In the hospital.
Zhang Yichi entered the emergency room, and Meng Lan didn't know how to explain the large wound on his arm. She could only say, "My brother is a bit foolish. If he can't get the girl he likes, he starts self-harming. I'll take him to see a psychiatrist. Sorry for the trouble!"
Doctor: Self-harming seems a bit extreme...
Meng Lan spoke earnestly, "He's been deeply hurt. Look at him, he hasn't even changed his clothes these past few days. He's been sitting in the corner crying." She pointed to Jiang Celaang and said, "This is my brother's psychiatrist. He can explain the situation."
Jiang Celaang solemnly said, "The patient suffers from severe depression and is already undergoing treatment."
Zhang Yichi: ???
The doctor looked at Zhang Yichi's torn hat and the blackened collar of his once-white shirt and nodded in understanding.
Zhang Yichi: Doctor, let me explain!
But alas, it was too late. The anesthesia had already taken effect!
Outside the operating room.
Meng Lan, He Wanwan, and Jiang Celaang stood in the hospital corridor. Meng Lan crossed her arms and looked Jiang Celaang up and down.
This man used to look so professional during class, always wearing a suit and tie! Now he was smiling recklessly, like a playboy, even his appearance had changed.
She knew him because of her minor in sociology. In her freshman and sophomore years, she took many unrelated courses, including one taught by Jiang Celaang, titled "Social Deviance." He was known for his crazy and fiery personality.
However, her impression of him was limited to just these two words: crazy and fiery. Because she often sat in the back trading stocks, never paid attention, and frequently skipped class. But she was undeniably smart and managed to score well on exams.
Jiang Celaang was the youngest visiting professor at the university, a graduate of the University of Chicago's sociology program, with a Ph.D. in psychology, specializing in psychoanalysis and conditioned reflexes. After returning to China, he taught at Northern University and was considered one of the country's top young talents. Because of his good looks and lack of age and psychological barriers with students, he knew how to pique their interest and make his classes popular!
But once you attended his class, you'd be crying for your parents because the pass rate was only 60%, making it one of the most rigorous courses in the entire college.
However, Meng Lan managed to score in the top 1%, making her quite a good student.
In the "Social Deviance" class, Jiang Celaang talked about uncommon social phenomena, the margins and gray areas of society. He even invited a stripper he knew from the US as an online guest to share industry secrets and thoughts. This made his class the most unique on campus.
Meng Lan didn't expect that although she didn't remember Jiang Celaang much, he remembered her.
Jiang Celaang didn't avoid Meng Lan's gaze. He smiled and leaned against the wall. "Are you okay now?"
"One question," Meng Lan said, "What's the purpose of the concealed card?"
Jiang Celaang smiled. "It seems the old man didn't explain all the rules. After completing a mission, you will receive a mission reward, commonly known as 'energy.' Accumulating energy can affect the concealed card, gradually revealing patterns and colors. It's said that a fully colored concealed card can completely leave the concealed world."
"What does that have to do with Zhao Che killing Qi Huan?" He Wanwan asked. "I don't understand!"
"It's said that the total amount of energy in each mission is fixed. If more people survive in the end, the amount distributed to each person will be reduced," Jiang Celaang explained.
His perfectly messy hair covered his eyes, and his smile became even more obvious.
The air around them seemed to be filled with red wine, giving off a slightly intoxicating sense of calm.
"Of course," Meng Lan guessed, "Otherwise, they wouldn't have divided us into two groups. There must be some competition between us. Those who think they're hunters are actually prey, how foolish."
He Wanwan took out her concealed card, and some faint lines appeared on it. Without a magnifying glass under the light, it was almost impossible to see any difference.
Meng Lan lowered her gaze and looked at her own concealed card.
In that instant when she lifted her head, she met Jiang Celaang's gaze, and her heart skipped a beat.
That man stared at her concealed card without blinking.
This feeling was not good at all!
She clenched her hand and put it back in her pocket. "No changes, still blank."
"I remember you were the top student in the class," Jiang Celaang said without changing his expression, chatting casually with a hint of pride in his tone. "But if I had known, I would have given you a failing attendance score. You didn't even recognize your own teacher."
Meng Lan wanted to retort with "Stop pretending to be someone you're not," but she felt that arguing with Jiang Celaang wouldn't benefit her in any way. She wasn't going to do something that would hurt herself in the end.
"You're right," Meng Lan put on a trademark business smile. "It's all up to the teacher's decision."
