Chapter 685: Kan Ning

Although Li Huowang was a key subject of support and regular visits from the neighborhood committee, he was generally not allowed to leave the community. However, going to a psychiatric hospital for a follow-up appointment was a perfectly valid reason, and there was no justification to refuse. After all, if he wasn't allowed to attend the appointment and had another relapse, it would be a huge problem.

"You should have said you were going for a follow-up sooner! Come, fill out this form. Young lady, are you his escort? What's your relation to him?"

After Li Huowang filled out several forms under Aunt Qi's supervision, a rideshare car was already waiting at the community gate. Before Li Huowang and Yang Na could get in, Aunt Qi poked her head into the passenger side and instructed the driver, "Xiao Wang! Is the tank full? Remember, only drop them off at Kangning Hospital, and absolutely do not stop midway! Keep your phone on and accessible the entire time!"

"I also need to go to a fruit stand to buy some things," Li Huowang interjected.

"Aren't you going for a follow-up? Why would you buy fruit at a psychiatric hospital?!" Aunt Qi's eyes were full of suspicion, as if she feared Li Huowang would seize the opportunity to escape.

"I made a lot of friends there. Can't I visit my friends while I'm there for my follow-up?"

"Friends you made in a psychiatric hospital? Are they also psychiatric patients?"

This led to another bout of commotion, which only ended when Yang Na went to the community supermarket to buy the items.

Although the rideshare driver looked similar to the previous police officer, Li Huowang didn't think much of it. Whether it was surveillance or protection, it didn't matter to him; he had no desire to cause trouble on the road anyway.

As Li Huowang and Yang Na got in, the car turned and entered the lane. As the vehicle picked up speed, he leaned his head against the window, his blank gaze fixed on the scenery outside, his brows deeply furrowed as he pondered all the things he had experienced.

"What exactly are those people? What do they want with me? What do I have that's worth them coveting?"

Asking others these questions yielded no answers, and even calling the police wouldn't help. Besides, they didn't trust him. His only lead now was Qian Fu at Kangning Hospital. If they could alter surveillance footage, it was highly likely they were also responsible for putting needles in his food.

"But... but why? If they wanted to kill me, they could have just put poison in my food. Why needles?" Putting needles in only caused me pain, nothing else. Wait, could it be that they really are doing what Qian Fu said, trying to drive a wedge between me and Qian Fu? Making me suspect him and eventually distance myself from him?"

This thought strengthened Li Huowang's resolve to meet Qian Fu again.

Sensing Li Huowang's emotions, Yang Na reached out and intertwined her fingers with his, holding his hand tightly, comforting him silently.

Li Huowang turned to her and gave her a reassuring smile. "It's nothing; I'm just going back to the hospital to ask about some things. I'll be back once I'm done."

"Okay. No matter what happens in the future, don't try to bear it alone. You have me."

"Okay." Li Huowang closed his eyes and gently held her, just like that night on the rooftop.

The car sped down the road, and time passed bit by bit. As they got closer to Kangning Hospital, Li Huowang's heart gradually became restless and agitated.

After a long while, the car finally stopped. Li Huowang and Yang Na walked towards the white-walled, green-windowed Kangning Hospital.

Li Huowang was still greeted by his attending physician, Wu Cheng. Compared to his previous treatment as a patient, Li Huowang's current treatment was noticeably better. In Wu Cheng's office, he held a disposable cup and chatted casually with the doctor.

"I heard you were kidnapped?" Wu Cheng asked, holding his own teacup.

"This wasn't my delusion; someone really did try to kidnap me," Li Huowang explained to Wu Cheng.

"Of course. Don't worry, I'm not saying you had a relapse. Since you lost two fingers, it must have been real people. What did the police say?"

"They told me to wait, and they put something on me. Now it's not so easy for me to leave the community." Li Huowang lifted his left foot slightly.

"Heh, don't worry. With so many surveillance cameras, they'll find them eventually. By the way, why are you back this time?"

"No particular reason, just wanted to have a check-up to see if my condition has changed." Li Huowang naturally didn't tell him he was there to find Qian Fu.

"Heh, the fact that you're aware of this means your condition is likely fine. Since you're already here, let's do a few sets of tests."

When he received the tablet and saw the test questions on it, Li Huowang's heart couldn't help but feel tense. Perhaps he didn't even realize that he actually harbored a sliver of self-doubt, wondering if everything he had experienced before meant he had gone mad. Having gone through too much, Li Huowang sometimes couldn't trust his own senses.

Question after question passed, and Li Huowang became fully absorbed. After completing all the tests and then patiently conversing with the doctor, seeing Wu Cheng's relaxed expression, Li Huowang let out a long sigh of relief. Sure enough, he wasn't crazy; it was all real, not hallucinations caused by his illness.

"Don't be too nervous; rest assured, if you truly had a problem, we wouldn't have discharged you. When you go home, relax and take your medication on time."

Hearing Wu Cheng say this, Li Huowang knew his follow-up was over. According to protocol, he should be leaving for home now, but he still had something to do. Li Huowang stood up and looked towards the inpatient ward, asking with some hesitation, "By the way, Doctor, can I visit other patients? I lived in this psychiatric hospital for quite some time, and I made some friends during that period."

"Oh, sure, go ahead. You're familiar with the hospital anyway, so I won't lead the way. Everyone else is still here."

When he arrived at the visiting room, Li Huowang had a strange feeling. In the past, he had always come out from the inside door; entering from the outside door was truly a first. Li Huowang couldn't go directly to Qian Fu; that would be too deliberate. He visited everyone he was relatively familiar with in the psychiatric hospital, and the bags of fruit he bought at the community gate were for them.

The others were fine, but as soon as he came out with Zhao Ting, who suffered from depression, Li Huowang immediately felt a resentful gaze from behind him. Li Huowang reached out and gently patted Yang Na, "It's nothing between her and me. I'll explain when we get back. There's just one more friend left."

Li Huowang took a deep breath, anxiously waiting for Qian Fu to arrive, but he waited and waited, and Qian Fu never came. Finally, he received very bad news: "Qian Fu had a relapse and is in the suppression room. You'll have to visit him another time."

Hearing this, Li Huowang's heart sank, and a bad premonition surfaced within him. "What's going on? Could it be that I arrived too late? Did those people get to him?"