Nightmare Assault

Pi Wan held the drawings respectfully with both hands. He looked at Jiang Cheng with confusion. “Doctor Jiang, you want to… look for these people?!”

Jiang Cheng nodded. “See if you can find these two women through your network.”

“Are they in Rong City?”

“No clue.” Jiang Cheng answered, “They could be in any city.”

Pi Wan pouted as he studied the drawings, “It’s fine if they are close, but it’ll be much harder if they live far away.” He placed the manila folder under his armpit and asked, “Do you have any other clues like their identities, hobbies and careers?” Finding someone using just their portrait was like finding a needle in a haystack.

“No.”

Pi Wan’s face scrunched up.

“At least I have nothing concrete,” Jiang Cheng added, “But I have some hypotheses. You can use them as references.”

Pi Wan nodded. “Please.”

“The woman in the first three drawings is between 18 to 23. She’ll most likely be attending university with a major in the sciences.” Jiang Cheng leaned back as he completed the profile on Chen Xiaomeng, “Her results are good but not amazing enough to appear on the university website. She often asks for dismissals from classes. She shares a normal relationship with her teachers and coursemates. She is used to being alone. And…” Jiang Cheng looked at Pi Wan, who wrote rapidly in his notebook, “She will not live in the public hostel arranged by the university. Her surname is most likely not Chen.”

Fatty thought about it and was surprised that he could understand some of what Jiang Cheng said.

“I have less information on the second woman. She should be between 25 and 35. Her fingers are calloused with strong muscles. She should be a musician who plays instruments like the piano. She does not like the spotlight.” Jiang Cheng paused before adding, “I believe she has experience playing in big events and has a relatively stable career. You should try to focus on careers like private piano tutors or piano tuners. Her surname is most likely not Lee.”

At this point, Fatty was glad that he had chosen to follow Jiang Cheng. With the Doctor’s brain, it was impossible for their teammates to kill them in the nightmare realm. He started to wonder if he should add some dishes for lunch.

Pi Wan, who turned another page, had no change in his expression. He was used to this. He raised his head to ask, “Doctor Jiang, after we find them…”

“That has nothing to do with you.”

Pi Wan was not offended. He placed the notebook and the drawings into the manila folder. “Understood.” He didn’t waste time. He turned and left. Before he left, he remembered there was another person in the room, so he turned around to greet Fatty before leaving.

After Pi Wan fully disappeared from his view, Fatty glanced at Jiang Cheng who was lounging on the couch. His eyes glowed with admiration. “Doctor!” He licked his eyes, “You’re amazing!”

Jiang Cheng worked his stiff neck and took another sip of water. The afternoon sun showered evenly on his face. For a moment, Fatty was moved. He suddenly felt like he could see through the man’s disguise and saw his true fatigue.

He was mysterious, regal and illusive… Even his frazzled hair seemed to come alive. He was like a beast that roared against the world.

“Fatty,” Jiang Cheng slowly spoke.

Fatty was shocked, “Doctor, I’m here!”

“Don’t say I’m amazing in the future anymore, got it?”

Fatty’s throat moved. His heart almost jumped out.

“After all, you have not seen me in the presidential suite at night,” Jiang Cheng became excited as he reminisced about that glorious night, “I was the only person who became official without fully passing my internship period. I once…” Just as Jiang Cheng was about to regale Fatty with his tales at the Karoake Centre, the door suddenly opened, and Pi Wan poked half his body in.

Fatty was guarded.

“Why are you back?” Jiang Cheng was dissatisfied with the interruption.

“Doctor Jiang,” Pi Wan smiled, “I saw Boss Lin’s car outside. I wanted to know if she has been here today.”

“No.”

“Then, I shall leave you alone. Ignore me and… continue,” Pi Wan shrunk back and bowed. With his sunglasses and white robe, Fatty thought he was a robber.

With this interruption, Jiang Cheng lost his mood. He adjusted his clothes and curled up on the couch, his lips grumbling with annoyance. Fatty didn’t stay. He grabbed the vegetable basket and left to purchase ingredients.

Jiang Cheng, who was left alone, rested for a while. Then, he took out his phone. He didn’t search for his familiar Japanese girlfriends but clicked into his photo album. He looked at the latest photos. To be precise, they were four sketches.

He clicked on one of them. It featured a young girl in a Bohemian skirt. There was a sense of spirituality in her youth. She looked innocent.

Jiang Cheng slowly zoomed in on the picture until only a pair of eyes showed up on the screen. Through the screen, two pairs of eyes met.

The afternoon sun slowly retreated. Everything reverted to silence.

…

BUZZ

A hand grabbed the phone. Instantly, an anxious voice came through, “Why didn’t you attend the examination? Professor Sun is even calling me now!”

The girl lay on a giant bed and was wrapped under a pure white blanket. Her long hair spread on the pillow like an octopus. As she yawned, she slowly came back to her senses. “Uncle Gong, I’m sick.”

“Stop it. That’s what you said last time!”

“But I’m really sick this time!” The girl shamelessly coughed a few times.

Uncle Gong sounded powerless against the girl. He sighed, “Fine. But no more next time…”

“By the way,” The girl cut him off. She sat up in bed. “Uncle Gong, how’s the thing I told you to do last time?”