# 302
Chapter 302 – Two Big Brothers
“Lin Qiye, it’s your activity time.” The orderly pushed open Lin Qiye’s door and called out.
Lin Qiye nodded, followed the orderly, and stepped outside.
“Did you dream last night?” he asked as they walked.
The orderly froze, hesitating. “Uh… y-yeah. Why do you ask?”
“Just curious.” Lin Qiye shrugged. “What was it about?”
The orderly’s face flushed scarlet; his eyes darted away. “J-just an ordinary dream…”
Lin Qiye raised a brow, the corner of his mouth lifting. “Are you sure it was ordinary?”
The orderly stiffened, then snapped in embarrassment, “Why are you asking? And why should I tell you?”
“You didn’t dream about Wu ‘Old Dog,’ did you?”
“??? Why would I dream about him?”
“Then never mind…” Lin Qiye mused. “How often do you usually dream of him?”
The orderly blinked, thinking. “Come to think of it, it’s pretty regular—about once every six days.”
“How many orderlies are there in this asylum?”
“Seven, counting me.”
A glint flashed in Lin Qiye’s eyes; everything clicked.
He finally understood how Wu “Old Dog” had learned the daily password.
They reached the transparent gate. The familiar voice crackled from the speaker:
“Employee 39180, state today’s password: What does the Lantern-Bearer most want to eat today?”
“The amazing crispy twists so amazing that even Bulbasaur says ‘amazing’ after eating them.”
“Password correct. You may pass.”
Lin Qiye’s lips curved upward.
He stepped through, loosened his joints, and headed straight for the cafeteria.
……
“Boss Lin! It’s Boss Lin!”
“Boss Lin’s here! Quick, someone get his food!”
“Boss Lin, your seat’s saved—this way, please!”
“Damn, which idiot’s job was this? The chair’s still cold! Warm it for Boss Lin!”
“Boss Lin, Boss An’s been waiting ages!”
The moment Lin Qiye entered, a swarm of inmates surged forward, beaming, fawning over him as if the Empress Dowager herself had arrived.
Lin Qiye froze in the doorway, utterly bewildered.
These guys… look awfully familiar.
Most sported bandages or plaster casts, hobbling yet happily ferrying trays to his table. The loudest cheerleaders were the worst off—wrapped like mummies with only eyes and nostrils exposed—still bellowing orders.
“Hold on!” Lin Qiye stopped one mummy-inmate. “What’s going on?”
Grinning, the man replied, “Boss Lin, after seeing you and Boss An in action yesterday, we realized our eyes were blind. Now that Han Jinlong’s finished, you two are our new bosses!”
Lin Qiye: …
He glanced across the room. An Qingyu sat on a bench, staring at a plate piled high with fish, lost in thought.
Lin Qiye walked over and sat opposite him.
“Did you orchestrate this?” he asked, half-laughing.
“No, I’ve better things to do.” An Qingyu shook his head and slid his fish onto Lin Qiye’s plate. “When I left the cell block, I had the same reaction.”
Accepting chopsticks offered by another inmate, Lin Qiye shrugged. “Feels weird.”
“But it saves trouble,” An Qingyu said coolly, eyeing the busy prisoners. “Whatever their motives, having helpers makes our job easier.”
“True.” Lin Qiye nodded.
“Any new findings?”
“Indeed.” He recounted Wu “Old Dog’s” story.
An Qingyu’s eyes widened. “You mean the psycho next door can still unleash his Forbidden Ruins under the suppressive stele, enter others’ dreams at will, and even told you the password?”
“Exactly. But his mental state’s unstable.”
An Qingyu pondered. “Is he in a patient’s gown like yours, messy hair, vacant eyes, about thirty?”
Lin Qiye blinked. “You know him?”
An Qingyu’s mouth twitched. “First night here, I dreamed of him.”
“He can reach your dreams?” Lin Qiye exclaimed. “The cell blocks are five–six hundred meters apart—how?!”
An Qingyu gave a bitter shake of the head.
“What did he do in the dream?”
“I was crossing a bridge; he floated up from the river holding two fish, asking whether I’d dropped the crucian or the carp…”
“Say what?”
“I said I don’t like fish, but I was interested in him and asked if he’d let me dissect him.”
“…Then?”
“I woke up.”
Lin Qiye stared at him for a long moment and sighed, wondering who really belonged in the asylum.
“With power like that, maybe we recruit him?” An Qingyu mused.
“You mean take him with us when we break out?” Lin Qiye frowned.
Wu “Old Dog” could be invaluable, yet…
“But we don’t know him,” Lin Qiye said. “If his instability causes trouble mid-escape, we’re finished.”
“Fair point.”
While they debated, Wang Lu and Fang Yanghui entered. Seeing Lin Qiye treated like royalty, they froze.
“What the… am I still dreaming?” Wang Lu rubbed his eyes.
“You’re wide awake,” Fang Yanghui said, gaze fixed on Lin Qiye, a faint smile forming. “The sky of the Purification Chamber… has changed.”