Ya She

Chapter 55 Tang Sancai

The sky seemed to have a huge hole in it, with raindrops the size of beans pouring down. Every now and then, flashes of lightning could be seen through the gloomy clouds, followed by distant rumbles of thunder.

As soon as the ambulance came to a stop, the doctor opened the door, took out the umbrella in his hand, turned around to shield Tang Yuan, who jumped out of the vehicle, and led him quickly into the building.

Upon entering the lobby, the doctor put away the umbrella, covered it with a plastic bag, and hung it on his wrist. He checked Tang Yuan to see if he had gotten wet and found that he was not seriously injured. He then told Tang Yuan to sit quietly in the lobby of the guesthouse while he went back to arrange accommodation for the other staff.

They were invited to Middlebury College to conduct physical examinations for students. Their hospital handles many such projects every year, especially during the start of the academic year. Middlebury College has its own hospital, so there's no need to move equipment. However, because it's located in the suburbs, the hospital needs to send a team to stay overnight in advance, so many people are unwilling to come here for fieldwork.

The doctor was assigned this task and, based on seniority, was in charge of leading the team. He couldn't make an excuse to refuse, so after clarifying that if it was really inconvenient, he could bring his child to stay, he grabbed Tang Yuan and came along.

Because this brat had gotten lost once before at night, the doctor absolutely wouldn't dare leave the little rascal alone at home. Luckily, last time he encountered someone as kind as the curator; what if something else happened?
But... when exactly did he meet the museum curator?

The doctor, holding the list, couldn't help but drift off for a moment, unable to recall anything. But hearing the curator's familiar tone, as if they had known each other for a long time, the doctor dared not ask the question, fearing the curator might slam his cane at him.

"Senior? Senior?" a gentle voice called out beside him.

The doctor snapped out of his daze and smiled apologetically at her, "Sorry, this is your room key, Xiao Ye." Ye Qianqian was his junior from university, and also considered the most beautiful girl in their hospital. True to her name, she was pretty and clean-cut, like a delicate leaf, pleasing to the eye. Chun Ge hadn't been assigned here this time and was staying on duty, which had made him resentful for a long time.

"This time it's a room for one person, and I heard it's a private, antique-style room with its own courtyard. How lucky!" Ye Qianqian flicked the room card with her fingernail, smiling brightly.

The doctor couldn't help but smile in return, not because of the beautiful woman beside him, but because he thought he wouldn't have to share a room with a colleague that night and could sleep soundly until dawn. Tang Yuan was still young! Naturally, he didn't have any bad habits like grinding his teeth, snoring, or talking in his sleep.

It was because of his favorable circumstances that he was able to carry Tang Yuan with him without worrying about bothering others.

"Mingde University is really rolling in money," the doctor remarked as he distributed room keys. The university's guesthouse was practically a five-star hotel, furnished and decorated in an antique style. The blue bricks underfoot were so shiny they reflected light, making you worry about slipping and falling. And once the car entered the campus, it was as if the eyes couldn't take it all in. All the teaching buildings and structures were in the style of ancient architecture, and even some of the students you occasionally encountered were dressed in period costumes—it was like stepping into another time.

"Actually... I think I also graduated from this university..." Ye Qianqian coughed lightly and said somewhat awkwardly.

The doctor was completely taken aback upon hearing this.

Mingde University is a legendary university whose founding date is unknown, but it is said to have existed as early as the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. The name "Mingde" is taken from the Great Learning, specifically the phrase "The way of great learning lies in manifesting one's bright virtue." Over the centuries, countless famous figures have graduated from Mingde University, yet the university remained largely unknown to the world until the advent of the internet age.

In the information society, there are almost no secrets, and the moment Ming Tak University was exposed, it became a place that many students flocked to.

The current Matilda University has a two-year program, admitting only 20 students per year. Some of these students are outstanding high school graduates recommended by various universities, selected through rigorous written and oral examinations. Very few are even qualified to take the exams, let alone the final admissions. Of course, Matilda University also has some exceptionally talented students, including descendants of past graduates, those jointly recommended by the university's board of trustees, and relatives of donors.

A former president of Mingde University once said without hesitation that both talent and wealth are needed by Mingde University, so why hide the fact that we only talk about talent and not wealth?

Ming Tak University is a two-year program focusing on traditional Chinese studies, including calligraphy, traditional Chinese painting, the guqin (a seven-stringed zither), tea ceremony, incense ceremony, and flower arrangement. Other courses cover the works of ancient philosophers, military strategy, numerology, divination, and poetry, using this knowledge to analyze modern sociology, business management, and the historical reasons behind success and failure. Students learn from the past to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese civilization. All courses are credit-based, and campus activities follow traditional rituals, such as the coming-of-age ceremony for women, the coming-of-age ceremony for men, and the Mid-Autumn Festival moon-worship ceremony.

To be precise, Middlebury College is essentially a preparatory program for universities, immersing students in classical Chinese studies and enhancing their overall character. Graduates of Middlebury College typically transfer to prestigious universities both domestically and internationally for further studies, and often excel in their respective fields. Membership in the Middlebury College alumni association is practically a golden ticket to high society. Therefore, aside from truly gifted students admitted through recommendation, wealthy children with connections scramble for the limited spots, but it's said that even large donations are insufficient; sponsored students also need to undergo interviews. While Middlebury College doesn't reject wealthy students, it does have the right to select its students.

