Blazing Armor

On New Year’s Eve, Ren Yi finished arranging the affairs of his squadron and drove to the hospital to pick up his father.BwBQgCZDoGGBCYdJCKyeGpFLhkRxzN

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When he arrived at the hospital, he informed the reception of his purpose and headed straight to the ward. Having visited numerous times, he was already quite familiar with the layout.bMbEssZvMydmTGGYqnJroMBkcqqlEQ

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Halfway there, he accidentally bumped into someone—it was Dr. Peng, who had received him several times before.gYmXGETdWtKiboJaDHQLHLEcwnYKQp

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“Captain Ren?” Dr. Peng seemed to be in a bit of a hurry. “Didn’t you say over the phone you’d arrive around four or five?”hBeoElQFkXtYkWtHYWSmTEvCMcLdhb

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“Oh, I wrapped up earlier than expected, so I came over sooner. I was worried about traffic later.”uhujLldNvgVIDvpPlrEXRWKQjpmPhS

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“Why don’t you take a seat for a bit? The nurse might be cleaning up the old captain.”OZvVYtVkamyiFFuTFKJmfFQElrccWK

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“During the day?”LZoWMrbGFxwBgbQYNSqhNfvIInmUDH

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“Seems so.” Dr. Peng glanced at his watch. “Just sit for a moment, and you’ll be good to go.”WFUOjXkXZsxLzSRJbkynBGMKomWIEZ

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“Alright, I’ll use the restroom first.”otBpyjASgqshXgZXeXPqXfIdIFXVNY

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“End of the hallway, turn left.”HhdmAOQVsUHtszbyizqvehVmIepVHm

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After using the restroom, Ren Yi pushed the door open and came out.GkIHhGMWZDMrxjgpKhaxvhtKPsoKSh

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At the end of the hallway was a window overlooking the parking lot. As Ren Yi passed by the window, he casually glanced down to see if he could spot his car. However, a figure crossing the parking lot caught his attention. That back view—it looked strikingly familiar.UBzISctUvIPEjhsWkDFymThQbIJkll

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Ren Yi paused, focusing intently. The building wasn’t tall, and with his 20/10 vision, he instantly recognized the person opening a car door below—it was Dr. Pompeii, Gong Yingxian’s psychologist.OiRLghPsLdfGWLkfFmsbwoGyDVOrIM

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What was he doing here?MrGkMmIxLXZfvdMcFXSEoyykmgJZfM

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Then again, considering this hospital had Gong Yingxian as a shareholder, it wasn’t all that unusual to see Dr. Pompeii here.jRctPStnpqbyXexUyzDrqGxURuiQCB

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Ren Yi dismissed the thought and turned towards his father’s ward.PQdRmzhiaXiUetbGyebhKOvHFFJiqC

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When he arrived, a nurse was just stepping out.lPYRlRwyqIODIozufzlafzZMOuJfps

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“Miss, is the cleaning done?” Ren Yi asked.UTPRZtkjjsxXKtvEQnmCfELAFlIjsq

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“All done, you can go in now.”yKXqyZFJuXMmzxjhHoKYWlyCFkcfBY

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Ren Yi pushed the door open and entered.UUiQFmJUtCmQCJqrLOENfDLwnUvUvh

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Ren Xiangrong was sitting in a chair by the window, basking in the sunlight. Hearing the noise, he turned his head and, slightly surprised, said, “What are you doing here?”KMFrCdmbDgTMiWWVcQinAxLXcpRJrc

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“It’s New Year’s Eve. I’m here to take you to the squadron to celebrate.” Ren Yi smiled bitterly to himself. They’d spoken on the phone just yesterday, and now his father had already forgotten.wXmklfrhxJXXdlShyTdQQRaKWTAPVs

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“Oh, it’s New Year’s? How is it already New Year’s? These years go by so fast.”LlevNvkuiYRGyelcwSbZDFlFBjwcTO

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“A lot of the soldiers’ families are visiting this year. It’s really lively.” Ren Yi began packing his father’s belongings.bzfgptMswWyMtwfxzAXFmzhDBhhwac

