Chapter 3

Chi Feichi put the phone back in its place. This is...

Suspect his parents have mental illness?

"Doctor Fukuyama, the hospitalization fees here are not cheap..."

"Is there indeed a history of mental illness in the family?" Fukuyama Shigehiro's expression became more serious, and he advised, "If a problem is found, it should be treated in time..."

"No, what I mean is," Chi Feichi said in his usual calm tone, "please let them go. If the whole family comes in, who will pay the hospital bills?"

Fukuyama Shigehiro was taken aback for a moment, then he said, "It's not necessarily that they need to be hospitalized. We can also resolve issues through communication, which might even be beneficial for your recovery."

"I don't mean to be sarcastic, but I'm a bit curious—do you see everyone as having a problem? Is that a professional disease?" Chi Feichi countered.

"Sort of." Fukuyama Shigehiro thought for a moment, not denying it was a professional disease. He suddenly asked, "Mr. Chi, what is the date tomorrow?"

Chi Feichi glanced at the wall calendar; today was August 21st. "August 22nd."

Fukuyama Shigehiro corrected him, "Tomorrow is August 11th. It seems there's still some issue with your perception of time."

Chi Feichi: "..."

He hesitated for 0.01 seconds about whether to flip the table... but decided against it. Doctor Fukuyama, despite his professional disease, was still a very responsible doctor.

"Hmm... but there's no need to rush or avoid it," Fukuyama Shigehiro said, writing in his notebook and comforting him, "take it slowly, and it will get better."

Chi Feichi: "..."

Expressionless × 2...

"Alright," Fukuyama Shigehiro finished writing and looked up with a smile, "we'll try again tomorrow."

Chi Feichi wanted to say, "Take him away, give up, it's incurable," but he knew that would just lead to another bowl of comforting soup. He changed the subject, "I want to go out."

"Is there something you need to do?"

"Buy two books."

"I need to know the content of the books, is that okay?"

"When do you plan to return? I'll register your outing."

"5 PM."

"The weather forecast says it will rain today, remember to bring an umbrella."

...

Outings required a set return time and an escort.

This was Chi Feichi's life in the psychiatric hospital.

His escort was a male doctor, Kitagawa Ando.

He was very young, dressed in a neat black suit, trying to look serious, but it immediately revealed that he was a new hire at the hospital.

"Doctor Kitagawa, are you nervous?" Chi Feichi asked casually, holding the books he had chosen to the cash register.

Kitagawa Ando immediately refuted, "No."

Chi Feichi silently labeled him as a "newbie," far less experienced than the always-smiling Fukuyama Shigehiro, "Don't be nervous, I won't attack anyone, and I've always maintained my rationality."

Kitagawa Ando breathed a sigh of relief and then noticed the books Chi Feichi had chosen.

On the left: "Introduction to Psychology," "Measurement of Personality," "Abnormal Psychology," "Experimental Psychology," "Psychological Statistics," "Psychological Measurement"...

On the right: "Murphy's Law," "Analysis of Human Destructiveness," "Three Lectures on Theory," "Studies on Hysteria," "The Interpretation of Dreams," "Contributions to the Theory of Sensory Perception," "Crime and Personality," "Lying"...

Kitagawa Ando: "!"

Σ（っ°Д°）っ

What are you planning? What are you planning?!

"That's it," Chi Feichi had already paid and selected two books, writing down his address on a label and handing it to the clerk, "pack the rest in a box and deliver them here. If no one is there, leave them with the doorman."

"Sure!" The clerk took it with both hands, "I'll have them delivered by around 3 PM today!"

Chi Feichi nodded and only took the two books he had chosen out.

"The Interpretation of Dreams" and "Introduction to Psychology."

Kitagawa Ando hurried out, "Ah, Mr. Chi, the books you bought..."

"Can't I read these kinds of books?" Chi Feichi asked calmly.

"Not that, but..." Kitagawa Ando hesitated, "I'm not sure, I'll have to ask Senior Fukuyama when we get back."

Chi Feichi nodded and then focused on waiting for the green light at the intersection.

Kitagawa Ando was inwardly in tears. They were standing side by side, he was wearing a more formal suit, while Chi Feichi was in casual clothes, but why did he feel more like Chi Feichi's little assistant?

Is this what they call "aura"?

Unscientific, this is definitely unscientific, he was the doctor...

Suddenly, raindrops began to fall.

"Oh? It's raining?" A passerby waiting for the green light caught a raindrop on his hand.

The green light turned on, and a couple behind them complained to each other as they hurried past.

"I told you it would rain today, and you didn't bring an umbrella."

"You didn't bring one either?"

