Gu Luo immediately recognized the voice that had addressed him.
He stepped a little further into the room and an old mustached man appeared to his right. The same doctor who had worked at his old high school.
"What are you doing here?"
The doctor walked around the examination table and positioned himself behind his desk before sitting down. He gestured for Gu Luo to do the same.
Once Gu Luo was seated, the doctor spoke.
"Well, I have to say that I was transferred here by the force of fate, although I suppose the VEIL had its own intentions in this matter. However, the fact that your case was assigned to me was entirely my doing. When I learned that I was going to be transferred here the day after you left the high school, I immediately asked for your file to be entrusted to me. I didn't think they would accept, though..."
Gu Luo was initially surprised that he could interest someone to such an extent. He wondered if his case was really worth all this investment and attention.
"Why did you ask for my file? You could have simply accepted whichever file was going to be assigned to you at random and we probably would never have crossed paths in this huge building."
"To be honest, there are two reasons for my choice. First of all, I had a feeling that even if I hadn't made the request, your case would have been assigned to me because our arrivals here coincide. Besides, the fact that I was transferred at the same time as your departure, when I had just had you as a patient at your old high school, still makes me think that they had planned to give me your case. Finally, the second and last reason is that you interest me, Gu Luo."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, after talking with you last time, I found that conversation strangely entertaining. Isn't that also the case for you?"
"..."
Gu Luo preferred not to answer that kind of question. He hadn't particularly enjoyed the conversation with this doctor, but he hadn't hated it either. It had simply happened, and he hadn't thought much more about it.
On the other hand, he still strongly remembered the way the doctor spoke. No one had ever spoken to him so honestly and so directly. It was something that had deeply stuck with him.
The old man seemed to understand his silence and did not try to push him any further. He simply opened a file lying in front of him and went through a few pages. The sound of crumpled paper echoed through the silence of the room.
"By the way, I haven't introduced myself. My name is Chén Míngyuǎn. You can call me by my first name if that's easier for you."
Gu Luo observed the doctor's face. He had the impression that something had changed since their last meeting. The doctor still had that relaxed, almost amused expression, but his gaze was different.
The doctor began to speak. "You seem to have changed a lot since the last time."
"Really?"
"Yes."
He picked up a pair of glasses lying on his desk and adjusted them on his nose.
"Last time, you gave the impression of being someone who observed the world without really being a part of it. I imagine that since yesterday, your view of the world must have changed quite a bit because of what you've experienced and seen, right?"
Gu Luo slightly looked away.
"I don't know if I've changed."
The doctor muttered. "Perhaps not yet, at least..." He opened a file.
"Maybe you've simply become more aware of the fact that you were different."
Gu Luo did not answer.
The doctor went through a few pages before looking up.
"Do you know why the VEIL recruited you?"
"No."
"You have no idea what they found in your file?"
"Not really."
The doctor remained silent for a moment.
Then he gave a slight smile.
"That's rather amusing."
"What is?"
"You've joined a school where most of the students are disguised prisoners, you've been transferred to an institution you knew practically nothing about, and the reason why you are considered what they call an ABSURD never even crossed your mind."
Gu Luo looked at the doctor.
"I suppose I didn't care. Either way, whether I know it or not, things will remain the way they are."
"That's exactly what I meant."
The doctor closed his file.
"You accept an enormous number of things without trying to find out why they happen."
Gu Luo felt a slight discomfort tighten in his chest.
"Is that bad?"
"I never said that."
The doctor stood up and went to get something from a cabinet behind him.
"But that doesn't make it any less interesting. At least I find it interesting. You remind me of myself when I was in high school. It's amusing..."
He returned with a small metal box that he placed on his desk.
Gu Luo looked at it carefully, trying to understand what it was or what it contained.
"What is that?"
"A standard medical device. Nothing very impressive."
The doctor opened the box.
Inside was a small circular device covered with thin glowing lines.
"Put your hand on it."
Gu Luo hesitated and sighed.
He finally placed his hand on the device.
For a few seconds, nothing happened. Then a faint blue light appeared beneath his palm.
Gu Luo frowned.
"Is that normal?"
The doctor did not answer immediately.
His gaze had fixed itself on the device.
The blue light gradually changed color.
It became purple.
Then red.
The doctor abruptly pulled the box away.
"That's enough."
Gu Luo looked at his hand.
"What is it?"
"Nothing, nothing."
"..."
The doctor raised his eyes towards him.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then the doctor sighed.
"I don't know yet."
This answer surprised Gu Luo more than a lie would have.
"You don't know?"
"No."
The doctor put the device away.
"And I would rather not draw any conclusions before I have more information."
Gu Luo slowly nodded.
He wanted to ask him what the device had detected. But something told him that he wouldn't answer.
"Have you noticed anything unusual since you arrived here, well, since last night?"
Gu Luo thought.
"No."
The doctor stared at him.
"Alright. In that case, we'll simply proceed with a few additional examinations. Nothing complicated."
The doctor weighed him, took his blood pressure and listened to his heart. He took his height and noted the circumference of his arms as well as the length of his legs.
Finally, he gestured for Gu Luo to get dressed.
"Are we finished?"
"Yes."
Gu Luo got dressed and headed towards the door.
The doctor called out to him. "Gu Luo!"
He turned around.
"If you notice anything unusual, even if it seems insignificant to you, come see me."
"What kind of thing?"
The doctor hesitated.
"Anything."
Gu Luo looked at him for a few seconds.
Then he opened the door.
"Okay."
He left the room.
The doctor remained alone behind his desk.
He looked at the metal box he had just put away.
Then he muttered to himself.
"That wasn't a normal ether reaction..."
He ran a hand through his mustache.
"What are they going to do with you, kid?"