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“New Year’s… Where’s your mom? Off buying groceries?”PXODDWtCYWszSkiBXydedkrTRdhhix

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“…Yeah.”ZtiTnMxaNENIpCwZMmQDHPbgMEOnQh

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Ren Yi packed up his father’s things and pushed the wheelchair out of the ward.JnxVDoudCpIsVzvfJGKGiIAhqtqcOP

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Dr. Peng quickly approached with two male orderlies in tow. “Captain Ren, let us take care of this. We’ll get the old captain into the car.”JdDEKrDRxMcIakzaSdVOfWqxxJKyJo

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“Thank you. You’ve worked hard during this time.” Ren Yi shook hands with Dr. Peng. Leaving his father here had truly been a source of reassurance and peace of mind.EYhIVSnkWJKrwNSYjjXLrijQHDroHt

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“It’s our duty. Have a great New Year. Feel free to come back anytime after the holidays—there’s always someone here.”fgXDzdhzooTMEjDSlRzKNmhEqNWAMv

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“Will do. Happy New Year.”owKOcIyjEYKwQciqDEsnzDSwklWikn

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“Happy New Year.”ccONcdZskebzyctxXHAQNzRzAgYcUm

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On the way back, Ren Xiangrong remained silent, staring out the window.mZQaoyvdjaRahCMMPXLnLGkNuyjCYj

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When his father’s condition flared up, he could exhibit all kinds of behaviors—hysterical, jubilant, melancholic, or like now, reserved and quiet. Ren Yi was already used to it. With a lighthearted tone, he asked, “Old Ren, how’s life been lately?”JbaoYDrfamTlwYtgJLJAJVfoIeavqf

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Ren Xiangrong didn’t respond.rbSLNXyhLCtlwGFuAYwWHuTUHdRjDU

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“You’ve been in the hospital these past few months; the food’s been pretty good, right? Look at you, all fair and plump. I, on the other hand, can’t do it. No matter how good the cafeteria food is, eating it every day gets old.”thDDUwvcGjBgWdheRmbKEaJQTtTyVj

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Ren Xiangrong turned his face toward him and asked seriously, “What kind of dumplings is your mom making today?”ouOSQEYeZpZQYOBFvIYDHLyCUPAcfS

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“Definitely chive and cabbage fillings. You don’t like chives, and I don’t like cabbage, so this year we might throw in some mantis shrimp.”nxcNSgRBOOSXRrsqClzedzhpTlDsok

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“Mantis shrimp? What’s that?”vTYYiztFmuUBKiEJlKZgLCpjldAROB

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“Uh, shrimp.”sVSRPYiIcrlNwbrgrrjDHGjWbCYKkD

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“Oh, then we need to find Sister Wu. No, her son Xiao Wu. It’s not easy for a widow and her child to make a living. Now that she’s sick, we should regularly take care of her business.”djGPRPWWZRHVrCZKfYDTwDmWKBOlYu

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Ren Yi froze. When his father’s condition acted up, his memories jumped around unpredictably—thinking he was still in school was common. However, there was one specific year his father’s mind never revisited: nineteen years ago.ytXeeGTUPabaRMuCPaflollgFFbzpK

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That year was the most harrowing of his father’s life. In the span of a single day, he lost four comrades and was buried under rubble for eight days and seven nights, barely surviving. Perhaps due to some self-preservation mechanism, his father’s memory avoided that year entirely.zYFPKehoxCySZcagEFeqKXshsjCGLm

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But what he just mentioned—those were events from nineteen years ago.xptiAkUGMJwjlvzNLsylrWGdVrtkaZ

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Sister Wu was a small vendor at a market back then, selling dried seafood. Xiao Wu was her son, one of Ren Yi’s childhood playmates. Nineteen years ago, Sister Wu suddenly fell ill and was hospitalized. Xiao Wu, who was still in middle school, dropped out to take over the stall. Ren Yi wouldn’t normally remember other people’s affairs so vividly, but that year had also been his family’s most trying time, with far too many unforgettable events.LRJyvHEJABSojqpDZMtTrrKcqTssjK

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Ren Yi glanced at his father. “Dad, how’s your leg doing?”pGOFPaNwhsckfZqZhvCbjMOxKQuKWu