All the faculty members at the college are renowned professors or scholars. Coupled with the dreamlike campus environment and prestigious reputation, this university is the dream school for teenagers across the country and even the world. And this junior student beside him is also a graduate of this university? The doctor's gaze towards Ye Qianqian instantly changed. He had seen Ye Qianqian's file and knew that her parents were unknown and that she had grown up in an orphanage. Therefore, with no connections, she must be a top student. Considering her exceptional surgical skills and her incredibly fast-learning clinical talent in surgery…

"Uh, senior, actually I'm not quite sure why I got into this university. But this university is like an extracurricular activity; after two years, I switched to the medical school I really wanted." Ye Qianqian blushed deeply, knowing she would be stared at with strange looks. In truth, she would never have confessed if she hadn't been afraid of letting something slip from a teacher she knew.

To call such a prestigious university a "spot of interest"... The doctor pressed his slightly aching temples, realizing he truly didn't understand the world of academic geniuses.

However, this also explains why Ye Qianqian's overall demeanor is different from other girls. Perhaps it's because she's been immersed in this top-tier university for two years; even just standing there, she makes a simple white lab coat look extraordinary, and with the rain cascading down behind her like a waterfall, she looks like a beautiful painting. Moreover, she's completely bare-faced these days; it's rare to see a woman go out without any makeup these days. Ye Qianqian looks to be in her twenties, but her skin is as good as a teenage girl's.

The doctor subconsciously glanced at the beautiful junior next to him a few more times, but he didn't feel the heart-fluttering feeling that Chun Ge had mentioned at all. Instead, he subconsciously became a little wary.

This feeling left the doctor completely baffled, yet he couldn't quite put his finger on it. If he had to describe it, seeing Ye Qianqian was like seeing Tang Yuanyang's little white snake—it sent chills down his spine...

To compare a beautiful woman to a snake, he must really be suffering from nervous anxiety, the doctor thought to himself.

"Senior, isn't it inconvenient for you to carry the umbrella? Let me put it away for you first?" Ye Qianqian noticed that the doctor's attitude towards her had changed drastically because of her alma mater, so she awkwardly changed the subject and reached out to help her take the umbrella.

The doctor reflexively took a large step back, his face showing an expression he didn't know why he was acting that way. He then gave an awkward smile and explained, "No, no need. After I hand out the room cards, I need to go to the school hospital next door to check on the equipment. Xiao Ye, you... you should go put your luggage away first."

After the doctor finished speaking hesitantly, he didn't dare to look at Ye Qianqian's face. He quickly turned his head to distribute the room cards to his colleagues, told Tang Yuan to wait for him in the lobby of the guesthouse, and then quickly left with his umbrella.

Ye Qianqian walked out of the guesthouse and stood gracefully under the eaves. Through the curtain of water hanging from the eaves, she stared intently as the doctor walked into the school hospital next door, her gaze deep.

"Big sister, what are you looking at?"

Ye Qianqian lowered her head and noticed that the child her senior had brought had somehow walked up to her, looking up at her with an innocent and naive expression. Ye Qianqian often came into contact with children at the hospital, so she bent down slightly, looked directly into the child's clear black and white eyes, and pointed to the eaves, saying softly, "I'm looking at the architecture of this guesthouse. Look how high the eaves of this kind of building are; in ancient times, they were called 'water eaves' or 'water gables'."

Actually, Ye Qianqian had just suddenly remembered someone saying something like that to her when she was in school, and she had only mentioned it casually. After saying that, she smiled to herself, knowing that a ten-year-old child definitely wouldn't understand.

Unexpectedly, the child glanced at the eaves and shook his head seriously, saying, "Big sister, you're wrong! This kind of upturned eaves angle isn't a water-spear eaves angle, but a tender eaves angle. It's formed by inserting a tender eaves angled upwards at the end of the old eaves." (A little trivia: eaves, water-spear eaves angle, and tender eaves angle are all methods used in southern China to treat the eaves of houses. A tender eaves angle refers to the eaves beam raising the corner of the roof. This method allows the eaves to rise higher and is often used for pavilions with pyramidal roofs. A water-spear eaves angle, on the other hand, does not raise the eaves beam; only the ridge on the eaves raises, like an elephant's trunk.)
Ye Qianqian was dumbfounded.

The child, however, seemed to have opened a floodgate of complaints, continuing his tirade: "This building is simply bizarre! From a distance, it looks like a Tang Dynasty-style structure, with a secondary platform surrounding it. The main body features the 'Jinxiang Doudicao' style popular during the Tang and Song Dynasties, but the eaves and corner brackets are from the Qing Dynasty. Not to mention the Ming Dynasty-style glazed bricks and tiles… Well, it's quite a unique mix!" (A little trivia: "Secondary platform surrounding it" refers to a surrounding corridor around the tower or main hall. "Jinxiang Doudicao" is characterized by a ring of columns and brackets inside the main hall, dividing the space into two layers, with the outer layer enclosing the inner layer.)
Ye Qianqian was utterly speechless, and then she understood why this child stayed with her senior even on weekdays instead of going to school. With that level of intelligence and emotional intelligence, no school would accept her!
Should we take some time to write him a letter of recommendation? Middlebury College would probably welcome any promising young talent like him.

