Oh no! I'm surrounded by female ghosts!

"Butler Chen."

Shen Wanyu watched Su Ming's departing figure and said, "Go and investigate that boy's background."

The boy gave Shen Wanyu a sense of déjà vu.

She noticed him as soon as she came to the garden.

Although it was just a fleeting glance, I quickly looked away.

But in her subsequent conversations with senior experts, her gaze would always involuntarily drift toward that figure.

Shen Wanyu is the daughter of the Shen family. From childhood to adulthood, she has never lacked outstanding talents and people from prominent families.

Countless talented young men flocked to her, yet none of them ever caught her attention.

"Yes."

Butler Chen quickly retrieved Su Ming's detailed information.

Given the power and status of the Shen family, investigating someone would be far too easy for them.

Shen Wanyu is browsing Su Ming's information.

Butler Chen waited quietly to the side. At their level, he was well-versed in the rules and would never presume to guess or speak ill of his master's thoughts.

Judging from Su Ming's information, he seems quite ordinary.

Although her family had a little money, Shen Wanyu felt no different from an ordinary person.

What truly caught Shen Wanyu's attention was...

A year ago, on the same day he suddenly fell into a deep coma, Su Ming suddenly became mentally unstable and was diagnosed with paranoia.

He has been receiving treatment at a general psychiatric hospital ever since.

Only recently, after his mental state improved, has he entered the second phase of rehabilitation.

Shen Wanyu gently placed her fingertips on the three words "delusional disorder".

A thoughtful look flashed in her eyes before she asked, "What exactly was he fantasizing about?"

Butler Chen immediately began an investigation.

Although we don't have as comprehensive firsthand information as Wen Qi, we can still piece together a fairly complete picture based on the descriptions of the others.

When the scattered pieces of information were pieced together, Shen Wanyu felt a surge of unbelievable surprise.

Her name appeared in the delusional records in the file: Shen Wanyu, the headless female corpse.

At first glance, she subconsciously thought it was just a coincidence that they shared the same name.

After all, the world is a vast sea of ​​people, and there are countless people with the same name.

But her intuition told her otherwise.

The Shen Wanyu that Su Ming fantasized about was her.

Continue reading; below is the doctor's diagnostic analysis.

The doctor's conclusion was clear: Su Ming's delusional system, based on the people around him in real life, had everyone impersonated into a fantastical character set that transcended reality, which was a typical characteristic of severe delusion.

For example, his attending physician, Chen Zhiwei, in his delusions longed to become them, and thus ultimately ascended to their position.

There's also his nominal girlfriend, Tang Tang, who is a ghost bride who is obsessive, deeply affectionate, and dotes on him unconditionally.

And she herself was a headless female corpse who coexisted with him in an extreme symbiosis, one body with two souls.

Every absurd character is a precise representation of a real person.

At the end of the file, there is a brief note: The patient has a compulsive one-way affection for key figures around him, and his emotional cognition is distorted and solidified, making it difficult for him to detach himself from it.

A seventeen-year-old boy, indulging in a self-woven love story and fantastical dream, seems absurd, yet it is also reasonable.

Shen Wanyu looked up and her gaze fell on Xu Qinghe, who was drawing circles in the corner of the flower bed.

Xu Qinghe also appeared in Su Ming's delusions.

She wasn't very noticeable and remained silent most of the time.

With this thought in mind, she had already made up her mind.

"Butler Chen, please make arrangements for me. I need to see him alone."

On the other side, Su Ming had just returned to his ward when there was a knock on the door.

He glanced at the clock.

It's not time to take the medicine yet.

Who is it?

Upon opening the door, he was surprised to find that the visitor was Shen Wanyu.

Shen Wanyu smiled at Su Ming and said, "Excuse me, I have a few questions I'd like to ask you privately."

At her signal, her entourage did not enter, but instead waited at the door.

Su Ming watched as Shen Wanyu entered the room.

She appears gentle, humble, and very easy to get along with.

But that innate noble aura, like an invisible mountain, is calm, powerful, and the noble family spirit hidden in his bones cannot be concealed.

"I'm curious why I'm part of your fantasy story."

Shen Wanyu asked directly and with certainty.

A woman's intuition told her that the "headless female corpse" in the story was her.

"So, have we met before?"

Su Ming pursed his lips, then nodded seriously: "I've met you before."

Shen Wanyu asked with slight surprise, "Where did we first meet?"

Her memory is far beyond that of ordinary people; she will never easily forget anyone she has actually met or anything she has experienced.

