S City, suburbs, Fourth People's Hospital.
The tall surrounding barrier encloses the expansive hospital premises firmly within a circlut of reinforced concrete. Those outside can come in, while those inside cannot leave.
Most patients admitted to this hospital have scant chances of being discharged. The majority of these patients will spend their entire lives here, until death comes calling.
Why is it so? Because this is a mental asylum. The surrounding walls are built higher than those of a prison, with escape prevention measures at par with a prison facility.
Any psychiatric patient admitted here has no chance of escape unless their family members are willing to take them back home.
This unique hospital has existed for many, many years in S City. Countless patients have been admitted, and then eventually taken out. In and out, such is the span of their lives.
An Zhisu has lived here for five years and has grown numb to these repetitive scenes. But she's always sure that she will leave one day, it’s only a matter of time.
Perhaps it's God's favour, An Zhisu has behaved well over the past five years. She neither cried nor made a fuss, cooperated with injections and medication. Finally, five years later, she was informed that her condition has improved, and she can leave now.
On a winter afternoon, under a warm sun, the golden sunlight gently sprinkled on the slender silhouette of An Zhisu. She was standing in front of the heavy hospital iron gate, waiting for the iron door that had imprisoned her for five years to slowly open.
Clang... Clang...
The friction between the iron gate's pulley and the ground generated a sharp noise, piercing the tranquil afternoon like a summer thunderclap.
A pair of feet clad in canvas shoes stepped out from within the gate. Looking upwards along the slender ankle, straight legs are wrapped in a pair of whitewashed denim jeans.
The design of the jeans was a bit outdated, with an impressive row of vivid embroidery from the knee to the pocket on the right leg. Perhaps the exquisite manual embroidery is the most valuable thing about these jeans.
Looking further upwards, An Zhisu's slender waist, barely a handful, is covered by a simple white sweater. It's as pure as her face, devoid of any color.
The bone-chilling wind blew through her skeletal figure with a lot of hair fluttering in the wind. Her delicate face peeked from within the disheveled hair, you could faintly see her sickly pallor, exuding a detached and coldly elegant vibe.
"Honk honk!"
Outside the hospital gate, not more than ten meters away, a white sedan was parked. The owner of the car, leaning against the door, seemed to be getting impatient, honking the horn twice.
An Zhisu, prompted by the impatient honking, strode forward with light steps. In the blink of an eye, she covered the ten-meter distance and reached out to give a firm hug to the person who had come to pick her up.
"My dear, I'm finally out."
Song Jia-ren twisted her unhappy eyebrows, pulled back with a grip of An Zhisu's back collar. "Don't talk to me like you've just been released from imprisonment, it's disgusting."
An Zhisu obediently nodded her head in agreement, "Yes, my eminent lawyer, I am grateful to you for sparing the time to pick me up amidst your busy schedule. Your kindness is unforgettable, I am forever indebted, and can only make my amends in my next life."
This remark made Song Jia-ren feel pleasant, she gestured, "Get in the car, good to know you aren't infected by the loonies. At least you've got some brains, and can distinguish who your benefactor is."
An Zhisu obeyed and got in the car. No sooner had she buckled her seat belt, than Song Jia-ren, who had already started the car, tossed a yellow dossier at her.
All your documents like mobile phone, wallet, passport, ID card, and driver's license, I've got all of it processed for you. As a lawyer, Song Jia-ren was always swift in her actions, she had already prepared all these documents before An Zhisu was released.
"Did you bring the jade ornament I asked you to bring?" Without looking at the ready-made items inside, An Zhisu opened the dossier, her first task was to search for her most prevalent possession.
"The jade isn't in there, it's in the compartment in front of you." Song Jia-ren freed a hand, pointing at the drawer in the car in front of her.
An Zhisu gave a nod of understanding, opening the compartment, she took out a brocade box with a circular jade ornament resting within. Although being of a simple ring design and not seemingly valuable, it was indeed the most precious possession for An Zhisu at present.
An Zhisu placed the jade in her palm, holding tightly onto it, her gaze drifting to the fast receding scenery outside the car window. After a long time, as if finally making up her mind, her voice sounded as if coming from far away, "Jia-ren, take me to Shengshi Financial Group."
