[Longshan City Psychiatric Hospital]
"D*mn it... what the hell have I gotten myself into..." Su Jin muttered under his breath as he gazed up at the imposing sign of the psychiatric hospital.
Suddenly, a loud bang shattered the air.
Startled like a frightened bird, Su Jin whirled around to see a blue-and-white trolleybus trailing a long braid, rolling over the asphalt road.
Sparse cars followed obediently behind the trolley.
Not far off stood rows of shops, their wooden windows half-open, painted in various hues. Through the panes, glass display cases and decor exuding a distinct vintage charm were visible.
At the street corner, an old man was tidying up a popcorn cart.
The earlier explosion had been the popcorn machine bursting.
The scorching sun radiated heat, and the air was thick with the mingled scent of popcorn, diesel, and tar.
A shudder ran through Su Jin's heart; his pupils flickered uneasily.
The scene before him was both bizarre and hauntingly familiar.
The sun, tinged faintly red; the passersby, still ethnically Asian, their attire somewhat rustic but nothing extraordinary.
The cars and architecture bore an unmistakable simplicity.
Clad in a fashionable trench coat beneath the blazing sun, he appeared out of place.
Several pedestrians cast sidelong glances his way.
Feeling their scrutiny, Su Jin hastily removed his trench coat, draping it over his arm to conceal his briefcase.
He glanced back once more at the psychiatric hospital, his heart pounding fiercely.
He had truly traversed time!
Moments ago, he had been in his rented room; in the blink of an eye, it was broad daylight, and he stood on a bustling street.
Though superficially familiar, the details unmistakably diverged from any world he knew.
The shock of such a sudden displacement was indescribable.
That strange company had spoken the truth!
Yet, this world, unlike the dying realm or apocalypse he envisioned, seemed utterly harmonious — neither on the brink of disaster nor in a state of emergency.
Trembling, Su Jin wiped his face and drew two deep breaths, striving to steady himself.
Forget time travel; being instantaneously whisked abroad would unsettle anyone's heart.
Now, there was no turning back... either accomplish the mission or establish contact with the company.
This was not the time for such considerations — the priority was to locate that elusive client.
Guided by the mask's signal, his vision revealed a conspicuous red dot blinking within the hospital.
A security booth stood at the entrance, its guard's eyes fixed intently upon him.
Frowning, Su Jin quickened his pace past the booth toward a distant corner, pausing beneath a discreet patch of shade.
Squatting, he began rifling through his trench coat pockets and briefcase.
Soon, he retrieved a wad of bills and an ID card.
The bills bore the inscription "Longshan Huitong Bank," and the ID's unique vertical layout resembled a work permit.
Su Jin pressed his lips, slightly reassured.
The company's notice had not deceived him — currency exchange and identification were indeed provided. The pervasive Chinese characters on the streets were undoubtedly the work of company translators.
As for Tiandao Unlimited Responsibility Corporation, he had no inkling; his understanding would hinge entirely on the client.
If this was the client, they must have had prior contact with the company.
Only, this client was in a psychiatric hospital... hopefully a doctor or nurse.
Silently, Su Jin prayed, tucked the money and gun back into his bag, and donned his trench coat once more.
Beside him, the hospital's wall rose no more than two meters.
He gripped the wall's edge, peered around to confirm no one was watching, then propelled himself over.
Inside the courtyard, he broke into a run toward the building.
Anxiously, he glanced left and right.
Nurses and patients milled about, speaking a language he fully understood.
The signage on the walls was clear — ahead was the restroom!
Without hesitation, Su Jin slipped inside.
...
Within Longshan Psychiatric Hospital's multifunctional hall,
Fu Qingdai sat gloomily by the window, clad in a patient's gown.
Sunlight poured outside, trees cast verdant shade — a serene tableau.
Yet the creaking ceiling fan and the cacophony of either vacant or screaming patients rendered her mind too burdened to appreciate it.
Gradually, her eyes reddened, and her small hands clenched the fabric of her garment.
Time was running out... she had struggled for so long, yet no one believed or aided her in the end.
Was escape truly impossible?
No, there remained a chance.
The voice in her dream had promised that man would come for her.
If that person arrived, perhaps hope endured. If not... perhaps it was a blessing, proof the dream was false, and the apocalypse would not come!
As long as there was no doomsday, her madness would be worth it!
With this thought, Fu Qingdai wiped her eyes, her mood lightening somewhat.
Though her emotions had fluctuated wildly in recent days...
Weary of the view outside, she rose to return to her room.
At that moment, a fluttering silhouette clad in flowing garments, clutching a leather bag, appeared in the shadowed corridor!
The shadow's figure, carrying a bag in one hand and a gun in the other, overlapped perfectly with the image from her nightmare — under a darkened sky amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood!
Like a thunderbolt on a clear day.
Tears spilled swiftly down Fu Qingdai's cheeks.
Only one thought consumed her mind:
It's over... the apocalypse is truly real.
...
Having washed his face, Su Jin stepped out of the restroom, his panic somewhat subdued.
The restroom resembled those on Earth — running water, but squat toilets... especially the familiar smell of stale urine, strangely comforting.
It was like the scent of home!
Midway down the corridor, his eyes locked onto Fu Qingdai.
His heart sank to the depths — a child in a patient's gown, seemingly a high school student.
Though her beauty was striking, looks were irrelevant now!
Before entering, he had prayed the client might be a robust man — even if mentally ill, he would accept it!
But reality was...
A mental patient! A student! A beauty! None were exactly advantages!
Reaching the hall, Su Jin scanned the surroundings and pulled a chair, seating himself opposite Fu Qingdai.
When their eyes met, the red mark on her forehead abruptly vanished.
Neither spoke. Su Jin studied her closely — she kept her head bowed, hands twisted together.
After a moment, Su Jin cautiously ventured, "The company... has already contacted you in advance, yes?"
Fu Qingdai nodded; her heart raced to its limit!
The dream's figure had manifested in reality — a harbinger of the impending apocalypse.
"What is your name?"
"Fu Qingdai."
"Brother... I don't know how to address you yet..." Fu Qingdai murmured, head bowed.
How to address me?
Su Jin hesitated.
She did not appear mentally unstable at the moment; revealing his name might be harmless.
But that damned company forbade divulging internal information.
He was linked to the company — who knew where the boundaries of secrecy lay?
In theory, clients should be trusted, but clients could talk recklessly... better to fabricate a harmless story.
What mattered most now was gaining the client's utmost trust and extracting information.
After a pause, Su Jin sat upright and declared, "Our conversation is strictly between you and me. I hope you won't disclose my identity to anyone. Do you understand?"
Fu Qingdai nodded emphatically, eyes filled with sincerity.
"I am the Director and Elite Operative of the company's Special Operations Division. My name is Li Haocheng; you may call me Director or Brother Hao. From today onward, in front of outsiders, I want us to pose as cousins. Can you understand?"
"I understand... Cousin."