Skin - Chapter 54

Chapter 54 – People Who Live a Lively Life… Should Live Longer

　　Lu Shichen had been transferred to a new ward, which was the most expensive single-room special care ward in the hospital. When he pushed the door open, Meng Zhao almost thought he had entered a five-star hotel.

　　This ward is in line with Lu Shichen’s usual luxurious lifestyle, except that it made the cute thing in his hand look a bit shabby.

　　A recently popular TV series was playing on the projection wall. Lu Shichen was lying on the hospital bed with his eyes closed, probably not paying attention to what was playing on TV.

　　After hearing the sound of the door opening, he raised his eyelids and looked at Meng Zhao, then his gaze moved from Meng Zhao’s face to the ice cream in his hand.

　　”Bought it for me?” Lu Shichen asked.

　　He didn’t know why, but he didn’t notice anything when he bought the ice cream just now. Now that he brought it to the ward and was about to give it to him, Meng Zhao felt something was wrong. He made up an excuse: “Well, it’s hot, so I bought one to help you cool down.”

　　Behind him, the nurse knocked on the door and walked in: “Mr. Meng is here?” It was the nurse that Meng Zhao had asked someone to introduce in the afternoon, and he had already arrived at his post with swift hands and feet.

　　”Well,” Meng Zhao stepped aside, “thank you for your hard work.”

　　The nurse asked Lu Shichen again: “Mr. Lu, the weather is getting colder today and the outdoor temperature is a bit low. Do you want me to raise the indoor temperature for you?”

　　After these words were spoken, Meng Zhao, who was holding the ice cream, suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

　　After the nurse left, Lu Shichen looked at him and asked, “Is it hot?”

　　Meng Zhao walked over, pulled a chair over, and sat down next to Lu Shichen’s bed: “You are not old enough to eat ice cream anyway. I bought it for myself. I am jealous of yours. Is that not okay?”

　　The TV was a bit noisy, so Meng Zhao picked up the remote control and turned off the TV.

　　Then he tore off the outer wrapping paper with his fingers, paused, and finally did not eat it himself. He looked up at Lu Shichen and said, “Want a bite?”

　　Lu Shichen also looked at him.

　　Lu Shichen had just had surgery and could not eat cold and stimulating foods like ice cream. Meng Zhao bought the ice cream at the wrong time.

　　Meng Zhao thought about it, went out and asked the nurse to help find a spoon, scraped some cream off it, and put the spoon to Lu Shichen’s lips.

　　He didn’t speak, and neither did Lu Shichen.

　　Lu Shichen lowered his eyes to look at the spoon. After a moment, he slightly opened his lips and licked away the cream on the edge of the spoon.

　　Meng Zhao looked at Lu Shichen very closely. The line from his brow bone to his nose bone was sharp and smooth, his eye sockets were slightly deep, but his pupils were light in color, and there was a sense of alienation between his eyebrows that seemed to be lingering.

　　Perhaps it was because he had just recovered from a serious illness, his thin lips were pale, which actually added a sense of fragility to his face.

　　Meng Zhao’s heart moved, and he asked, “Is it sweet?”

　　Lu Shichen said, “Yeah.” Then he asked, “What are you looking at me for?”

　　Meng Zhao subconsciously felt guilty and retorted, “Don’t you usually look at me enough?”

　　As soon as he finished speaking, Meng Zhao felt something was wrong.

　　The strange silence lasted for two minutes. Meng Zhao withdrew his hand, took a bite of the ice cream, and swallowed it together with the crispy skin and cream.

　　It’s chilling.

　　‘I need to calm down,’ he thought.

　　After finishing his ice cream, Meng Zhao stood up. Lu Shichen looked at him and asked, “Where are you going?”

　　Meng Zhao originally just wanted to go upstairs to check on the unconscious girls, but seeing that Lu Shichen didn’t seem to want him to leave, he suddenly wanted to tease Lu Shichen: “I haven’t slept much since last night. I’m going back to bed early. If you have any problems, call the nurse.”

　　Lu Shichen retracted his gaze and replied indifferently: “Yeah.”

　　Meng Zhao began to lay the hook: “Or… do you actually want me to stay here with you?”

　　”Go back early.” Lu Shichen said.

