Forbidden Land – CH 062

Back in his room, Zhang Chao yelled, “Chen Rong, why won’t you let me find out? This old man even knows about my affairs!”

Chen Rong said, “Don’t rush me. Let me check why this old man came in. I heard from a colleague last time that he’s a bit strange, so don’t talk to him until we figure it out.”

Zhang Chao asked, “When can you find out?”

Chen Rong said, “Wait half an hour.”

Zhang Chao glanced at the empty room. Besides his backpack on the table, there was nothing else. He asked, “Is there an internet connection?”

Chen Rong said, “You want to go online?”

Zhang Chao said, “Of course! There’s no TV here. I only have a laptop in my bag. If I don’t have internet, I’ll be bored to death!”

Chen Rong smiled. “I’m sorry to tell you, even with an internet connection, it’s useless. There’s no outlet here.”

“What!” Zhang Chao was about to collapse. “No outlet? I can’t even play single-player games?!”

Chen Rong said, “It’s a mental hospital; they are afraid the patients will ‘commit suicide,’ so they’ve put away all the dangerous things.”

Zhang Chao said, “Even if I’m not sick, you’ll make me sick.”

Chen Rong laughed. “You, you haven’t been to class for several days. I’ll come back later and bring you some magazines to read.”

Zhang Chao waved her away helplessly, “Okay, okay, I’ll look out for you.”

After Chen Rong left, Zhang Chao sat bored for a while, picked up the books in his bag, but wasn’t in the mood to read. Besides, there was still a month until the spring semester exams; no need to rush. Thinking about it, he decided to ask the old man again, so he opened the balcony door and went out. Looking to the side, the old man was gone from the balcony. Zhang Chao leaned on the balcony and called out, “Uncle, Uncle, are you there?”

“I’m here; what do you want?” The voice actually came from behind him.

He jolted awake, turning around to see an old man with a full head of disheveled white hair smiling at him from the balcony next door.

“You—” Zhang Chao said, “Who are you?”

The white-haired old man grinned and said in Hangzhou dialect, “Father!”

Upon hearing the word “Father,” Zhang Chao’s heart skipped a beat. This old man had just called him “Father” so clearly that he almost fainted. So this was a real lunatic!

Zhang Chao suddenly realized that lunatics were perhaps more terrifying than any woman in ancient costume. He quickly ran back to his room and closed the balcony door.

A moment later, Chen Rong opened the door and came in. As soon as they met, Zhang Chao asked, “Who’s that old man over there?”

Chen Rong said, “I’ve found out. Let me tell you slowly.”

Zhang Chao said, “No, first tell me who that old man on the other side is, the one with the full head of white hair.”

“Ah, you’ve seen that old man?” Chen Rong covered her mouth and laughed.

Zhang Chao said, “You knew?”

Chen Rong couldn’t help but chuckle, “Did he call you ‘Father’?”

Zhang Chao hurriedly said, “Yes, he did! It gave me goosebumps; it scared me to death! Tell me quickly!”

Chen Rong laughed loudly. “He’s a long-term patient. His elderly father died last year, and he’s a very filial son, which is why he’s like this now. He has a son and a daughter, both overseas. I heard they are very wealthy and can’t take care of him, so they had to send him here long-term.”

Zhang Chao patted his chest and said, “Ugh, that old man almost scared me to death. That ‘Father’ is like a killer without drawing blood!”

Chen Rong chuckled for a while, then said, “I think after being so frightened by him, you won’t want to go out for a walk.”

Zhang Chao said, “Can I go out for a walk?”

Chen Rong said, “Of course, but the people you walk with will be like those from earlier. Do you want that?”

Zhang Chao quickly shook his head and said, “I’ll just have to bear it. You need to find a way to let me out quickly.”

Chen Rong nodded and said, “I’ve spoken to my mentor, who is the vice dean. I told him you aren’t actually sick, you just experienced some shock, and you’re basically recovered. He said to observe you for a few more days. By the way, that fortune teller from earlier, I checked his medical records, and he’s really a bit strange.”