A Lunatic Says He Loves Me: Chapter 43

Chapter 43: Happy City 2

The memories were interrupted by a knock on the door.

Han Rong, wearing slippers, slowly went to open it. Ling Guang was standing outside, looking haggard, and handed him a leather bag. “This is the medical case file that Cousin asked for.”

Han Rong glanced at it and took it. The bag was labeled: **Red Heart Hospital Psychiatry Department — Ji Yan**

“He has congenital color perception abnormalities and cannot perceive the world’s beauty. He is indifferent to emotions and has no social or moral values. Because of this, once he becomes paranoid, he can become extremely dangerous. He received psychiatric treatment in childhood and was discharged after two years following tests. He has lived quite normally for the past decade or so.”

[According to family statements, the patient was still missing one symptom of McDonald’s Syndrome: bedwetting. Continued hospitalization required.]

McDonald’s Syndrome refers to animal abuse, arson, and bedwetting, which are often seen in psychopathic serial killers.

Han Rong finished reading and remained silent. Ling Feng waited for a moment and then prepared to leave. Before leaving, he turned and said, “You know that Cousin specially arranged for me to be by your side, right?”

“Cousin asked me to protect you. He also orchestrated your involvement in the Major Crimes Unit. During the early years of treatment, Ji Yan did not allow anyone to visit you, including your father. He completely isolated you from the outside world.”

“Also, transferring you to Room 717 was Ji Yan’s idea.”

“Chen family is rising rapidly, isn’t it?” Han Rong said淡淡地: “If the youngest son of the Ji family is a lunatic, this would have some impact on their family reputation.”

“Is Chen Sheng playing this card?”

Ling Feng remained silent. He knew that someone as perceptive as Han Rong didn’t need him to answer.

“Tell him to save his effort. A skinny to death camel is still bigger than a horse. Besides, if the Ji family truly cared about this matter, they wouldn’t have sent Ji Yan to the hospital and left such a big handle. Officer Ling, out of respect for our acquaintance, I advise you not to wade into the muddy waters of the Chen and Ji families. As for Chen Sheng, it’s hard to offer good advice to a damned ghost; if he harms Ji Yan, he will be digging his own grave.”

Han Rong shook the leather bag in his hand. “No need to see me off.”

Ling Feng couldn’t help but say, “Don’t you doubt that Ji Yan might tamper with your memories? What if everything you’ve seen was what he wanted you to see, and for all these years, he’s deliberately kept you trapped?”

“So what?” Han Rong looked into his eyes, a smile playing on his lips. “At least now, I am normal. Ji Yan cured me. It’s obvious, isn’t it?”

“Han Rong, I really feel sorry for you.” The deep, heavy voice sounded particularly desolate in the quiet night.

“I know. Officer Ling, I also appreciate your care over the years.”

“It’s only been seven years; I owe him.” Han Rong turned and went back to his room to put away the file, soon coming out with a ragged cloth cat doll. “To help someone is to help them to the end. Please also take me to Room 717.”

Ling Feng silently took out his car keys, got into the car, and started the engine, becoming a free chauffeur for a while. Occasionally, he glanced up at the rearview mirror, his gaze inevitably falling on the doll cat in Han Rong’s arms. Noticing his curious gaze, Han Rong said, “You know what domestic psychiatric care was like more than a decade ago. He is emotionally detached, but not insensitive. He can still feel pain.”

“At least he hasn’t made me suffer over the past seven years. Even if dream control is a way of ‘gently killing you,’ I accept it.”

“In these seven years, he hasn’t let me be separated from my mother.”

“I’m grateful to him.”

For seven whole years, Ji Yan wove dream after dream for Han Rong, all without sadness or regret, while he himself remained awake, watching this colorless and emotionless world. Han Rong couldn’t imagine how Ji Yan managed to restrain his nature, enduring such a repressive and painful situation without collapsing, going mad, or becoming hysterical.

“Do whatever you want,” Ling Feng said. “My duty is to protect the public, maintain social order and stability. I’ll catch those who need to be caught and release those who should be released. I don’t want to meddle in your grudges.”

“Oh. Thanks.”

Ling Feng dropped him off at the hospital entrance and left. Standing in front of the ward, Han Rong felt a bit anxious. He hadn’t forgotten that the case file mentioned Ji Yan’s childhood involving “animal abuse,” worrying that when he opened the door, he might see a bloody scene.

