Chapter 275: Preparing for the Future

“Ah—”

“Ah—”

In the early hours of the morning, Lin Fang, exhausted from a long day and then kept up half the night by Pi Xinhong, was sleeping soundly when she was abruptly awakened by two piercing screams. She hurriedly got up, ran to the door, and flipped on the light switch. Inside the ward, apart from herself and Pi Xinhong, there was another person—a woman wearing a doctor’s white coat, her expression horrified, mouth agape in shock.

Upon closer inspection, Lin Fang recognized the woman as one of the two beauties who had co-hosted the dance party with Xiao Guanpeng that day.

Turning her gaze to Pi Xinhong, whom the female doctor was staring at in shock, Lin Fang saw her with disheveled hair, her face obscured by long strands, wearing a loose white antique-style silk nightgown, barefoot on the cold floor. At first glance, the sight was startling.

Lin Fang froze, bewildered by the scene.

“What happened? What’s going on?”

Xiao Guanpeng rushed in, his appearance disheveled, clearly jolted awake by the screams. His hurried steps came to an abrupt halt—likely startled by Pi Xinhong’s ghastly appearance.

Two night-shift nurses peeked in from the doorway, one letting out a soft gasp. Pi Xinhong’s appearance was indeed terrifying.

The female doctor stood like a statue, unmoving, while Pi Xinhong suddenly burst into loud sobs. Snapping out of her daze, Lin Fang hurried over, wrapped her arms around Pi Xinhong, and guided her back to bed. The poor girl, clad only in thin nightwear without socks or shoes, had been standing for who knows how long and was now shivering from the cold.

After tucking Pi Xinhong in, Lin Fang tried to stand, but Pi Xinhong clutched her hand tightly, her body still trembling. Clearly, she was badly frightened. Lin Fang sat back down on the bed, whispering soothing words to comfort her.

“Dr. Xiao, what’s going on? Who screamed just now?”

Soon, two security guards rushed in, followed by several people in white coats and nurse uniforms. In the silent early morning, the screams had been impossible to ignore.

Xiao Guanpeng shook his head. “I don’t know what happened. From the looks of it, my patient was frightened.”

He approached Pi Xinhong and asked what was wrong, but she remained silent, shrinking further under the covers. Giving up, Xiao Guanpeng turned to Lin Fang. “What happened?”

Lin Fang shook her head. “I don’t know either. I was woken up by the screams. I turned on the light, and then you all came in. Dr. Xiao, didn’t you say we should sleep early for the patient’s sake and that you wouldn’t disturb us? Why was there a doctor in our ward?”

Xiao Guanpeng frowned. “I’m the only doctor on duty tonight, along with two nurses. I didn’t enter your ward.”

“Then who is she?” Lin Fang pointed at the female doctor.

Only then did Xiao Guanpeng notice the woman standing there. Puzzled, he asked, “Head Nurse? What are you doing here at this hour?” Hearing this, the two nurses on duty stepped forward. One asked, “Head Nurse, when did you come in? I didn’t see you enter.”

The head nurse, however, seemed frozen in shock. Though her mouth had closed, her expression remained blank, unresponsive.

“Head Nurse?” Lin Fang questioned. “Head nurses don’t work night shifts. Why is she here? And why is she wearing a doctor’s coat? Do head nurses and doctors wear the same uniforms in your hospital?”

“Dr. Xiao, let’s discuss this in the office,” one of the security guards suggested.

Though eager for answers, Lin Fang, seeing Pi Xinhong still trembling, agreed. “Yes, my friend is already terrified. With so many people here, what if she gets even more frightened?”

“Alright, we’ll leave. Comfort the patient, then come to the office and tell us what you saw,” Xiao Guanpeng said before exiting. The two nurses guided the head nurse out, while the security guards ushered the others away, closing the door behind them.

“Yuan’er, don’t be afraid. They’re gone now. Come out from under the covers—you’ll suffocate.” Lin Fang gently pulled Pi Xinhong’s head out, only to find her face streaked with tears, stifling her sobs. Lin Fang leaned down and hugged her tightly.

“Sixth Sister, this place is terrifying. Can you take me away?” Pi Xinhong wrapped her arms around Lin Fang’s waist, her voice thick with tears.

