# 281
Chapter 281 – My Name Is Not Trash
Click!
With a crisp latch sound, Lin Qiye slowly pushed open the ward door. At almost the same instant, a melodious zither flowed out.
The three people outside froze.
This was no ordinary music—each note rang pure and grand, its after-sound lingering, every pluck swaying the listener’s soul…
Just as they were losing themselves in it, a rough, piercing voice exploded from behind the door.
“Ah—!!”
Lin Qiye’s hand jerked.
“Bare branches!
On the shining earth!
Cast dim shadows,
Troubling my heart…
I too seem able,
Indeed,
To be reborn!”
The grating voice rose and fell, reciting ancient verse with great feeling—like a drake honking, splintering the graceful melody into shards.
If the earlier zither had been a table of delicacies, this voice was someone cheerfully forcing a vat of rat droppings down your throat.
The contrast turned the trio’s faces green. After a moment Lin Qiye quietly shut the door again.
“I think our guest is better off staying inside,” he said solemnly.
Nyx and Merlin nodded vigorously.
“Wait, let me slap a few seals on this thing—can’t let him escape,” Merlin muttered, raising his staff to chant.
The door swung outward; a handsome blond youth poked his head out. “I believe there’s been a misunderstanding—”
Bang!
Lin Qiye expressionlessly shut the door once more and turned to Merlin. “Lord Merlin—do it.”
Screeeech…
The handle in Lin Qiye’s grip thrashed, squealing as someone on the other side twisted frantically, desperate to get out.
Lin Qiye clung on with iron fingers.
A snap— the handle went limp. He stared at the broken half in his hand.
The door burst open. The golden-haired man flicked his hair and flashed a dazzling smile.
“Hello, I’m Bragi.”
Lin Qiye’s mouth twitched; he hid the broken handle behind his back and sized the man up.
He had never seen anyone this handsome: porcelain skin, sculpted nose, features carved to perfection, ocean-blue eyes, sun-gold bangs artfully tousled. One smile and even sunlight paled.
“Uh… Not-Trash?” Lin Qiye ventured. Spotting the status panel behind the man, he corrected himself: “Oh—Bragi!”
Ward No. 3
Patient: Bragi
Task: Treat Bragi’s mental illness. At 1 %, 50 %, 100 % progress, randomly acquire part of his abilities.
Current progress: 0 %
The name triggered every tale Lin Qiye had ever heard.
“Odin’s ninth son, god of poetry and music?” he asked.
Bragi bowed like a gentleman. “The very one.”
Lin Qiye eyed the harp in his arms and understood. When he’d first released Nyx, he’d studied the symbols on the other doors; the harp on No. 3 had been a rare clue. Harp meant music, and Bragi of the Norse was on the shortlist.
“So what’s your illness?” Lin Qiye cut to the chase.
Bragi blinked. “I’m not ill!”
“…Right.”
Must be serious.
“Think harder. Anything odd? Feel like someone’s always near? Obsessed with something? Randomly turn into a pink starfish?”
Merlin: …
Bragi pondered. “Well… one thing.”
“What?” Lin Qiye grew serious.
“Lately I’ve gotten even better-looking.”
“…” Lin Qiye fought the urge to shove him back inside. “I mean something abnormal!”
“That is abnormal,” Bragi said earnestly. “I’ve become abnormally handsome.”
Lin Qiye: …
He gazed at the sky, reminding himself this was a patient and, as director, he mustn’t punch him—unless he really had to.
“Fine.” He exhaled. “Stay put for now. I need air…”
He strode away downstairs and ran into Li Yifei heading to hang laundry.
“New patient upstairs,” Lin Qiye whispered. “Not sure what’s wrong with him yet. Keep an eye out.”
“Easy.” Li Yifeu grinned.
Lin Qiye left the Asylum, opened his eyes on the hospital bed, sighed, and grabbed the remote.
A soft click—an orderly in scrubs entered.
“Patient Lin Qiye, free activity time. Shall I take you for a walk?”
“Let’s go!” Lin Qiye bounced up.
The orderly led him out of the metal cube. Only now did Lin Qiye see its full, sealed, fortress-like bulk; his mouth twitched.
Intimidating indeed.
At the keypad the orderly shielded the buttons with one hand, tapped out a dozen digits; the heavy door slid open.
Behind him, golden light flickered in Lin Qiye’s eyes, and the corner of his mouth lifted.