　　‘Tsk, you didn’t even try to persuade me to stay?’ The fishhook was empty, Meng Zhao stood up and left the ward.

　　As soon as he left the ward, Zhou Qiyang called him: “Brother Zhao, there is new information.”

　　”Go on.” Meng Zhao continued on the phone and walked towards the intensive care unit on the fourth floor.

　　”The Shenzhen Municipal Government has cooperated to find the actual legal representative of the sanatorium. The tenant of the basement has also been found. It’s the same person. But guess what, that person is actually a ‘Sanhe God’! He is the kind of hooligan who does nothing all day, no proper job, and makes money by lending ID cards. Moreover, this person always lends out his ID card, and doesn’t care what others do with his ID card. He doesn’t even know that he has become a nominal legal representative of a sanatorium…”

　　Meng Zhao had speculated about this situation earlier: “This Wu Weihan knew that once the matter of the sanatorium was exposed, the police would definitely look for the legal owner, so he found a scapegoat from the beginning.”

　　”He’s quite prepared for a rainy day.”

　　”Wu Weihan?” Meng Zhao’s mind flashed back to the time when Wu Weihan was summoned for questioning. The man looked arrogant and conceited, and he really didn’t look like someone who did things in a meticulous manner. “Maybe there is someone else helping him behind the scenes.”

　　After hanging up the phone, Meng Zhao also went to the fourth floor of the hospital. The girls who were rescued from the basement of the sanatorium last night were still in a coma. The hospital has set up an expert group and is urgently discussing treatment plans.

　　If all the clues in the sanatorium and the basement were cut off, then they could only start with these girls.

　　The leader of the expert group, Director Cheng, is a female doctor in her forties who wears black-framed glasses. Director Cheng is not only a leading figure in the hematology department of the hospital, but is also well-known throughout the country.

　　It was already dark outside, but she was still in the ward, checking the physical conditions of several girls and perfecting the corresponding treatment plan.

　　”Director Cheng, I’m Meng Zhao from the Municipal Bureau,” Meng Zhao walked over, “I want to learn about the situation of these girls.”

　　”Captain Meng, right?” Director Cheng stood up, put the snowboard clip in her hand aside, and shook hands with Meng Zhao. “I heard that it was you who rescued these girls from the basement. If you have any questions, just ask directly.”

　　”How old are these girls? Do we have an accurate conclusion now?”

　　”It can be estimated from bone age, but there will be a certain degree of error.”

　　Meng Zhao looked at the girls lying on the beds and pointed at the youngest one: “Based on her bone age, how old is that girl?”

　　”Probably around sixteen.”

　　About sixteen years old…When he rescued the girls from the sanatorium the previous night, he noticed that this girl seemed to be particularly young, like a minor.

　　However, how did the sixteen-year-old girl meet Wu Weihan? What was their relationship? If it could be proved that the girl had had sex with Wu Weihan before she was fourteen, then there would be another piece of evidence against Wu Weihan.

　　”Then if we only look at the physical condition of these people, can we tell how many years they have been injecting that drug?”

　　”That’s difficult. It’s hard to judge the exact time,” Director Cheng shook her head. “However, based on their symptoms, it’s still possible to judge how long these people should have been injected with drugs. Look at this girl,” the doctor walked to Xu Yulin’s bedside. “She has the most serious symptoms. Even if she wakes up later, she probably won’t be able to take care of herself. It’s really a sin…”

　　Xu Yulin and Xu Yingying were both Wu Weihan’s high school classmates, so how did the others know Wu Weihan?

　　”As for these girls,” Director Cheng pointed at the other girls, “they should have received the injections between two and three years ago.”

　　Meng Zhao followed the direction she pointed and looked at the other girls on the hospital beds. Although their ages varied, they were almost all around 20 years old. Only the old woman seemed out of place.

　　Meng Zhao’s mind flashed back to the look on Lu Shichen’s face when he looked at the old woman the previous night. ‘Why on earth did Lu Shichen care so much about this old woman…?’

　　‘Forget it,’ Meng Zhao turned his eyes away from the old woman. Lu Shichen must have his reasons. There is a long time to come, and he can solve this mystery slowly. There is no need to rush.

　　”By the way, Captain Meng,” Director Cheng continued, “when our nurses were changing the clothes of these girls, they found that several of them had scars on their bodies.”