Oh dear, but isn't the main point that someone made a mistake while showing off their knowledge to her?

Um... who exactly is that person...? I can't remember at all?
Just as Ye Qianqian straightened up and started to think, Tang Yuan reached out and pressed the little white snake that was wriggling around her neck.

This little darling had been sleeping the whole time, but suddenly became restless. Was it because of the sudden downpour? Or was it because of... the somewhat strange Ye Qianqian beside him?
Tang Yuan's eyes darted around.

The doctors arrived at Ming Tak University in the morning. After arranging for the staff to check in, he went to the hospital next to the guesthouse to check on the equipment.

In fact, the resident doctor here is said to be a famous old professor who used to be the head of cardiothoracic surgery at the hospital where the doctor worked. He was a well-known figure nationwide and was rehired to work here after retirement. If it weren't for the fact that the physical examinations required many people to assist, their hospital wouldn't have had the chance to send anyone.

The doctor respectfully consulted the old professor on all matters, and the latter was extremely satisfied with his attitude. At noon, the professor generously arranged for them to have a nice lunch at the guesthouse restaurant, and in the afternoon, after tidying up, they began their medical examinations.

Working in the busiest and most demanding cardiothoracic surgery department of the hospital, the doctor had never actually been assigned to be a doctor for student physical examinations. However, as the saying goes, "Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut?" The doctor quickly arranged everything efficiently. But when he saw Ye Qianqian chatting happily with the resident professor, he realized that Ye Qianqian must have known this professor when she was in school, and perhaps that was why she chose to become a surgeon.

The blood and urine tests all require fasting, so they're scheduled to begin tomorrow morning, with some routine procedures in the afternoon. The doctor was stunned when he first saw these machines. What's with the orbital ultrasound? Do these teenagers all have presbyopia and glaucoma? Is a cerebral blood flow monitor necessary? Not to mention cardiac ultrasounds, bone density tests… The doctor recalled the enormous machine he'd just seen in another examination room—if he wasn't mistaken, that quietly placed positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) machine! He couldn't help but shudder. This thing is a miraculous device that can detect malignant tumors in the body in advance! There are only about a hundred of them in the entire country! They cost at least eight figures! Expensive, simply put!

This equipment is comparable to that of a top-tier hospital! And it's free! No need to register or wait in line!

I am drunk just thinking about it...

Of course, this is also a benefit of Middlebury College. Because of the absolute privacy, many alumni also come to Middlebury College for medical check-ups on this day. However, many people don't waste an entire night here and come back in the morning. So, those who come are mostly second-year students and first-year students who are registering for the first time.

Having witnessed the incredible PET-CT scanner, the doctors were no longer surprised by the instrument in front of them, which could automatically perform a holographic scan of the body, including basic data such as height, weight, and body measurements, simply by having a person stand on it. The entire physical examination involved no forms; it was all electronic. Each instrument had a recorder in front of it, and students simply scanned their ID cards, which automatically recorded the data into the computer.

The more the doctor looked, the more he felt they had nothing to do with the students; they were probably just there to maintain order. But there were only forty students in the school—what order could they possibly be maintaining? Besides, these students were all either top students or rich kids, with exceptionally high standards of conduct, and it was obvious that second-year students were in front, and first-year students were behind.

However, the doctor got so bored that he counted the number of people and found that there were 39 people no matter how he counted. He couldn't help but find out what was going on and discovered that one of the freshmen had a flight delay and would have to come to school for a physical examination the next morning.

"Actually, we might see quite a few celebrities tomorrow!" Ye Qianqian chimed in, seeing the doctor was rather bored. She was in charge of the blood glucose meter next door; students simply needed to stick out a finger, press the needle, and a small amount of blood was drawn to check their blood sugar. The machine even had an automatic needle changer; she just stood there watching, like the doctor. This wasn't the only time they'd done this; this time it was two hours after a meal, and they'd have to do it again tomorrow morning. The two readings would be compared to determine each person's blood sugar level.

"I'm not interested in celebrities," the doctor said, pursing his lips. What use are celebrities? He'd been in the hospital for several years and had met quite a few well-known figures. No one's success is a windfall; without exception, they've all worked incredibly hard, maintained completely irregular lifestyles, and been under immense pressure at all times. Faced with illness, all they can do is spend more money than ordinary people and access more advanced equipment and medications. But this is money they've earned by sacrificing their lives. If they're lucky, they can continue living; if they're unlucky, they can only accept their fate. Whether it's worth it or not is really hard to say.

No one can stop the Grim Reaper's scythe from falling.

Ye Qianqian's eyebrows twitched slightly, and she decided to change the subject. Pointing to the holographic scanner in front of the doctor, she said, "This instrument records data to make clothes for students. Not only freshmen, but also second-year students will have a new set of school uniforms made for the new year due to changes in height, weight and body shape."

"The whole set?" The doctor blinked, feeling that the word "whole set" wasn't quite what he was thinking of.