He had forgotten to bring his family’s Demolition last time due to his haste, which was his fault. Annoyed, he raked his hair, took a deep breath, then raised his hand to knock on the door and turned the handle to enter.

Inside the room, Ji Yan was sitting on the floor, focused on drawing. The ceiling, walls, and windows were all covered with his doodles, all vividly depicting Han Rong.

Demolition lay sprawled on the floor, snoring loudly. The hospital’s food was quite good, and after a month, it had gained some weight.

Ji Yan’s hospital gown and face were smeared with colorful paint, giving him a rather childlike appearance.

“I left the hospital and walked for a long time, meeting you asleep in a tree in the forest. You were skipping class at the time. When you woke up, you saw me kill a wild rabbit with a stone. You didn’t ask anything but extended your hand to me, saying the view was nice. That night was Christmas Eve, and the whole city lit up with bright star lights. Santa Claus was giving gifts to children on the streets.”

“You lifted me up and asked if I saw the old man in red. I asked you what red was. You fed me milk candy and said red was sweet, a happy color.”

“And then I saw it.” Ji Yan’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “I saw the green Christmas tree, the yellow star lights, and the red Santa Claus.”

“You said you would take me home. I brought you to the hospital, and you gave me the toy cat your mother had given you. You wrote your name on it and said that when I was angry, I could hit it, and when I was scared, I should hold it tight. In short, I shouldn’t bully live animals anymore. I felt pain, and so did they, but you wouldn’t feel pain. You also promised to come see me later. I waited day after day, but you never came. I thought maybe my bloodied appearance on the day of the ‘escape’ scared you, or maybe you were afraid of me having another episode, so you didn’t come.”

“You didn’t come for a long time, so I had to go look for you. But after I was discharged, you had already moved. The photo album I showed you that day was one I found by prying open the door. The letter was fake. I searched for a long time before finding your mother’s handwriting and imitating it.”

Han Rong said, “Must have left in a hurry and forgotten something.” After a moment of silence, he added, “Sorry, I broke my promise.”

“It’s okay. I found you after I grew up, even though it seems like you don’t remember anything.” Ji Yan’s eyes curved into a childlike smile.

Han Rong felt a pang in his heart, tears almost falling. He turned his head to change the subject, saying, “Why did you choose to heal me in the end?”

“After all, you don’t love me. One Han Rong who doesn’t love me is better than thousands of Han Rongs who don’t.”

“But in reality, you didn’t kill them.”

“No matter which one you are, you are still you. How could I bear to do that when I like you so much? Besides, I hid them in a place only I know.”

“I know. I can’t hide you.” He tugged at the corner of his mouth, the face he had drawn bearing a sad, mocking smile.

Han Rong gently walked over, crouched down, and held his hand holding the pen. “I’m here to take you home.”

Ji Yan turned his head mechanically, staring at him for a long time. After a moment of silence, he said, “You’ve lost weight.”

“Mm, without you around, I haven’t been eating on time.”

Ji Yan frowned again as he heard Han Rong casually say, “I also often stay up late and drink, and wake up in the morning coughing up a lot of blood.”

Now Ji Yan’s brows were tightly knitted together.

“Without you, I’ve been living terribly,” Han Rong said. “Doctor, I might be suffering from Stockholm Syndrome and need treatment.”

Ji Yan responded, “I don’t treat that illness.”

“Oh. As long as you don’t leave me, it’ll get better on its own.”

Han Rong pulled Ji Yan up, then put the sleeping toy cat into his pocket. “Let’s go handle the discharge procedures.” He stuffed the toy cat into Ji Yan’s arms. “I’ll get you a new one another day.”

Ji Yan, looking obedient, allowed Han Rong to lead him out.

Outside, the sunlight was dazzling.

****

Three months later.

Han Rong was preparing to go on a global tour with Demolition and Ji Yan when the door was knocked. Standing outside was the grief-stricken Yuan Fei, who, upon seeing Han Rong, choked up and said, “Han Ge! Wildfire is dead, Ding Ding is missing, and Sir Ling has been dismissed.”

“Please help me!”

Han Rong was surprised that in just a few months, the Hucheng Major Crimes Unit, which struck fear into criminals, was facing the possibility of dissolution.

