Chapter 11 Gu Qiqi: Luxianbei, do you not recognize me anymore?
“Yaohua, the doctor is calling you!”
As Luxianbei’s voice fell, footsteps outside sounded, and soon a beautiful face appeared behind the door, with an aura of heroism in her features and a light smile revealing her dimples.
“Coming, coming, did you call me?”
The girl pointed at her own nose with her delicate fingertips, her clear eyes sparkling in the morning light streaming in from outside the window.
Her long, thick black hair cascaded down, complementing the white wooden door of the treatment room, resembling a traditional ink painting crafted by a master.
Nanling Yaohua, Luxianbei’s girlfriend, also his classmate and childhood friend, a beautiful girl who looked like a fairy but was, in fact, a heroine.
“Well, the doctor seems to want to talk to you about my condition privately,” Luxianbei said casually. “I guess it’s because my condition is quite serious, and he worries my emotions will flare up if addressed face-to-face, leading to a worsening of my illness.”
Isn’t that how they portray it in TV shows and movies?
“Bah! You crow’s mouth! Mental illness isn’t fatal!” Nanling Yaohua rolled her eyes at Luxianbei and stepped inside through the slight opening of the door.
It was then that Luxianbei noticed her attire today: a light touch of makeup on her face, draped in a small jacket over a thin white sweater, and a deep blue knee-length denim skirt that revealed her fair calves, complemented by a pair of exceptionally clean white sneakers.
Her smile, slightly parted lips, was strikingly beautiful without excessive adornment, mesmerizing.
The doctor’s fist hardened.
No way? This stunning girl is actually his girlfriend? the doctor thought.
Though Luxianbei was already above average in appearance, with a fair and handsome face, having Nanling Yaohua stand beside him as his girlfriend made one feel that she was either lured by his wealth or threatened by violence.
Unlike the amazed gaze of astonishment from the doctor when seeing Nanling Yaohua, Luxianbei felt a momentary shock when he saw her, a sudden sense of estrangement rising from his heart, causing him to instinctively step back and maintain a distance that was neither too far nor too close.
It felt like he was avoiding something.
Noticing Luxianbei’s subtle movement, Nanling Yaohua tilted her head at him, casting a puzzled look.
Luxianbei awkwardly averted his gaze, looking at the doctor with an expressionless face and said, “Doctor, don’t you have something to say to her? Should I step out?”
As he spoke, the doctor glanced over at them, and a chill suddenly rose behind Luxianbei.
On that face, he saw no expression or emotion; the coldness reminded him of when he first faced the anatomy teacher on the dissection table in medical school.
Is he… really human? the doctor thought.
“Doctor?” Luxianbei lightly called again.
The doctor finally gathered his thoughts and nodded repeatedly, saying, “Uh, yes, I want to talk to your family privately. If possible, please step out.”
“Oh, then have a nice talk. I’ll step out first.”
Luxianbei shrugged as he spoke, hands in his pockets, slowly leaving the treatment room and casually closing the door behind him.
As Luxianbei’s figure disappeared from the treatment room, the doctor frowned.
Have a nice talk?
Is this a type of threat?
Threatening me not to say anything in front of his girlfriend?
————
Luxianbei’s father and Nanling Yaohua’s father were both her grandfather’s students and colleagues — the esteemed professor of archaeology, Nanling Qifeng.
About ten years ago, Luxianbei’s father and Nanling Yaohua’s father encountered an accident while excavating an ancient tomb complex and tragically passed away. Nanling Qifeng took her in to raise her.
Luxianbei still remembers that afternoon when he returned home from school, standing under an old banyan tree in the staff district. The dappled shadows of the tree fell as Nanling Yaohua timidly peeked her head out from behind her grandfather, revealing a shy smile.
The evening sun draped her, turning her smile a faint rosy hue.
Living in the same large courtyard, with opportunities for interaction growing for the two little ones.
Just eating together, sleeping together, going to school, returning home, visiting the youth palace. Nanling Yaohua practiced ballet, and Luxianbei practiced free fighting…
Yes, free fighting.
