From Far Away

After summer arrived, the green belts throughout Fu City turned a deep green.

An occasional breeze stirred the branches and leaves, revealing scattered patches of brilliant blue sky.

Xi Wutong walked briskly through the shadows of the trees. The shade stretched toward Giantwood Hospital, forming a dark vein.

This was her first summer in the south. She had traveled a thousand miles to Fu City, not just for work, but for something else, something more important.

Today, she had received an unusual case.

At Giantwood Hospital in Fu City, Xi Wutong gazed out the window in silence.

The weather was beautiful today. Sunlight illuminated every corner in minute detail, as though even the darkest places had grown bright.

"Doctor Xi, what do you think of that girl's psychiatric assessment?" asked the older doctor beside her.

Xi Wutong shook her head. "It's very strange, but this isn't the first time something like this has happened. What about the previous cases?"

The older doctor remained silent, tacitly acknowledging her question.

"Let's wait until her family gets here."

"The suspect's brother is here. Doctor Xi, please come over."

Xi Wutong nodded and walked out with the assessment report.

By the time Qin Manjiang arrived at Giantwood Hospital, it was already one in the afternoon.

The sun was at its fiercest, and he was drenched in sweat by the time he reached the hospital.

Escorted by the police, he met a brisk, professional female doctor with her hair in a ponytail.

"My surname is Xi. I'll be asking you about your sister Qin Manyi's background."

Qin Manjiang nodded. "I'll cooperate."

"When did your sister Qin Manyi first begin showing signs of mental illness?"

"Two years ago."

"When, exactly?"

"The day my father died."

"I need the exact date and time."

"September third, in the evening, at around six thirty. My father walked into the river while my sister watched. At nine that night, his body was recovered downstream."

Qin Manjiang's account was devoid of emotion. Xi Wutong occasionally glanced at his eyes, but as she observed him, she seemed to notice something strange.

"Classmate Qin, are you close to your sister?"

Qin Manjiang thought for a moment before answering, "We're about average. Not particularly close, but not distant either."

Xi Wutong recorded his answer faithfully.

She seemed to sink into thought.

After a long while, she said, "We understand that your sister completely lost consciousness a month ago, and that you've had her staying here at Giantwood Hospital ever since. Last night, Giantwood Hospital was preparing to give her a treatment. Is that correct?"

"That's right." Qin Manjiang nodded.

Xi Wutong put down her pen and looked straight into Qin Manjiang's eyes. "Classmate Qin, can you give me your exact home address?"

"Number fifty-two, Riverside, Lower River Village, Echoing Water Town, Sleeping Mountain District, Fu City."

"Mr. Qin, you're blinking very rapidly. What's wrong?"

"Am I?"

Qin Manjiang offered no answer, only a smile.

Xi Wutong frowned again. She stood up and said, "Sorry, please wait a moment."

"My sister is all right, isn't she?" Qin Manjiang asked.

Xi Wutong nodded. "She's in the intensive care ward. Please wait."

She hurried out. Qin Manjiang caught traces of bewilderment in her expression.

The class monitor stood outside the door, watching Qin Manjiang anxiously. Since he had arrived at the hospital, she hadn't had a chance to say a single word to him.

Qin Manjiang leaned back quietly in his chair and let his eyes drift shut.

Although the injuries he had suffered in the fire had vanished without a trace, his mental and physical exhaustion remained. He hadn't even had time to eat lunch and get some proper rest before rushing straight to the hospital.

Five minutes later, Xi Wutong returned.

She sat down opposite Qin Manjiang and said gravely, "Mr. Qin, there's something I must tell you. Your sister Qin Manyi is suspected of intentional homicide. The victim was a resident of your hometown, Lower River Village, Echoing Water Town, Sleeping Mountain District, Fu City..."

Before she could finish, Qin Manjiang shook his head. His tone wasn't heated, but it was firm. "Impossible. She's been unconscious in the hospital this entire time. It takes at least six hours to drive from downtown Fu City to my hometown, twelve hours for a round trip. There are mountains everywhere, and the roads are bad, so it actually takes even longer. She couldn't have done it. She wasn't the killer. There's no way she could have been."

His argument was sound. In fact, Xi Wutong agreed with him.

But...

"It's true that your sister has an alibi. Most of Giantwood Hospital's medical staff and your classmate can vouch for her. However, an eyewitness report identifies her as the killer. And your sister has confessed."

Xi Wutong's words made Qin Manjiang's brow twitch.

"She confessed?"

"Can I see her?"

Xi Wutong nodded. "Yes. Please follow me, but your conversation must take place under my supervision."

"Thank you," Qin Manjiang said as he stood up.

Xi Wutong also breathed a sigh of relief. So far, Classmate Qin had remained remarkably calm and cooperative, leaving many of her preparations unnecessary.

But that was a good thing. Losing one's temper could only vent emotions, not solve problems.

The two walked out, one behind the other.

The class monitor quietly followed them and said in a low voice, "Classmate Qin... I'll testify for her. Your sister didn't kill anyone. She's been here the whole time..."

Qin Manjiang nodded. After a moment's thought, he said to her, "Class monitor, thank you for your help last night. You should head back to school. Once I've dealt with all this, I'll go there to complete the withdrawal paperwork."

The class monitor's eyes widened. Instinctively, she caught Qin Manjiang's sleeve. "You're dropping out? But... Classmate Qin, I'll explain everything to the teachers. The school will understand, too. You don't have to drop out..."

Qin Manjiang gently freed himself from her grip and shook his head slightly. He looked into her eyes and spoke quietly. Though he was smiling, there seemed to be a trace of regret in his expression:

"Thank you, class monitor. But I can't go back to a normal life anymore."

With that, he turned and followed Doctor Xi.

The class monitor, who had been about to keep persuading him, stared at him in a daze. Brilliant sunlight streamed through the hospital corridor's windows and fell over him, yet there was no trace of warmth.

Qin Manjiang was right there before her, alive and breathing, yet he seemed to be walking in another world.

She instinctively took a step forward, then forced herself to stop. She watched the distance between them grow until Qin Manjiang disappeared from sight.

Police officers kept a tight watch over the intensive care ward.

With Doctor Xi leading the way, Qin Manjiang reached the ward. After knocking and having the door opened, he finally saw that familiar figure—Qin Manyi.

She had a round face, dimples, and eyes that curved when she smiled. She was happily chatting about something with a female police officer.

Hearing the door open, she looked toward Qin Manjiang and Doctor Xi.

"Wutong!"

Qin Manyi called out brightly.

Doctor Xi smiled and nodded in return. At the same time, she said quietly to Qin Manjiang, "Prepare yourself."

Prepare myself?

Qin Manjiang didn't quite understand.

But he soon understood what Doctor Xi meant.

Qin Manyi tilted her head, looked Qin Manjiang over curiously, and asked:

"Who are you?"

(End of chapter)