past
This is a room so narrow that it can only accommodate a 0.9-meter-wide bed. There are no windows and no lights. The darkness is so overwhelming that even the oxygen seems to have nowhere to stay, making it extremely suffocating.
Song Yu sat cross-legged on the bed with her eyes closed. This was the second time she was put in solitary confinement, and it was still just as unbearable. She slowly adjusted her breathing and calmed her rapid heartbeat caused by instinct.
She closed her eyes and groped around on the bed, her hands folded at her waist, one finger tapping gently to count the time. How long had she been locked up? One hour? Two hours?
Although it was a solitary confinement room, the sound insulation was not very good. She could hear someone running back and forth at the door. The complicated footsteps relieved her panic for a moment.
At the same time, there was a slight knocking sound on the other side of the wall. "Knock, knock, knock."
Song Yu raised his finger and knocked back at him, and then the knocking sound became more frequent, as if he was afraid that Song Yu didn't know he heard it.
This idiot, if there was a surveillance camera in the room, he would have been exposed as pretending to be deaf long ago.
Song Yu didn't respond to him again.
The door was opened with a clang, and the large amount of light pouring in was so bright that Song Yu subconsciously covered his eyes with his hands.
"No. 304, come out." The man gave the order mercilessly.
She was taken to the second floor. There was already someone in the room. She stood with her shoulders straight, her plump head facing Song Yu. A neatly arranged white bandage was casually tied behind her head. She walked over, pulled out a chair and sat down next to him.
The person next to her didn't move, and she didn't say anything either. The room was silent.
The camera overhead flashed red, scanning the two of them relentlessly, like a ferocious beast with scarlet eyes. After a moment, the beast hidden behind spoke, its cold, mechanical voice, mechanically separated by an electric current, echoing through the room. "Dating is absolutely not allowed in our hospital. It has had a huge impact on our hospital. We've already discussed the specific situation with your parents. One of you must transfer to our branch in City C."
"We've already communicated with Hospital 305, but they're unwilling to go to City C for you. So, you'll have to go to Hospital 304. Please sign the transfer application form next to it, and a car will pick you up tomorrow morning."
Song Yu said coldly, "We are not in love. I just gave him a book."
"That's a book about love." The camera flashed. "You don't need to argue anymore. Your parents have agreed to your transfer."
At first, she clearly just wanted to use this book to hint that the recorder was not obtained, and she didn't even look at the specific subject matter.
"The equipment in City C is more professional, and the management system is more complete. You will be able to correct your condition quickly when you go there, and your parents can rest assured." The voice behind the camera was coaxing.
With better equipment, better systems, and corrections, the sanatorium in City C will only be more terrifying than this one.
Song Yu glanced at No. 305 who was still sitting next to him. He was still staring straight ahead with an unaware look. He was a "deaf-mute" and of course could not hear anything. However, his hands hidden under the table were clenched tightly at this moment, and the veins on his arms were clearly visible.
This was a blatant scam that took advantage of the fact that he was deaf and dumb.
In the monitoring room, the person with the number 10 on his chest turned off the one-way audio transmission function of the camera. He looked at the images on the monitor with a relieved smile on his face. "We can finally get this damn girl out. Transfer her to City C and see how long she can hold out."
The person next to him asked curiously, "Why not send No. 305 away? He is still deaf and mute."
"Deaf-mute people are good, they can't hear and can't speak. If he opens his mouth and says he wants to go, then all my efforts will be in vain." No. 10 said proudly, "My goal this time is to get rid of No. 304. She's only been here for less than two weeks, and she's caused me so much trouble. My performance has been deducted because of her. I must not miss this opportunity. I also have to thank our new kid for seizing this opportunity, otherwise I would have no excuse to transfer them to another hospital."
Number 73, who had been standing in the corner from the beginning, now raised his head and forced a smile. "It's just a book, it doesn't mean they are in love."
Number 10 tutted in dissatisfaction. "I told you, why don't you understand? I don't care if they're talking for real or not. I'm going to get rid of this damn girl this time. Do you understand?"