"Yes, there are four types of school uniforms, divided by season: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Among them are Zhongshan suits, Hanfu, riding outfits, swimsuits, evening gowns... There are even more than a dozen pairs of shoes to match, as well as hats, bags, jewelry, accessories, and so on..." Ye Qianqian seemed to recall the scene when she was studying at Mingde University, her beautiful eyes shining. No woman can resist clothes, jewelry, and precious stones.

The doctor recalled his own school sports uniform from his school days and felt a silent pang of envy and resentment.

After showing off, Ye Qianqian realized she had said the wrong thing. She tapped her head in frustration, feeling that her communication skills were practically nonexistent.

The two of them finished reviewing the physical examinations of thirty-nine students, feeling rather disheartened, and the clinic's purpose came to an end. After the last student left, the doctor curiously stood on the holographic machine, taking a look at his own body data. "Hey, have you gained a little weight recently?"

"Senior, why don't you get your blood sugar checked too?" Ye Qianqian said with a smile, and without waiting for a reply, she pulled the doctor's wrist and placed it on the blood sugar meter.

This kind of capillary blood draw feels like a bug bite, so the doctor didn't pay much attention. Instead, he looked at the data on the screen and touched his stomach. "You ate a bit too much for lunch, didn't you? Your blood sugar is a little high." "Yezi, do you want to get tested too?"

"No need, let's go to other clinics. We're done here anyway."

"Ok."

The doctor, who had turned to leave, did not notice that after the screen flashed with light, a line of small text suddenly appeared.

[Body data and blood collection completed, ready to begin production...] After dinner, Tang Yuan stayed in his room with an iPad and read, but he barely got into it, spending most of his energy on how to appease the various troublesome little white snakes.

Later, Tang Yuan realized that this little rascal probably sensed something strange on the Mingde University campus and couldn't resist going out to find spiritual energy. But the rain outside hadn't stopped, so how could he possibly have an excuse to go out for a stroll? Even if the rain stopped, Tang Yuan felt he still wouldn't be able to slip out. Ever since the incident at Tian Guang Market, the doctor had been watching him like he was a criminal.

Just as Tang Yuan was pondering what to do, he suddenly heard a noise in the living room of the suite outside. He quickly threw down his iPad and ran out. He saw that the doctor, who should have been using his laptop to go online, was wearing a coat and looked like he had something to do.

Tang Yuan blinked his big eyes, said nothing, and just smiled innocently and obediently.

Seeing him like this only made the doctor more worried. He stared at little Tang Yuan for a moment, then beckoned to him and said, "Put on your shoes and come out with me."

"Uncle, is something wrong? Is it convenient for you to take me with you? I'll stay in the room obediently!" Tang Yuan quickly patted his chest to show his loyalty.

The more they said that, the less believable it seemed! The doctor stopped talking and simply took Tang Yuan's little leather shoes out of the shoe cabinet, signaling him to hurry up.

Tang Yuan dawdled as he put on his shoes, actually trying to hide the smile in his eyes.

Yay! Successfully got out the door!

As Tang Yuan followed the doctor, who was holding an umbrella, out of their courtyard and saw the lady who was clearly waiting for them at the gate, he could barely contain his smile. He looked back and forth between Ye Qianqian and the doctor.

"What's so strange?" The doctor, fearing that Tang Yuan might say something odd, threateningly pressed the top of the child's head with his free hand.

Tang Yuan chuckled a few times and said in a low voice, "Uncle, I didn't expect you to have such good luck with women! This girl must have fallen for you!"

"Don't talk nonsense." The doctor showed no embarrassment whatsoever. In truth, he would rather be far away from Ye Qianqian, especially on this rainy night. Some blurry images flashed through his mind, and the doctor was inexplicably glad that he had brought Tang Yuan along, so at least he wouldn't have to share an umbrella with Ye Qianqian. Besides, the sound of raindrops hitting the umbrella was irritating him. He didn't know when it started, but he had come to particularly dislike rainy days; if the rain wasn't heavy, he wouldn't even use an umbrella.

He remained in this dazed state for a long time until Ye Qianqian couldn't help but ask directly, "Senior, what's wrong?"

"Oh...it's nothing, I just feel like I've seen this scene before." The doctor muttered to himself unconsciously. A figure flashed through his mind, too fast for him to grasp, he could only vaguely see a blurry, winding red shadow.

“The Deja-vu phenomenon.” Tang Yuan shrugged, speaking fluent French, and began to complain incessantly, “It’s what’s called ‘déjà vu,’ where you feel like you’ve experienced something or a scene before, even if you’ve never experienced it. But it’s just as cliché as ‘Hey girl, haven’t we met somewhere before?’ Uncle, I have to say, your flirting skills are pretty bad.”

The doctor was exasperated, his only thought being to throw the guy back into the room.

Ye Qianqian was somewhat taken aback by Tang Yuan's words, but she still spoke up to defend the doctor, saying, "This is a common psychological phenomenon, like the opposite of the Jamais-vu phenomenon. I often experience this myself." Ye Qianqian paused for a moment, then couldn't help but add, "The Jamais-vu phenomenon, you know, right?" Her French pronunciation was equally standard.

