ADLH Chapter 6: Why Isn't He Playing by the Rules?!
Early in the morning, before he could even get to work, Ruan Xingzhou was dragged to the hospital by his secretary.
Emergency treatment, scans, the whole nine yards.
The elderly doctor, face stiff, pushed up his glasses and looked at the young man sitting calmly across from him while holding a pile of reports—ultrasound, cardiac enzyme panel, ECG, you name it.
Secretary Wang, anxious, asked, “Doctor, please take a look! What’s wrong with our President Ruan’s heart? Is there a serious problem?”
The doctor frowned. The test results showed absolutely nothing wrong. Yet the patient said he had chest pains.
The doctor asked, “When did the pain start? Any strenuous exercise? Have you had this before?”
Ruan Xingzhou, expressionless, shook his head. “This morning. No. No.”
The doctor: "…This kid sure doesn’t talk much.” He’s like a robot. Is this what his granddaughter meant by "cold and aloof"?
Ruan Xingzhou: “Mm.”
The doctor: “…”
Secretary Wang hurried to explain, “Doctor, don’t be upset. Our President Ruan just isn’t very talkative.”
The doctor’s face eased a little. He cleared his throat and asked, “When the pain started, was there any strong emotional fluctuation?”
Secretary Wang: Emotional fluctuation? Haha, no way...
Ruan Xingzhou nodded seriously: “Yes.”
Secretary Wang: …Wait, seriously?
Holy crap—our President Ruan actually had emotions?! And intense ones at that?! OMG!
The doctor figured it must be some major work issue. Looking at the young man, so impeccably dressed and aloof, he softened his tone.
“You're healthy. Young people shouldn't let things get to them. Time heals all wounds—whatever’s bothering you now, you’ll overcome it in time.”
Ruan Xingzhou frowned. “So... over time, Qian Ji will like me?”
Secretary Wang’s eyes widened: “…”
The doctor’s smile froze: “Huh?”
Ruan Xingzhou thought the doctor might be hard of hearing because of his age, so he repeated seriously, “Will Qian Ji like me after enough time? I confessed today and got rejected. After that, my chest started hurting.”
The doctor fell silent.
Ruan Xingzhou asked, “Doctor, is there a treatment for this?”
The doctor: …I’ll treat your grandma, you little—
Several minutes later.
Ruan Xingzhou and Secretary Wang were thrown out of the hospital by a furious doctor.
Standing in front of the hospital doors, Ruan Xingzhou rubbed his chest—strangely, it didn’t hurt anymore. He turned and headed for the underground parking lot. Secretary Wang followed dazedly behind him, mind still stuck on: Holy crap, President Ruan has a crush! Holy crap!
After they got into the car, Secretary Wang finally snapped out of it. While driving, she sneaked glances at Ruan Xingzhou through the rearview mirror.
The car moved smoothly down the road.
Unable to hold back her curiosity, Secretary Wang cleared her throat and asked cautiously, “President Ruan… you like someone?”
Busy jotting down ways to improve his relationship with Qian Ji in a notebook, Ruan Xingzhou nodded. “Mm.”
Secretary Wang: Wow—!
“Who is it?” she asked eagerly.
Seeing her eyes sparkle with gossip, Ruan Xingzhou looked down and answered flatly, “The man who came to the company with me yesterday. Oh, and Secretary Wang, since you're married, if you know any good ways to pursue a man, please send them to me.”
After speaking, he noticed there was no reply. Frowning, he looked up, “Secretary Wang, what's wrong with your face?”
“...Nothing, I’m just too shocked.” Secretary Wang didn’t care about her smudged makeup anymore. She scrubbed her twisted face with her hand, swept all the exclamation points from her mind, and earnestly said, “Don’t worry, President Ruan! Leave it to me!”
President Ruan had finally fallen for a human being (?), and it was even a man (hehe)! Of course she had to help however she could!
“Good.” Ruan Xingzhou nodded in satisfaction. “Since this isn’t part of your official duties, I’ll give you a bonus.”
“Thank you, President Ruan!” Knowing how generous her boss was, Secretary Wang became even more motivated.
Back at the company, no one dared to ask why the boss and secretary were late.
The morning meeting dragged until noon. Fortunately, they still made it to lunch on time.
Thinking about Qian Ji’s flat "impossible" from this morning, Ruan Xingzhou felt tightness in his stomach. He grew more confused the more he thought about it, unsure what he’d said wrong to upset Qian Ji. The more he speculated, the more his mind tangled. He ended up losing his appetite.
After sipping some tea, Ruan Xingzhou got up and went to the restroom.
Because Ruan Xingzhou was very particular about hygiene, the company's restrooms were spotless. Not a single watermark on the mirrors, and even a little bottle of air freshener by the sink.
While washing his hands, he suddenly heard a girl crying.
A girl… crying in the men’s room?
"Did someone walk into the wrong restroom?"
Ruan Xingzhou frowned. At that moment, the lights started flickering wildly.
Annoyed, Ruan Xingzhou grumbled, “Why isn’t maintenance replacing the broken lights? What are the janitors doing?”
The woman’s crying paused, then suddenly became sharper—switching between a man’s voice and a baby’s laughter.
Under the flickering lights and creepy sounds, anyone else might have peed themselves.
Ruan Xingzhou tilted his head: “Whose phone ringtone is that? Did someone drop their phone into the toilet?”
The crying: “…”
Apparently, it hadn’t expected someone to be so fearless. Enraged, the faucet behind Ruan Xingzhou suddenly gushed water—blood-red water, thick with a metallic, bloody smell.
“The faucet’s broken too.” Ruan Xingzhou thought about calling maintenance later. He walked over and waved at the faucet sensor.
Nothing.
The lights above flashed even more wildly, and the cries grew shrill, like a triumphant shriek.
Somehow, being near the sink made Ruan Xingzhou feel an urge to dunk his head into the blood-filled basin.
He thought for a second, then calmly took off his tie, rolled it up, and stuffed it into the faucet.
The faucet: “…………”
It stubbornly squeezed out one last trickle of blood-red water before Ruan Xingzhou shoved the tie in harder.
The faucet: “……”
The crying: “……”
The horrifying wails ended in a reluctant screech—and the lights stopped flickering. The bathroom became bright and clean again. The bloody water turned back into ordinary water.
“Fixed already?” Ruan Xingzhou frowned deeply.
Expressionless, he tested the faucet sensor again. Water flowed normally.
Satisfied, he pulled out his tie and left to find someone to properly repair the restroom.
After he walked away, a grayish, vengeful face briefly appeared in the mirror above the sink—then quickly vanished.
【Author's Note】: 【Mini Theater】
Ghost: Wahahaha! Blood flowing from the faucet, flickering lights, crying girl in the men’s room—perfect horror setup!
Ruan Xingzhou: Everything’s broken. Let’s spend some money and upgrade the facilities.
Ghost: …Can you please react normally for once? Please?
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