"It’s Uncle who’s telling now."
Tan Yunlong lit a cigarette, his voice low: "Yes, his mom ca back. His grandparents have seen her too."
"What happened to his mom?"
"She’s gone mad, now in the ntal hospital at Jiuhua Mountain."
"His grandparents are afraid the child can’t handle such a big shock all at once, so they plan to keep it from him for now."
"It can’t be kept secret for long. The college entrance exam is still far away."
"Respect the old folks’ wishes."
"Uncle Tan, I want to et Zheng Haiyang’s mother. Could you help arrange it?"
"Tell why?"
"Just curious."
"You could co up with a more appropriate reason, like you and Zheng Haiyang are good friends, and you want to do it out of concern for your friend."
"Zheng Haiyang is close with Brother Binbin. I’m just average with other classmates."
Tan Yunlong exhaled a ring of smoke, helplessly: "A genius’s mind really is different from ordinary people’s."
"Uncle, are you agreeing?"
"I’ll make arrangents. When are you planning to go?"
"Is this afternoon possible?"
"No, we need to apply in advance for that place."
"Then tomorrow."
"Tomorrow’s Monday. You need to go to school."
"I can skip it."
"Fine, wait at ho tomorrow, I’ll co pick you up."
"Thank you, Uncle."
The next morning, Li Zhiyuan didn’t leave the house, drawing pictures with Alii in his room.
After Tan Wenbin finished his porridge, he asked Run Sheng curiously: "Why hasn’t Xiao Yuan co down yet? It’s almost too late."
"Xiao Yuan said he’s tired, he’s not going to school today. Can you call in sick for him?"
"Oh, okay."
Tan Wenbin set out on his bicycle.
Half an hour later, a small pickup truck stopped on the village road ahead.
Li Zhiyuan and Run Sheng walked out together, opened the door, and got into the truck.
There was a strong seafood sll in the truck; it must be a vehicle borrowed by Tan Yunlong.
"Uh, sorry about the sll, bear with it." Tan Yunlong apologized, turning the truck around.
Just as he finished turning, a bicycle appeared in front, positioned across the front of the pickup truck. The cyclist flicked back his bangs, throwing his head back revealing the distinct clear and dazed look of youth.
"Aha, I guessed it! You all wanted to sneak off without , but surprise, I’ve seen through everything!"
After parking his bicycle, Tan Wenbin cat-walked towards the pickup truck, casually pulling out a cigarette, and was about to put it in his mouth when he saw Tan Yunlong in the driver’s seat.
"Dad..."
Who could have imagined that his own father would be driving this pickup, and that there were several rows of blue plastic barrels tied at the back?
Tan Wenbin placed the cigarette into Tan Yunlong’s mouth.
He then took out a box of matches and struck it with a "snap," lighting the cigarette for his dad.
"Dad, you know, I’m just worried about Xiao Yuan being unsafe without around. Since you’re here accompanying him, I don’t need to worry anymore."
"Get lost."
"Alright then."
Tan Wenbin turned around imdiately, picked up his bicycle, but he didn’t rush away. Instead, he looked back pitifully, making frequent glances.
Li Zhiyuan spoke up: "Uncle, Brother Binbin needs the motivation to study."
Tan Yunlong, with the cigarette in his hand, reached out of the truck window, honked the horn twice, and called out: "Get in."
"Alright! Wait for , I’ll put my bike back at the house."
Tan Wenbin quickly ran back, returned, opened the door, and squeezed in.
Run Sheng asked: "Did you call in the sick leave for Xiao Yuan?"
Tan Wenbin nodded: "I did it. I called Aunt Zhang."
Then, Tan Wenbin complained: "Dad, seriously, why are you driving this slly truck?"
"Wait until you earn enough money to buy a new car to drive."
"That’s no problem at all, we’re family after all!"
"Heh."
Tan Yunlong started the truck, and an hour later, they reached the ntal hospital entrance.
The place was quite secluded but well-known locally, as there was even a jingle about it. When people in the local dialect wanted to call soone crazy, they’d say "Tomorrow, we can go to Jiuhua Mountain to see you."
The gatehouse was strict, and beyond that were two more checkpoints. Eventually, the four were seated in the corridor outside the visiting area.
The leading doctor said: "Zhang Ying’ai is currently being visited by soone. Please wait a mont."
Tan Wenbin curiously ntioned: "Could it be Zheng Haiyang’s grandparents bringing him to visit?"
Speaking, Tan Wenbin approached the door which had glass in the middle for observation during visits.
"Eh, it’s not Zheng Haiyang and his folks; it’s a man and a woman I don’t recognize."
Li Zhiyuan now stepped over and looked inside.
Because the visiting table was placed perpendicularly, he could see the complete profile of the woman sitting on the outside.
Li Zhiyuan recognized her—it was Aunt Xu, Li Lan’s secretary.
The last ti Li Lan called back, it was Aunt Xu from Nantong who had a chat with Grandma and Grandpa.
But why was she here?
Li Lan said last ti on the phone that she was about to undertake a very dangerous mission. So, has Li Lan co back?
Facing Aunt Xu and the man was Zheng Haiyang’s mother, Zhang Ying’ai.
Zhang Ying’ai was wearing a tight garnt that forced her arms to stay close to her body, which ant she was still highly aggressive.
But at the mont, she seed quite normal in her interaction.
Until Aunt Xu laid several photos in front of her, Zhang Ying’ai’s expression started to show distinct signs of unease. She began to get nervous, her eyes gradually reddening, her body trembling.
The man beside Aunt Xu was shaking her arm, probably trying to signal her to stop, but Aunt Xu seed to have asked a crucial question, and she was close to getting an answer, so she continued.
Then, Zhang Ying’ai started to scream. Her voice was incredibly shrill and piercing, unlike any sounds a normal human could make, so much so that Li Zhiyuan and others outside could hear her distinctly.
"When it awakens, we’re all going to die, all going to die, hahaha!"
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