"Fortunately, Senior Fukuyama reminded me..." Kitagawa Ando sighed in relief, looking down to find two umbrellas in his bag, "Mr. Chi, since your bag is free, let me hold the books for you."

"Thanks for the trouble." Chi Feichi looked up at the sky, took the umbrella, and handed the books to Kitagawa Ando.

The rain grew heavier, and the already gloomy sky darkened even more.

People without umbrellas hurried past, their footsteps quickening as they stepped on the accumulating rainwater.

As they walked, the street became less crowded. On the sidewalk, a small figure in an oversized white coat, head down, leaning against the wall, walked slowly and unsteadily.

Chi Feichi saw the figure and stopped.

Kitagawa Ando looked over curiously, "That child..."

The next moment, the small figure tripped on the hem of the white coat and fell into a puddle, her already wet brown hair splashed with more dirty water.

Chi Feichi sighed inwardly and walked over to Ai Haibara.

Seeing the little girl fall in the rain was quite heart-wrenching...

Ai Haibara struggled to stand up, wiping the rain from her face with her wet sleeve, and was about to continue walking when she noticed someone blocking her path and looked up.

In the rain, two tall men with black umbrellas stood in front of her.

One looked more mature, dressed in a neat black suit and white shirt, with short black hair, and a serious expression.

The other, who seemed to be the dominant one, looked much younger, also dressed in black.

His black jacket was zipped up high, the collar standing up, partially covering his face, and his short black hair fell softly. His light purple eyes were calm and indifferent, looking down at her.

Are they from the organization?

Have I been discovered...

Ai Haibara's face turned pale, and she froze, staring up at Chi Feichi with panic and alertness in her eyes.

Chi Feichi noticed Ai Haibara's emotional state, looked down at his own clothes, and then glanced at Kitagawa Ando. Today's outing was indeed interesting, both of them in black. He squatted down and looked directly at Ai Haibara, "Where are you going? I'll take you."

Ai Haibara: "..."

Alert stare.

This calm tone, this indifferent look... asking where she's going might be genuine, but saying he'll take her is probably just mocking her embarrassment.

Kitagawa Ando, who was pretending to be "not to be messed with," slightly relaxed his expression, coughed, and smiled, "Mr. Chi, you seem to have scared her. Smile at children, don't keep a stern face."

Ai Haibara: "..."

Continued alert stare.

These two... are they deliberately mocking her?

"Oh... is that so." Chi Feichi didn't comment. He could guess that Ai Haibara, who had the same shrinking experience and a grudge against the organization, wouldn't trust anyone else.

Especially not two people dressed in black, which clearly stimulated her already sensitive nerves...

Ai Haibara couldn't take it anymore. She would die sooner or later, why should she accept their mockery? She took a deep breath, her body weak, but her voice cold, "If you're done mocking, carry out your mission. You..."

Chi Feichi, who was pointed out, was speechless.

"Are you not an outer member?" Ai Haibara looked at Chi Feichi. Although she couldn't read minds, she could sense the threat from Chi Feichi and, based on his cold eyes, he was unlikely to be a regular outer member in the organization.

Is... he a member with a code name? Who?

"But it doesn't matter," Ai Haibara's expression calmed down, "let's get it over with."

Kitagawa Ando was confused, "Uh, little girl, what are you talking about? Wait! Mr. Chi, you..."

Chi Feichi had already picked up Ai Haibara, holding her with one hand and the umbrella with the other, "She told me to."

"No, but..." Kitagawa Ando was at a loss for words.

When you're told to "do it," you really "do it"?

"You haven't noticed yet, she's not in good condition," Chi Feichi touched Ai Haibara's forehead, "she has a fever. It's better to take her to the hospital."

Kitagawa Ando became serious, took out his phone, and searched, "I'll check the nearest hospital... little girl, where do you live? Do you remember your parents' phone numbers?"

Ai Haibara was stunned. She seemed to have misunderstood these two...

But, the organization might be searching nearby, and she needed to get away from this area...

"No, no..." Ai Haibara's right hand tightly gripped Chi Feichi's sleeve, her eyes serious and frightening, "we can't go to the hospital!"

Chi Feichi understood. She must be close to where she escaped from, "Then to my place?"

"No!"

"No!"

Ai Haibara and Kitagawa Ando said in unison.

Ai Haibara was silent. She couldn't involve others.

Kitagawa Ando advised seriously, "Mr. Chi, the approved outing time is only until 5 PM. We only have a little over an hour left. You must return. It's better to take her to the hospital and contact her family. Her family will be worried if they find out she's missing... little girl, do you remember your family's contact information? Uh, little girl?"

Chi Feichi, holding the unconscious Ai Haibara, said, "She's already passed out."

Kitagawa Ando: "..."

Was he too talkative?