Hospital 444
Chapter 140 - 17 Reunion

Chapter 140: Chapter 17 Reunion

"Every person only has one chance to be incarnated in the flesh in their lifetime," Yin Wuque reminded Dai Lin, "You absolutely don’t have a second chance to be reincarnated."

"Reincarnated" is a more rigorous term than reborn because Dai Lin’s current body is his original one, yet Cursed Flesh could "give birth" to his original physical form.

At first, Dai Lin found it quite unbelievable because, after Lu Yanran was reincarnated, the child in her womb was still there.

The only thing Dai Lin could not access was his own memory.

"You only remember a child watching television?" Yin Wuque continued to inquire, "Anything else?"

Dai Lin shook his head, "That’s all I remember."

For now, Yin Wuque could not confirm whether Gao Heyann’s disappearance was related to Dai Lin, but there was definitely a connection between the two.

"The origin of all this must be at the Lanxin Cafe," Dai Lin was certain of this, "That’s where my earliest memories begin to have gaps."

Then, thinking of something, Dai Lin asked Yin Wuque, "Deputy Dean Yin, is there any way to treat this kind of memory loss? Which department should this condition be registered under?"

"Your curse was eliminated during the process of reincarnation," Yin Wuque pointed at Dai Lin, "But your memory wasn’t. Therefore, there’s no way to treat it."

"No way?"

"As a doctor, you should understand something: the foundation of Western medicine is pathology, while the foundation of traditional Chinese medicine is empirical science. The foundation of all treatments for curses at Hospital 444 is based on the analysis of curse theory, which is cursed objects. Only the Department of Cursed Objects understands the root of curses, and they do not share any such knowledge with the clinical departments, nor can any physicians from other departments transfer there. So, we are like traditional Chinese medicine in that sense, purely empirical science. In such cases, if we encounter a rare curse case, we are utterly helpless."

"Is the Department of Cursed Objects also unwilling to share any knowledge with you, just like the Demons Department?"

"That’s the Hospital Director’s rule. The head of the Department of Cursed Objects, who is also the Curse Affairs Deputy Dean, is completely independent of any department in the hospital and never cooperates with any clinical departments. How curses are turned into cursed objects, how cursed objects counter curses, these matters are completely unknown to clinical physicians. In fact, without permission from the Curse Affairs Deputy Dean Fang Shen, we can’t even find the location of the Curse Objects Center."

In other words, Yin Wuque was also at a loss with this problem that even cursed objects couldn’t solve.

"I have a question... As the Deputy Dean, is it possible for a curse to affect your memory? Generally... it shouldn’t be possible, right?"

If Yin Wuque’s memory could also be tampered with, then it would be troublesome.

"Theoretically, it’s entirely possible, especially if it were a malevolent ghost or a vicious spirit," he said.

A malevolent ghost or... a vicious spirit?

"Aside from vicious spirits, malevolent ghosts can tamper with your memory? Are malevolent ghosts really that frightening?"

"Do you know what a malevolent ghost is?"

"Ordinary resentful spirits turn into fierce ghosts, while karmic obstruction ghosts transform into malevolent ghosts..."

"As I said before, everything we learn is based on empirical science. However, whether it’s karmic obstruction ghosts or malevolent ghosts, both are extremely rare cases. In fact, over a decade ago, the Malevolent Ghost Department and the Fierce Ghost Department were part of the same department. Back then, the Fierce Ghost Department was entirely under the jurisdiction of Deputy Dean Lu Yuan."

Previously, Dai Lin had indeed heard that there were significant tensions between the Fierce Ghost Department and the Malevolent Ghost Department, but he hadn’t expected this.

"Usually, it’s believed that malevolent ghosts are weaker than vicious spirits, but this hierarchy isn’t much help to us paranormal doctors. Moreover, the view that karmic obstruction ghosts turn into malevolent ghosts is something that Director Mei Quzhen has always been skeptical about. To be precise, in our existing memories, that is indeed the case. Whether malevolent ghosts or vicious spirits, both clearly possess abilities that can influence our memories and cognition. So, we can only say that the malevolent ghosts in our current understanding are beneath vicious spirits."

Listening to Yin Wuque’s words, Dai Lin began to realize that what he was facing may not be a simple curse.

