Chapter 146: We Are All Monsters (Part 2)
Wang Shenglong’s father discreetly observed Chen Ge and Dr. Gao. He knew his child’s body was somewhat unsettling, and whenever outsiders looked at his son with that strange gaze, a nameless pain swelled in his heart.
But this time, things seemed a bit different. Neither Chen Ge nor Dr. Gao showed any unusual reaction.
“Exercise can effectively alleviate psychological disorders and relieve mental stress. You absolutely cannot keep him cooped up at home.” Dr. Gao took off his leather shoes and entered the bedroom. He sat down beside Wang Shenglong without a trace of disgust or aversion.
Seeing Dr. Gao come in, Wang Shenglong wasn’t afraid either. He seemed to yearn for someone to step into his life, to make more friends.
Struggling to shift his massive body, Wang Shenglong appeared to be making a great effort to show his goodwill.
In the bedroom, Wang Shenglong and Dr. Gao were perfectly at ease, but the moment Chen Ge prepared to enter, everything changed.
Mimicking Dr. Gao, Chen Ge removed his shoes and stepped into the room. The silly grin on Wang Shenglong’s face instantly froze. He stared straight at Chen Ge, like a lion sensing a fiercer beast encroaching on its territory.
Dr. Gao, sitting right next to Wang Shenglong, felt the shift most keenly. He looked at Chen Ge with some confusion, unable to fathom the reason.
Chen Ge himself noticed it too. Wang Shenglong’s reaction struck him as abnormal.
“What does this guy sense in me? Is it the lingering smell of stray cats on me? Or does the monster inside him detect Zhang Ya’s presence?”
Chen Ge stopped in his tracks and sat down at a distance from Wang Shenglong.
“Maybe it’s just too many strangers making him nervous,” Dr. Gao said, smoothing things over as he began chatting with Wang Shenglong.
With his wealth of experience, Dr. Gao avoided any direct questions about psychological disorders, talking instead as if he were just making friends. Wang Shenglong gradually relaxed, laboriously lifting his drawing board to respond.
Throughout it all, Chen Ge didn’t say a single word. He listened intently.
Dr. Gao’s conversational technique was masterful. Seemingly random, it subtly coaxed out many of Wang Shenglong’s inner secrets—including the deepest shadows of his childhood, his daily habits, and the painful episodes of his illness.
The conversation lasted forty minutes. The more they talked, the more Dr. Gao felt this child didn’t seem like a mental patient at all. Wang Shenglong’s thoughts were clear, and he actively engaged with the outside world, showing a willingness to cooperate with treatment.
Hearing their exchange, Wang Shenglong’s family felt a sense of relief. No one knew their child better than they did—though he looked strange on the outside, his heart was kind and sunny.
When the talk ended, Dr. Gao was the first to leave the bedroom. He pulled Wang Shenglong’s father aside: “This child’s behavior is perfectly normal. It doesn’t seem like he’s troubled by a psychological disorder. Is he hiding something from me?”
Most of the time, mentally ill patients are no different from ordinary people. It’s only during episodes or when triggered that they do things completely beyond normal comprehension.
“He’s never hurt anyone or done anything strange. Apart from not talking and not liking to move, he’s just like everyone else.” Wang Shenglong’s father quickly poured Dr. Gao some water and stayed close by.
“A person who used to speak suddenly stops talking one day and never says another word. Could the story this child told be true?” During their conversation, Wang Shenglong had recounted his childhood experience to Dr. Gao.
“We don’t know if it’s true or not. We’ve seen many doctors, and none of them could explain it.” Wang Shenglong’s father shook his head with a sigh.
“Truth or not doesn’t really matter. What matters is that after all these years, Wang Shenglong can still describe every detail. That shows this event is deeply etched into his mind. If we can help him resolve it, he should be able to speak again.”
“But if this is just something Shenglong made up, how do we solve a problem that doesn’t exist?” Wang Hailong voiced his doubt.
“Even if it’s fictional, every character in it must have some meaning, just like dreams that reflect reality.” Dr. Gao took out his phone and photographed all the drawings Wang Shenglong had made during their talk. “We can’t interpret things on the surface. We need to break down every scenario and analyze it. For now, I can’t promise you anything—I’ll just do my best.”
“Dr. Gao, if you can cure Shenglong…”
“I’m not very confident either. After so many years without speaking, his language function may have deteriorated.” Dr. Gao glanced back into the bedroom. “Besides, his most urgent issue right now isn’t psychological—it’s physical. His body size is severely overweight. If this continues, it could even be life-threatening.”
“We’ve told him that, but he doesn’t like to move. He stays in his bedroom all day and won’t even come out to the living room.” Wang Shenglong’s father was anxious but helpless.
“You need to communicate with him more and make him understand this isn’t normal. First, change his perception and mindset; only then can his behavior change.”
Dr. Gao discussed the condition with Wang Shenglong’s family outside, while in the bedroom, Chen Ge sat across from Wang Shenglong. The silly grin was gone from Wang Shenglong’s face now. His small eyes, hidden beneath layers of fat, narrowed into thin slits as he scrutinized Chen Ge.
“Wang Shenglong, I’m here to help you. I hope you’ll stop hiding things.” Chen Ge kept his distance. Wang Shenglong was wary of Chen Ge, and Chen Ge didn’t want to get closer because he couldn’t stand the stench emanating from the other man.
That smell seemed imperceptible to everyone else—only Chen Ge could detect it.
Taking the drawing board, Wang Shenglong wrote: “I’m not hiding anything. I told you everything.”
“You know in your heart whether you’re hiding something or not.” Chen Ge lowered his voice. “They’re all focused on why you don’t talk. I’m different. What you least want to bring up is another memory. Let me ask you—what happened the first time you were admitted to the Third Psychiatric Ward?”
At the mention of the Third Ward, the fat on Wang Shenglong’s face trembled. His pudgy hands clenched into fists, and his body swayed erratically.
“After you left the Third Ward, you started fearing doctors. What exactly did you encounter in that hospital?” Chen Ge pressed down on Wang Shenglong’s fists. “You’re a normal person. Something hurt you, and that’s why you’ve become like this. Tell me the truth. I can help you.”
“Bang!”
Wang Shenglong didn’t accept Chen Ge’s goodwill. He suddenly lashed out, shoving Chen Ge hard.
Panting, Wang Shenglong stared at Chen Ge. After a long pause, he wrote a single sentence on the drawing board: “We’ve both become monsters. You’d better worry about yourself.”
Thanks to my adorable Sharpshooter for the alliance! I’m out of town—will make up with three chapters the day after tomorrow. Happy Qixi Festival, everyone~~~