The Announcement and an Invitation After Drinking

A few days later, amidst the uproar and anticipation, the official investigation results of the highly anticipated "Ankang Hospital over-medicalization case" were finally released in a rather hasty manner.

The report was carefully worded and logically clear, yet chillingly cold. Its core conclusion was clearly pointed to:

According to a forensic psychiatric evaluation, the attending physician, Qin Ming, was in the acute phase of bipolar disorder during the time of the incident, and his cognitive and behavioral control abilities were severely affected.

Therefore, the related medical practices were deemed to have caused harmful consequences "when they were unable to recognize or control their own behavior," and they were not criminally liable under the law.

The report also mentioned that Ankang Hospital had oversights in its monitoring and daily management of employee mental health, and the health authorities have intervened, ordering the hospital to rectify the situation within a specified period and imposing corresponding administrative penalties.

As for Qin Ming himself, the report only briefly mentioned at the end that he had been sent to a designated medical institution for compulsory medical treatment in accordance with the law.

This announcement, like a block of ice thrown into boiling oil, instantly provoked an even more intense reaction.

The online uproar, which had just begun to subside, has erupted again.

"Forced medical treatment? That's it?!"

"Another mentally ill person! Damn it, is the cost of committing a crime so low now? Just get a doctor's certificate and that's it?"

"Hospital management oversight? A mere slap on the wrist? What about the patients and their families who were harmed? Who will be responsible for their losses?"

"I disagree! This is clearly exploiting a loophole in the law!"

"Heh, I knew it. There must be some powerful backing behind them, otherwise they could have escaped so easily."

"I just want to know how a mentally ill person became an attending physician! Are all the people at Ankang Hospital Madman?"

Questions, angry outbursts, and mockery filled major social media platforms. Although some relatively rational voices attempted to explain the complexity and legal procedures of forensic psychiatric evaluation, they were quickly drowned out by the overwhelming tide of public opinion.

What people witnessed was a young girl being wantonly abused, a family on the verge of collapse, while the perpetrator, with a certificate of "mental illness," successfully evaded imprisonment and was merely sent to a "hospital." This outcome created a huge gap between the public's simple sense of justice—"a life for a life, a debt for a debt"—and the law of justice.

The Monkey saw this official announcement via a push notification on its mobile phone.

He was helping his parents pack their things in the temporary house they rented near the hospital. His younger sister, Xiaoya, would need more time for rehabilitation, so they decided to stay in the provincial capital for the time being. When he saw those few lines of cold text on the screen, he felt as if all his strength had been drained away. His phone fell to the ground with a "thud," and the screen shattered instantly, just like his feelings at that moment.

There was no angry roar, no hysterical questioning. He simply squatted down silently, picked up the shattered phone, and then walked to the balcony alone, gazing at the bustling crowd below, remaining silent for a long time.

The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment. He had thought that public attention and police intervention would at least bring justice to his sister and punish the perpetrators. But the final result was like a silent blow, shattering all his illusions. It turned out that in the face of rules and methods carefully woven by some people, the anger and pain of ordinary people were so insignificant.

That night, Monkey dialed Lin Feng's number, his voice hoarse and low. "Madman, come out... have a drink with me."

It was the same street food stall they used to frequent, bustling with activity and lively chatter. In stark contrast to the noise of the other diners, their table was deathly silent.

The Monkey chugged down glass after glass of cheap beer, without Lin Feng needing to urge him on; he drank quickly and eagerly. His eyes were bloodshot, whether from the alcohol or from suppressed tears, it was hard to tell.

"Madman... tell me, how the hell is this world?" The Monkey's tongue was a little tied, his eyes unfocused as he stared at the greasy plate on the table. "My sister... how old is she? What did she do wrong? Why does she have to suffer like this?"

"Our family... we've always been honest and law-abiding, we never intended to harm anyone... how did we... end up like this?"

"That Qin Ming... scum! A beast! How come he... how come he's got nothing to do with it? Mentally ill? I'll fucking call him mentally ill!"

"And that lousy hospital! A fine and some rectification? What kind of punishment is that?! How many people have they harmed?! Is this enough?!"

"I'm not reconciled... Madman, I'm really not reconciled..."

He rambled on and on, incoherently pouring out all the grievances, anger, despair, and helplessness that had been building up over this period. At times he gritted his teeth, at other times his voice choked with sobs, like a lost child who couldn't find his way out.

Lin Feng sat silently opposite him, his glass of wine barely touched. He offered no comfort, no agreement, and no opinion. He simply listened quietly, occasionally handing Monkey a tissue or gesturing for another bottle when Monkey's glass was empty. His eyes were calm and unwavering, as if the harrowing experiences and infuriating endings Monkey recounted were irrelevant to him, or perhaps, everything was already within his expectations.

Lin Feng only signaled the owner to settle the bill when the Monkey, dazed and nearly asleep on the table, paid the bill, helped the unsteady-footed Monkey to his feet, and they left the noisy food stall.

A cool night breeze brought the Monkey slightly back to his senses, but his spirits remained at rock bottom. He pulled away from Lin Feng's hand, staggered, and waved, his voice slurred, "Thanks, Madman... I... I can go back by myself..."

He turned around, preparing to walk towards the bus stop. His Back View stretched long under the streetlights, making him appear exceptionally lonely and forlorn.

Just then, Lin Feng called out to him, his voice not loud, but clearly piercing through the noise of the night.

"Monkey."

The Monkey stopped and turned around in confusion.

Lin Feng was standing not far away next to a black sedan. The windows were tinted dark, obscuring the interior. He didn't say much, but simply tilted his head slightly towards the Monkey, gesturing for him to get in the car with him.

That look in his eyes was no longer calm and expressionless, but carried an indescribable, profound light.