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During the Bao Sheng Chemical Plant explosion, his father had injured his leg, which laid the foundation for his mobility issues in old age. Ren Yi wanted to figure out whether his father’s memory was before or after the explosion. That memory was a brutal one. His father could recount it calmly when lucid, but if it still felt recent in his father’s mind, it could heavily impact his emotions.MsiKzdnRKHeEaDJPuceMWdMcxAVzWu

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“Ah, it’ll never be like it was before.”NyZVYyJVMhKEJBLxREAumEhhJmYFGm

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Ren Yi felt a pang in his chest, instantly becoming cautious. “It’ll get better; the doctors all said it would.”KvmJJhzLRYmUXtzboUJhAhoObAegpE

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“It won’t.” Ren Xiangrong said sadly, “Some wounds don’t heal. Just like when people die—they don’t come back.”rtVYInnvYqAgTTgusuXMpzDrUIiyzE

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Seeing the sorrow on his father’s face made Ren Yi feel awful too.nPNXjjkRBzCueGWrLmBoVVUvxGaJsh

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Recently, he had felt an urge to confide in someone, and the only person who could truly understand him and was closest to him was his father. But he had refrained. He didn’t want to worry his dad or make him relive the pain of losing his comrades.FhGguprtDqtPJGvzrETwGvcFZvqqFM

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And yet, his father had still gone back to that year.lulqqBrnyxnxfdVKKLbNBvGMIXKgsA

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As traffic began to build up ahead, Ren Yi rummaged through his father’s bag and pulled out an eye mask. “Dad, recline the seat and take a nap.”rwtaEDnnselFNVFysjXagDkbQBffJE

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Usually, sleeping would reset his father’s mood.GcHWPXbPzvDYPDgsRKGbuRApoxOvxH

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Ren Xiangrong seemed genuinely tired, reclined the seat, and put on the eye mask. Soon, he was asleep.hEjClKiRAcJLflrmWQsPmdBJMbwJoK

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Hearing the steady rhythm of his father’s snores, Ren Yi finally let out a breath of relief. He wasn’t in a rush to get back to the squadron and drove slowly and steadily.XhKuoYEPDpQgbJtExqKHhWSUKkAcIW

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By the time they returned to the squadron, the sky was nearly dark. A few soldiers came over to help transfer his father into a wheelchair. That’s when his father woke up, looking around the squadron with a dazed expression.GThQETbzyOPGmuGIwuPCstVJURlzzt

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“Uncle Ren.” Qu Yangbo walked over with a smile, bending down slightly. “Was the trip tiring? Are you hungry?”UAAeZeOpiMqgayEZYyhVOPEmKzbyoj

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Ren Xiangrong looked at Qu Yangbo for a moment before exclaiming, “Ah, Xiao Qu!”ztiMrpEdWgZApEunWvuHYVexTWlKcf

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“That’s right, it’s me,” Qu Yangbo replied with a grin.VwGWlLUVTlJaRuJOyMgYezRavvZHIx

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“Haven’t seen you in a long time,” Ren Xiangrong said, smiling. “How’s your father? I heard he had surgery recently.”qlfnwupgdzxdwdfSpYSkzOPhuJgWMG

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“Just a minor procedure, he’s doing well. You look great too.”gSUkLRLvOxNsGqINWxVfvGgFbAKonF

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“Not bad. Are you married yet?”YjHQbFCnQQIlWYhRdpsctFcAlicoDn

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Qu Yangbo chuckled. “Ren Yi isn’t married yet, so I’m in no rush.”KiGAGvGOuOHrDHLappYdSnpSDJVMZp

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“Get lost,” Ren Yi shot back with a laugh. “Dad, don’t listen to him. This guy’s a sweet-talker. Who knows how many girlfriends he’s had.”aFQufYqtvVhTaOOXuxJvDJJKYBuJuI

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“Don’t ruin my reputation, Ren Yi, I’m warning you.”hYOOQxXXTZHfsOcoTYZdFDWotygHdk

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Ren Xiangrong chuckled along with them.vgObaTNaOuIFudcdnfUHOexBxPYpZd