　　”Scars?” Meng Zhao looked at Director Cheng, “Did you take pictures?”

　　”Yes.” Director Cheng took out her cell phone, pulled up the relevant photos, and handed them to Meng Zhao. “This is the scar on the youngest girl’s back.”

　　In the photo, there were several slanted light brown narrow marks on the girl’s skinny back. Meng Zhao enlarged the picture and took a closer look: “It looks like the marks from a whip.”

　　”And this one,” Director Cheng scrolled back to another photo, “is of another girl, with similar marks to the previous one. There are also some body parts that were not convenient to take photos of, but in short, their breasts and genitals all have signs of abuse.”

　　“Have these girls been sexually abused?”

　　”That should be the case,” Director Cheng said. “Four of the seven people showed signs of abuse.”

　　”Which four?”

　　Director Cheng pointed to four girls and showed them to Meng Zhao. They were the four girls besides Xu Yingying, Xu Yulin and the old woman.

　　Wu Weihan actually had a sexual abuse fetish? And judging by the scars, he was extremely cruel. He was really a case of all show off but rotten inside. Under the glamorous appearance, he actually hides such a cruel and disgusting soul.

　　After walking out of the ward, Meng Zhao called his colleagues in the bureau and asked, “Are the identities of the girls rescued from the sanatorium being checked?”

　　”We are still investigating. The workload is too heavy. We won’t find any clues for a while.”

　　”Send their photos to each police station and ask them to investigate the missing cases in Mingtan City in the past ten years, with a focus on missing girls between the ages of 13 and 20. Report all possible cases, and the municipal bureau will then carefully investigate the missing cases they report. We need to try to find the identities of these girls in the shortest possible time, and notify their parents to come and identify them.”

　　”Okay, Captain Meng.” The colleague responded.

　　”By the way, how is Wu Weihan?”

　　”He has been transferred to the detention center.”

　　”That’s good.” Meng Zhao said, “By the way, Xiao Song, I remember you have a good relationship with a prison guard in the detention center, right? Tell him to take good care of Wu Weihan. It would be best if he was arranged to be with a vicious murderer so that he can have some experience.”

　　”Okay, got it, Captain Meng.” There was a laugh on the other end of the phone.

　　Meng Zhao handed over all the tasks and called Meng Ruoshu to ask her about Lin Lang.

　　”My mother has cleaned up the old house,” Meng Ruoshu said on the phone, “I will live there with Lin Lang for a while.”

　　”How is Lin Lang feeling?”

　　”She’s fine now. She likes Mr. Lu very much. I told her that I would take her to see a psychologist in a few days, the same one I saw back then, and she agreed.”

　　”Okay, if you need help, feel free to contact me. Take care of Lin Lang and Mr. Lu.”

　　After making the call, Meng Zhao returned to the special care ward.

　　Lu Shichen was half lying on the hospital bed with his eyes closed. This time he did not open his eyes when he heard the sound.

　　‘Did he fall asleep?’ Meng Zhao walked lightly, took some clothes to change into, turned off the light, and went to the bathroom to take a shower.

　　Only after the hot water was poured over his head did Meng Zhao feel his muscles, which had been tense for dozens of hours, relax.

　　Although the case has not been fully solved, Wu Weihan has been transferred to the detention center. So, he could afford to relax for one night.

　　Meng Zhao didn’t think about the case. He soaked himself in the rushing hot water, letting his thoughts run wild.

　　‘What does emotional cognitive impairment feel like?’

　　‘I always feel that Lu Shichen, twelve years later, seems to be more human than when he was in high school.’

　　Meng Zhao thought of the smile in Lu Shichen’s eyes when he was leaving in the afternoon. ‘Did Lu Shichen also smile when he was in high school?’

　　‘Or is Lu Shichen’s condition improving?’

　　Unlike those who are born with sensory impairments, Lu Shichen lost his memory and emotions after the car accident when he was ten years old. If Lu Shichen’s condition has improved over the years, it is very likely that Lu Shichen can completely regain his emotions. The only question is, what will be the trigger that can prompt his condition to improve?

　　Meng Zhao took a bath towel and wiped the water off his body.

　　Then he was stunned for a moment. All his thoughts were focused on Lu Shichen and he didn’t realize that he had reacted at all.