The scalpel tainted with the blood of a malevolent ghost, used by Dr. Liang Zhigao as his most treasured cursed object, had always been hidden in the Muyang Building.

Malevolent ghosts, indeed, were very mysterious...

"In addition, there’s one more thing," Yin Wuque said, suddenly changing the topic, "When you left the hospital, you took a doctor’s white coat with you. You should be aware that, apart from business cards, doctors are not allowed to take hospital property out without permission. The doctor’s white coat is also a form of protection from the Director, and yet you took it out with you."

"Took it out?" Dai Lin was incredulous upon hearing this, "Really?"

"Under normal circumstances, if a doctor teleports away from the hospital without changing clothes, their clothes would automatically stay in the changing room. But your white coat is missing. There has never been a precedent of a doctor taking their white coat out of the hospital without permission. This also means that you could potentially take more items from the hospital outside."

Dai Lin raised his hand and touched the corner of his eye.

"Is it because of... this Devil’s Eye?"

"I may have underestimated you, Dr. Dai. You might become a more formidable doctor than I imagined."

Dai Lin couldn’t see through Yin Wuque either.

This man used to be Wei Shirling’s secret lover, and afterwards, he met Gao Menghua who had once treated Wei Shirling, and then he entered Hospital 444, working his way up to become the vice-president. However, on the eve of marrying Gao Menghua, something happened to her.

For a long time, he wanted to cultivate himself, ostensibly all for the sake of his fiancée, Gao Menghua. Dai Lin believed that Gao Heyann must have thought so, but did Yin Wuque himself think the same?

Did he really want to make his Devil’s Eye stronger solely for Gao Menghua to wake up?

When all is said and done... did he really enter Hospital 444 by chance?

...

Blue Heart Coffee Shop.

The time was already approaching ten o’clock.

By then, there weren’t many people left in the coffee shop.

Luo Ren was typing vigorously on his laptop.

Suddenly, he noticed that Lu Yuqing brought him a cup of coffee.

"I didn’t order this."

"Consider it a gift from me," Lu Yuqing said as she sat down opposite Luo Ren. "I want to ask you... Are you and Dai Lin really friends? If so, why don’t you go to him directly instead of coming every day to this coffee shop you used to frequent during your student days? If you’ve lost his contact, why don’t you ask me for it?"

That was what Lu Yuqing found most puzzling.

An investment director, how busy could he be? Yet he still took his laptop to the coffee shop to work from time to time.

It seemed as though he was just hoping that one day Dai Lin might happen to visit the coffee shop.

That didn’t seem like the relationship of normal friends.

Originally, this was none of Lu Yuqing’s business. But, Dai Lin always gave her a feeling of danger. Therefore, she was a bit curious about what kinds of friends he might have.

The friends of a person can most reflect that person’s character. This is what Lu Yuqing knew best.

After losing her best friend in her student days, she never again made friends with a pure heart, often considering the interests involved instead.

"This matter, it’s none of your concern," Luo Ren said with a slight shake of his head. "Or is it that the coffee shop is closing?"

"Let me guess what happened between you two?" Lu Yuqing leaned back slightly, sizing up Luo Ren’s handsome face. "It couldn’t be some corny love triangle, could it? And Dr. Dai doesn’t seem to have a girlfriend. You really are good friends, but something happened between you in the past, causing you to not know how to face him... right?"

"Your imagination is rather vivid," Luo Ren said with a cold face. "I’m not here for psychological counseling."

"I am well aware of the pain of a falling out with your best friend."

Whether in the past or the present... Lu Yuqing always chose herself over her friends.

But for her, it also brought on a painful matter: she didn’t have peers she could truly confide in.

And just today, she had made a decision. She betrayed her best friend and allowed her to fall into danger without a care.

And as time passed, she felt increasingly uncomfortable.

That’s why when she saw Luo Ren come to the coffee shop again, she came over to talk to him.

She didn’t even know what kind of answer she wanted to get from Luo Ren.

Just at this moment, suddenly a person walked into the coffee shop!

"Lu Yu..."

The person hadn’t managed to complete the word "Qing" when he saw Luo Ren.

After Luo Ren and he exchanged glances, both of them were stunned.

"Luo... Luo Ren?"

"It’s been a long time... Dai Lin."