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Qu Yangbo helped push the wheelchair. “You really do look great. I heard from Si Huo that you’ve even gained some weight?”APNmYEzFWCWWiEShsMaGSCHiBaAUUS

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“Yeah, I’ve gained about eight pounds. The food at the hospital is excellent.”omRKmvPesyjoZqieRsarWNlXRWyQbX

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Ren Yi laughed. “Gaining a bit is fine, as long as it’s within the healthy range. You’re in perfect shape right now.”uiExfPtPMasiLBFnukVLWicGMqAAJu

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“Ah, but why are we at the squadron…” Ren Xiangrong muttered as he looked at the dormitory building, shaking his head regretfully. “This brain of mine gets worse by the day.”oOJRzCkCbxRpmxZfQOMFqFRUdkoXNT

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“Who said that? The doctors said the treatment is effective. They even said your brain’s sharper than before.”tfwxwLPLmmPXDCJwpyvUJqfvtrpOwR

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“Maybe. They keep making me play games and do crafts. I guess I’m getting better at them.”zuqnQWWHveolQVkbYNFSrhFbTsEbPX

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“Why not gather your fellow patients for a game of mahjong?” Qu Yangbo suggested. “Mahjong’s great for hand coordination and brain activity.”OEYPPIFgogHkdfNKGBxkjiYKlaMJmJ

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“We do have mahjong. I’m learning how to play.”UUtQPIOHAItVdJtiwleNpCMPrZuaEy

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The squadron was bustling with activity. While some soldiers had gone home for the holiday, many had stayed, and their families had come from far away to join in the collective celebration. As soon as they stepped into the squadron building, the aroma of food and the sound of laughter filled the air.pdRSSTFeRhmkAxQrcCVTGXUVIkUWuS

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Ren Yi wheeled his father into the common room, where they were warmly greeted. His father was visibly thrilled—it had been a long time since he’d felt so surrounded by affection and admiration.AAeVaNFnuGdjfVBmZIQcvLYyotwkQp

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Dozens of people sat together for a lively New Year’s dinner, and afterward, they gathered to watch the Spring Festival Gala.nNKRMmPVKaVOyOvkrNVlTfAjMvDBro

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By ten o’clock, Ren Xiangrong was visibly tired. Ren Yi said, “Dad, why don’t you rest in my dorm for a while? I’ll bring you some dumplings later.”ItpsjSWmAUCvSfXMDehUNmyksvSPoP

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“Alright,” his father agreed.yFUAQEJyOryTExdCQlgSHkOGhrmpOX

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With the help of a few others, they carried Ren Xiangrong to Ren Yi’s dormitory.MsfkJCzRLjOYCLKFHbrkHrDYOEtMGN

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Ren Yi tucked him in and handed him a glass of water. “Drink some water first.”PEqsTDvGgyEuvdklIEGBRnFMVtaIaK

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Ren Xiangrong took a sip. “It’s lively, but a bit tiring.”XBwoKKeYHaUUFCEtpABqGzPhUWeBvQ

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“You probably haven’t seen so many people in a long time. Don’t worry, you can rest well. If you ever want some excitement, there will always be plenty.”uzLWUwByHpugMTJniKzfBiVqrfVrUW

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Ren Yi massaged his father’s legs.TspCzVJSLhtbbqqmAgHSrIbYBlBNix

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“Alright. Dr. Pompeii said I need to interact with people more. The more lively, the better.”FpuHKMIsgygbKueheyvCxIWRMrJrCw

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“Dr. Peng?” Ren Yi asked casually. “Since when did Dr. Peng get a PhD?”VdkpjgGYtiePJqxjNhYCRhWPqFORDm

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“Not Peng, Pompeii. A foreign doctor, mixed-race.”eYFdEByFASrgOgDQTiHjLhrWwUsmoH

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Ren Yi was taken aback. “Dr. Pompeii? You’ve met him?”hsaQrZlXLjEcWsXPhDtmIRWWfGSnvW

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“Isn’t he a doctor?”PRYzOqzeapDtqPaPLBiGLSuFJnUMHi

