Zhang Qiling's physical condition was peculiar. He was said to have recovered from serious injuries, yet there were no wounds on his body. This left the doctors, despite their vast experience, with no idea how to proceed. In the end, they could only prescribe a few doses of medicine and discharge Zhang Qiling.
Zhang Haike had been busy with something lately, appearing and disappearing like a phantom. He could only visit Zhang Qiling during the "underworld hours" of late night and early morning, and was often met with a closed door for disturbing the patient's rest.
Upon hearing that Zhang Qiling had been discharged from the hospital, he made a series of phone calls, his intentions as clear as day to anyone.
Then, Wu Tianzhen decisively hung up his calls, not just once.
"Good heavens, that was decisive!" Fatty, watching the spectacle with amusement, gave a thumbs-up. In reality, the only reason he could escape Zhang Haike's relentless calls was his quick thinking in blacklisting Zhang Haike the moment Zhang Qiling was discharged.
Zhang Haike: ... I have a curse word I'd like to say.
"What kind of dragon's den is the Zhang family? I'd rather die than send Little Brother back there!"
Wu Tianzhen spat, trusting Zhang Haike's feelings for Zhang Qiling. However, Zhang Haike was still a Zhang family member, and Wu Tianzhen currently found all Zhang family members distasteful.
The two stood with their arms crossed, feeling pleased with themselves outside the hospital for a while, then suddenly realized a serious problem—
Where should Zhang Qiling go.
"I haven't been in touch with my family much lately. My parents are so anxious they're about to come looking for me. I have to go back myself to report that I'm safe..."
Wu Tianzhen hesitated. He desperately wanted to take Zhang Qiling with him, but Zhang Qiling's complexion was still pale, and he looked frail wrapped in a thick coat. He worried that the long journey back would affect Zhang Qiling's recovery.
"It's fine, just leave Little Brother here. I'll take Little Brother around to see the local sights. I guarantee he'll gain ten pounds by the time you get back!"
Fatty made a bold promise, slinging an arm around Zhang Qiling, who was looking up at the sky in a daze. He exuded an air of confidence.
Zhang Qiling slowly turned his head to look at Fatty. He only just realized that his ownership was being discussed, but after a moment of confusion, he shrunk his head back into the hood of his thick down jacket, pretending not to hear anything.
...The idea of letting Fatty take Little Zhang on a sightseeing tour was quite tempting.
Wu Tianzhen was about to agree, but at that moment, he saw a black car speeding towards them from a distance.
The car seemed to have gunpowder in it, honking its horn as it rushed forward. Wu Tianzhen, seeing its momentum, even suspected it intended to crash into them.
Then the car braked sharply in front of them, and Zhang Haike, with a face ashen with rage, got out.
Wu Tianzhen: ... Unbelievable, did he come on Nezha's wind fire wheels?
We don't know how Zhang Haike arrived in such a hurry, but his purpose was clear to everyone.
As the two sides made eye contact, before any pretense of greetings could be exchanged, Fatty stepped forward to block the way.
Wu Tianzhen trusted Fatty's width and agility, but seeing Zhang Haike's determination to not leave without the person, he couldn't bring himself to leave Zhang Qiling behind as a tug-of-war rope.
And so—
"Excuse me, Xiao Hua, it won't be long, I'll be right back!!!"
With a "bang," Wu Tianzhen slammed the door shut, leaving behind a meticulously dressed handsome man who had just gotten out of bed, and a bewildered centenarian covered in layers of clothing.
Xie Yuchen found it incomprehensible how Wu Tianzhen's language could regress to a state devoid of any punctuation. He stared at the door, which still emitted a faint hum after the heavy impact, and laughed in anger.
Then, he crossed his arms and turned around, seeing Zhang Qiling, who was wearing layers upon layers of clothes, his collar haphazardly piled up, with a corner of his striped hospital gown peeking out from underneath. Xie Yuchen felt a sharp pain in his eyes.
Xie Yuchen didn't often visit this house located in Changbai Mountain. He had only intended to rest here for a while, and he wasn't sure if there were suitable clothes in the walk-in closet.
But that was not a problem. Xie Yuchen directly took out his optical computer and tossed it over: "Do you know how to use it?"
Zhang Qiling silently glanced at the screen. After a moment of thought, he nodded firmly.
Seeing that he knew how to use it, Xie Yuchen raised an eyebrow slightly in surprise.
Frankly, judging by the cautious attitude of Wu Tianzhen and his group towards this Zhang Qiling, he had assumed he was a pampered ancestor who knew nothing of manual labor. Now, it seemed he wasn't that difficult to handle.
Xie Yuchen was not one to rush to please. In fact, he had stayed up late the previous night organizing the Bronze Gate information Zhang Haike had given him and was currently trying to catch up on sleep.
So, he waved his hand casually, intending to leave Zhang Qiling there and go back to sleep for a while.
"It's good that you know how to use it. Buy whatever you want yourself. My account is linked to it, no password..."
"Wait, what are you doing?"
As Xie Yuchen spoke, he noticed that Zhang Qiling, for some reason, was staring intently at the screen. His two unusually long fingers were tapping away at the panel in a peculiar manner, seemingly with a clear objective.
The panel groaned under the pressure of the Faqiu Finger, but it held firm due to the expensive price Xie Yuchen had paid for the optical computer.
Hearing Xie Yuchen's question, Zhang Qiling raised the optical computer screen expressionlessly—
"The Temptation to Go Home" was already playing on it.
He didn't know which episode he had selected, but it was showing Lin Pinru catching her cheating best friend and the渣男 (scumbag) in the act, with the three of them in disheveled clothes, fighting in a chaotic mess that gave Xie Yuchen a throbbing headache.
"...Why are you watching this?" After a long silence, Xie Yuchen finally asked.
Zhang Qiling, however, wore a confused expression. He seemed to ponder for a moment, then said:
"I don't know."
Xie Yuchen: ...
He had heard from Wu Tianzhen that this Zhang Qiling, whose identity was shrouded in mystery, was currently suffering from amnesia.
...But what kind of amnesia was this? How could he remember "The Temptation to Go Home" after losing his memory?
Xie Yuchen felt an inexplicable weariness. He felt that this Zhang Qiling, who had driven countless people to madness, was not quite what he had imagined. But no matter what, he just wanted Wu Tianzhen to return quickly and take the person away.