Chapter 148: Playing the Fool

"No."

Ruan Mianmian refused outright. Jiang Ce looked at her in silence for a moment.

After a brief pause, Ruan Mianmian realized something and suddenly asked, "Where are we going? It’s not to the sanitarium to see Fang Xiaoyan, is it?"

Jiang Ce replied, "What if I said yes?"

Ruan Mianmian immediately turned off the television, stood up, and looked at Jiang Ce. "Let's go!"

"..."

Ruan Mianmian followed Jiang Ce into the car, and the group headed toward the legendary sanitarium where Fang Xiaoyan was being treated. For some reason, Ruan Mianmian noticed that Jiang Ce’s expression seemed rather grim.

She asked, "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing much. It’s just that Dr. Zhang says Fang Xiaoyan’s condition is a bit strange."

Ruan Mianmian raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's strange about it?"

"It’s hard to say. I don’t know the details, but I heard her condition worsened significantly this morning; she even started vomiting."

Jiang Ce’s brow was furrowed with irritation; it was clear he was truly at a loss. Ruan Mianmian, however, remained calm. Having seen Fang Xiaoyan in her "normal" state at the end of the month, all these recent developments seemed to her like nothing more than a calculated charade.

"Don't worry. Let's get there and see for ourselves."

"Mm."

The car sped along, and they soon arrived at their destination. The building looked much like any other hospital from the outside, but once they stepped inside, Ruan Mianmian noticed the difference. The design was more human-centric—less rigid than a standard hospital, with some areas designed in a rather eclectic, almost incongruous fashion. The adult-sized playground she saw in the lobby, for instance, felt completely out of place to her.

"Dr. Zhang, how is she?"

Jiang Ce led Ruan Mianmian into Dr. Zhang’s office. The moment they met, he couldn't wait to ask about Fang Xiaoyan’s condition.

"You're here."

Dr. Zhang looked at Jiang Ce with a grave expression before replying, "To be honest, in all my years of practice, I’ve never encountered a case quite this strange."

It wasn't that the illness was severe; it was simply bizarre.

Jiang Ce asked, "What do you mean?"

"Based on the tests I’ve conducted, she shows no actual cognitive impairment related to mental illness. Yet, her overall mental state is extremely poor. Furthermore, clinical results show she has severe adverse reactions to several psychiatric medications, which is why the treatment efficacy has been so unsatisfactory."

Dr. Zhang spoke at length, his expression heavy with concern.

***

Although Ruan Mianmian didn't know much about psychiatric treatment, she understood the gist of what Dr. Zhang was saying. Jiang Ce remained silent.

Ruan Mianmian stepped forward and asked, "Doctor, is it possible that she doesn't have a mental illness at all?"

As soon as she spoke, the other two men turned their gazes directly toward her. Not wanting to seem intrusive, Ruan Mianmian introduced herself. "Hello, Dr. Zhang. I am Ruan Mianmian, Jiang Ce’s girlfriend."

"Oh, I see." Dr. Zhang nodded at her in acknowledgment.

Jiang Ce looked at Ruan Mianmian and asked, "What did you mean by that?"

Ruan Mianmian replied, "Nothing, really. I don't know much about this; I was just asking."

Dr. Zhang looked a bit embarrassed. After a moment, he said, "Actually... I had the same thought at the beginning. Based on the test results we have now, we cannot rule out that possibility."

Ruan Mianmian was taken aback. Of course—how could an expert in psychiatry not notice the clues? He had likely kept quiet because he saw how anxious Jiang Ce was and didn't dare voice such a theory.

Sure enough, Jiang Ce’s expression shifted. He looked at Dr. Zhang and asked, "Are you saying she might be faking it?"

"Heh, heh..."

Jiang Ce’s question was too blunt. Dr. Zhang gave an awkward laugh and nodded. "You could say that. Since all the test results are normal, but the patient’s own presentation is unexpectedly poor, everything would be much easier to explain if she were indeed faking it."

"..."

Jiang Ce fell into a brooding silence.

Ruan Mianmian continued, "Also, Doctor, you mentioned earlier that Fang Xiaoyan had severe side effects from the medication. What were the specific symptoms?"

"Uh..." Dr. Zhang hesitated for a moment before answering, "The specific symptom was a severe vomiting reflex. Almost every time she took the medicine, she would throw it back up shortly after."

"Is the vomiting the only major symptom?"

"Yes."

Hearing this, Ruan Mianmian let out a cold laugh. She looked at Jiang Ce and said slowly, "What if she knows she isn't sick and simply doesn't want to take medication meant for mental disorders?"

The office fell into a sudden, heavy silence. Jiang Ce’s eyes widened slightly as he stared at Ruan Mianmian in surprise.

***

Even Dr. Zhang pondered for a moment before nodding. "If we follow that line of reasoning, it is indeed possible."

Jiang Ce narrowed his long eyes and looked at Ruan Mianmian. "Do you know something?"

"Well..." Ruan Mianmian pouted, looking as though she didn't want to say more, yet a hint of triumph shone in her eyes.

At this point, there was nothing Jiang Ce didn't understand. He leaned in close to her and asked, "If you know something, just say it. Surely you don't intend to keep it from me?"

"Fine, fine. I was planning to observe for a bit longer, but I didn't expect to close the case so soon."

Ruan Mianmian pursed her lips, looking bored, and pulled out her phone. Jiang Ce finally realized why she had been so excited when they arrived today; she had come with a purpose.

"And you were keeping it to yourself," Jiang Ce remarked, casting a deep, piercing look at her.

Ruan Mianmian grinned, found the video in her album, and handed the phone to Jiang Ce. "See for yourself."

Jiang Ce took the phone and saw Fang Xiaoyan’s figure, remarkably clear under the dim streetlights. Although the man she was with had his face obscured, Fang Xiaoyan’s expression made it clear that she knew him well and that their relationship was far from ordinary.

The office was deathly quiet, save for the faint ambient noise from the recording. Jiang Ce’s expression grew increasingly cold, his lips pressed into a thin, tight line.

Ruan Mianmian knew how shocking this video, proving Fang Xiaoyan was faking her madness, must be for Jiang Ce. Dr. Zhang took a peek as well.

In the video, Fang Xiaoyan communicated without the slightest hindrance, devoid of her usual erratic behavior. She looked as normal as anyone could be.

"What is going on? Is this Fang Xiaoyan really faking it?" Dr. Zhang was astonished; he never expected to encounter such a situation.

Ruan Mianmian and Jiang Ce stood in silence. Once the video ended, Jiang Ce’s fingertips, which had been gripping the phone, turned pale. He handed the phone back to Ruan Mianmian and, without a word, walked toward the door.

"Jiang Ce! Wait for me!"