If she had ever met Su Ming, she would never forget him.

But searching through his memories, he found that she had no influence on Su Ming whatsoever.

"Here..." Su Ming suddenly froze.

He remembered the light and shadow and figures in the picture, but the specific locations and details were like being shrouded in thick fog, making them blurry and unclear.

After thinking for a long time, he finally spoke: "It was on a ship, a very large ship, and you were standing in the banquet hall wearing a black tuxedo."

Shen Wanyu pressed further, "What kind of ship is it? What are its specific characteristics?"

No matter how hard Su Ming tried to recall, those crucial details slipped through his mind like quicksand.

"I can't remember."

Su Ming lowered his head, his voice tinged with a helpless weariness: "I've taken medicine many times before."

"The side effects of the medication were so severe that many details began to become blurred or even forgotten."

Shen Wanyu's gaze darkened slightly as if she were deep in thought. After a moment, she slowly asked, "Since in your story, our relationship is very close..."

"Then you should know me very well."

"You should remember who I live there and who my family is, right?"

Su Ming scratched his head.

He couldn't remember again.

I can't remember which city Shen Wanyu lived in.

All he remembered was: "You lived in a coastal city."

"I remember you really enjoyed playing the piano."

Seeing Su Ming's expression as he struggled to recall, Shen Wanyu smiled and said, "Yes, thank you for answering for me."

"Your story is very interesting."

"If you want to write it down later, I can help you publish it."

After saying that, Shen Wanyu left.

She herself was somewhat self-deprecating.

I slept for a year, and it really messed up my brain.

She actually came to verify the absurd delusions of a mental patient, delving deeper and deeper into the matter.

After leaving the house, Shen Wanyu looked at Butler Chen beside her and said, "Make the arrangements. I need to go back to Yanlang City."

Now that you're awake, there's no need to stay in the general psychiatric hospital.

The Shen family has always acted swiftly.

Everything was arranged in just one hour.

The plane took off and broke through the clouds.

As she gazed upwards until the city below was swallowed by the sea of ​​clouds, Shen Wanyu finally looked away.

"A ship, a city by the sea."

For some reason, Su Ming's answer kept replaying in her mind.

The answer was too vague.

There are too many boats.

There are also many coastal cities.

But she always felt that it wasn't really wishful thinking.

In the afternoon, Su Ming's hospital room door was suddenly pushed open.

It was Chen Zhiwei.

As soon as she entered the room, she casually pulled over a chair and sat down on the edge of the bed, then curiously approached Su Ming.

"What did you two talk about when Miss Shen sought you out alone today?"

Su Ming pushed Chen Zhiwei's head away from his: "She didn't say anything."

"They only asked me a few questions."

"It's about my paranoia, but I can't remember many of the details."

"The side effects of those previous medications were too severe."

Su Ming realized that he had forgotten many details.

Fortunately, he no longer needs to take medication.

If we keep eating, not only will we miss the details, but we'll probably miss the whole process as well.

Regarding the completeness of the story.

On the contrary, the information Wen Qi has is the most complete at present, even more complete than Su Ming's own memories.

"I see."

Chen Zhiwei said with a hint of regret, "Miss Shen returned to Yanlang City today."

"Sigh, I was hoping to leave a good impression on her."

"After all, I've only met a handful of top-tier figures like this in my entire life."

Chen Zhiwei's words struck Su Ming's mind like a thunderbolt.

I remembered.

Shen Wanyu's hometown is Yanlang City, and she lives in the Shen Family Compound.

He and Shen Wanyu first met in the banquet hall of the Anthem of the Deep Sea.

I think I remember now.

But Shen Wanyu had already left.

"Let's go then," Su Ming was about to say when Chen Zhiwei suddenly pounced on him and pinned him to the bed.

Su Ming was about to push her away when he heard Chen Zhiwei whisper in his ear, "Su Ming, something's happened."

"I'm certain the dean is missing."

"I suspect that his disappearance is related to Wen Qi."

Su Ming's pupils narrowed slightly, and he was about to ask a question when the door was gently pushed open.

He turned his head and his expression suddenly changed. He immediately pushed away Chen Zhiwei, who was throwing herself at him.

"Tangtang, what brings you here?"

"Didn't I tell you not to come to the general psychiatric hospital?"

"It's not safe here."

Su Ming quickly walked up to Tang Tang.

Only then did he notice that Tang Tang was wearing a nurse's uniform.

She came to deliver his medicine as a newly appointed nurse.

It was time to take the medicine, and when Chen Zhiwei arrived, there were still more than ten minutes before the scheduled time.