To this day, Luxianbei is grateful to Mrs. Wang Meili for making that wise decision.
While nurturing him to become a cultured and knowledgeable “good kid,” she did not let him become a weak and bookish person, and instead, he grew up to have a fairly strong physique.
In Mrs. Wang’s words, “At necessary times, one can use violence, but not to compete for superiority, rather to make others sit down calmly to speak reason.”
Thus, when Nanling Yaohua was bullied by middle school students from a neighboring school, who claimed she was an orphan, Luxianbei stood up, intending to reason with those boys who were half a head taller than him but ended up beaten black and blue, with a dislocated right hand, but he wasn’t killed by them.
Thanks to Mrs. Wang…
But more importantly, it was worth the beating for the Doraemon Band-Aid that Nanling Yaohua personally applied to him, kissed, and which he made into a bookmark, still holding onto to this day…
The subsequent story lacks excitement.
It simply chronicled the experiences from elementary school through middle school and into college, where daily moments accumulated, nurturing their relationship naturally.
There was certainly not a single disruption that prompted someone to shout out, “A talented man and a beautiful girl together; how can a monster like you oppose?!”
Everyone who truly knew them understood they were meant to be together, and not being together was simply unjust.
However.
Ever since last night, after that bizarre yet incredibly real dream, Luxianbei began to feel that everything started to go wrong.
Should it be, should it match, does that mean it’s right?
————
“Whirr whirr whirr—!”
At the hospital restroom entrance, the water at the sink flowed continuously as Luxianbei stood before the sink, splashing some water on his face, trying to wake himself up.
“So, it’s because of that girl named Jiang Li? But who is she really?”
Luxianbei looked at himself in the mirror, muttering, as if questioning himself or the reflection in the mirror.
As he spoke, a thin, tall figure emerged in his mind—a fierce-looking girl who was cold as ice, deepening his gaze.
He was sure he had never seen Jiang Li before.
————
In the consultation room.
After hearing the doctor’s description of Luxianbei’s condition, Nanling Yaohua furrowed her brow and pondered for a moment before asking, “Are you saying my brother is a potential super criminal?”
“No, no, I’m just saying possibly, possibly!” The doctor emphasized and explained.
“The diagnosis of mental illness is not as simple as a cold or intestinal inflammation; to confirm it, certain tests and extensive observation of daily behavior are required.”
Although the stories Luxianbei shared did not involve dozens of murders, making them too real and twisted to fabricate, scientifically rigorous methods still needed to be employed for a proper diagnosis.
However, from the conversation, Luxianbei appeared very gloomy and indifferent, often lost in thought, speaking to himself, showing confusion about his gender, and vividly recounting stories with severe bloody violence tendencies, immersing himself in them, and subconsciously believing they were real events…
All signs seriously suggested that he might have a mental illness.
“My suggestion is that he should be hospitalized for observation for a while,” stated the doctor.
“Must he be hospitalized?” Nanling Yaohua frowned and asked seriously.
“If he is not hospitalized, your family can observe him instead,” the doctor nodded. “But during the observation, great care must be taken not to let him find out; otherwise, it might trigger him and lead to a series of negative outcomes.”
A potential criminal is not necessarily a real criminal, and they might not commit crimes; as a doctor, he cannot usurp the police’s duties and can only offer suggestions within a certain range.
“I understand, doctor; after we return, I’ll carefully observe him.” Nanling Yaohua smiled. “However, I think you might be exaggerating the problem, right?”
“Could it be possible that he truly sees things we can’t see? Like ghosts or evil spirits?”
“Honestly, just not long ago, I felt there were extraterrestrials in this world too!”
After saying that, noticing the surprise flashing in the doctor’s eyes, she turned her head away, revealing a mischievous smile where the doctor couldn’t see.
She didn’t appreciate the doctor’s words and naturally wouldn’t acquiesce in his views.
“…”
I™ can see why you two are a couple!
You both might have some issues.
The doctor sighed silently and said, “Shall I prescribe some medication for you? It would be beneficial for his condition.”