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“He’s not your attending physician.” Ren Yi found it odd. The medical team Gong Yingxian had arranged for his father initially certainly didn’t include Dr. Pompeii. Alzheimer’s is a neurological condition, and a psychologist’s role in treating it would be minimal. Why was Dr. Pompeii involved in his father’s treatment? And why hadn’t he been informed?AxzEOUMRllwBQECFhtIrJiqsycuuXT

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“There were several doctors. I’m confused myself,” Ren Xiangrong said. “Anyway, he’s talked to me a few times.”ZqLDzKAYwAdfleHrCwwnQwpAquXOes

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“Did he talk to you today?”KoSwZkUryyOJfrgZEfNllnHTuAYKoe

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“Today…” Ren Xiangrong hesitated. “I don’t remember. Did he come today?”YiymFaxoTSMrJwHNEmkSWxQPkmkBuA

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“What does he talk to you about?”SmxrGrmCjKEteGUzJXPFQbbTojFRMC

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“He says he wants to help me recall memories that left a deep impression. He said it would help stimulate my memory and keep my neural pathways active.”SYGpAJnJFCxkNyLDcHjLJzRKFFsDTn

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Ren Yi was filled with suspicion. Dr. Pompeii didn’t seem to have any reason to be involved in his father’s treatment. Was it for research purposes? If so, the hospital should have informed him in advance. “And what do you talk about?”cdcJTQkAxBNtLkaWXDGSkLmhPTuMUV

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Ren Xiangrong sighed. “He always asks about those two cases from nineteen years ago that were connected to the Gong family.”gbxcioQokksufbmboQSUYLODYZCkTP

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Ren Yi’s hand froze mid-motion. Gong Yingxian had once mentioned the possibility of using memory regression techniques on his father to see if he could recall details from the fire all those years ago. Ren Yi had agreed, but only on the condition that it wouldn’t harm his father.IBmmkMJCwKzFgllYYXvafssPglFyvq

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However, those weren’t pleasant memories by any stretch. If they were going to perform memory regression, they should have informed him first. After all, every previous treatment plan had been discussed with him in detail.pFefitxefZRfqPNtfHMsueSHPwSnew

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“If you don’t like it, just refuse next time,” Ren Yi said. “I know you don’t enjoy reliving those memories. Everything you’ve managed to remember, you’ve already told me.”UKXFDOTVxtEMMdOxJoCDWVyXuItdQW

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“Maybe,” Ren Xiangrong replied. “But the questions he asks always make me feel like there’s more I haven’t remembered.”HiibSLGXeLYWpdfvtdTYjOMvqiphBT

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“Like what?”QlSbiooAfOfAYSSSGEAVsUqGhadDWj

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“Like… something about masks. He even showed me a strange mask.”jggwYNkTuLhOphESqgtkcXqkXFgITX

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Ren Yi stiffened. “He asked you… about masks?”yzHZEormGnlfNdKjHOqxzRaffyAPmq

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“Yeah. I really don’t remember anything about a mask. Did the newspapers report on that back then? How does he know about it? Anyway, I’ve had a few dreams lately, and they felt so real, like I was back at the scene of the fire.”cLsHTLHNMscNOPUpzBZTPBlZQkRaUc

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Ren Yi’s expression darkened further.OyHjCsjRlTfNjvgrccTHqEXgQxqLCA

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Dreams. Gong Yingxian had once explained that deep hypnosis often felt like experiencing an incredibly vivid dream. After waking, the individual might frequently recall fragments of the hypnosis session, blurring the lines between memory and reality and causing confusion.OzczkkltFjPVXenhodZxlqUmCBJdDt

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Could it be…?MfVhpUJzknyUuOqkqNPQpMiQMMeEjo

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No. It couldn’t be. There was no way Dr. Pompeii would conduct deep hypnosis on his father without his consent. That would be illegal. Every step of the treatment process had been communicated to him—he had signed off on every decision.UWPfkseCvdnQUpxQNqhFHwJAUpvEXu

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Signed off.unqBNBhqueMawFYunKNYrxEnJIZOpB

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A chill ran through Ren Yi’s body, his face turning deathly pale.WpdHPeMHeOqMjbuUQNjIzJvNqQSKAa

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