They're All Sick

He noticed that the other man seemed to be holding something. His right hand hovered as if he were about to raise it, and then he took a deep breath.

Knock, knock.

Two short knocks sounded at the door. Ji Ting turned and stared for a long while before getting up and walking over.

Outside, Ji Yanzhi was about to knock again when the door suddenly opened, leaving his hand hanging awkwardly in midair.

Their eyes met. Ji Yanzhi cleared his throat, then waited two seconds before saying, "It's late. You're still awake?"

"I was about to go to bed."

Another strange silence fell. Ji Ting had no choice but to say, "If there's nothing else, I'll go back to bed."

"Stop."

Ji Yanzhi held out his right hand and said coldly, "Take your things back."

Ji Ting looked down and discovered that they were the confiscated car keys and phone. He was a little surprised, though his gaze remained calm as he looked up. "Why are you suddenly giving them back?"

"Just take them! What's with all the questions?"

Ji Ting's brows creased slightly. Why is Ji Yanzhi so irritable? Is he still angry about Xu Ren?

That thought jabbed Ji Yanzhi in the chest. He shoved the things into Ji Ting's hands, then turned his face away. "You still have to keep taking your classes, but you get three days off. Do whatever you want, as long as you don't go out fooling around."

Without waiting for Ji Ting to speak, he turned and walked away.

Ji Ting stood rooted to the spot, stunned. He opened his mouth as he watched Ji Yanzhi's retreating back, only for his fingertips to brush against something smooth.

He looked down and found a card beneath the phone.

Ji Ting turned it over. The PIN was written on the back. Closing his hand around the card, he walked to the railing. "Ji Yanzhi, why did you give me a card?"

Ji Yanzhi stood on the stairs with a cold expression, neither answering nor looking at him, apparently determined to pretend he hadn't heard.

Ji Ting: ?

What exactly is he being so awkward about?

Without warning, Ji Yanzhi glared up at him. "You're so noisy!"

Ji Ting had no idea why he was being yelled at. "All I said was..."

"Go back to bed. Bother me again and you'll regret it."

After delivering that nasty threat, Ji Yanzhi turned into the corridor, leaving Ji Ting alone on the second floor.

"He really is sick."

Although their late-night encounter had ended badly, Ji Yanzhi kept his word and withdrew the bodyguards from the entrance that morning.

Ji Ting washed up and went downstairs. The butler approached him. "Good morning, Second Young Master. Your elder brother has already given instructions. You're free to go out today."

Ji Ting was silent for a moment. "Uncle Yang, do I need to make an appointment in advance for an examination at Ruihe?"

He had already looked it up the night before. This medical center catered exclusively to the upper classes. Not only did it offer excellent medical resources, but more importantly, it maintained strict confidentiality for its clients' records.

"You don't need an appointment, but it would be best to call ahead." The butler frowned slightly. "Are you feeling unwell?"

"It's nothing. I've just been getting occasional headaches lately."

The butler offered to send someone with him. Ji Ting politely declined and only asked for the phone number.

Since he couldn't eat breakfast before the blood draw, he gathered his things and left immediately. Ji Ting arrived at ten thirty and gave his ID number after going inside.

The receptionist pulled up his file on the computer and smiled. "Mr. Ji, would you like a comprehensive physical examination today, or something else?"

"I'd like all five routine brain examinations apart from the cerebrospinal fluid test, along with NODDI and a chromosome karyotype analysis. Please also arrange an appointment with a psychiatrist."

"Of course. I'll arrange that right away."

Two hours later, the results of his brain examinations were ready, and Ji Ting was escorted to a consultation room.

As soon as she knocked and opened the door, the receptionist was startled by the gathering inside.

Seven or eight people stood in the room. Every doctor in the neurology department had apparently come.

All eyes turned toward Ji Ting. Some watched intently, some with curiosity, and others with raised eyebrows and undisguised astonishment.

Ji Ting remained as calm as ever and spoke evenly. "Which of you is Director Zhao?"

"Over here." The elderly professor, the only person seated, raised a hand, then looked at the others. "All of you, please leave for now."

