This was Lin Xing's first meeting and conversation with his attending physician, and for the most part, it was Chu Qingxin asking questions while Lin Xing answered.
Among the conversation, there was also much casual chit-chat; it was apparent that Chu Qingxin was intentionally trying to build rapport with Lin Xing.
Initially, Lin Xing thought about pretending to be an ordinary psychiatric patient, but under Chu Qingxin's guidance, he, who had been accustomed to speaking truthfully since childhood, soon ended up saying whatever came to his mind.
After hearing Lin Xing's description of his superpowers, Chu Qingxin did not immediately dismiss him; instead, she decided to follow his logic to gain a better grasp of his condition, "So you believe that a disaster will occur in a year's time?"
Lin Xing nodded and said, "Think about it, from elementary school to middle school, high school, university, and now, the length of each time I've traveled back in time corresponds to the severity of the danger I faced."
"I only traveled back twenty minutes after being hit by a dump truck. Now think about it, this time I've traveled back a whole year; can you imagine how terrible the event must be?"
Watching Lin Xing's earnest appearance, Chu Qingxin did not contradict him but calmly said, "Let me help you analyze this. According to what you're saying, you don't need to rush to confront this disaster."
"Because if you just live through this year honestly and remain conscious at the moment the disaster occurs, you will naturally find out what happened."
"Then, when your life is in danger again, you will return to a year before, and that's when you can try to prevent the disaster from happening."
Lin Xing paused, thoughtfully replying, "That sounds reasonable."
Chu Qingxin, gently persuading, said, "So why don't you try living an ordinary life like before, wait for the disaster to come a year later, and then see..."
Lin Xing exclaimed in shock, "Right, you're so right. How did it only occur to me now?"
Chu Qingxin smiled slightly, thinking that perhaps she might persuade him to gradually step away from his fantasies and start living a normal life.
Yet, Lin Xing continued, "Just like you said, I may have tried this method before; this may not be the first time I've been reborn a year earlier."
He suddenly stood up, speaking with immense excitement, "No wonder, no wonder I always have some things I can't remember, no wonder there are memories that popped up last time which I don't know where they came from."
"Because it's not my first time returning to a year ago, those lost memories might be from when I changed history."
"Maybe traveling back a year in time is too long, and I've lost those memories."
"It means just waiting is useless. I must find a way to prevent the disaster that will happen in a year to stop this endless cycle of being reborn a year prior..."
Seeing Lin Xing talking to himself with a serious face, a look of surprise flashed across Chu Qingxin's face; she had not anticipated that her words would worsen his condition instead of reassuring him.
"Mr. Lin, that's not what I meant..."
Lin Xing said gratefully, "Thank you, Miss Chu, your reminder has been very helpful to me. If I manage to prevent the disaster a year later, it will surely be partly thanks to you."
Watching Lin Xing's cheerful departure, Chu Qingxin shook her head helplessly.
As she was recording today's conversation, she couldn't help thinking, "This Lin Xing, though not violent, suffers from severe hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thoughts, he seems even more ill than the other three."
...
Lin Xing was taken over by a caregiver and escorted to his room.
The room was much better than he had expected, not only was there a bed, table, chairs, and a wardrobe, but there was also a private bathroom.
The luggage Lin Xing brought had also been delivered to his room earlier.
Just as he began to unpack, a middle-aged caregiver with a full beard came to the door and said, "Lin Xing, your toy."
And then, a white cat plush toy was stuffed through a small window into the room.
It was the doll that had been speaking to Lin Xing before. Because Lin Xing had mentioned the doll could speak, Wei Zhi and the others had taken it for examination the past two days.
The outcome of the inspection revealed nothing; it was just an ordinary doll, so Lin Xing asked for it back.
As he took hold of the doll, he only heard the orderly whisper, "My name is Lao Zhong. Captain Wei told me to tell you that you can tell me any requests you have, and I will pass the messages to him."
Watching the orderly leave, Lin Xing instantly understood that this Lao Zhong was the person here to connect with him.
Lin Xing thought, "I had assumed it was Miss Chu; she's quite nice."
Holding the cat doll in his hands, he spoke up, "I know you can hear me, and I know you can speak."
"Why don't you want to communicate with us? Are you afraid it's dangerous?"
"Don't be scared; everyone here is kind. No one will hurt you."
The cat doll looked at Lin Xing as he continued to patiently persuade him, wondering to itself, "Just how did this fiend figure out I can talk?"
"Damn it, everyone here is kind? I dared not move, nor could I escape. How will my ancestors get out of here now? And how will I restore my cultivation and dominate the world?"
Thinking about how it was now stuck in such a bothersome place along with Lin Xing, the doll became increasingly agitated.
The next day, Lin Xing was taken to a small activity room, where an orderly explained it was time for free activities.
As soon as he entered the room, Lin Xing saw a familiar figure—it was the man who had attacked him at the teaching building.
The man was completely restrained on a hospital bed, wearing a white straitjacket that made it nearly impossible for him to move any part of his body except his head.
At this moment, the thin man was just slumping on the bed, staring blankly out of the window.
However, the Quantum Intelligence Research Institute was located in a secluded area, and looking out all one could see was the garden and the distant woods.
An orderly stood by his side, and upon seeing Lin Xing's arrival, quickly asked the orderly next to Lin Xing, "Is this the new number four? Why isn't he wearing a straitjacket?"
The orderly by Lin Xing's side replied, "Don't worry, he's schizophrenic, just can't distinguish between reality and fantasy, with no violent tendencies. How's the one you're looking after? Feeling any better?"
The other said, "He's incredibly violent; he's only calm because he's medicated right now."
While the two orderlies began to chat, Lin Xing stepped up to the side of the emaciated man and curiously asked, "Do you remember me?"
The man didn't move his head, just glanced at him out of the corner of his eye before returning to the scenery.
The nearby orderly, seeing Lin Xing's approach, explained, "He's just taken his medication. This is the quietest and happiest time in his mind, and he hardly has any desire to express himself."
Lin Xing looked at the somewhat vacant man and asked again out of curiosity, "Oh, so what's his problem?"
The orderly replied, "Manic. You might not think it to look at him, but when he first came in, it took seven or eight of us to barely hold him down. He even bit one of my colleagues..."
Lin Xing nodded with a sense of understanding, "He does have a lot of strength; you must have a hard time."
Saying this, he patted the man's shoulder, advising, "Since we're here now, let's focus on getting treated properly, and everything else can wait until after we're cured."
The two orderlies, seeing Lin Xing's demeanor, felt that he actually seemed quite normal, and probably wasn't severe even if he did have an illness.
So, one of them casually asked, "Do you know him?"
Lin Xing nodded, looking at the cast on the thin man's leg and said, "He wanted to kill me at first sight. I had no choice but to defend myself properly, so I broke his leg to stop him from continuing to do harm."
At the end of Lin Xing's statement, both orderlies stepped back a few paces, their gazes filled with caution when looking at Lin Xing.