On the other side, Chen Zhi slowly straightened his disheveled clothes, looked up at Tang Tang at the door, and smiled with feigned surprise.

"I heard this morning that the hospital recruited a batch of new nurses, but I didn't expect you to be one of them."

"You're here to take care of your boyfriend yourself, aren't you? You spoil him way too much."

Seeing Tang Tang staring at her, Chen Zhiwei quickly waved her hand and explained, "Don't misunderstand."

"I was just examining Su Ming."

"As you know, I am his attending physician."

Su Ming stood still.

He looked at Tang Tang, who had no expression, and then at Chen Zhiwei, who looked completely calm.

Damn, Chen Zhiwei must have done this on purpose.

He immediately explained to Tang Tang, "Tang Tang, there's nothing between us, really."

"She was indeed examining my body just now."

He chose Chen Zhiwei's explanation.

Getting a medical checkup is always better than whispering secrets.

Looking at Chen Zhiwei again, she walked straight up to Su Ming, pulled him back, and turned her head to look at Tang Tang with a smile.

"Actually, I was just joking."

"I did not give Su Ming a physical examination."

We were just whispering to each other.

"Oh right, right." She patted her forehead. "I forgot, you installed a listening device in Su Ming's room. You should be able to hear it, right?"

Su Ming stared at Tang Tang in shock.

Eavesdropping device?

When did he put it on? How come he didn't know?

Upon closer reflection, a cold sweat broke out on his back.

It could only have been installed that night.

At that time, Tang Tang took her away from Wen Qi's room, took the medicine she had hidden, and then secretly planted a listening device.

So, in that case...

Tang Tang knew that Yu Mengnian had come to her room that night.

She was aware of the agreement between herself and Chen Zhiwei.

A chill ran down my spine and up to the top of my head.

However, Chen Zhiwei continued to speak.

She was the type of person who thrived on chaos, and when Su Ming tried to cover her mouth, he froze on the spot.

Because Chen Zhiwei pointed at Tang Tang and said, "Su Ming, she came to feed you your medicine herself."

"She should hand over our conversation to the hospital."

"If I go against the wishes of the family members without their consent, I may be suspended from my duties and held accountable."

"Of course, I don't care whether I'm suspended or not."

"Su Ming, you need to see the current situation clearly."

"As long as she's there, you won't stay awake forever."

"From now on, you'll be under her constant supervision, taking your medication day after day, forever trapped in this 'you're sick' rule..."

Break up with her and tell her that you don't need her or her control.

"You have to be ruthless."

There was no other choice.

"Su Ming, you only have this one chance."

After he finished speaking, the ward fell into a deathly silence.

Tang Tang stood quietly in place, holding the tray, looking up at Su Ming without saying a word.

There was no anger or questioning in those dark eyes; they were simply waiting quietly for his answer.

Su Ming's mind was in turmoil at this moment.

He can't.

The strong sense of goodwill deeply rooted in his consciousness was like a million cold iron chains, binding his mind tightly.

His love for Tangtang was no longer a subjective choice, but a predetermined destiny etched into his bones, which could not be separated from or abandoned.

At that moment, he suddenly understood.

There is no such thing as perfection in this world.

The hidden dangers of forcibly accumulating favorability have now fully erupted.

Playing with emotions will eventually backfire.

They will never understand why human emotions cannot last forever.

Su Ming looked at Tang Tang, his Adam's apple bobbing, and said with difficulty, "Tang Tang, believe me, I really can't take the medicine right now."

"I am not sick, my memories are real."

"This is the fake one."

This familiar scene reminded Su Ming of the world extinction in 2003.

At that time, all of humanity's memories were distorted and misplaced, but he retained the true memories, and was therefore regarded as a source of pollution by the whole world.

In this world, human memory is normal, while his so-called real memory is a delusion and distortion.

At the end of 2003, Tangtang was able to overcome cognitive dissonance and resolutely choose to believe in herself.

What about this time?

Su Ming looked at Tang Tang nervously.

After a long silence, Tangtang finally spoke.

This was the first time Su Ming had seen her with a blank expression.

It was also the first time I had heard her speak in a flat tone, almost devoid of any emotion.

"Mingming, she's the one who's gone mad, you know that?"

"Chen Zhiwei is crazy, Wen Qi is crazy, and Yu Mengnian is crazy too."

"If you get entangled with them, you'll only sink deeper and deeper, and you'll never get better."

She softened her tone, offering almost obsessively gentle words of comfort, as if soothing a stubborn, sick child.