The doctor inwardly groaned; he didn't understand! But he was too ashamed to ask! He was just an ordinary surgeon, with little knowledge of psychology! He had absolutely nothing in common with the academic high-achievers! Ugh!

Fortunately, the reliable little Tang Yuan calmly nodded and said, "Of course I understand. It refers to the feeling of seeing familiar things or words but not being able to recall them at all." Tang Yuan paused for a moment, pursed her lips, and decided to continue complaining without holding back, "Actually, a healthy brain can also experience these two psychological phenomena, but if you often experience these two situations, it means there is something wrong with your brain."

The doctor's eyes had turned dead fish-like. Is it really okay for him to point at the girl and say she's mentally ill? Is he worried that his female student might pull out a scalpel and dissect them all at any moment?

Unexpectedly, Ye Qianqian showed no sign of anger. Instead, her beautiful eyes lit up, and she eagerly asked, "What does it mean if I frequently think of a person or a series of scenes?"

"There are too few factors. I need to ask for more specific and detailed information." Tang Yuan also became serious and began to ask a series of detailed questions.

If it weren't for the important task of holding an umbrella for young master Tang Yuan, the doctor would have turned around and left immediately. Luckily, Ye Qianqian had a good personality and actually played along with the child's antics. However, the more the doctor listened to their back-and-forth, the more serious his expression became. Because he had every single one of the symptoms Ye Qianqian described.

After asking the questions he wanted to know, Tang Yuan pondered for a while before slowly saying, "Having ruled out factors such as rich imagination, dreaming, episodic memory, unconscious memory, optical illusions, and visual memory, I think there is one very likely reason for your situation, big sister."

"What's the reason?" Perhaps it was Tang Yuan's childish voice that made Ye Qianqian take it seriously and put away the smile that had been on her face.

Even the doctor couldn't help but hold his breath.

"It's probably because your brain has blocked out a certain memory for some reason." Tang Yuan shrugged. "I suggest you go see a professional psychologist for hypnosis, really."

Upon hearing this, the doctor rolled his eyes, realizing how naive he had been to believe little Tang Yuan even for a second.

However, Ye Qianqian's expression did not lighten; instead, she became thoughtful.

The three of them walked and chatted, which lessened the awkward atmosphere that had arisen when only the two adults were together. From a distance, they even seemed to be having a pleasant conversation. Tang Yuan touched the small white snake that was constantly wriggling on his wrist, and subtly glanced behind him as he turned a corner.

Tsk, when it comes to stalking and such, you need to be more professional, my friend!
The night sky was covered by layers of dark clouds, and the drizzle fell like beads from a broken string, making a dull sound as it hit the umbrella before sliding down the tilted surface.

Streetlights shaped like palace lanterns cast a dim, yellowish glow in the rainy night. Even through the rain, the antique-style buildings on campus were visible, their massive brackets and soaring eaves exuding a dreamlike, ancient charm. Imagine walking hand-in-hand with a beautiful, refined woman, each holding an umbrella, strolling in the rain, occasionally exchanging smiles – a scene most men would dream of.

But the doctor felt an awkward unease, not because of little Tang Yuan, the third wheel, but because of an inexplicable anxiety. "Ye Zi, where are we going?"

Ye Qianqian smiled gently and explained apologetically, "This campus is indeed quite large, it's just ahead." The doctor nodded, suppressing his irritation. As the person in charge of leading this medical check-up trip, the doctor naturally had to ensure everyone's safety. So, upon overhearing that Ye Qianqian was going out that evening, he decided to accompany her. After all, Mingde University covered a vast area and was sparsely populated. It was extremely deserted even during the day, let alone at night.

Sure enough, after walking for less than ten minutes, we reached the end of a path and saw a three-story classical building appear behind the shade of the trees. This building probably used to be a villa for accommodation, but the iron gate and the courtyard wall were covered with ivy, and some of the windows were broken, making it look even more eerie in the dark, rainy night.

The doctor stood outside the iron gate, feeling a cold sweat trickle down his back, but still maintained a very gentlemanly smile, saying, "We'll wait for you here." He thought this might be a place Ye Qianqian had visited when she was in school, perhaps to retrieve something, like a time capsule buried under a tree. A girl, after all! Definitely a artsy, artsy type.

"Let's go in together, the door shouldn't be locked." Ye Qianqian reached out and gently pushed, and the rusty iron door creaked open. The sound carried far in the quiet rainy night, and even faintly echoed.

This feels so much like a horror movie... but I can't be any less brave than a girl, right? The doctor steeled himself and followed Ye Qianqian into the courtyard. The sudden flapping of wings and rustling of leaves above his head startled his tense nerves. But when he looked up and saw that it was just a startled crow, he patted his heart, which had fallen back into his stomach, and continued to walk forward with Tang Yuan in his arms.

At this moment, the doctor was extremely relieved that he had brought Tang Yuan out; at least he had someone to give him courage.

Tang Yuan pouted, feeling that this was really too difficult for him. One hand was being gripped so tightly that it was almost sweating, while the other hand had to calm down his little tyrant who was about to revolt—he had to keep him in check! Otherwise, at this rate, he'd probably have killed that crow the moment he rushed out!
The door to the small building was unlocked. Ye Qianqian hesitated for a moment in front of the door before pushing it open and going inside. The doctor quickly followed.

