Chapter 14: White
The hospital was relatively quiet on a weekday morning. A few patients in hospital gowns sat near the lobby, and the occasional doctor hurried past.
This was the first time Luo Ling had entered the hospital in a fully conscious state, but even so, she was familiar with the place.
During the months of her strange illness, the hospital had practically become her second home.
“I remember, the mad woman was Li Tianming’s patient, she should be on the third floor…”
Luo Ling recalled carefully. She hadn’t interacted much with the mad woman, only knowing that she was also Li Tianming’s patient.
Of course, now knowing the truth, Luo Ling understood that the poor woman… was likely just sustenance for the Forgotten River Child.
Thinking about a worse possibility, perhaps the woman had been driven half-mad because Li Tianming was using her child as a ghost child.
In any case, Li Tianming was dead, and she should finally be at peace.
After entering the hospital, Luo Ling tried to contact Ji Ying again, but still without success.
Whether Ji Ying was testing her with the Forgotten River Child or genuinely occupied with other matters, Luo Ling didn’t know. But regardless, she now had to face the Forgotten River Child alone.
Luo Ling walked towards the elevator, attracting the attention of several patients. Her appearance as a young girl with striking features and long white hair was hard to ignore.
Even passing doctors and nurses took a second glance, their gazes lingering on her white hair. Such pale hair must be due to a severe case of albinism, right?
However, perhaps due to the hospital environment, few people approached her. She quickly reached the third floor and found the familiar place.
—Li Tianming’s office.
Of course, a different doctor was now on duty in the office, an elderly man past sixty, his shiny bald head a testament to his experience.
Luo Ling recognized him; it was Director Li from the neurology department.
Director Li had also been present during her previous consultations, a stern yet kind old man.
It seemed he had temporarily taken over Li Tianming’s position after his death.
However… although Luo Ling had interacted with Director Li many times, she now looked different, and he probably wouldn’t recognize her.
As Luo Ling was thinking about how to ask about the mad woman’s ward, Director Li noticed her and said in surprise,
“Little girl, you’re in the wrong place. This is the neurology department on the third floor, dermatology is on the fifth floor.”
Luo Ling was taken aback. What… dermatology? What did she have to do with dermatology?
Then she saw her long white hair and instantly understood what Director Li meant.
“Sir, I don’t have albinism,” Luo Ling lifted a finger and tucked her hair behind her ear, slightly embarrassed. “I’m here to see someone in the neurology department…”
“No?”
Director Li frowned, put down his pen, and said sternly, “Dyeing your hair at such a young age? And such a large area… Where are your parents?”
As a senior doctor, Director Li’s tone was naturally didactic, and Luo Ling could only smile wryly. She hadn’t expected the first problem she encountered on her first solo outing with this new appearance would be this.
“Which parent is so irresponsible? Hair dye is so damaging to a child’s hair and skin, not to mention the amount needed to dye so much hair…”
Director Li muttered as he examined Luo Ling’s hair closely. Although his stern face was intimidating, his words revealed a hint of concern.
“Sir, this is natural, really,” Luo Ling quickly said, then hesitated before asking, “I’m looking for a patient under Dr. Li’s care.”
“Tianming’s patient?”
Director Li stopped his rambling, surprised.
Luo Ling nodded. “Yes.”
A flicker of sadness crossed Director Li’s cloudy eyes, but he quickly composed himself. “Tianming’s patients are now under my care. Which patient are you looking for?”
Seeing that Luo Ling didn’t behave like a spoiled child, Director Li’s expression turned more serious.
Some people had a naturally youthful appearance due to various reasons. As a doctor, he had seen many such cases.
“An… auntie, holding a baby,” Luo Ling described the mad woman as gently as possible. “About this tall, mentally unstable…”
“Huang Xiuqin?” Hearing Luo Ling’s description, Director Li immediately sat up, his expression agitated. “Are you her family? Child? Or relative?”
It was no wonder Director Li reacted so strongly. The mad woman had been living—or rather, staying—in the hospital since last year.
They couldn’t find any information about her background. Her mental state fluctuated between normal and insane, but regardless, she clung to her dead child, refusing to let go even as the body decayed and reeked.
It was mainly because Li Tianming, who was in charge of Huang Xiuqin, was kind-hearted and willing to cover part of her medical expenses, along with some public pressure, that she had been cared for by the hospital for so long.
However, for over a year, no one in Jiangcheng County had been able to identify her.
And now, with Li Tianming mysteriously dismembered and his body dumped in the wilderness, this troublesome matter had become even more complicated.
If her condition hadn’t inexplicably improved in the past two days… the hospital would have started considering taking necessary强制 measures against Huang Xiuqin.
Director Li had been worried about how to deal with the half-mad Huang Xiuqin, and Luo Ling’s arrival was a welcome surprise.
But he quickly noticed Luo Ling’s puzzled look and realized he had lost his composure. He coughed a few times and said,
“Little girl, are you the patient’s family member?”
“No.”
Luo Ling shook her head.
Director Li’s hopeful expression immediately fell, replaced by disappointment.
“Alright.”
He composed himself and asked, “Can you tell me why you’re looking for her?”
“I might know her, but I’m not sure, so I wanted to ask,” Luo Ling replied. She had prepared this excuse beforehand.
Without Li Tianming’s support, the hospital would surely want to get rid of this burdensome patient. They would grasp at any straw of hope.
Besides, who would have ulterior motives towards a mad woman, especially a young, innocent girl?
“Really?”
Director Li’s face lit up again.
“…I’m not sure.”
Director Li frowned, thought for a moment, and finally sighed.
“In principle, the hospital doesn’t allow visits from non-family members, but… Ms. Huang’s case is special.
“Tell you what, leave your information, and I’ll have a nurse take you to see her—no need to look so surprised. Honestly, the hospital also hopes Ms. Huang can… be discharged.”
Director Li rubbed his nose awkwardly. “It would be great if you really know her or her relatives.”
“Perhaps.”
Luo Ling replied vaguely.
Although this wasn’t her primary purpose, as long as she dealt with the root cause, the Forgotten River Child, everything else would fall into place.
Looking at the visitor registration form Director Li handed her, Luo Ling hesitated for a moment before signing a name,
——Bai.
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