"Alright, no need to say any more." Number 10 frowned and directed Number 73, "Go in, have her sign, and then lock these two people up."
"Shouldn't we take No. 305 away first before letting her sign? What if he finds out?"
Number 10 was instantly dissatisfied with this unruly newcomer. "I need him to be here so that this damn girl will give up and go to City C obediently. Got it?"
They were not really in a relationship, and No. 73 was very skeptical that Song Yu would sign the contract, but No. 10 was obviously very dissatisfied with her, so she didn't dare to say anything more.
When No. 73 entered, the transfer application form was still in its place, with no intention of signing it at all. She walked in carefully and picked up the pages of paper, hesitant and not daring to approach the table.
305 turned his head and saw her. No. 73 forced a smile, and then his eyes fell on the papers in her hands. She was a little nervous and deliberately held them a little higher so that he couldn't see them. The papers were placed at the right door. Song Yu sat on the left, and No. 73 walked around 305 and stood beside her.
She could sense that 305 was watching her movements. She wanted to make a quick decision. At this moment, she did not care about the guilt in her heart. She turned the page to be signed and placed it in front of Song Yu, putting the pen in her hand and said, "Sign here."
No. 73 could feel the girl looking up at her coldly, "Did you tell the secret?"
She didn't dare to speak, and just kept trying to get Song Yu to sign. Of course, Song Yu refused to sign, and threw the pen away. The pen fell to the ground with a clang, "I'm not in a relationship, and I won't transfer to another hospital."
No. 73 was a little annoyed and turned to the column for the guardian's signature. "Your parents have already signed to give you up. Even if you don't sign, you will still be sent there. What's the point of struggling?"
Song Yu's gaze followed her movements for a brief moment, and he gritted his teeth and said, "You don't need to tell me, I just won't sign." He quickly grabbed the application form on the table and was about to tear it up.
"What are you doing?!" No. 73 saw that something was wrong and immediately reached out to grab it, but Song Yu turned around and blocked it behind him, "Someone come! Someone come quickly!"
"Bang!" The security guard who was originally guarding the door rushed in directly after hearing this, and rushed in towards Song Yu, "Stop, squat down."
Just as Song Yu was about to tear it, No. 73 grabbed her hand from behind. She threw it back hard, and No. 73 was thrown to the ground. The security guard rushed up and tried to hold her shoulders. Song Yu turned around, raised her legs and stepped on the table to jump down to avoid the man's hand that was grabbing her shoulder. At the same time, several other people surrounded her, and each of them had a baton in their hands. For a while, the scene was in chaos.
After one of them grabbed Song Yu several times, he became angry and swung the baton in his hand and hit Song Yu hard on the back.
"Bang!" A muffled groan mixed with the sound of the collision, and a very unpleasant and hoarse voice suddenly rang out, "I'm going to City C."
Song Yu looked back in panic. No. 305 was kneeling on the ground facing her. His shoulder had taken the heavy blow, but he managed to stand up. He took the crumpled paper from Song Yu's hand, signed his name on it, and then handed it to No. 73. The voice, as rough as sandpaper, rang out again, "I'll sign. I'll go to City C. She'll stay here."
Why did he suddenly speak? Song Yu felt a little flustered for a moment.
No. 73 was startled by his words. He pointed at him for a long time without saying a complete sentence, "You...you can actually speak, what's going on? Aren't you deaf-mute?" After saying that, he immediately turned around and ran out, apparently to report to his leader.
The other security guards all ran out.
As soon as the man left, 305 immediately knelt down in pain. That stick had really hit him hard. Song Yu hurried forward to help him up, "Why did you suddenly speak?"
The boy suppressed the pain and smiled. His voice was hoarse and grainy because he hadn't spoken in a long time. "If you don't speak, you'll be sent away."
Thinking of the application he had just signed, Song Yu blurted out, "What about you?"
He smiled, his eyes obscurely looking at the camera in the corner that was still flashing red light, and slowly squeezed Song Yu's hand, "I'm fine."
Song Yu's body stiffened, and the fingers on the palm of his hand were still sliding slowly. Those were three words.
Tonight, escape.