Lin Fang whispered, “Alright, I’ll find a way to get you discharged soon.”

Having stayed up late and now frightened, Pi Xinhong, still weak, soon cried herself to sleep. Lin Fang tucked her in, then quietly left the ward. Outside, she whispered to the guard, “Please inform Qin Yi immediately—I need to see him.”

Without waiting for a response, she headed to Xiao Guanpeng’s office.

Inside, only Xiao Guanpeng, the two nurses, and one guard remained. No matter how they questioned her, the head nurse remained catatonic, unresponsive. The guard turned to Lin Fang, who recounted everything she had seen and heard after waking up.

Based on Lin Fang’s account, the guard deduced that the head nurse and Pi Xinhong had frightened each other in the dark. With the head nurse silent and Pi Xinhong in no state to answer questions, further details would have to wait until both were calmer.

By dawn, Qin Yi arrived. Lin Fang found a quiet spot to share Lin Guicheng’s findings and her own past with Fu Hongxia.

As Lin Fang spoke, Qin Yi nearly reached out to hold her several times. Some details matched his own investigations, while others were new. But he never imagined his Fang’er had been dragged into this mess. Regret gnawed at him—his impulsive kiss had forced her back into this world, into danger.

Lin Fang continued, “Brother Qin, the head nurse’s appearance is suspicious. Head nurses don’t work night shifts—why was she here in the early hours?

Pi Xinhong’s ward is at the end of the hallway. Even if the head nurse had urgent business, she should’ve notified the on-duty staff. Yet Dr. Xiao and the nurses had no idea she’d entered.

Also, Dr. Xiao said Pi Xinhong’s condition had stabilized, with little chance of relapse. Yet she nearly died suddenly—that’s highly suspicious. Could someone have tampered with her treatment?

With both me and Pi Xinhong here tonight, maybe Fu Hongxia saw a chance to eliminate us both.”

“Your reasoning makes sense. I’ll take the head nurse in for questioning. Be careful,” Qin Yi said, though he longed to say so much more.

“Thank you for your concern. There’s one more thing,” Lin Fang said. “I know Pi Xinhong is under police surveillance to lure out Fu Hongxia, but it’s putting her in grave danger. She’s alone, amnesiac, and fragile like a child. Since she thinks I’m her mother, I can’t bear to leave her in harm’s way. I want to take her with me.”

“No. Fu Hongxia knows Pi Xinhong is alive and will stop at nothing to kill her. If you take her in, you’re doubling your own risk,” Qin Yi refused, barely stopping himself from saying, *I don’t care about others—only your safety matters.*

“Brother Qin, if one falls, the other follows. Fu Hongxia won’t spare either of us. She’s focused on Pi Xinhong now, but I’m next. I’ve managed to investigate her—I’m not defenseless. Don’t worry about me,” Lin Fang argued.

“Pi Xinhong isn’t alone. The couple who brought her here are her in-laws by custom, even in a ghost marriage. They’d be the ones to take her, not you,” Qin Yi countered.

“They bought a corpse, but Pi Xinhong is alive. How does that make her theirs? They’ve never even visited her in the hospital.

As a cop, you know buying corpses is illegal. They’d rather disown her than claim her as their daughter-in-law,” Lin Fang retorted.

“Even so, why take this burden? If she stays like this forever, will you let her drag you down? There are welfare centers, nursing homes—you don’t have to sacrifice yourself,” Qin Yi persisted.

“Brother Qin, you’re a public servant, a police officer. How heartless you’ve become—impressive,” Lin Fang mocked.

Qin Yi stiffened. Never before had Fang’er spoken to him like this. In the other world, she’d been aloof, disdainful even, but never openly scornful.

“You’re determined to take her in?” Faced with this assertive Lin Fang, Qin Yi felt helpless.

In truth, even in the other world, Lin Fang had been quietly stubborn—just more subtle about it. Now, freed from the fear of exposure, she was direct.

“Yes, I want her out as soon as possible,” Lin Fang said firmly.

“Fine. Let me know if you need help,” Qin Yi relented, unwilling to upset her further.

Lin Fang nodded. “Thank you for understanding.” She exhaled in relief. Last night’s precautions had paid off—better than expected, with an unexpected bonus.