"Director Li, how should we help her recover now?" Zhang Wan patted Fu Qingdai and immediately asked.
Su Jin looked straight at her. "Helping her recover is actually simple, but before we get to that, we need to discuss the problem. For a child her age, school isn't the only reason she's ended up like this. The two of you are part of it too."
"What you just did is making her problem worse."
"Huh?" Zhang Wan looked a little uncomfortable. "Kids these days are just too sensitive. Back in our day..."
"That remark counts too."
"..."
Su Jin sighed. "Vladimir Xu Kun once said that there is only one truly serious philosophical problem: suicide. Humans are animals that need meaning to survive."
Fu Hu and his wife listened intently.
"The blows she suffered at school have already robbed her life of meaning, and then she comes home and faces more misunderstanding from the two of you. Naturally, her condition gets worse. She could even develop severe suicidal tendencies and hallucinations. Since she hasn't started hallucinating yet, it isn't too serious. Help her recover now, and don't upset her."
"She's already hallucinating, Director Li! What do we do? When can she go back to school?" Zhang Wan went pale with alarm, and Fu Hu's face blanched too.
"Waaaaah!" Fu Qingdai let out a wail like a fire alarm.
"Could you stop bringing up school? How many times have you hurt her without realizing it?" Su Jin gave Zhang Wan a sidelong look. "It's gotten this serious, so why didn't you intervene sooner? If she's already hallucinating, there are hardly any therapists in Longshan City who can help her recover. Mental health care is woefully underdeveloped in this country too."
"Then... is there anyone you can recommend?" Fu Hu asked, swallowing.
"I only just got back to Dragon Mountain. How would I know the specifics around here?" Su Jin shook his head. "My teacher certainly could have helped, but unfortunately, he passed away last year."
"Could you treat her, then?" Zhang Wan asked outright.
"Don't be ridiculous. Director Li isn't a doctor. Where would he find the time to treat patients?" Fu Hu snapped, then turned back to him. "Well... Director Li, could you give us some guidance and tell us what to do?"
"What to do... that's not something I can explain in a few words." Su Jin sighed, then changed tack. "How about this? We live right across the hall anyway. I'll be out during the day, but I'm home in the evenings around the same time you are, and I'm not busy then. You can send her over to my place, or I can come here. We're neighbors. No need to stand on ceremony."
"I'll talk her through things for two hours a day. After seven days, she should be able to return to school. Have her do more physical activities like singing and dancing in her spare time. It'll make it much easier for you to help her regain a healthy mindset afterward."
"Oh, really?!" Zhang Wan sprang to her feet in excitement. "Thank you so much, Director Li. I..."
"What do you mean, Director Li? Bureau Chief Li!" Fu Hu also rose excitedly, glaring at Zhang Wan as he raised his glass. "Chief Li, a toast to you. I'm not good with words, so I'll let this drink speak for me!"
With that, he drained his glass!
Fu Qingdai hung her head, wishing the floor would swallow her.
"There's no need for that. You can call me bureau chief in a couple of weeks." Su Jin smiled faintly, then turned to Fu Qingdai. "Besides, shouldn't we respect her wishes too?"
"Qing Dai, would you be willing to spare some time in the evenings to chat with me? Don't worry, there's no need to feel pressured. We'll just be talking."
Fu Qingdai pressed her lips together and nodded.
"Then it's settled!" Su Jin spread his hands and smiled at the couple. "I'll come over tomorrow. For now, let's keep chatting about whatever we like."
The script had been written long ago, and the targets had already fallen into the trap.
Naturally, Su Jin dominated the conversation that followed. Just showing off his ridiculously awesome Mi 6 was enough to leave these locals dazed.
Not to mention that Fu Qingdai occasionally tossed out questions they had prepared in advance, working overtime to sell his persona.
As for questions he couldn't answer... of course there were some, but he had just one response.
[State secrets. No comment.]
An hour later, they had eaten and drunk their fill.