“Additionally, I can tell you a simple test you can try asking him when the opportunity arises…”
“…”
————
Outside the consultation room, Luxianbei sat on the corridor floor, blanking out for quite a while. Finally, Nanling Yaohua walked out, crumpling the prescription into a ball and casually tossing it into the trash can, then eagerly came over to his side, pulling him up from the chair and skillfully linking her arm with his.
If someone said Luxianbei had a problem, Nanling Yaohua might believe it, but if they claimed he had antisocial personality disorder, she wouldn’t buy it at all.
“Shall we go back?”
“Uh…” Luxianbei paused, looking at Nanling Yaohua, asking, “Is it over? What did the doctor tell you?”
“Want to know?” Nanling Yaohua playfully winked at him.
Luxianbei nodded.
“The doctor said you might have delusions and split personalities, and your underlying personality has serious antisocial tendencies,” Nanling Yaohua answered honestly.
She and Luxianbei had never had secrets between them.
“Also, he gave me a simple psychological test question to see if I can probe you.”
“A test question?” Luxianbei tilted his head.
Nanling Yaohua extended her slender finger, poked her chin, recalling briefly before reciting, “The question is like this: If your enemy is hanging off a cliff, desperately holding onto a tree branch to avoid falling, how would you make him fall?”
“A. Step on or cut the branch. B. Twist his fingers off one by one.”
Luxianbei frowned, thinking seriously, “Can’t one simply do nothing?”
If it’s an enemy, just prevent him from climbing back up and quietly watch him until he falls by himself, right?
This way, it tortures his mind and body, and he can avoid being suspected of a crime. It seemed quite reasonable to Luxianbei.
“Nothing?” Nanling Yaohua broke into a smile, “But that’s your enemy! Are you really so merciful? Not bad, you truly are the husband I have my eye on!”
“Uh, heh…” Luxianbei awkwardly chuckled, turning his face away to hide his embarrassment.
Thus, the suddenly quiet duo fell into a brief silence, leaving the hospital together and heading toward the bus stop at the entrance.
As if suddenly reminded of something, Nanling Yaohua turned her head, looking up at Luxianbei’s profile, and asked, “By the way, Mrs. Wang Meili is on a business trip again recently, right?”
“Mm, she’s gone to Alaska.” Luxianbei nodded.
“Going to visit Santa Claus?”
Luxianbei pursed his lips. “No, she’s going to obtain an advanced vocational certificate for crab catchers specializing in Alaskan king crab.”
“Oh, oh… sounds quite nice.” Nanling Yaohua responded lightly, nodding.
She had long gotten used to her future mother-in-law’s outrageous behavior.
Mrs. Wang Meili, true to her name, is not only beautiful but also a strong woman.
After her husband’s unfortunate d*ath, she did not crumble under adversity but rather became even more driven, accomplishing many eye-catching feats.
Running a restaurant, establishing a chain business; such basic operations thrived even after Luxianbei gradually became independent, as she pursued a more spiritual life to fill the void of losing a young partner.
In just a few years, she earned a series of strange certificates, such as advanced dancer in Mao Li Zhan Wu, practicing pharmacist in Indian voodoo medicine, and special chef in dark cuisine.
Sometimes, Luxianbei thought that the reason Nanling Yaohua grew from a shy and introverted girl into the recognized heroine of the courtyard was not just due to being raised by her upright grandfather.
It was very likely that she had secretly inherited Mrs. Wang’s mantle.
“Hey, by the way, are you going to have dinner together later?” Nanling Yaohua asked again.
“Probably not?” Luxianbei shook his head. “There’s still some takeout left from last night; I’ll finish it, can’t let it go to waste.”
Then he could be alone for a while and calm down.
“Oh? When did you become so thrifty?” Nanling Yaohua playfully punched Luxianbei in the chest, “Looks like Mrs. Wang didn’t leave you enough pocket money when she left, huh?”
“Considering your plight, I’ll generously help you out this time. Come to my house tonight, and I’ll have grandpa whip up a couple of good dishes.”
“Uh, heroine, can we talk about this tonight?” Luxianbei perfunctorily said, “I might have something else going on later; if I can’t make it, that would ruin the old man’s excitement.”