“Who did Ling Feng offend?”

“Who else?!” Yuan Fei clenched his fists tightly, indignantly saying, “It must be that bastard Ge Jiaqi who bribed some high-ranking official!”

“Where is Ling Feng? Take me to him first. Tell me what happened on the way.” Han Rong put on his shoes, walked over to Ji Yan, kissed his cheek, and said, “Be good. Wait for me to come back.”

Ji Yan, holding Demolition, nodded obediently.

Yuan Fei, driving, said, “On March 1st, Ge Jiaqi attended a book signing event. Wildfire and Ding Ding were responsible for tailing him, but they lost contact midway. Two days later, a floating corpse was recovered from Yunhe River, confirmed to be Wildfire. The forensic examination revealed the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the chest. The police are currently searching the area around Yunhe River. Sir Ling suspects that Ge Jiaqi might have hired a hitman, as he received a strange message from Wildfire the day before the signing event. Today, Ge Jiaqi is preparing to leave Xuezhou City, and Sir Ling went to the airport to intercept him.”

“Why was Ling Feng dismissed?”

When Han Rong arrived at the airport and saw Ge Jiaqi, he understood why Ling Feng had been dismissed.

Ge Jiaqi was dressed in flashy clothes, with a bandage on his hand, sitting in a wheelchair surrounded by a circle of bodyguards in black.

He smiled at Ling Feng, who was dressed in cleaning attire, and said, “Officer Ling, once a star in criminal investigation, now reduced to cleaning at the airport?”

Ling Feng put down the mop he had raised expressionlessly. If he had moved any faster, he would have smashed this hypocrite’s head.

Han Rong said, “Sir Ling, please come back with us first.”

Ge Jiaqi turned his head towards the voice, his gaze fixed on Han Rong’s face, as if searching for information about him in his mind, then said, “Han Rong, the profiling genius. I heard you went mad after being unable to accept your mother’s accidental death. Have you recovered now?”

Yuan Fei was infuriated and swore, “Mind your own business!”

Ge Jiaqi ignored him and continued to look at Han Rong, “Have you ever considered that your mother’s murder might not have been a coincidence? There were still some robbers at large back then. You caught the person who shot your mother, but did you catch the mastermind behind it? In my opinion, unless you catch them all, it’s not a thorough case closure.”

Han Rong, with one hand in his pocket, looked at him with a half-smile, “I’m curious, why are you so interested in me?”

“Maybe because we’re similar?” He tilted his head, his boyish face making the gesture seem rather innocent. “I’ve noticed you’ve been trailing me for quite a while. How about a bet? If you win, I’ll cooperate with the investigation. What do you say?”

Han Rong raised an eyebrow, “What kind of bet?”

“I’m interested in some old unsolved cases. As long as you can solve a case I designate within a month, you win.”

Yuan Fei sneered, “Why bet with you? Just find the evidence of you killing Wildfire and see if you still have that smile!”

Ge Jiaqi maintained a refined and gentle smile, “Because Mr. Han knows very well that you won’t find evidence of me committing murder.”

Yuan Fei was taken aback and then broke out in a cold sweat. How could he forget that Ge Jiaqi was an expert at using others to do his dirty work? At that moment, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Yuan Fei took it out and saw a WeChat message from the forensic team.

Bai Xinhui said, “The police recovered Ding Ding’s backup gun from the river. Using ballistic technology and analyzing the characteristics of Wildfire’s chest wound, they determined that the fatal weapon was this gun. Moreover, the gun only has Ding Ding’s fingerprints on it.”

Ge Jiaqi, with a slow and deliberate tone, urged, “Shall we make a bet?”

Han Rong smirked, his expression defiant, “I will solve the case. And I will also catch you.”

Ge Jiaqi replied, “Then let’s wait and see.”

The announcement for boarding began over the loudspeaker.

Bodyguards pushed Ge Jiaqi’s wheelchair toward the boarding gate.

Ling Feng tried to rush forward but was grabbed by Han Rong.

Han Rong watched Ge Jiaqi’s departing figure and, with a smile, said, “Wish you a pleasant journey.”

If you're enjoying the story don't forget to support the author! You can also support me on KOFI for site maintenance, raws purchase or as an energy boost~ 

Join discord to get notified whenever a new chapter is uploaded since I'm  incapable of keeping up with a schedule~