Chapter 53.4: The Thirst

“I’ve been helping Little Yuan sell test prep books lately. Made quite a bit.”

“I sent you to school so you could—” Tan Yunlong’s voice was just about to rise, but when he saw his son bow his head, he softened. “Is Little Yuan short on money?”

“Little Yuan likes building models and making crafts. That stuff’s expensive.”

“Oh. Then help him out more, just don’t let it mess with his studies or rest.”

“I won’t.”

“And make sure your grades stay up.”

“Stay up? I’ve got to keep pushing forward! I’m going to apply to Haihe University with Little Yuan!”

“Your grandpa wants you to apply to the police academy.”

“Dad…”

“I told him you don’t need to go to the academy to become a cop.”

“You always know how to smooth things over with Grandpa.”

“Heh.”

Tan Wenbin pulled a cigarette from his pocket and tucked it into his father’s.

“Go hang out with your classmate. Spend more time with him.”

“Got it.”

After Tan Wenbin left, Tan Yunlong walked over to where Li Zhuiyuan stood.

“Little Yuan, thank you for looking out for Binbin. Uncle appreciates it.”

“Binbin-ge has always looked out for me.”

“Haha, well, if anything ever comes up, just come to Uncle. I’ll definitely—”

“Uncle Tan, did Zheng Haiyang’s mom really not come back?”

Tan Yunlong swallowed hard. “Who told you that? His grandparents?”

“You just did, Uncle.”

Tan Yunlong lit a cigarette and murmured, “She came back. His grandparents saw her.”

“What happened to her?”

“She lost her mind. She’s in a psychiatric hospital in Jiuhua Mountain now.

His grandparents were afraid it’d be too much for the kid to handle, so they decided to keep it from him for now.”

“They won’t be able to hide it for long. College entrance exams are still a ways off.”

“Let’s respect the elders’ wishes.”

“Uncle Tan, I want to meet Zheng Haiyang’s mom. Can you help arrange it?”

“Tell me why.”

“Curiosity.”

“You could come up with a better reason. Say you’re close friends with Zheng Haiyang and just worried about him.”

“Zheng Haiyang is closer to Binbin-ge. I don’t have much of a bond with the others.”

Tan Yunlong exhaled a puff of smoke. “Geniuses really do think differently.”

“So, you’ll help?”

“I’ll arrange it. When were you thinking?”

“This afternoon?”

“No can do. That place needs advance notice.”

“Then tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow’s Monday. You’ve got school.”

“I can skip.”

“Alright. Stay home tomorrow, I’ll come pick you up.”

“Thanks, Uncle.”

The next morning, Li Zhuiyuan stayed in his room, drawing with Ah Li.

After finishing his porridge, Tan Wenbin asked Runsheng, puzzled, “Why hasn’t Little Yuan come down? He’s going to be late.”

“He said he’s tired. Not going to school today. He asked you to call in for him.”

“Oh, okay.”

Tan Wenbin pedaled off on his bicycle.

Half an hour later, a small pickup truck stopped on the village road ahead.

Li Zhuiyuan and Runsheng came out, opened the door, and got in.

The truck reeked of seafood—probably borrowed from Tan Yunlong.

“Sorry about the smell, just bear with it a bit,” Tan Yunlong said as he turned the truck around.

Just as he completed the turn, a bicycle swerved in front of the pickup. A head toss, a dramatic lift of the chin—pure youthful bravado.

“Aha! I knew it! You were trying to sneak off without me. But I saw right through it!”

Tan Wenbin strutted toward the truck like a catwalk model, casually pulling out a cigarette. Just as he was about to light it, he saw who was driving.

“Dad…”

Who’d have guessed—it was his own father behind the wheel. The truck bed was even stacked with rows of blue plastic barrels.

Tan Wenbin slid the cigarette into his father’s mouth.

Then struck a match. Snick. Lit it for him.

“Dad, you know me. I just worry Little Yuan might not be safe without me around. But since you’re here, I’m not worried anymore.”

“Scram.”

“Right away!”

Tan Wenbin spun around, picked up his bike, but instead of riding off, he looked back with a pleading expression.

Li Zhuiyuan said, “Uncle Tan, Binbin-ge’s motivation for studying comes from this.”

Tan Yunlong, cigarette between fingers, stuck his hand out the window and honked twice. “Get in.”

“Yes! Hold on, I’ll go put my bike away.”

He was back in a flash, hopping into the truck.

Runsheng asked, “Did you call in for Little Yuan?”

Tan Wenbin nodded. “Yep, phoned Aunt Zhang.”

Then he grumbled, “Dad, seriously, this truck stinks.”

“Then earn enough one day to buy me a proper one.”

“Deal. We’re family after all!”

“Heh.”

Tan Yunlong started the engine. An hour later, they arrived at the psychiatric hospital.

It was in a remote area, but well-known—local kids even had rhymes about it. In the dialect, calling someone crazy often meant, “You’re going to Jiuhua Mountain.”

Security was tight. Two more checkpoints inside. Finally, the four of them sat on a hallway bench outside the visiting room.

A doctor said, “Zhang Ying’ai is currently being visited. Please wait.”

Tan Wenbin leaned forward. “Maybe Zheng Haiyang’s grandparents brought him?”

He peered through the door’s glass window.

“Huh. Not them. It’s a man and a woman. I don’t recognize them.”

Li Zhuiyuan stepped up to look inside.

The long visiting table was positioned vertically, letting them clearly see the woman seated on the outer side.

Li Zhuiyuan recognized her—Aunt Xu, Secretary to Li Lan.

She was the one who’d chatted with his grandparents the last time Li Lan called from Nantong.

But why was she here?

Last time, Li Lan said she was heading into a dangerous mission. Had she returned?

Opposite Aunt Xu and the man was Zhang Ying’ai, Zheng Haiyang’s mother.

She wore a tight garment that forced her arms close to her body—clearly still considered highly dangerous.

Yet at first, she seemed lucid while speaking.

Until Aunt Xu laid out some photos. Zhang Ying’ai’s expression changed. Her nerves frayed, her eyes reddened, body trembling.

The man beside Aunt Xu tugged her arm, trying to signal her to stop. But Aunt Xu was pressing on—close to something crucial.

Then Zhang Ying’ai screamed.

The sound was piercing, inhuman, clear even through the closed door.

“When it wakes up, we’ll all die. We’ll all die, hahaha!”

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