Capítulo 77: Chapter 77: Don’t Close Your Eyes When It’s Dark (Part 1)
The on-duty nurse, holding an eye mask in her hand, was being scolded by the head nurse. However, her attention seemed more focused on us. Her gaze frequently darted toward Room 9114.
After the head nurse left, she discreetly took out her phone and sent a text to an unfamiliar number:
"Secretary Zhang from Qianding Pharmaceuticals has brought people to the hospital. They plan to take Jiang Shihan away."
About three minutes later, a reply came through:
"Under no circumstances can she leave tonight!"
Rubbing my aching forehead, I used my "Tracer Eye" to read every word on the nurse's phone screen with clarity.
"What are you doing?" Secretary Zhang, noticing my injuries and the way I was holding my head, assumed I wasn't feeling well.
I waved at him dismissively. "Don't worry about me. Think of a way to get Jiang Shihan out of here. Tonight is going to be anything but peaceful."
"What do you mean?" Secretary Zhang, a corporate elite accustomed to a world of logic and order, wouldn't grasp the gravity of the situation no matter how I explained it.
"Distract that on-duty nurse later, and I'll take Jiang Shihan out." I noticed the nurse putting her phone into her handbag and heading toward the ward. I lowered my voice to Secretary Zhang.
"There's no need for that. We'll process all the paperwork tomorrow. Delaying a few hours won't make a difference." Zhang didn't yet understand the urgency of the matter and preferred to proceed by the book.
I was about to argue when the nurse reached the door.
She knocked and said impatiently, "The patient is emotionally unstable. Your presence here is interfering with her treatment."
"Psychiatric illnesses require psychological support. Look at the drawings on the ceiling—are these your so-called treatment results?" I stood my ground, giving Secretary Zhang a signal with my eyes as I moved to the bed to help Jiang Shihan, who was hiding under the blanket, sit up.
"Look at her fingers. All ten are bitten bloody, and you were outside sleeping with an eye mask on? Is this how your hospital treats patients?"
My tone was harsh. The nurse opened her mouth but only managed to stammer after a while, "Who are you? I don't recall seeing you among the family members visiting the patient recently."
"I'm her brother, just back from another province. If you don't believe me, ask Qianding Pharmaceuticals' chairman's secretary." I threw out the name of Qianding Pharmaceuticals like a protective shield. Even if it was made up, the nurse wouldn't dare call my bluff.
The nurse glanced at Secretary Zhang, who offered her a professional smile. "That's correct. He just returned from out of state today and rushed over to visit his sister."
"Since you're family, I can understand, but your actions here will only worsen her condition and disturb other patients," the nurse mumbled, her voice growing softer as she realized she was in the wrong and faced two men.
Seizing the opportunity, I pushed further. "Secretary Zhang has already informed your superiors. The transfer will happen tonight."
"No!"
Before I could finish, the nurse yelped like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Realizing her overreaction, she softened her tone. "I haven't received any notification. You can't take her away."
"The situation has changed. I don't trust your hospital anymore. I suspect you're not treating her but slowly killing her." My eyes narrowed as I said the word murder, and I noticed the nurse's eyelid twitch. "So, they are up to something."
"How could you say such a chilling thing? There isn't a doctor alive who doesn't wish for their patients to recover quickly." The nurse let out a forced laugh. "Regardless, you can't take her away. Discharge requires a doctor's approval and the presence of direct family members. You don't meet the conditions!"
My brows furrowed. "What if I insist on taking her away?"
"Then I'll have no choice but to call the police," the nurse said firmly, gripping the doorframe with both hands as if her life depended on it.
As we reached an impasse, footsteps echoed from the hallway.
A man in his forties or fifties, wearing a white coat and black-rimmed glasses, approached.
The nurse lit up as if seeing her savior and grabbed his arm. "Director Li, these two are trying to take the lunatic from Room 9114 away."
"Alright, you go about your business. I've got this." Director Li smiled gently at the nurse and then turned to us.
"Ah, Xiao Zhang. Burning the midnight oil, are we?" He first glanced at Secretary Zhang, and it seemed they were already acquainted.
"Director Li, sorry to trouble you."
Zhang's respectful tone made me suspicious. Who exactly was this Director Li?
"No trouble at all. I just happen to be on duty tonight." Director Li's kind smile shifted to me. "You must be Jiang Shihan's brother? Funny, her mother never mentioned you. When she was admitted, her mother cried a lot. I spent quite some time comforting her."
"He's lying." My face remained impassive. Director Li was nothing more than a wolf in sheep's clothing. He claimed to be on duty, yet his polished shoes told a different story. They'd likely been shined by a housekeeper, ready for the next day—until he was unexpectedly summoned here at midnight.
Additionally, I had paid close attention to Zhang's earlier phone calls. None of the people he contacted were named Li.
"This man didn't come with good intentions."
Director Li spoke in a slow, measured tone, exuding confidence. "I've known Chairman Huang for many years. His concern for his child is understandable. But this is a hospital. We have rules. Discharge decisions must involve us—we're responsible for every patient's life."
"Thank you for taking care of Jiang Shihan," Zhang replied respectfully, subtly signaling me not to act rashly.
Director Li nodded with a smile. "It's my duty as a doctor."
He glanced at his watch theatrically. "It's almost midnight. You two should go home. I'll handle the paperwork tonight, and you can pick her up first thing in the morning."
"Thank you, Director Li." Zhang grabbed my shoulder and started leading me away. I didn't resist but stopped at the staircase corner.
"Gao Jian, let's just leave this for tonight," he said.
"No, they're already on alert. If we leave Jiang Shihan here, she might not survive the night!"
Zhang thought I was exaggerating. "There's security downstairs, nurses on duty, and cameras outside the ward. She'll be fine. Trust me."
His shift in attitude after seeing Director Li made me suspicious. "Who is this Director Li?"
"Our Qianding Pharmaceuticals works in pharmaceuticals manufacturing. Director Li oversees drug sourcing for the hospital. He's been working with us for years and is a close associate of Chairman Huang."
"Close associate?" I felt disgusted thinking about Director Li's fake smile and Zhang's unwavering professionalism. These people only cared about their interests. Ironically, the only one genuinely worried about Jiang Shihan's life was an outsider like me.
"Is there really no way to take her out tonight?" I looked him in the eye but saw no sign of hesitation.
"Sorry, I can't do anything."
"Fine." I brushed his hand off. "You can leave. I'll stay and keep watch tonight."
"Keep watch? Are you serious?" Zhang's face twitched as he glanced at the eerie corridor.
"Of course. I have a duty to fulfill."
Watching him descend the stairs, I lit a cigarette in the corridor before heading back to Room 9114.
Director Li was gone, and the nurse was nowhere to be found. I walked the entire hallway and found that the only surveillance camera wasn't even turned on. Everything suggested that something was bound to happen tonight.
Using my Hell Show phone, I scanned every corner of the ward, but no ghosts appeared. The unsettling feeling of knowing there were spirits around but not being able to see them was suffocating.
Jiang Shihan stood silently on the bed again. This time, she didn't tiptoe to draw on the ceiling but gripped her clothes tightly and stared at me with dead eyes.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here to help you." Holding the Seven Astral Talisman in hand, I locked the door and kept a close eye on my phone.
The ward was deathly quiet.
At midnight, the clock struck twelve.
With a strange expression, Jiang Shihan spoke her first words since we'd met.
"It's dark now."
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