It was a late summer night. The gentle night breeze wrapped around his fingers, feeling slightly hot and sticky. Until now, Song Yu could no longer remember the specific details of their escape. The only thing he remembered was the chaotic heartbeat that night, his clasped hands that were sweaty and hot, his rapid breathing while running, and the white bandage tied behind the head of the man in front of him that fluttered up and down in the night wind.
She still remembered that she really wanted to reach out and untie it. She wanted to see what the person looked like.
But in the end they failed and were caught and locked up in solitary confinement for three whole days.
Song Yu originally thought that they would really stay in this hellhole for the rest of their lives, but the next day after he got out, he was taken away by someone, and this sanatorium was reported and investigated a week later.
After she was released, she completed the procedures for returning to school and used her savings to support herself and get into university. The couple would harass her from time to time and introduce her to potential partners, saying that they felt she was unruly and wanted to find someone to control her. She dated many boyfriends maliciously, but broke up with them when they wanted to take things further. She thought it was no big deal, as her life was already so bad anyway.
Song Yuyang lay on the slide, looking at the starry night sky with unfocused eyes. Her mind slowly replayed the memories of several years ago. Suddenly, a scene flashed through her mind.
It was the day he was taken away. She stood at the window of the second-floor room and looked down. He was standing under the big tree with lush green branches. The two of them stood at each other from a distance. Song Yu didn't understand the inexplicable emotions she was feeling at the time. She only saw that he was still as quiet as ever. He stood there and made a sign language to her, "Remember to dig up what's under the tree."
During their escape, they buried a time capsule under the tree. It was called a time capsule, but it was actually just a tattered little box. No one knew where he picked it up from. The things inside were all placed in 305. She had no interest in it and didn't know what was inside. She remembered that the time was originally set to five years.
It seemed like five years had passed. Should we go dig it up? She stared at the sky in a trance. It was probably just some trinkets he couldn't take with him. They were definitely worthless, so he might have dug them up long ago.
After a while——
Song Yu propped herself up. She didn't care. Whether it was shit or candy, she had to taste it. She picked up her phone and called a taxi.
That place had been abandoned for a long time, and there were only a few street lights around it. Song Yu wandered around for a long time before he found the location of the big tree at the door. He bought a shovel on the way there.
She picked a spot at random, took the shovel and started digging with all her might. She couldn't remember the exact spot anymore and could only dig tentatively everywhere. Finally, she shoveled up something hard at a deeper location. She squatted down and used her hands to dig off the top layer of soil.
But when the hard object revealed its true appearance, Song Yu was stunned. One corner of the object sharply reflected inorganic light. It seemed that it was no longer the wooden box put down before. On the contrary, it was a very exquisite object. The material was even much more luxurious than the wooden box. The surface looked very anti-corrosion and insect-proof.
She picked it up, brushed off the dirt on it, walked to the street light and looked at it over and over again. Was this what he had put there?
Looking at the box shining with silver light in her hand, she began to wonder whether she should open this kind of thing herself. There should be nothing about her in it anyway. She squatted down and stuck the box into the soil, covered it again with the surrounding soil in her hands, then stood up and turned to leave.
After a few seconds, she turned back. After all, she had been told to dig before she left, so it would be okay to see what was inside, right?
The lock on it had rusted after years of wear and tear. Song Yu took great effort to open it, and the amount of things inside was beyond her expectations.
A few cards, a note, and a battered film camera.
"......" Song Yu muttered, "It's really rubbish. I knew he was bluffing again. I wouldn't have come here if I had known." She rummaged around inside and picked up some things. Since she was already here, she might as well take a look first.
She picked up the most eye-catching note and unfolded it. The handwriting on it was flamboyant.
"There's 300,000 yuan in these cards. You can use it to live on your own. If you encounter any problems that can't be solved, if you want, contact me. This is my phone number."
"May we be free."
With trembling hands, Song Yu dialed the number on the paper that the boy had left her several years ago. Everything around her was silent, and she seemed to have returned to that late summer when the night wind was wet and sticky. Amidst a long breath, she heard the voice coming from the other end of the phone.
"...Sorry, the number you dialed is unavailable."
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