"Unfortunately, the semester grades have already been submitted," Jiang Celaang shrugged, looking regretful. His helpless expression made Meng Lan feel like he was a tsundere boss from an anime.
Zhang Yichi had to stay in the hospital for observation. Meng Lan paid all his fees, and her phone automatically shut down.
He Wanwan and Meng Lan parted ways at the hospital entrance. "See you later, make sure to call me when you get home safely, Lan Lan!"
"Mmm."
Meng Lan's phone was dead. She looked at Jiang Celaang standing beside her.
"Are you staring at me?"
"Do you have a power bank?"
"I'll drive you home."
Meng Lan hesitated for a moment. She didn't want to establish too many personal relationships with participants in the mission. After all, even though he was her teacher, academic ability didn't necessarily correlate with character. What if he stabbed her in the back? But then she thought that as a teacher, he could definitely access the school's system or find an excuse to get her home address, personal phone number, ID number, and even her entire academic history and grades from elementary school to university.
Then she wouldn't be able to escape.
Damn.
How troublesome.
—She should order safety items that every single woman living alone needs when she gets home.
"Not getting in the car? Suspecting me of having ulterior motives?" Jiang Celaang was already in the driver's seat, leaning over to open the passenger door.
Meng Lan sat in the car steadily and lied with her eyes wide open, "How could I not trust my teacher? After all, you're the dream lover in the hearts of female students. Your character must be impeccable."
Jiang Celaang chuckled, then stepped on the accelerator.
Meng Lan lived in a flat in the busiest commercial area in the city center, an inheritance from her mother. The living room had a curved floor-to-ceiling window with a height of 4 meters, overlooking the bustling cityscape. It seemed like there was no night in the commercial area, with neon lights illuminating the skyline constantly.
Jiang Celaang's Lexus was stuck on the highway due to a game at the sports arena, causing a predicted 20-minute delay for the 3-kilometer journey.
The two sat in the car without speaking.
"You seem nervous. You're swallowing saliva more often, it'll make you thirsty," he handed her a bottle of Evian.
"No, thank you, I'm not thirsty," Meng Lan stared ahead, sneaking glances at the man, while gripping the handle above her head.
"Charge your phone, you can do it in the car," Jiang Celaang said again.
Meng Lan looked at the charging port and thought that it was indeed unlikely for him to steal information or install tracking devices from here. So she obediently started charging her phone.
During the three days she disappeared, aside from ads and luxury salespeople recommending new bags, the only new message she received was a friend request from He Wanwan.
After accepting it, Meng Lan received a plea for help.
A White Rabbit (He Wanwan): [Lan Lan. So wronged.jpg]
M (Meng Lan): [?]
A White Rabbit (He Wanwan) sent a voice message: [Lan Lan, you finally turned on your phone. Can I stay at your place for a night? My stuff got thrown out by the landlord! He said I didn't pay the rent two days ago, so he rented the house to someone else and kicked me out. Lan Lan, can I come to you for shelter?]
M (Meng Lan): [Don't you live in the dorm?]
A White Rabbit (He Wanwan): [I don't want to stay in the dorm! I'll give you money, I'll give you money, okay!]
He Wanwan, aside from having few friends and not knowing who else to ask for help, also naively hoped that if there was another mission, she and Meng Lan could survive together, increasing their chances of survival.
Meng Lan stared at the phone screen for a long time.
Living with Hewan has its benefits. There are advantages such as mutual support, companionship, and shared living expenses. Additionally, having someone around can increase a sense of security, especially in emergencies.
However, there are potential drawbacks to consider. One concern is privacy, as living with someone means sacrificing some level of personal space and privacy. Conflicts may also arise from differences in habits or personalities, which could strain the relationship.
Despite Hewan's innocence and lack of harmful intentions, there is still a discomfort in sharing living space with another person. The feeling of having an additional presence in the home may seem strange or unsettling.
When Jiang Ceyang mentioned someone seeking help, Meng Lan appeared visibly conflicted. However, Jiang reassured her about Hewan's character and emphasized the importance of having companions in a world filled with various dangers, not just those related to the supernatural realm.
As they traveled to pick up Hewan, Meng Lan assured her friend of her intentions, albeit causing some initial concern about privacy invasion. However, Meng Lan's true intention was to assist her friend by checking her background information.
Upon arriving at Hewan's place, they found her in distress over financial troubles, feeling like she had no place to go. This highlighted the vulnerability of individuals in a large city, facing the harsh reality of being alone in times of need.
In the end, both Meng Lan and Hewan found solace in each other's company, even falling asleep in the backseat of Jiang Ceyang's car on their way back home.