"I won't blame you. I know you're just sick."

"Sweetie, take your medicine. Once you're better, everything will go back to normal."

She walked forward, while Su Ming retreated, and Chen Zhiwei stood to the side, laughing.

The next second, Chen Zhiwei suddenly stepped forward and, with a snap, knocked the medicine bag out of Tang Tang's hand.

"Su Ming doesn't need to take medicine."

"Tangtang, look carefully, you are putting him in a difficult position right now. You are now the greatest danger to him."

"You're not doing this for his own good; you're doing it out of your own possessiveness."

Tang Tang neither argued nor got angry; she continued to look at Su Ming.

Those once clear and bright eyes now appeared unusually dim.

Su Ming's hesitation, resistance, and defensiveness are the most straightforward answers.

Tang Tang pursed her lips, bent down to pick up the medicine scattered on the ground: "When you're sick, you have to take medicine."

"Only by taking medicine can the illness be cured."

After picking up the pills, she looked up at Su Ming and said, "Mingming, I won't force you."

"Whenever you want to take your medicine, just call me. I'll always be there for you."

After saying that, she turned and left.

He walked out of the ward in silence, never saying another word.

Realizing what was happening, Su Ming roared at Chen Zhiwei, "Chen Zhiwei!"

Chen Zhiwei laughed and immediately rushed out of the ward, leaving behind the words, "I'm going to take care of my business."

"Don't worry, I've been in this hospital for many years. A single recording can't bring me down."

"As long as I'm in the hospital, you won't be forced to take medication."

When Su Ming caught up with them at the door, Tang Tang and Chen Zhiwei were gone.

Two tall caregivers in the corridor were staring at him.

Su Ming could only close the door with a dark expression.

He loves Tangtang.

Before the forced affection is completely dismantled, this love is deeply rooted and will never dissipate.

But he didn't know how to face Tang Tang.

It was late at night.

Just as Su Ming was feeling agitated, the door opened.

A warm and soft figure skillfully climbed onto his bed, wrapped her arms around his waist, and pressed her cheek against his back.

It is Yu Mengnian.

Su Ming had already dealt with the listening devices in the room.

But my heart continued to beat faster and faster uncontrollably.

On one hand, it was because of Yu Mengnian's attraction, and on the other hand, it was because of the alarm from Tang Tang.

He was unaware that there were no other things hidden in the room.

Even when he spoke, he deliberately lowered his voice: "Didn't I tell you not to come looking for me for the time being?"

"It's too dangerous; it's easy to be discovered."

Yu Mengnian shook her head: "No."

"Chen Zhiwei told me that she would cover for me and that no one would find out."

Upon hearing this answer, Su Ming's face turned ashen.

It's Chen Zhiwei again.

What exactly is this guy trying to do?

However, at that moment, Yu Mengnian suddenly turned her head to look out the window.

Following Yu Mengnian's gaze.

In that instant, Su Ming's heart almost stopped.

Tang Tang stood downstairs, looking directly at the two people on the hospital bed through a glass window.

The ward was small, and the window faced the bed directly, offering an unobstructed view.

She also witnessed the scene of them embracing.

It was too late to draw the curtains to cover it up.

Su Ming opened his mouth, looking at Tang Tang outside.

He didn't know how to explain it.

He couldn't bring himself to push Yu Mengnian away from his embrace.

Go down and find Tangtang.

But he couldn't even get down to the third floor.

Although there were windows, they had long been sealed off.

Boom, boom.

Two thunderclaps suddenly exploded.

Then, a light rain began to fall.

The rain grew heavier and heavier, turning into a torrential downpour that seemed to blur the entire world.

Even the figure downstairs was blurred, as if it had become a fleeting afterimage.

The wind and rain howled, and thunder rumbled.

All Su Ming could do was lean against the window and shout desperately into the rainy night, "Tang Tang, go back first, don't get wet in the rain, don't catch a cold."

"We need to have a serious talk tomorrow."

He didn't know if Tangtang could hear him.

The sound seemed to melt into the thunder and rain, washed away by the rain and blown away by the wind.

Upon hearing this, Yu Mengnian looked up and asked, "Who is Tang Tang?"

After a long silence, Su Ming finally spoke: "She is... my bride."

The moment those words were spoken, a thunderclap resounded throughout the world.

At the same time, a crisp cracking sound rang in Su Ming's mind.

For the first time, a tiny crack appeared in the emotional shackles forged by forced favorability.

Guilt and remorse surged in through the cracks, constantly shaking its foundations.