　　‘Shit…’ Meng Zhao cursed inwardly. It was fine that he had a subtle heartbeat before, but what was going on with this obvious physiological reaction now? He had seen naked homosexuals in the public bathhouse of the police academy many times, even those with good figures. How come he didn’t realize that his sexual orientation was different from others at that time?

　　‘It must be because I have been too busy with cases recently and haven’t relieved myself for too long.’ Meng Zhao quickly concluded that this evil fire of his was because of this.

　　‘Should I take care of it now?’ Meng Zhao leaned back on the cold tiles and tapped twice on the white porcelain behind him with his slender fingers.

　　But he still held back in the end. He was in the hospital, and on the other side of the wall was the seriously injured Lu Shichen… Never mind. He lowered his head and raised his hand to stroke his hair.

　　Then he put his hand down, flipped the switch of the water heater to the lowest temperature, turned on the shower, inexplicably suppressing himself.

　　After quickly drying his body and hair, Meng Zhao changed into a simple T-shirt and shorts. While wiping his wet hair with a bath towel, he opened the door and walked out.

　　As soon as he opened the door, he found that the light in the ward had been turned on again at some point, and the TV was also on, still playing the hit drama. Lu Shichen had woken up and was actually watching what was being played.

　　”Weren’t you asleep?” Meng Zhao walked over.

　　”I didn’t sleep. I thought it was the nurse. I heard the noise in the bathroom and guessed it was you.” Lu Shichen glanced at him. “Why are you back again?”

　　Meng Zhao’s hair was a little messy from rubbing against the bath towel, and it stood there in a messy manner, showing off his lively youthfulness.

　　”Did you really think I’d leave? Am I so heartless?” Meng Zhao sat on the bed, facing Lu Shichen, “I just went to the fourth floor to check on the girls.”

　　”Any progress on the case?”

　　”Lin Lang gave her statement against Wu Weihan, and Wu Weihan has been temporarily detained in the detention center. Apart from that, there has been no progress. If these girls can wake up, it will be a big progress…” Meng Zhao sighed and changed the subject, “I can’t believe that the elites in the financial industry are interested in watching such a bloody TV series.”

　　In the TV series, the hero and heroine are hugging each other affectionately. The next second, their eyes meet, their lips touch, and they begin a passionate kiss.

　　Meng Zhao changed the topic at an inappropriate time and felt a little awkward.

　　When they were little, Meng Jing would always ask him to get some water whenever they saw a kissing scene in a TV show. This time, Meng Zhao stood up on his own initiative for the first time, picked up the kettle on the bedside table, and poured water into the cup: “Is it good?”

　　”It’s quite interesting.” Lu Shichen said.

　　Meng Zhao poured half a glass of water and handed it to Lu Shichen, and couldn’t help but observe the expression on his face.

　　Lu Shichen’s eyes fell on the TV screen, with no expression on his face, but Meng Zhao was usually best at observing the micro-expressions on the faces of criminals. At this moment, he took in the slightly inquiring look in Lu Shichen’s eyes.

　　Meng Zhao: “…”

　　”Well… go to sleep,” he picked up the remote, “Should I turn it off?”

　　Lu Shichen turned his eyes away from the two people who were kissing passionately on TV, and still had no reaction: “Whatever you want.”

　　Meng Zhao pressed the remote control and the TV turned off. The awkward feeling disappeared and he breathed a sigh of relief.

　　The special care ward is very friendly to people who accompany the patients. The accompanying bed is placed next to the patient’s bed, less than a meter away.

　　After turning off the lights, the room was pitch black and so quiet that the two could hear each other’s breathing.

　　After lying there for a while, Meng Zhao said, “Hey, we are now friends of life and death.”

　　”Um.”

　　After another moment of silence, Meng Zhao asked the question he wanted to ask the most: “Why did you block it at that time? What were you thinking at that moment?”

　　Unexpectedly, Lu Shichen just said calmly: “I didn’t think about anything.”

　　Okay, Meng Zhao closed his eyes. He guessed that Lu Shichen would say that.

　　Because he didn’t sleep last night, he felt sleepy as soon as he closed his eyes. Just as he was about to fall asleep, Lu Shichen’s voice rang in his ears, and the voice was deeper than usual:

　　”I think people who live a lively life… should live longer.”