Chapter 55: New Titles~!! |
The show was in full swing, and Qian Xin, dazzling in her stage costume, mingled with the other actors. As she heard the music swell outside, she exhaled and stepped onto the stage with the rest of the troupe.
Her scene began with a group dance, and she gave it her all. Suddenly, gasps of shock resounded from the audience while she was dancing.
Puzzled, Qian Xin looked over to see a woman sprinting onto the stage, making a beeline for her.
She gaped at the woman, drawing a blank in her memory. Yet, she sensed a weird connection, a powerful bond.
“Xin Xin!” Xie Meng Meng dashed onto the stage, seizing Qian Xin’s hand. “Come with me, now!”
The nearby actors erupted into confusion, and theatre security stormed in.
“What the hell?!”
“Get her off the stage!”
Xie Meng Meng shoved away a security guard who pounced on her, hauling the baffled Qian Xin off the stage. They darted onto the street together.
“Who are you? How could you sabotage my performance?”
“It’s me, Meng Meng.” She gazed at her anxiously, but Qian Xin’s face was blank. She clenched her teeth and said, “Just trust me and follow me. You’ll regain your memory when we reach the amusement park.”
The theatre’s security had already driven them out. Xie Meng Meng shoved Qian Xin into the back seat of the taxi and climbed in after her. “Step on it! To the Lolita Amusement Park!”
The cab sped along, and Qian Xin gazed vacantly at the buildings fading outside the window. She felt odd; she had no clue who this person was, yet she didn’t put up a fight when she was dragged out.
Her mind was a jumble, growing more and more turbulent, as if some weird memories were bubbling up. In those memories, she saw the face of the person next to her. It was a surreal memory; she seemed to be ill, always in the hospital, always in the hospital…
Meanwhile, in the Lolita Amusement Park, Yu Xiao narrated everything she had gone through outside the park the day before. She said, “Standing at the entrance, I felt a surge of fear. It seemed like if the door opened, I would be in grave danger.”
This situation was utterly baffling, and Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen were at a loss.
Zhao Lan said, “I suddenly wondered if we also went out and had a life in the outside world. After two days had passed; could we still go back to the ward in the Sixth Hospital?”
No one had the answer, but Yu Xiao had a gut feeling that it probably wouldn’t happen.
As soon as you entered that uncanny world, you were given a believable identity. Even your memories were tampered with; Xie Meng Meng had no idea who she was, convinced she was just a regular teacher with a husband and a daughter.
“What if we never make it back to the hospital room?” Zhou Xiao Zhen wondered aloud. “Will we be stuck in this world forever? Will it be the same as the real world, with ageing and death?”
Yu Xiao had no clue how to answer that. She had a strong suspicion that there were patients who had ventured into this instance, discovered the exit to the outside world, and decided to remain in that world for good. Even if Yu Xiao had crossed paths with those patients, she wouldn’t have a clue, they had assimilated into this world.
“Wow, that’s terrifying,” Zhou Xiao Zhen shuddered. “What if everyone in that world was once a patient who came down to this instance?”
…
Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan fell silent simultaneously.
After a while, Yu Xiao said, “Precious, your speculation is quite disturbing. Let’s not speculate any further.”
“Yeah, disturbing,” Zhao Lan rubbed the goosebumps on her arm. “Is Lolita’s scenario truly that horrifying?”
As Yu Xiao shook her head, she recalled her earlier conversation with the driver. “I doubt the outside world has much to do with Lolita.”
Just then, they noticed two people rushing towards them. One of them was dressed in an elaborate costume, like something from a show.
“Yu Xiao!” Xie Meng Meng exclaimed as she pulled Qian Xin along. “I’m so relieved that you’re safe.”
By now, Qian Xin had regained her memory. Her face was filled with fear as she couldn’t imagine what would happen if she missed the opportunity to return to her world.
“What’s wrong with this instance?” Xie Meng Meng asked anxiously. “Thank goodness you had my phone number. I dread to think what would have happened if you didn’t.”
“Does anyone know how to contact Zhang Yi and the others?” Yu Xiao inquired.
“No idea,” Xie Meng Meng’s face went pale. “We split up after leaving the amusement park. We have no idea where they are, and we can’t reach them.”
The five of them understood the implications; they had less than half a day left until the deadline to leave Lolita Amusement Park. Finding them in this remaining time would be like finding a needle in a haystack.
“Shame they’re not from the Fourth Hospital,” Xie Meng Meng said. “We could have checked the forums after escaping and asked if they were alright.”
“True,” Qian Xin said. “Did you guys find all the clues to leave?”
“Yes,” Zhao Lan nodded. “The clues are six digits: 489516.”
“What sort of clues are those?” Xie Meng Meng frowned. “What do these digits mean?”
“We’re clueless,” Zhao Lan said. “Actually, we were hoping you might have some ideas.”
Yu Xiao carefully remembered what Lolita had told them when they had arrived, that they had to depart from this place within two days and board the hospital ambulance back to the hospital.
She had a hunch and swiftly took out her phone, typing in those six digits.
“Beep…”
To her surprise, it connected.