A musty smell hit him as soon as he entered. The doctor put his umbrella away in the foyer and took out his phone to turn on the flashlight. But in that short time, Ye Qianqian had already vanished.

The doctor stared in astonishment as he shone his phone screen back and forth. The furnishings inside the small building still betrayed its former luxury, but years of neglect had left it covered in dust and cobwebs. Just as the doctor was about to call Ye Qianqian's name, little Tang Yuan broke free of his hand and swaggered into the depths of the building.

"Hey! Tang Yuan! Where are you running to!" The doctor was furious, but had no choice but to chase after him.

The whole series of events tonight was so bizarre and unreal that the doctor felt as if he had triggered some kind of mechanism, stepped into thin air, and fallen to the basement level. Yet, he still felt a sense of relief, thinking, "Ah! Something's finally happened!"

The dust was thick. After coughing a few times, the doctor didn't rush to get up. Instead, he moved his limbs to make sure he hadn't injured any bones or muscles before standing up and finding his phone lying to the side.

Fortunately, the screen wasn't broken, otherwise the loss would have been much greater. The doctor breathed a sigh of relief, held up his phone and shone it around. The scene that greeted him almost made him drop the phone. Shock, like a venomous snake, instantly shot from his heels to the back of his head.

He was in a secret room of about 100 square meters, and there were many people standing silently and densely all around him.

To be precise, they are lifelike terracotta figurines, each the same size as a human, with realistic colors.

This scene looks so familiar...

The doctor's mind went blank for a moment. He had never been to Xi'an, so how could he have seen the Terracotta Army? Let alone jumped into the burial pits—he simply didn't have that privilege!
Perhaps the venting eased some of his fear, for the doctor miraculously calmed down. He looked up but couldn't find the tunnel he'd fallen through, so he continued to investigate. He tiptoed past the terracotta figures, wondering which dynasty's artwork these vibrant colors and brushstrokes imitated. Ah, it must be the flamboyant Tang Dynasty. Could this have been Mingde University's art workshop? Or a storage room? A warehouse?
However, the fact that they actually commissioned these human-shaped terracotta figurines shows how questionable the aesthetic sense of the Ming Te University administration back then was...

The doctor was internally ranting and raving when he almost tripped over some debris and bumped into a terracotta figurine. The light from his phone flickered and shone on the other side.

"Ye Zi! You're actually here!" The doctor was very angry, and his tone was unusually stern.

But the response that was due did not come.

The doctor frowned and raised his phone again.

The phone fell to the ground again with a thud, the screen cracking with a crisp sound.

A sudden gust of cold wind blew through the empty basement, almost making the doctor sit down on the floor in fright.

Because, right next to him, there was a terracotta figurine that looked exactly like Ye Qianqian!

The phone's flashlight was pointing upwards, casting a ghastly white light that shone directly onto the terracotta figurine. Even if the figurine had the face of a beautiful woman, it would still be terrifying.

The doctor took a few quick, deep breaths. Seeing that there was nothing unusual around him, he picked up his phone again with trembling hands and muttered to himself, trying to muster his courage, "What the hell is going on? Is this a haunted house?"

"It's really not a haunted house."

A voice came from another direction in the basement. The doctor's hand trembled and he almost dropped his poor phone on the ground again, but he quickly shone the phone in that direction and a small figure emerged from behind a terracotta figurine.

"Tang Yuan! I told you not to run around like that!" The doctor's previous shock turned into anger, and his anger level was at its maximum.

Tang Yuan scratched his head and chuckled. He had arrived a little earlier than the doctor and was wondering if he should hide and scare him, but seeing how easily the doctor turned pale at the slightest movement, he decided it was better to just come out and turn himself in.

At least he had a companion, albeit a tiny little thing that only reached his waist. The doctor forced himself to regain his composure. After all, he was an adult and should be taking care of the child. He rallied his spirits, ignoring the tingling sensation on his scalp, and used his phone to scan the surrounding Tang tri-colored pottery figurines.

Only then did the doctor realize why he felt a sense of incongruity when he saw these Tang tri-colored pottery figurines: these human-shaped figurines were all sculpted with modern clothing, and each of them appeared to be young, like teenagers. The more the doctor looked, the more horrified he became.

Tang Yuan, standing nearby, clicked his tongue in amazement: "What extravagance! Are these Tang tri-colored pottery pieces actually made by students from Mingde University? But why are the body measurements so accurate? This older sister's measurements are practically indistinguishable from the real thing!" As Tang Yuan spoke, he ran to the terracotta figurine that looked just like Ye Qianqian and gestured with his hand to measure it.

The doctor thought back to the holographic scanner used during today's physical exam. What if it wasn't for making school uniforms, but for making Tang Dynasty tri-colored pottery figurines? A chill ran down the doctor's spine; no one would make these Tang Dynasty tri-colored figurines for no reason. What could it be for?
The doctor, who was having a wild thought and scaring himself, suddenly noticed that Tang Yuan, who had been chattering away, had suddenly fallen silent, his face pale, and was pacing back and forth around the terracotta figurine that looked just like Ye Qianqian.

