This time, Gu Zhan had more time, so he asked Xiao Ling to help him get back into the monitoring room.
Then he asked Xiao Ling, "After I go out through your wall, can I come back in from anywhere else?"
Xiao Ling replied, "The inpatient building and the walls connected to it are all accessible. Just knock three times on the wall, and I'll come to get you."
"Okay."
He had Xiao Ling put him in the monitoring room.
The monitoring room was small, with monitoring screens covering the entire wall. Gu Zhan took a look; the live broadcasts mainly focused on the dormitory building, including the wards, hallways, and the cafeteria across from the inpatient building.
There were also cameras in the punishment room, but they were not included in the live broadcast... As for the third floor, there were no cameras at all.
Other buildings in the hospital had cameras as well, but the number was limited. The footage mostly showed empty spaces, occasionally capturing a nurse or security guard passing by.
There were no patients.
From the looks of it, there were only four types of people in the hospital: nurses, security, patients... and the deceased patients.
However, if someone failed a quiz or didn’t complete their personal tasks, they would be permanently trapped in the hospital, sent to a side space to become a monster like Sun Jingqiu.
What about the dead people... why did they die?
In this hospital, there was a killer who liked to dissect, cutting people into different parts and preserving those organs in containers filled with formalin... collecting them...
Was the seal stamped by him?
While Gu Zhan was still pondering, footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the door.
He quickly walked to the wall and knocked three times.
Just as Xiao Ling pulled him into the wall, the door to the monitoring room was pushed open.
The head nurse entered first, her tone sycophantic as she said to the person outside, "Director, that No. 707 is really too unreasonable. Should we prepare the seal in advance..."
The voice from outside was too quiet, and Gu Zhan couldn’t hear what was said.
Seeing the person standing outside the door, he wanted to wait and see what this Director looked like.
But the other person just stood outside and talked without coming in.
As time passed second by second, Gu Zhan said, "Can we switch to the corridor outside?"
He wanted to see what this Director looked like.
Xiao Ling said, "Sure."
The screen switched to the corridor outside the monitoring room.
Gu Zhan finally saw the Director’s true face; he was a very young man with refined and handsome features, tall and straight, resembling a scholar from some academy.
As Gu Zhan stared at him, the Director suddenly turned his head. At that moment, their eyes briefly met. A sharp, tiny sound quickly pierced through Gu Zhan’s mind, almost without thought: "Switch the screen!"
Xiao Ling didn’t understand but followed his instructions.
The wall instantly returned to darkness, and Gu Zhan stood there, still feeling a lingering fear.
Xiao Ling asked, "What’s wrong?"
"..." Gu Zhan couldn’t explain it, but when the Director had looked at him, he felt like he was completely exposed under the spotlight… but he was inside the wall; how could the other party see him?
Everything was just his imagination.
But regardless, he had no intention of looking at the Director again. Thinking that the Director was in the monitoring room and the office must be empty, Gu Zhan asked, "Can you take me to the Director's office?"
Xiao Ling readily agreed, "Sure."
The picture on the wall changed to the adjacent office.
Gu Zhan took a couple of steps forward and merged into the scene.
Soon, he appeared in the Director's office.
At first glance, it was evident that this office wasn’t used often; the desk was very clean, and there weren’t many decorations on the shelf next to it. Gu Zhan first walked over to the desk, circled around it, and found a drawer, casually pulling it open.
Inside the drawer was a thick stack of patient files.
Each file was handwritten in red ink with a grade.
Ranging from D to A.
At the top was Gu Zhan's name, with a red "A" written beneath it.
Gu Zhan quickly flipped through them, reaching the last page, which indeed was Patient No. 01, Sun Jingqiu. Her evaluation was a "D," unlike Gu Zhan's; her "D" had an additional line of red handwritten notes.
"Ordinary appearance, average build and her legs are barely worth a look."
"…"
Not just Sun Jingqiu; several other patient files had similar comments.
"Blue eyes are rare, with greenish hues that resemble gems; I quite like them."
"This person's hands are very interesting."
"Unfortunately, when ears are on him, they seem cute and interesting, but when removed, they appear ordinary."
Gu Zhan recalled everything from the punishment room… So it was true. This Director was the pervert who liked to collect human organs. He viewed the patients here as his "collection," secretly critiquing them behind their backs.
Sun Jingqiu's legs must have been cut off by the Director.
Only she didn’t know why she hadn’t died, but instead turned into a monster, remaining in the hospital.
The individuals sent here were actually various serious offenders. The Director's collecting obsession was likely tacitly approved by the live broadcast, probably because the broadcasting party promised him such benefits, which is why he was willing to become the Director here.