The doctors looked disappointed, casting several lingering glances at Ji Ting as they filed out.

Whatever the two discussed, Ji Ting emerged from the consultation room less than ten minutes later.

The receptionist waiting outside was very surprised. "Mr. Ji, are you... finished?"

"Yes." Ji Ting held the scans from his examinations, his expression revealing nothing. "Can I go to psychiatry now?"

The results showed that the brain was still his own, but his blood type had changed from O to AB, which meant this wasn't his original body.

Ji Ting thought that once the chromosome results came back, he would be able to draw some conclusions.

A few minutes later, he was led into the psychiatric consultation room, where the doctor was already waiting. "Mr. Ji, please sit down."

Once Ji Ting had taken a seat, the doctor picked up the ASDS assessment form beside her. "Then let's begin."

"All right."

"How old were you when you were diagnosed with Asperger syndrome?"

"Eight."

Doctor He abruptly looked up, clearly surprised by that number.

Asperger syndrome was an autism spectrum disorder. Clear symptoms usually appeared before a child turned three. Even if the parents didn't recognize them, a doctor would notice during developmental checkups.

"Do you have any other co-occurring psychological conditions?"

Ji Ting said, "Moderate obsessive-compulsive disorder, an eating disorder, and mild cognitive dissonance."

Doctor He typed some notes. "What about your social difficulties? Are they still severe?"

At that question, Ji Ting's brows drew together almost imperceptibly.

After a long pause, he slowly said, "If I've recently been able to recognize sarcasm in someone's words and tell when he's being sulky, would that count as meaningful improvement?"

"Of course." Doctor He smiled. "Whether through words or facial expressions, being able to understand other people's emotions directly can help with your social skills training."

Ji Ting's fingers curled slightly against his thighs. "What if it's only one person?"

Doctor He didn't quite understand. "You mean?"

"I can only perceive the emotions of one specific individual."

It was the first time Dr. He had encountered such a situation. After some thought, she asked, "Is this person emotionally important to you?"

Ji Ting's tone was flat. "No. We don't know each other well, either."

Doctor He nodded thoughtfully. After considering it for a while, she said, "Then, as long as you don't have to force yourself, you could try spending more time with him and having some conversations. Keep a record for a while, then see how you feel."

Ji Ting's lips parted slightly, as though he wanted to say something but hesitated.

"What is it? Is there a problem?" Doctor He asked.

Ji Ting lowered his eyes slightly. "No. Thank you."

After asking about his medication history, Dr. He prescribed two medications and scheduled his next follow-up.

When Ji Ting came out, the receptionist assigned to him said the chromosome results weren't ready yet and invited him to rest for a while.

As they entered the lounge, a man in a short jacket happened to come out and accidentally bumped into Ji Ting.

"Sorry."

After apologizing, the man hurried away, jogging to the dermatology consultation room just as the person inside emerged.

He approached anxiously. "How did it go? Did the doctor say whether it'll leave a scar?"

The man who came out was tall and long-legged. Although his mask left only his eyes exposed, his extraordinary good looks were still apparent.

"Don't worry. It's only a small burn. It won't leave a scar," Lu Yanchu said with a warm smile.

"Thank goodness it only got your ear. If it had burned that face of yours..." Just imagining it was enough to send his manager's temper soaring. "Why did you have to be so stubborn? That molten-iron fireworks shot might only last a few seconds in the film. The director said to use a double, but you still insisted!"

Lu Yanchu draped an arm around his shoulders and said jokingly, "I practiced for two months before joining the production. If we used a double, they couldn't get a close-up of my face. Wouldn't all that effort go to waste?"

"Fine, fine. You always have an answer."

They headed toward the elevators. As his manager discussed next month's work schedule, Lu Yanchu reached out and pressed the down button.

They were still talking when a voice suddenly sounded in Lu Yanchu's ear-

No numerical or structural abnormalities detected in chromosome 22. A comprehensive assessment in conjunction with other examination results is recommended.

Lu Yanchu's heart felt as though it had been seized in a crushing grip. A bone-deep chill instantly crept up his spine.