# 297
**Chapter 297: A Strange Dream**
"Let's go. Activity time."
The orderly opened the metal door and said to Lin Qiye inside.
Lin Qiye nodded and followed the orderly out. As usual, they passed through multiple checkpoints. The orderly yawned.
"Didn't sleep well last night?" Lin Qiye asked casually.
"Don't even mention it. I dreamed all night," the orderly waved his hand helplessly. "I dreamed that Wu 'Old Dog' from another ward was playing games with me on the subway. When I lost, he just kept slapping me across the face. My face still hurt when I woke up..."
Lin Qiye was stunned. "You dreamed of him too?"
"What, you dreamed of him as well?" The orderly raised an eyebrow. "Makes sense. You spent quite a bit of time with him yesterday. Probably left a deep impression... Did he slap you too?"
"Not really. He just squatted there and said a bunch of nonsense." Lin Qiye shrugged.
"Well, he's a psycho. Normal."
They reached the transparent door, and the familiar voice came from the speaker again:
"Employee ID 39180, please answer today's code phrase: What does the Lantern-Bearer want to eat most today?"
"Fragrant five-spice spicy spiral soaring转弯 sauerkraut beef noodles."
"Code correct. Please proceed."
The verification device next to the glass door lit up green. With a soft click, the transparent door slowly opened.
The orderly walked to the side and saw Lin Qiye standing there in a daze. He asked suspiciously, "What's wrong? Don't feel like going to activities today?"
"No, it's not that..." Lin Qiye snapped back to his senses and said calmly.
In reality, his mind was already in turmoil.
He clearly remembered that this code phrase had appeared in his dream last night—and it had come from Wu "Old Dog's" mouth... Was it a coincidence?
Could he really have dreamed of today's exit code just by having a dream?
That was too absurd.
"Um, can I ask you something?" Lin Qiye hesitated. "Where do all these weird code phrases come from?"
The orderly chuckled. "Sounds ridiculous, right? But that's the point—no one would ever guess them... These phrases are randomly generated by the Purification Chamber's AI the night before. Only a few of us orderlies know them. Top-level secret."
"AI-generated..."
Lin Qiye nodded thoughtfully and stepped through the transparent door, heading toward the cafeteria.
...
Splash splash...
Water rinsed the lenses, washing away traces of blood. An Qingyu turned off the faucet, dried his glasses with his clothes, straightened up, and walked out of the bathroom.
"Kinda hungry..." An Qingyu rubbed his empty stomach. After a moment's hesitation, he headed straight for the cafeteria.
He walked in and went directly to the food line. It was peak mealtime, and the cafeteria was packed with prisoners talking loudly. The noise made An Qingyu frown.
He took his tray, smiled at the staff and said thank you, then sat alone at the corner table.
Thankfully, no fish today.
A look of relief flashed in An Qingyu’s eyes.
Moments later, Boss Han swaggered in with a group of prisoners.
Boss Han held his head high, looking arrogant, a faint smile on his lips—clearly in a great mood. The prisoners behind him looked a bit battered, but still wore fearless expressions.
"Today, I’m eating three portions!" Boss Han said to his lackeys.
One quickly nodded and ran to the line to get the food. Boss Han sat down and started humming a tune.
Just then, another prisoner rushed over and whispered something to Boss Han.
Boss Han froze.
He grabbed the prisoner by the collar, eyes wide, and said slowly, "Say that again?"
"Scarface... Scarface is missing too..." the prisoner stammered.
Boss Han jumped up, fury and confusion in his eyes. "When did this happen?"
"Right after you took the guys to mess with the Believers..."
"How is that possible?" Boss Han’s brows knitted tightly. He couldn’t understand. He flipped the tray that had just been delivered, the clatter echoing through the cafeteria and silencing the noise.
In the sudden silence, Boss Han growled at the others:
"You lot—go find him!"
Several lackeys bolted out of the cafeteria, scattering to search.
Boss Han sat back down, his face dark. He started doubting himself...
He’d just beaten up the Believers. They shouldn’t have had time to kill Scarface. Was he wrong? Was it not them?
Then who?
Suddenly, Boss Han’s pupils shrank!
The new prisoner!
One-Eye wanted to mess with the kid—he vanished that day. Today, Scarface said he’d go after the kid—and now he’s gone too. This is no coincidence!
Boss Han stood up. "Where’s the new prisoner Scarface mentioned?"
After whispers among the prisoners, someone pointed to the corner of the cafeteria. At a large table, a lone teenager was eating quietly.
Boss Han cracked his neck and gave a look. A lackey instantly understood. "Quick! Clear the room! Block the cameras!"
Several prisoners ran to the corner cameras and smeared paste over the lenses, blacking out all coverage. Seeing trouble, the other prisoners hurried out.
Within seconds, only Boss Han’s men remained—plus An Qingyu, still eating alone in the corner.
Boss Han strode toward the corner, followed by a horde of fierce-looking prisoners—at least forty or fifty.
They surrounded An Qingyu completely, the pressure palpable.
An Qingyu quietly set down his chopsticks and looked up at Boss Han.
"You’re looking for me... is something wrong?"
Before he finished, his pupils shrank—because in his peripheral vision, a familiar figure in blue-and-white stripes walked into the cafeteria.