Zhao Lan was stunned. “Is this really a phone number?”
The phone rang only once before a crisp female voice answered. “The Edge of Life and Death Hospital (半步多医院), how may I assist you?”
Yu Xiao swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. “This is Lolita Amusement Park. We need an ambulance. Urgently.”
“Understood,” the voice said. “An ambulance is on its way. Please remain at the entrance of Lolita Amusement Park and do not attempt to leave.”
The others heard the voice too, and their eyes met in a silent understanding. The exit was not the main gate, as they had thought. The exit was an ambulance.
A wave of relief washed over them, followed by a surge of despair. What about Zhang Yi and the rest? Could they ever return?
A dark shape materialised from the shadows, fixing Yu Xiao with a hateful stare. She had let her escape. She had ruined her amusement park and walked away unscathed.
“It’s you,” Yu Xiao recognised Lolita, “You’re pure evil. If you hadn’t lied to us, none of us would have had to die.”
Lolita felt a bitter taste in her mouth, “I’m evil? You’re the worst of them all. Ha!” she snarled, “Don’t think you can get away with this. You’ve made an enemy. And you’ll pay for what you’ve done.”
Yu Xiao gazed at Lolita, whose eyes burned with rage. It was so unfair. She had never meant to antagonise anyone in the Sixth Ward. She had only wanted to stay alive and out of trouble.
And the attending doctors… She had admired them so much. Especially their dazzling beauty.
“Listen, this doesn’t have to be a fight,” Yu Xiao said sincerely. “When I first saw you, I was blown away by how gorgeous you look. You’re the most stunning attending doctor I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
…
The air shifted. A second ago, it was charged with hostility, and now Yu Xiao was making a declaration of love?
Lolita recoiled, and then her face twisted. She loathed Yu Xiao with every fibre of her being, but she also loved hearing people admire her beauty.
She felt a tug-of-war inside her, and she struggled to compose herself.
“Hmph,” Lolita flicked her head away pointing her chin to sky. “Don’t flatter yourself. A few sweet words won’t save you from my wrath.”
Yu Xiao let out another sigh. “Why make things difficult? Can’t we be friends? Like me and Dr George. We get along so well now.”
“George, he’s a bloody traitor!” Lolita’s hair bristled like a cat’s. “He’ll pay for this; I won’t let him get away with it. I’ll hex him every day until he begs for mercy!”
Oh, please…
Yu Xiao rolled her eyes. Even if she had no morals, like Lolita accused her of, she still felt sorry for George. He had nothing to do with this mess.
An ambulance screeched to a halt at the entrance of Lolita’s amusement park, but no one came out. The door swung open by itself.
Yu Xiao and the others jumped in, and as she did, she flashed a grin at Lolita. “Ta-ta~”
Lolita stamped her foot, “Hmph!”
“Slam!” The door shut.
The five of them sat in the ambulance, blind to the outside world, only sensing the movement of the vehicle.
“Honk honk…”
With a loud blast of the horn, darkness engulfed Yu Xiao. When she blinked her eyes open, they were back in the hospital room.
“Finally back!” Zhou Xiao Zhen spun around in the hospital room. “That was a close call. I thought Smiley was done for.”
It had been a risky adventure, mostly because Yu Xiao had been reckless. She had some clever tricks up her sleeve, but she lacked the experience to handle abnormal situations. She had to be more careful from now on.
As soon as she got back, her phone buzzed non-stop.
【You have a new order, please check it promptly~】
【You have a new…】
Apparently, a lot of people wanted to buy talismans from the Sixth Hospital. Yu Xiao opened the online store and saw that there were many orders, but most of them were for one sheet only. She guessed that most people in the Sixth Hospital could only afford one or two talismans, so that made sense.
Luckily, she had a courier membership, so she could ship as many packages as she wanted.
Then, she heard Zhao Lan giggle.
Zhou Xiao Zhen had never heard Misty laugh like that before. “What’s got you in such a good mood?”
“I got two titles this time.” Zhao Lan’s face lit up, adding, “And they’re both awesome titles.”
“Really? Well done.” Yu Xiao also checked her messages, wondering what titles she had earned this time. If Misty’s titles were awesome, hers should be too.
【Congratulations on completing the third round of treatment. You have advanced to Level Four in the Six Hospital Patient Forum.】
【For your impressive performance during the treatment, you have earned 3 basic points and 3 bonus points.】
【Congratulations on earning the title of ‘Demolition Crew Leader’…】
Well, well, Yu Xiao mused, this title was not too bad, as long as it stayed that way. It was much better than that awful ‘Shit-Hole Destroyer’.
【…bonus points of four. Congratulations on earning the title of ‘Amusement Park Bully,’ with a reward of four points…】
Ouch… this title sounded harsh, but Yu Xiao could live with it. It was still better than ‘Shit-Hole Destroyer’.
【Congratulations on earning the title of ‘Deadly Arse Assassin,’ with a reward of four points…】
“…”
“Huh?” Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, puzzled, “Why does Smiley look so horrified, as if she’s been hit by a truck?”
