Liu Kai wanted to pull his hand back, but found the two mental patients gripping it tightly, showing no intention of letting go.
He was a little surprised.
Could something be happening?
But this wasn't a problem. He was willing to interact with the patients and had prepared himself for any unexpected events.
Lin Fan and Old Zhang were very happy. After being here for so long, this was the first time someone had taken the initiative to greet them and shake their hands.
They felt indebted.
They could only repay him with the friendliest of smiles.
Seeing the two patients smiling at him, Liu Kai returned the smiles. He realized that mental patients weren't as scary as he had imagined; they even seemed a bit endearing.
But soon, he noticed something was off. The two patients' smiles had a certain quality that made him feel uneasy, even a little creepy.
Slowly lowering his head, he thought, Your smiles are making me a bit uncomfortable.
But my friendly intentions towards you won't change.
He tried hard to pull his hand back, but it was difficult. He didn't give up, though, and kept trying. Finally, his persistence paid off. Lin Fan and Old Zhang seemed to sense it was enough and released their grip.
Director Hao stood there, observing the scene.
He nodded with satisfaction.
It wasn't that the young people were particularly good, but rather that the patients were cooperating and hadn't scared away these innocent youngsters.
Wait!
He saw a brave young man actively interacting with the two patients from Ward 666. His courage was commendable; he was indeed quite good.
"Who is that young man?" Director Hao pointed into the distance and asked.
A staff member from the special department replied, "Liu Kai, a fine young fellow. Graduated from Maoshan High Institute."
Director Hao committed the name to memory.
"What are you doing?" Liu Kai asked.
"I don't know," Lin Fan shook his head.
"I don't know either," Old Zhang echoed, shaking his head.
Their movements and answers were perfectly synchronized.
Liu Kai was taken aback. This was his first time interacting with mental patients. He had originally thought it wouldn't be difficult, but judging by the current situation, he realized communication wasn't so easy.
He also noticed something else. The orderlies around him were looking at him strangely.
It was a look of pity.
Impossible.
It must be his imagination. He had never met them before, so why would they feel that way?
"I want to show you my precious treasure. Do you want to see it?" Old Zhang whispered.
Liu Kai feigned excitement. "Sure!"
Old Zhang glanced furtively at the surrounding orderlies, then turned his back to them and pulled out a needle case hidden in his bosom. "This is my precious treasure. I know acupuncture. If you're feeling unwell anywhere, I can give you a few needles. Since you're willing to be our friend, we'll help you."
Lin Fan added, "He's right. His acupuncture is really amazing."
"Do you want to try it?"
Hearing the two mental patients say this, Liu Kai could only smile. I really am trying to have a good conversation with you, but that doesn't mean I'm crazy. He wouldn't let just anyone stick needles in him, let alone mental patients.
"No, thanks. I don't feel unwell anywhere." He offered a polite smile.
Chatting is fine, but let's not do anything else.
"Alright." Lin Fan and Old Zhang seemed disappointed. They had wanted to help their new friend, but since he wasn't feeling unwell, there was nothing they could do.
Liu Kai noticed Old Zhang staring intently at something in the distance. He looked in that direction, but didn't see anything unusual.
"Why do you keep looking over there? What's there?" Liu Kai asked.
Old Zhang replied, "The high-voltage box. I want to help my friend cultivate, but those bad people won't let us touch it. They're so mean."
High-voltage box?
Liu Kai blinked, a little confused, but quickly understood. They're mental patients; it's normal for them to have unusual ideas. But he felt he had to warn them.
"You can't touch that. It's very dangerous. If you touch it, your hand will tremble, and it'll hurt..."
Liu Kai pretended to shake and blew on his fingers as if in pain.
He felt like interacting with mental patients was like coaxing children. But wait, the way the two patients were looking at him now seemed a bit off.
"Old Zhang, is there something wrong with him?" Lin Fan whispered, backing away with Old Zhang.
"I think so," Old Zhang replied.
"He's so pitiful. So young, yet something's wrong with him."
