “What, I can’t talk with a tight throat sometimes?”
The nurse gaped at the man’s face, then at the belly. “Are you… a guy or a gal?”
“What’s your problem?” Xie Ping said. “Are you discriminating against me?”
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