"What's wrong?" The doctor's voice trembled slightly.

"It's nothing, maybe I'm overthinking it..." Tang Yuan smiled weakly at him, "But...but I remember Sister Ye was wearing this white dress today..."

The doctor felt goosebumps rise all over his body. Did Tang Yuan mean that Ye Qianqian had been turned into Tang Sancai (a type of pottery figurine)? Were these terracotta figures originally living people?!

He wanted to argue, but the more he looked at the terracotta figurine, the more the white dress on it resembled the one Ye Qianqian wore tonight…

So... Ye Qianqian didn't disappear, but was turned into a terracotta figurine?!
Just as the doctor's heart was pounding in his throat, a sneer broke the silence in the room.

"Cough... Uncle, you don't actually believe that, do you?" Tang Yuan pursed his lips, pulled out the children's phone the doctor had bought him from his pocket, switched to flashlight mode, and began to identify the surrounding terracotta figurines one by one. "Look at this Tang tri-colored pottery, isn't that face very recognizable? He's a very famous stock trader now, he often appears on financial channels. And this person, I just saw him speak on TV on behalf of a certain department the day before yesterday. And look, this girl seems to have played a 'white lotus' supporting role in some TV series..."

The doctor finally calmed down after Tang Yuan's incessant chatter. He looked down at his phone; although the screen was cracked, he could still dial, but perhaps because he was in the basement, there was no signal, and he couldn't contact Ye Qianqian. Just as he was trying to hold the phone up to find a signal, Tang Yuan let out another soft "Huh?" The doctor asked impatiently, "What is it now?"

“Look… Uncle, come and take a look. This terracotta figurine has cracks.” Tang Yuan called out from the other end.

Isn't it normal for it to have cracks? This is a terracotta figurine, not a diamond.

Despite inwardly complaining, the doctor still went over, but frowned when he saw the terracotta figurine.

Indeed, the cracks were unusual. The entire terracotta figurine looked as if it had been violently smashed apart. Starting from the left chest, the cracks spread outwards, covering the entire body like a spider web. Strangely, even with such cracks, the terracotta figurine did not break but remained standing stubbornly.

“Uncle, this person…we seem to have met him before…” Tang Yuan pointed to the face of the terracotta figurine, signaling the doctor to take a closer look.

Upon examination, the doctor noticed that the patient's complexion, which had just begun to recover, had turned deathly pale again.

This terracotta figurine is very thin, and its face has a kind of sickly handsomeness. It is Cheng Xiao, who was affectionately nicknamed "Cheng Bamboo Pole" by the nurses! The doctor once handled his surgical cases, and this person has been in the hospital for ten years. How could the doctor not recognize his face!
"This Cheng Xiao... isn't dead yet?" Tang Yuan scratched his head. The little white snake clearly ate the silver fish talisman that the other party used to steal someone else's lifespan, so it's impossible for it to still be alive!
"...After the emergency surgery, he hasn't woken up." The doctor wiped his face, his hand covered in cold sweat. Why did this kid have that illogical look on his face, as if he didn't believe the other person had died? Was he questioning his abilities?
"Oh..." Tang Yuan curled the corners of his mouth slightly, drawing out the sound meaningfully.

"Oh what!" The doctor patted the kid's head and sighed helplessly. "Just say what you think. This uncle's heart is stronger than Cheng Zhuan's. He can handle it."

"Oh, then I'll tell you!" Tang Yuan immediately raised his eyebrows, put his hands behind his back, and said seriously, "Uncle, do you know what Tang Sancai is?"

"A type of pottery, from the Tang Dynasty." The doctor instinctively wanted to search for it on his phone, but when he saw that the screen was broken and there was no signal, he had to give up in disappointment.

"Tang Sancai is a type of low-temperature lead-glazed pottery. But never mind, that's not the point. The point is, because Tang Sancai has a brittle body and poor water resistance, its practicality is far inferior to the celadon and white porcelain that already existed at the time. So it wasn't intended for everyday use at all." Tang Yuan tilted his head and chuckled. "Uncle, have you ever seen Tang Sancai plates, bowls, or basins?"

"Indeed, they are very rare. Most of the Tang tri-color pottery I've seen are human or animal figurines." The doctor recalled that he thought he hadn't seen many antiques at all, but in reality, the images that came to mind were far more astonishing.

“Yes, that’s because Tang Sancai was actually used as funerary objects, buried with the deceased,” Tang Yuan said with a smile.

The doctor gasped. Tang Yuan's clear, childlike voice, which should have been pleasant to hear, carried a chilling undertone in this context. "You mean... these Tang tri-colored pottery figurines were made for someone's burial?"

"The arrangement of these Tang tri-colored pottery figurines is also significant. They appear to be random and disorderly, with even the directions they face being different, but in reality, they are arranged according to a hidden formation."

"speak English."

"This formation is powerful; I haven't learned it before."

The doctor looked at the frustrated little boy, Tang Yuan, and laughed instead: "We've got the focus wrong! We're not here to study Tang Sancai, we're here to get out of here as soon as possible."

"Cheng Xiao probably had a physical examination at the school hospital," Tang Yuan continued his analysis, unwilling to give up.