Su Jin gathered his things and prepared to head home, pocketing the 231.50 yuan Fu Qingdai had secretly slipped him.
Fu Hu stood in the doorway, holding the door open.
His dark face had visibly flushed a deep red. He was smiling, and clearly, he had been plied with plenty of alcohol over dinner.
"Director Li, I'm so happy I got to meet you this time. Honestly... if it weren't for you, I'd have thought everyone was just being polite when I left the army. I never imagined my superiors and comrades thought so highly of me!"
"And with my daughter, I really don't know how to thank you. If you need help with anything, just say the word. As long as it's within my ability!"
Su Jin waved a hand. "I'll need your help with something later, but it won't be anything major. Don't feel pressured. Close the door. I'm heading back."
"Wait, Director Li!" Fu Hu raised his voice.
"Anything else?"
"Director Li... I..." Fu Hu hesitated, his tongue stumbling over the words. "Well, that... the National Strategic Risk Bureau..."
He struggled for a long while, but still couldn't bring himself to say the word "job."
Understanding dawned on Su Jin, and he smiled. "Old Fu, there's no need to be shy with me. There's nothing embarrassing about wanting to move up in life. You mean you want me to help you get a job, right?"
Fu Hu nodded awkwardly.
They had already established a connection! And this man had genuine ability, an absolute expert! His credentials were beyond question.
Although he had already benefited from the man's help, he still wanted that job with a base salary of ten thousand yuan...
"Old Fu, I'll be straight with you. I have the pull to do it, but I can't give you a hundred-percent guarantee. The main issue is that I'm not sure what vacancies the bureau has. How about this? Wait to hear from me. I'll give you an answer tomorrow. Sound good?"
"Absolutely! Thank you, Director Li. Get some rest!" Fu Hu thanked him profusely.
Su Jin waved, and the door closed.
He turned and walked back to his apartment, taking out his key to unlock the door.
Behind the Fu family's door across the hall, the sounds of their cheerful, animated conversation were muffled yet piercing.
They echoed through the empty corridor.
With a click, the motion-sensor light overhead went out, plunging the corridor into darkness. Only Su Jin's increasingly heavy breathing remained.
The hand holding his key suddenly dropped. He swayed, then rested his head weakly against the metal door, closing his eyes with a sigh.
He felt hollow inside.
I miss home... I used to hate going home even for New Year's.
This time, I really miss it. So much...
Su Jin let out a few heavy breaths, wiped the corners of his eyes, and opened the door to his home.
Dark clouds loomed over the city, and cold winds howled.
They swept between the buildings alongside the torrential rain.
The streets were desolate... there was nothing but the walking dead.
Rotting, mutilated bodies wandered aimlessly through the streets.
Wearing a raincoat, Su Jin crouched on a street corner and watched for movement ahead.
Just then, a zombie behind him made a noise and suddenly lunged!
Su Jin looked back, and a huge, bloody maw came straight at his face.
"Fuck!!"
His eyes wide with terror, Su Jin opened his mouth and lunged back to bite the zombie's face.
"Haaah!!!!"
Su Jin jolted awake from the nightmare, drenched in sweat. He clutched his neck and gasped for air like a drowning man.
His throat felt so dry it was as though someone had stuffed it with razor blades.
He had left a human-shaped sweat stain on the bed behind him.
After several deep breaths, Su Jin's heartbeat gradually returned to normal, and he rubbed his face hard.
It was a dream... I must be too stressed...
He reached to his right, found his notebook, and immediately opened it to check.
The grain shop will deliver tonight. I still need to buy some supplies during the day... I'll go to the slaughterhouse first to practice, then handle the rest in the afternoon.
As soon as possible. I have to get used to the pressure as soon as possible. I need to desensitize myself in advance.
I absolutely cannot break! If I break mentally, it's all over!
After giving himself a few inward pep talks, Su Jin raised his head.
His bloodshot eyes went straight to the calendar on the opposite wall, marked with a row of red crosses.
Only three days remained... until the apocalypse!
Before you continue