I Forged the Myth of the Ancient Overlords
Chapter 248 - 248 247. Jiangcheng City Mental Hospital_1

Chapter 248: 247. Jiangcheng City Mental Hospital_1 Chapter 248: 247. Jiangcheng City Mental Hospital_1 Jiang Weicai was an entertainment journalist, also often labeled as a paparazzo by many.

Sometimes, he would squat in rental houses around his targets for a month at a time to capture evidence of their infidelity.

Other times, he would use various means to approach his targets and obtain first-hand information.

Jiang Weicai believed that calling him a paparazzo was a smear—he was an agent of the new era, a professional intelligence officer.

This time, Jiang Weicai had set his sights on Lu Ban.

Lu Ban’s film “Cry” had set a box office record for domestic horror movies, and with a box office of over two billion, it could also occupy a spot in the top twenty of the domestic box office rankings.

The promotion for “The Lunatic’s Whisper” was even more significant, and with the previous foundation, the industry generally had a favorable outlook that the box office would exceed two billion, even possibly reaching three billion.

So, obtaining the first-hand material for this movie was a big scoop for an entertainment journalist like Jiang Weicai.

Some said that these entertainment journalists were always looking to break a big story, and Jiang Weicai thought this was true. If a journalist could only write about neighborhood relations, cultural performances, or leaders’ meetings, they were incompetent. If a journalist couldn’t write some earth-shattering news, then they were wasting their time.

Fueled by a sense of journalistic mission, Jiang Weicai decided to track Lu Ban.

However, Lu Ban was notoriously insulated from journalists except for a few major national magazines—others found it harder than dreaming to get anything out of him. Plus, the actors in Lu Ban’s films also did a good job keeping secrets, and Jiang Weicai’s colleagues had long searched without unearthing any information.

Once before, several journalists from various magazines had rented a house opposite Lu Ban’s home, attempting to uncover the truth, only to be inexplicably taken away by the police, which left the journalists wary.

As a result, capturing Lu Ban’s gossip had become the ultimate pursuit for entertainment journalists.

Jiang Weicai heard the news that Lu Ban might go to the Jiangcheng City Mental Hospital and immediately sensed a great opportunity.

Because Lu Ban hadn’t informed others, there likely wouldn’t be bodyguards, meaning Jiang could easily approach Lu Ban.

Only after Jiang Weicai and some other entertainment journalists scouted the place did they realize the security at Jiangcheng City Mental Hospital was stricter than they had imagined.

Since some patients might suffer from severe mental illnesses, guards were placed not only for protection but also to prevent stimulating the patients, which meant ordinary people simply couldn’t get in.

Many journalists backed off, but Jiang Weicai did not give up.

He believed that this was what set him apart from others.

Jiang Weicai thought of a plan.

He contacted a doctor he knew, acquired a disease certificate through connections, and then processed a transfer to the hospital.

The day before Lu Ban was due to visit the mental hospital, Jiang Weicai was already admitted as a patient with schizophrenia.

He waited for Lu Ban.

…

By the end of April, the weather had become somewhat hot. Jiangcheng’s spring also carried a damp scent, with the fragrance of flowers mixed with humidity invading one’s nose, tormenting those suffering from rhinitis with both.

Lu Ban arrived at Jiangcheng City Mental Hospital and met his liaison.

“Dr. Hao, long time no see.”

It was the same doctor who had diagnosed him before, named Hao, a good doctor.

He considerately asked Lu Ban many questions and prescribed some medication, although Lu Ban never took it, he still felt quite relieved.

“How have you been feeling lately?”

Dr. Hao looked at Lu Ban and felt an unreal sensation.

This was supposed to be an extremely dangerous mental patient, yet now he could produce box office hit films and even come to visit the mental hospital.

Dr. Hao couldn’t tell who the real mental patient was.

Of course, he had to be cooperative with the work.

Jiangcheng Industries invested in the mental hospital, and orders from above were to assist Lu Ban with his research, so naturally, Dr. Hao had to accompany him throughout.

“I feel quite well,”

Lu Ban answered.

“Regarding the matter of gathering materials, we’ve arranged for some patients with light symptoms; they should be able to provide some support…”

Dr. Hao hadn’t finished speaking when Lu Ban raised his hand to signal.

“Dr. Hao, I feel that this one-on-one interview style will make patients feel oppressed, constrained, and unable to let go. These patients are extremely sensitive mentally, and under these circumstances, their behavior might not be genuine. I believe it wouldn’t be of much reference value.”

“…Indeed.”

Dr. Hao nodded slightly.

Many patients have a resistant attitude toward doctors and treatments, and quite a few even believe they are not sick.

If you interact with them as if conducting an examination, they might resist, and in the end, it would all be for naught.

“I have a suggestion.”

Lu Ban, looking at the hospital wards, said.

“How about I pretend to be a psychiatric patient and live alongside them? That way, I can eliminate the barriers and obtain the most authentic information.”

“?”

Dr. Hao looked at Lu Ban.

Pretend to be a psychiatric patient???

Aren’t you already a psychiatric patient?

Is there even a need to pretend?

“But this way, it might provoke the patients.”

Dr. Hao hesitated.

Because mental illness can sometimes be contagious.

It’s not about viral infection or anything like that but more like the contagion of memes in sci-fi works. Sometimes a patient with a self-consistent, fictional worldview might share their delusions with other patients, and some of those with milder symptoms could be influenced, leading to an exacerbation of their conditions.

Therefore, patients with lighter symptoms generally need to be separated from those with severe ones, and those with different diseases must be distinguished; otherwise, their conditions might worsen from being together.

In the past, there was even a severe psychiatric patient in the hospital who managed to convince the doctors and nurses and eventually led a group of people in a breakout.

If Lu Ban were to mingle with these patients, their symptoms might worsen!

“It’s alright, Dr. Hao, I am a professional actor; they definitely won’t realize that I’m not actually a patient,”

Lu Ban patted his chest confidently.

“…”

You don’t even have to act; you are a psychiatric patient!

A torrent of thoughts raged internally in Dr. Hao.

It seemed that persuasion was futile; all Dr. Hao could do was minimize Lu Ban’s impact on others.

Dr. Hao called over a nurse and quietly gave a few instructions.

“Xiao Tao, take Director Lu Ban to the recreation room. Before you go, find a set of patient clothes for him, and keep an eye on him. Don’t let him harm the other patients.”

“Keep an eye on him?”

The young nurse was a girl who looked puzzled upon hearing Dr. Hao’s instructions.

Why dress in patient clothes?

Generally, wasn’t it to prevent patients from harming the visitors?

With her curiosity piqued, she approached Lu Ban. She looked up at the tall, handsome director, pinched the corner of her clothes, and said with a voice that was somewhat soft.

“Hello, I will take you to visit the wards.”