"Possibly. After all, the school hospital has their senior professors on staff. Although the old man's hands tremble and he can no longer perform surgeries due to his age, his insight and experience are still there." The doctor paused here because he suddenly remembered that he had also impulsively checked his body earlier that day.

But... haha, he's probably just worrying unnecessarily! The doctor consoled himself.

"Uncle, do you think Cheng Xiao will die immediately if I knock this terracotta figure over?" Tang Yuan asked whimsically.

"Stop fooling around!" The doctor quickly pulled Tang away from Cheng Xiao's Tang tri-colored pottery figurine.

"Haha, I was just kidding!" Tang Yuan laughed.

"Click——"

A clear sound of pottery breaking rang out, and Tang Yuan's laughter came to an abrupt halt.

The doctor and Tang Yuan stared in disbelief as Cheng Xiao's terracotta figurine crumbled into dust without anyone touching it.

"I didn't do this!" Tang Yuan exclaimed, raising his hands to show his innocence. But he sounded guilty because the little white snake in his pocket had disappeared after he entered the building.

"Of course I know it wasn't you who did it, unless you have the power of words." The doctor glared at him, stopped arguing, and focused on finding the exit in the basement.

Tang Yuan was also a little scared, not of the strange Tang tri-colored figurines, but of being abandoned by the doctor. Although this doctor uncle was strict, he cared for and loved him meticulously, which was the best treatment he had received since leaving his master.

So, when he saw a Tang tri-color pottery piece that was clearly different from the other figurines in terms of glaze, color, and shape, he hesitated for a moment and didn't say anything. The glaze of this Tang tri-color piece had a thin layer of silver sheen throughout, as if it were illuminated by moonlight, emitting a faint silvery halo. This is precisely the phenomenon of lead return in the glaze; it takes hundreds of years to form a small silver spot, and only through the accumulation of time can it develop into a large area of ​​silver flakes. The fact that this Tang tri-color piece had a silver sheen throughout indicates that it was extremely ancient.

Tang Yuan couldn't resist his curiosity and wanted to go over and see what the Tang tri-colored pottery statue looked like, but as soon as he took a step, he was firmly grabbed by a large hand.

"You naughty child, trying to run around again? Here, I've found the exit." Without saying another word, the doctor grabbed Tang Yuan and pulled him out through the exit he had found.

The two walked through a long secret passage, and when they finally opened a large door, they found themselves in the very lobby they had just entered from. Ye Qianqian was anxiously pacing back and forth in the lobby, holding her phone.

"Where did you all go? I just went upstairs to get something, and when I turned around, you were all gone! Do you know how scary that was?! I even called the police!" Ye Qianqian seemed furious, giving a long lecture before calling the school security guard to say that they didn't need to come over, as the people had already been found.

Tang Yuan felt a cool sensation on his wrist as a slippery little snake skillfully tied a knot around it and rubbed its head against the back of his hand with a contented smug look.

"By the way, where did you guys go?" Seeing that she had found them, Ye Qianqian calmed down, lowered her voice by eight octaves, and returned to normal.

"We..." The doctor and Tang Yuan exchanged a glance, both feeling completely confused. "It seems like we just wandered around the room..."

Ye Qianqian frowned, her delicate eyebrows furrowing. She began to suspect that the two people, one big and one small, were deliberately trying to scare her, and her face darkened.

Seeing this, the doctor knew that his junior had misunderstood and hurriedly tried to explain, but his phone beeped again.

He picked it up and took a look, and immediately felt heartbroken.

"Oh my god! When did my phone screen break?! It's my brand new iPhone 6 Plus!" the doctor wailed.

"Serves him right." Ye Qianqian curled her lips, gloating.

Tang Yuan's face remained tightly furrowed, his heart pounding with anxiety. He must have encountered something strange! He had completely lost his memory of everything after entering the building! Asking the little white snake was pointless; that thing had slipped away faster than anyone else the moment it entered!

The doctor, with a heavy heart, managed to see the WeChat message Chun Ge had sent him through the broken screen, and his expression immediately turned melancholy.

Cheng Xiao, the patient suffering from restrictive cardiomyopathy, has finally become brain dead.

The doctors had seen so much birth, aging, illness and death over the years, and they had long expected Cheng Xiao's outcome, but they couldn't help feeling a little unwilling.

No one can escape the scythe of death.

"Let's go." Seeing that the doctor didn't even offer an explanation, Ye Qianqian raised her eyebrows, said curtly, and turned to leave.

"Ah? Oh, okay." The doctor quickly followed.

Hmm... I seem to have forgotten something... Oh well, I won't think about it anymore.

At this very moment, they are in the basement beneath their feet.

On the fragments of Cheng Xiao's terracotta figurine, a terracotta figurine exactly like the doctor slowly took shape in the darkness...

　small theater:

　　One day, the doctor received several boxes of packages from Middlebury College, and when he opened them, they were full of various kinds of clothing.

　　There are Zhongshan suits, Hanfu, riding attire, tailcoats, military uniforms... and even dozens of pairs of shoes to match...

　　A note was attached:
　　"Since the school uniforms have already been made according to your body measurements, we'll give them to you for free!"
　　#Deep pockets, no explanation needed!#
　　
　
(End of this chapter)