"Let's be nice to him."
Lin Fan and Old Zhang offered awkward smiles, as if apologizing for their earlier fear. We weren't intentionally scared, but what you just did was really frightening.
Liu Kai's expression stiffened. The two mental patients thought he was sick?
He was stunned.
What am I even doing?
But thinking back on his behavior, he realized he had acted a bit crazy.
In the distance, Director Hao's eyes glinted. "There's something wrong with that student."
"What do you mean?" the special department staff member asked.
Director Hao didn't elaborate. He had been observing the young man and recognized his potential, but his recent actions were indeed alarming. He had started shaking for no reason and blowing on his fingers. Even Qingshan's patients were scared and backed away. What else could it mean?
He had been researching a new topic recently.
It was a secret study that couldn't be disclosed.
"The Commonalities Between Normal People and Mental Patients"
Liu Kai realized his actions had caused a misunderstanding.
Sigh!
They're mental patients. It's understandable.
Lin Fan and Old Zhang were truly kind people. They didn't avoid him because they thought he was crazy. Instead, they patiently explained the dangers of the high-voltage box.
For example, they described the sensation of touching it in vivid detail, as if they had actually experienced it.
Liu Kai nodded, but didn't believe a word of it. Keep bragging, I'll keep listening. If I interrupt your tall tales, I'm a dog.
"Wow, that's amazing."
"Whoa, awesome."
He clapped his hands, praising Lin Fan every time he described how thrilling it was.
Lin Fan and Old Zhang were pleased. They felt this new friend was really great, aside from his slight mental issue.
"You've been talking so much about cultivation, but I haven't told you yet, I'm actually a cultivator too," Liu Kai said.
Lin Fan and Old Zhang were astonished.
Liu Kai smiled, flicked his wrist, and a yellow talisman appeared. He then shook it, and the talisman spontaneously ignited.
"Whoa!"
Lin Fan and Old Zhang gaped in amazement.
They had never seen anything so magical.
Liu Kai wasn't one to show off, but he couldn't help feeling a bit smug. "I've been cultivating a Daoist art recently, the Diamond Sutra. I've just begun to grasp it. Let me demonstrate it for you."
"Great!"
"We're so excited!"
Lin Fan and Old Zhang looked at Liu Kai expectantly.
Liu Kai then formed a Maoshan hand seal, muttered some incantations, and stomped his foot. His actions were strange and captivating, holding the two mental patients' attention.
Liu Kai lifted his shirt and patted his body. "Do you hear anything?"
"Clang!"
"Clang!"
Lin Fan and Old Zhang said in unison.
Liu Kai smiled. "Not clang, but the sound of metal. In my current state, ordinary swords and blades can't pierce me. Old Zhang, try it out. Punch me."
Old Zhang shook his head. "You're my friend. I can't hit you."
"It's fine. Just be careful. Don't hurt your hand."
Liu Kai wanted to show off in front of the two mental patients. He had seen others demonstrate their abilities to the patients and receive enthusiastic cheers.
He had just happened to master a new skill, so he wanted to try it out.
At least the current situation was quite favorable.
Old Zhang clenched his fist and punched Liu Kai in the stomach. He winced in pain. "Ow! My hand hurts! It's so hard!"
"Haha, now do you believe me?" Liu Kai laughed, then looked at Lin Fan. "You try it."
"Me?" Lin Fan pointed at himself, seemingly surprised that he could also try.
"Of course," Liu Kai smiled. "Look how much fun they're having."
Indeed, not far away, someone was letting mental patients sit on their back while doing push-ups at a rapid pace, as if they were weightless, drawing cheers from the patients.
Lin Fan clenched his fist. "Are you sure it's okay?"
Liu Kai said confidently, "It's fine, come on. But be careful. My body is as hard as steel right now. Don't come crying to me if you hurt your hand."
"Come on."
He patted his stomach, brimming with confidence and almost impatient.
If he had known earlier that this was a way to attract the attention of mental patients, he would have done it long ago.
Why bother with all that talking?