Although Chen Xuanqiu’s body had transformed into that of a girl, her mind remained that of a boy. To be called a ‘tranny’ naturally stung her deeply, and in a fit of pique, she returned to her hospital bed and lay down.
‘With such poor character, how can they even be nurses? Aren’t they afraid of being devoured by evil spirits?’
Chen Xuanqiu thought, seething with resentment.
“Waaah… waah… waah… Mama…”
Just then, the soft, milky cries of an infant echoed once more.
Chen Xuanqiu shivered, quickly burying herself beneath the covers.
“Don’t cry, my darling… Mama’s right here… Mama will feed you… Be a good baby…”
Immediately afterward, a woman’s voice, soothing a child, drifted into the room.
Listening closely, Chen Xuanqiu realized it was the woman from Room 305, confirming that the distressing sounds were indeed coming from the infant spirit.
‘So it really was the infant spirit’s cries all along. No wonder these nurses and security guards couldn’t hear it.’
Chen Xuanqiu suddenly understood.
This time, the infant spirit’s wails were exceptionally prolonged, transforming the entire inpatient building into what felt like a kindergarten.
The woman, hearing her child’s incessant crying, continued to coax it without pause, her voice equally unsettling.
“This endless racket all night long is truly insufferable.”
Just then, Chen Xuanqiu recognized Zhai Xiaozhen’s voice.
“Right? If she weren’t a patient, I’d go in there and tear her mouth apart myself.”
This was the voice of the other nurse, Xiao Hua.
“Brother Han, we can’t take it anymore. Please do us a favor.”
Zhai Xiaozhen suddenly addressed the Security Guard, Brother Han.
“What favor? Just say the word.”
The Security Guard agreed without a second thought. After all, not every man in this world got the chance to be a simp.
“Help us restrain her. I want to shut her up.”
Zhai Xiaozhen spoke through gritted teeth.
“Wouldn’t that be… inappropriate?”
The Security Guard hesitated slightly.
“What’s so inappropriate about it? It’s not like this is your first time doing something like this.”
Zhai Xiaozhen retorted impatiently.
“Alright, but you have to go out to dinner with me tomorrow night.”
The Security Guard put forth his condition.
“No problem at all! Who doesn’t like a free meal ticket?”
Zhai Xiaozhen immediately agreed, seemingly pushed to her limits by the frantic woman.
Chen Xuanqiu found herself speechless. Had this been her original world, their roles would undoubtedly be reversed. Given Zhai Xiaozhen’s looks, getting married at all would be nothing short of a miracle.
****
Just like that, Chen Xuanqiu heard several footsteps pass her door, then stop not far away.
Next came the sound of a door opening, followed by Zhai Xiaozhen’s furious shouts: “You old hag, are you ever going to stop? Are you trying to summon your son’s soul all night long?”
“Waaah… waah…”
The infant spirit seemed disturbed, its cries growing even louder.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… My child is still young… Did we disturb you…?”
The frantic woman profusely apologized, though to the trio, her words clearly sounded like mad ramblings.
“Brother Han, hold her down for me.”
Zhai Xiaozhen lost her patience and instructed the Security Guard.
“Leave it to me.”
The Security Guard confidently replied, followed by the sounds of a struggle and entanglement.
“What are you doing? Don’t hurt my child! My child is still small!”
The frantic woman shrieked hysterically.
The fierce resolve of a mother protecting her young could not be ignored, and it took the group a considerable effort before silence finally settled.
‘How would the infant spirit react to them treating that frantic woman this way?’
A sudden curiosity stirred within Chen Xuanqiu, prompting her to quietly open her door and observe.
“Please… don’t hurt my child…呜呜呜…”
The frantic woman’s muffled sobs clearly emanated from Room 305.
“Don’t even get me started. That crazy woman is surprisingly strong; we almost couldn’t hold her down.”
The Security Guard said, panting.
“That’s because you’re useless. You can’t even pin down a woman.”
Zhai Xiaozhen scoffed contemptuously.
“I’m useless? How about we test that out tomorrow night? See if I can pin you down then?”
The Security Guard began to tell a vulgar joke.
“Enough with the nonsense. You hold her down, and we’ll get some rope to tie her up before stuffing something in her mouth.”
Zhai Xiaozhen said impatiently.
“What are you doing? Don’t tie me up! Help!”
Seeing that something was amiss, the frantic woman began to shriek loudly.
Chen Xuanqiu secretly shivered. She never imagined that what she saw in movies could actually happen – that people could truly be so cruel.
“呜呜呜…”
Soon after, the frantic woman could only emit muffled whimpers. Chen Xuanqiu knew she had been bound by the three individuals.
“Let’s go. It’s finally quiet now.”
Zhai Xiaozhen sighed in satisfaction, and the three of them exited Room 305.
