Case File

Beep, beep, beep.

Dr. House kept adjusting the room's air conditioning through the floating panel in front of him.

The temperature kept dropping.

The boy shivered for no apparent reason.

Dr. House watched Qin Yiguan and smiled. "I'm hot."

The boy was puzzled.

Then he noticed something odd about the way You Minglan was looking at him.

Where she had previously ignored him, a hint of heat now appeared in her eyes.

Beep, beep, beep.

Dr. House was still lowering the room's temperature.

You Minglan stared at Qin Yiguan, her cheeks slightly flushed, and inexplicably licked her lips.

Qin Yiguan felt sparks flash through his mind. Certain things grew clearer, emerging from the haze.

Beep, beep, beep.

Suddenly, Dr. House set the temperature back to normal, shrugged, and smiled. "Now I'm not hot anymore."

The boy did not quite understand Dr. House's behavior, but he vaguely sensed that the doctor was testing something.

Dr. House cut straight into his train of thought. "Minglan has already developed effects like these after entering the Experimental Zone. Yiguan, I'm really looking forward to the day you enter it."

Qin Yiguan shook his head, gathered his thoughts, and asked hesitantly, "Dr. House, hypothetically-and I mean hypothetically-if I had a split personality, what would happen when I entered the Experimental Zone?"

The boy had never told anyone outside his family that he had a dark personality.

Not even Dr. House.

After all, it was connected to a murder case involving his parents.

Dr. House gave him a knowing smile. "The clinical term for that condition is [dissociation], and it comes in different levels."

"Take [dissociation II], for example."

"A seemingly healthy person harbors two or more personalities within their mind."

"And those personalities exist independently, without interfering with one another."

"Whether through suppression or voluntary dormancy, only one will manifest outwardly at any given time."

"The other personalities know nothing, as though they're asleep."

"Of course."

"They can also meet simultaneously within the patient's inner world. They may even argue, clash, or help one another."

"Generally speaking, different personalities have different roles or duties."

"For instance... a child, a killer, a bodyguard... and so on."

"In terms of consciousness, each is an independent person."

As Dr. House spoke, he kept his eyes on the boy. "You wouldn't be hiding something from me, would you? Do you... have a hidden personality?"

"Well..."

The boy smiled, though his heart was pounding. "You just hypnotized me earlier. Surely you've already determined whether I have any other personalities."

Dr. House nodded and gave a meaningful smile. "That's right. As far as I can currently tell, you still only have [shadow syndrome], [Conscience-free syndrome], [Gestalt collapse], and that [cosmic phobia] that keeps you from looking at the night sky. All minor issues."

Dr. House tapped his fingers on the desk and drew out his words. "As for what you asked-what would happen if a patient with [dissociation] entered the Metaverse-I think, if the patient's level were high enough, there's a very good chance... their other personality could fully materialize!"

The boy's eyes widened.

Is that so?

If I can enter the Experimental Zone, I'll have a chance to escape that threat of 'suicide' that follows me like a shadow-and avenge my adoptive parents at the same time!

Just then-

Dr. House's azure eyes fixed on the boy as though they could see through his soul.

Qin Yiguan immediately stood up. "Dr. House, thank you for the free consultation. If there's nothing else, I'll be going. Oh, goodbye, Miss Minglan."

Dr. House watched the boy respectfully close the door and leave, his smile brimming with intriguing anticipation.

You Minglan casually tugged her skirt upward, then moved a little closer to Dr. House.

"His IQ clearly rose just now as the temperature dropped."

"Was that [universal positive differential]?"

You Minglan licked her red lips as she spoke.

Dr. House nodded. "Minglan, update his case file. The kid has another condition-under specific environmental conditions, his brain enters a paradoxical state in which active thinking coexists with inner calm. In other words, his brainpower climbs when he enters familiar territory."

You Minglan nodded. "What about [dissociation VI]? That question of his made it far too obvious. He practically gave himself away trying to hide it."

Dr. House nodded again and looked at the empty candy dish. "Update his history while you're at it. That kid's fourth personality... likes candy."

You Minglan shook her head with something like a sigh. "So young, with so many conditions. What on earth did he go through growing up?"

Dr. House said quietly, "Most mental illnesses arise from internal mental strain that eventually produces changes in consciousness-in other words, overthinking. To reach Qin Yiguan's state, you'd probably have to lock a normal person in a dark room and leave them to overthink for a hundred years!"

"Enough about him."

You Minglan turned and stared at Dr. House, her eyes hazy with desire. Her finger traced across his chest. "Doctor, tell me, is there anything in this room that's usually short, but gets very long when you touch it?"

Dr. House nodded emphatically. "Of course there is."

Then he lightly tapped Qin Yiguan's name on the floating screen.

The blue screen unfurled like a scroll, stretching all the way to the ceiling.

The number in the conditions field could just be made out changing from nine to ten.

Dr. House smiled. "That would be... Qin Yiguan's case file!"