“…” Nanling Yaohua fell silent for a moment and then shrugged nonchalantly, “Alright! Let’s talk about it another day then?”
Though she had already sensed that Luxianbei had been a bit off since they met this morning, she didn’t mind.
Besides, who doesn’t have moments of emotional instability? After all, not everyone has serious mental health issues!
Thinking this, at that moment, Luxianbei suddenly spoke, “Mm? Did you see that girl? She seems to be calling me, but I don’t know her, do you?”
Nanling Yaohua paused, glancing in the direction Luxianbei was looking, tilting her head, “Girl?”
At noon, the scorching sun scorched the ground, and the bustling pedestrian traffic at the crossroads didn’t include any girl calling out to Luxianbei.
Luxianbei raised his hand, pointing across the street, insisting, “Right there! Didn’t you see her?”
Nanling Yaohua looked again in the direction Luxianbei pointed, then tapped him lightly on the back of the head, “I see the doctor wasn’t wrong; your head really does have a problem.”
“Are you really delirious over a girl? Let’s go; I’ll take you home first, then you can look at her as much as you want!”
Luxianbei stopped talking, gazing at the round-faced girl with chestnut hair, wearing a small cloak and a red scarf in the crowd, frowning.
She stood among the throng, tearful and excited, waving her arms, then yanked off her bright red scarf, vigorously waving it in the air.
But the passing pedestrians seemed to be oblivious to her, sometimes someone would walk directly toward her and then pass right through her.
It was as if she were merely a mirage cast by a reflection of light and shadow.
Luxianbei thought, “……This truly is bizarre; it’s safer for me to pretend I saw nothing and heard nothing, right?”
————
Gu Qiqi had been wandering in this ghostly place for several days and hadn’t eaten a single bite in quite some time.
She had originally thought that even though her spirit patterns inexplicably stopped working, she could rely on her years of experience living independently on the streets to survive in an unfamiliar city.
Not to say she would live very well, but at least managing to meet her basic needs shouldn’t be a problem.
However…
After rummaging through hundreds of trash cans and collecting a full bag of drink bottles and over twenty pounds of cardboard to exchange for her first pot of gold at the recycling station, she discovered that the people in this city couldn’t see her at all, and during the day, she couldn’t even bump into anyone.
On that day, just as night fell, the recycling station’s owner looked at the floating plastic bag and a bundle of cardboard and decided on the spot to run inside, change into a pair of pants, and then call the police.
Watching the police and the recycling station owner completely disregard her feelings, about to burn all the drink bottles and cardboard she painstakingly gathered, Gu Qiqi shed tears of grievance.
She finally understood this was a city where she did not exist.
Her brother appeared briefly but then vanished, her spirit energy had diminished to the point where it was nearly unusable, and the system had evaporated. Adding to that, no one could see her presence…
As a gluttonous eat-er, the thought of possibly starving to d*ath overwhelmed Gu Qiqi’s innocent heart with despair and loneliness, instilling terrifying fear until she saw Luxianbei on the street today.
For a moment, Gu Qiqi completely forgot that Luxianbei might not see her either and that Luxianbei was indeed calamity itself—a terrifying fact—yet she could not help but shout at him.
“Luxianbei, over here, over here! It’s me, Gu Qiqi!”
“Hey, hey? Don’t go! Luxianbei, do you not recognize me?”
Then…
He actually turned to look over here!
At that moment, Gu Qiqi felt saved.
Who cares about being calamity or whatever, filling her stomach was the most important.
Since the system was no longer here, then Luxianbei was just Luxianbei, calamity is calamity, and they belong to their own categories. Luxianbei was definitely a good person!
Moreover, having a hearty meal and emptying Calamity’s wallet, making him incapable of taking a step forward, could also serve as a roundabout way to prevent him from destroying the world! Gu Qiqi thought.
However…
Luxianbei stood across the street, blankly staring at her for a while, then reached out to hail a taxi, seamlessly got into the car, closed the door, and left.
Leaving Gu Qiqi alone, her arms still raised in a waving position, adrift in the spring breeze filled with strong exhaust fumes.