Chen Xuanqiu quickly caught sight of the trio. Contrary to her expectations, there wasn’t much black mist clinging to them, suggesting they hadn’t come into contact with the infant spirit.
“What are you staring at? Do you want to be tied up too?”
Zhai Xiaozhen spotted Chen Xuanqiu and rebuked her.
Chen Xuanqiu snapped back to reality, then quickly scurried back into her room, only falling into a hazy sleep in the dead of night.
****
The next morning, Chen Xuanqiu was jolted awake by a knock at her door. Opening her eyes, she noticed the sun streaming through the window.
Chen Xuanqiu got up to open the door, finding Ni Shanshan standing there with a medical tray. Beyond her, the hallway was noisy and chaotic, as if something had happened.
“Come in, don’t look.”
Ni Shanshan entered the room and then closed the door behind her.
“Sister, what happened?”
Chen Xuanqiu asked curiously.
“Children shouldn’t ask so many questions. It’s time for your medicine.”
Ni Shanshan, however, clearly had no intention of answering.
“Please tell me, or I won’t take my medicine.”
Chen Xuanqiu insisted stubbornly, though it sounded more like a childish plea.
“The female patient in Room 305 passed away.”
Ni Shanshan, left with no choice, whispered the news.
“What?”
Chen Xuanqiu’s scalp tingled. Remembering the events of last night, she quickly asked, “Do you know how she died?”
“I don’t know. The night shift nurse only discovered it this morning.”
Ni Shanshan replied.
“What about the nurses who were on duty last night?”
Chen Xuanqiu pressed on.
“The two of them were frightened. They’re waiting outside to be questioned by the leadership.”
Ni Shanshan explained.
“Questioned?”
Chen Xuanqiu recalled what had happened last night, wondering if the woman’s death might be related to the abuse inflicted by those individuals.
“How did you sleep last night? Did you go to the nurses’ station to find those two sisters?”
Ni Shanshan asked instinctively.
“I did, but they wouldn’t let me stay there.”
Chen Xuanqiu answered truthfully.
“No wonder you look so haggard today. It seems you didn’t sleep well last night.”
Ni Shanshan affectionately stroked Chen Xuanqiu’s small head, sighing, “Ah! I’m on the day shift. What will you do at night from now on?”
Chen Xuanqiu fell silent. The memory of last night sent shivers down her spine.
Before long, her mother arrived. Hearing that someone in the adjacent room had died filled her with a wave of apprehension.
“Qiu, are you scared? If you are, Mama will discuss it with the hospital and see if we can get you a different room.”
Melissa quickly asked her daughter.
After some thought, Chen Xuanqiu declined. She had no idea what the other floors were like. Here, at least she had Ni Shanshan to rely on; elsewhere, she might be left to fend for herself.
Shortly after, several police officers entered the room and began questioning what had happened last night, accompanied by a large group of doctors and nurses, including Zhai Xiaozhen and the nurse named Xiao Hua.
The two nurses were visibly shaken, their faces pale and their bodies trembling slightly.
“Officers, this is the only patient nearby who possesses full consciousness. Her name is Chen Xuanqiu.”
Dr. Ren, the lead doctor, informed the police.
“Miss Chen, hello! The patient in Room 305 died last night. We found clear external injuries on her body. Since there are no surveillance cameras in the room, we don’t know if these were self-inflicted or caused by another person. Did you hear anything unusual at the time?”
The lead police officer inquired.
Chen Xuanqiu instinctively glanced at the two nurses, who looked back at her with pleading eyes.
‘Heh, you never expected your fate to be in my hands one day, did you?’
A sense of profound satisfaction instantly washed over Chen Xuanqiu. She would show no mercy to nurses so utterly devoid of professional ethics. Pointing at the two culprits, she declared, “Around midnight last night, I saw them cursing as they entered Room 305, claiming they would tie up the patient and gag her. Afterward, I heard intense sounds of a struggle.”
Upon hearing this, everyone turned their heads to look at the two nurses, Zhai Xiaozhen and Xiao Hua.
“You believe what she says? She’s a psychiatric patient!”
Zhai Xiaozhen struggled, unwilling to accept her fate.
“Nonsense. She’s still under observation in the hospital; she hasn’t been officially diagnosed.”
Dr. Ren retorted.
The two nurses sighed as if resigned to their fate, their faces turning incredibly grim.
“We’ll need you to come back to the police station with us for questioning.”
The police officers politely ‘invited’ them.
“Oh, and there’s that Security Guard, Brother Han. He was an accomplice too.”
Chen Xuanqiu quickly added. She wasn’t sure if her accusation would be admissible as evidence, but she knew these three wouldn’t be getting out anytime soon. If convicted, they would likely spend a very long time behind bars.