At that moment, Gu Zhan heard the familiar system announcement.
【Congratulations, Player Gu Zhan, you have discovered the truth of the sub-plot 2/2.】
【Congratulations, you have unlocked a personal task:】
【Task Description: The Director has a very special watch on his wrist, the dial is a star. Use your thieving skills to obtain the watch.】
Gu Zhan: "…"
【Wow! He received a personal task!!!】
【Finally! Finally received a personal task!】
【Wife is amazing! Wife is incredible!!】
【What’s so great about this, Wen Ge received it a long time ago.】
【Did I ask you? Wen Dog.】
【What do you mean he received it a long time ago? He specifically went outside to check today, didn’t he just receive it too?】
Before Gu Zhan could digest the personal task, he heard voices outside: "Director, today…"
They finished watching the monitoring room!
Gu Zhan immediately walked to the wall and knocked on it; Xiao Ling was very responsive and promptly pulled Gu Zhan back.
As soon as he left, the door to the Director's office was pushed open.
The head nurse flattering the Director said, "Director, have you been living in the hospital these years? Is there enough daily necessities in the resting room? Do you need me to prepare more?"
The scene inside the wall still hadn’t changed, and as Gu Zhan turned, he happened to see the Director and head nurse entering the office.
The Director wore a smile on his face. After entering the door, he casually glanced to the side, and his gaze unintentionally met Gu Zhan’s through the wall.
For a moment, Gu Zhan felt a chill run down his spine, as if his whereabouts had been discovered…
But soon, the Director shifted his gaze away, casually walking to the desk, his fingers lightly brushing against the edge of the drawer.
The drawer that Gu Zhan had just closed was opened by him. The Director took out the first patient file, lightly flicked it, and placed it on the desk.
From Gu Zhan's angle, he could see his own name and photo…
Next to the patient file was the Director’s hand.
His hand was surprisingly nice-looking, with long fingers and distinct joints… On his wrist, he wore a watch.
The watch’s dial was a soft green color, not with hands, but with a large star and several smaller stars, connected by lines… Gu Zhan couldn't help but touch his own arm; the pattern on the dial looked exactly like the seal on his arm.
---
“Where else do you want to go?”
Behind him, Xiao Ling asked softly.
Gu Zhan suddenly came back to his senses, realizing that his attention seemed to have been completely captivated by the Director.
In the office, the head nurse had already left, leaving only one… smiling Director looking at the wall.
Gu Zhan thought it was bad and quickly said to Xiao Ling, "Take me back."
Xiao Ling transformed the scene into the punishment room, and Gu Zhan waved goodbye before leaving.
As soon as he landed, the head nurse abruptly pushed the door open and saw Gu Zhan standing in the center of the room.
A flicker of disappointment flashed in her eyes, but she didn’t say anything, just addressed Gu Zhan, "Your punishment time has ended."
It was unnecessary for the head nurse to notify him since the end of the punishment was naturally known, indicating that she had come intentionally to "catch" him.
The head nurse likely hadn’t discovered the wall space, possibly related to the Director.
Gu Zhan maintained a calm expression and walked out of the punishment room.
As he moved forward, he sensed something was off in the hospital today.
The surroundings were eerily quiet; he didn’t encounter any players along the way, not even any nurses...
This feeling… felt familiar.
Returning to the ward, he found it empty, standing at the door for a while before heading up to the second floor.
In the corridor on the second floor, Gu Zhan walked back and forth several times until he finally heard a familiar voice.
"Brother..."
Before the other party could react, he immediately turned around and replied, “It’s me.”
Gu Zhan turned back and saw the female ghost crouching on the ground.
Female Ghost: “…”
The female ghost had only seen his back earlier and never expected this person to be Gu Zhan.
Who would come out of the side quest space and voluntarily trigger an encounter like this?!
The memory of the last mini-game’s disaster was still fresh, and now she encountered this person again less than a day later!
The female ghost didn’t want to catch Gu Zhan at all; she turned and ran!
However, in the split second it took to turn, Gu Zhan actually grabbed her hair, bringing her to an abrupt stop.
He nearly pulled her scalp off!
“You called me brother, and I responded. I should have triggered the side quest of hide-and-seek; why aren’t you sending me in?”
Female Ghost: “…”
Who told you to respond?! The side quest can’t be forced upon someone!!!
Get away! Don’t get involved with me!!
【It’s getting intense; I see the player chasing the NPC!】
【The female ghost’s expression is hilarious; she didn’t say anything but seemed to say everything!】
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