Chapter 127: Rain Man Ii (1/2)
The next morning, I was the last to pa.s.s my form to my dormmate. He left shortly after to look for the teacher in charge.
We thought it was going to take quite a while, but we actually received individual messages that noon.
They came from foreign numbers and my message was as followed:
(This is Xi Shan Kang Ning Mental Inst.i.tution's human resource department, and we have received your application. Please report to us on the 29th of July, and your program will end on the 29th of August. Please be punctual. Our address is the peak of East Mountain on East Mountain Road.)
East Mountain madhouse, indeed.
That's its name amongst common people.
The impression of patients there originated from chit chats spreading around in school.
There had been a few seniors who fell ill due to work pressure or heartache from failed relations.h.i.+ps and were sent there to undergo injections, shock therapies, or even human experiments. These stories became our school legend, but there were some people who really believed it to be true.
I looked at the date on my phone. July 26.
I had to be there in three days' time.
Time pa.s.sed in the blink of an eye and I was still somewhere at a loss when my alarm woke me up on the 29th.
I stepped out of the dormitory, left school, found a public bicycle, and cycled for over 40 minutes to reach the bottom of East Mountain.
There were very few people around.
I cycled my way up the mountain and came across a coach.
The driver stopped before me and wound down his window. ”Going up?”
I nodded and he opened the rear door.
I parked the bicycle by the side and hopped on.
”It's really deep inside. Are you here to visit?” the driver asked, smiling.
”To volunteer,” I answered.
”University student?”
”Yeah,” I nodded and lowered my head.
”I haven't seen many university students around. My son's in university, too. He's in year 1. I'm actually thinking of sending him to work during the holiday instead of letting him sit around at home like Buddha,” he said as he looked at me in the rearview mirror.
”I've been tasked by the school as well, or I won't be here either,” I responded sheepishly, scratching my head.
”Alright, go get a seat. I'll drive faster since there isn't a lot of people around. Remember my schedule: I start daily from the bottom at eight in the morning and go up every hour and down every half. The last bus ends at eight in the evening, so don't be late,” he reminded kindly.
I nodded before walking to the last row of the bus.
”Ahh!” I yelled when I spotted something on the seats.
The driver turned around and understood immediately. ”Oh, her... don't be afraid. She's from the inst.i.tution and her name's Xiaoyu.”
It was then that I realized it was a human lying down on the seats and not an object.
Our eyes met.
She was young and had prominent features, instantly reminding me of my deskmate in elementary school.
My deskmate was practically the G.o.ddess of the school, but I was young and I did not understand love.
Looking at the girl on the bus, I found myself taking a liking toward her.
With a smile, I asked, ”Hi, little friend. May I have a seat?”
The driver made honked for a few seconds before driving off.
”Little friend's not my name. I'm Pang Xiaoyu,” she corrected, sitting up to free the seat for me.
”Little friend?” I repeated.
”No, Pang Xiaoyu.” She pouted.
”Fat little fish?” I smiled.
”Fine, call me Little Friend,” she gave up and turned to look out of the window.
I laughed and took my seat beside her.
”Don't bully her, aye. She's the gem of the inst.i.tution,” the bus driver called out.
”Gem?” I repeated.
”She was born in the inst.i.tution,” he explained.
”Doctor's child?” I asked instinctively.
”No, a patient's. You'll know more in due time. She's impressive. Ever heard of the TV program 'The Strongest Brains'? That show is about intelligent people,” he added.
”'The Strongest Brains'? This child?” I asked.
”Yeah, the president adores this child. He started teaching her math when she turned three. She's never been to school and learns everything from him. She's 12 now and can gauge quant.i.ties very well and can even calculate movement and trajectory.”
”Movement and trajectory? Isn't this logical stuff?” I asked.