Chapter 1: The Psychiatric Patient

“Life is like a play, and a play is like life!”

Qiu Dayong drooped his eyelids and cast a glance at his size 42 flip-flops. A flash of coldness flickered in his eyes, and a faint, almost imperceptible smirk curled at the corner of his mouth, laced with sheer disdain. He muttered softly, “Hmph, didn’t I just run out from there?”

“Qiu Dayong, cut the act and move along. Don’t block the doorway.”

Just as Qiu Dayong was about to retort with some harsh words, a clear and icy female voice suddenly sounded behind him: “If you act up again, next time it won’t be just three months of observation and treatment.”

“Yes, yes, yes, I absolutely won’t relapse again, you have my word!” Upon hearing this, it was as if a switch had been flipped inside Qiu Dayong. He spun around instantly, bent at the waist to a perfect right angle, and plastered a wide, ingratiating smile on his face as he addressed the female doctor clad in a spotless white coat, her expression cold and detached.

Three months ago, Qiu Dayong had unexpectedly crossed over into this parallel world where the entertainment industry was severely underdeveloped.

At first, he was delighted. But after inheriting the memories of his original self, all that joy vanished instantly, replaced only by profound confusion.

The classic elements of a crossing—an orphan, sharing the same name, and memory inheritance—Qiu Dayong possessed them all. Yet, from the very start, he was thrown into the jaws of imprisonment. Such a beginning was nothing short of a nightmare.

The original owner of his body was frugal, painstakingly saving up ten thousand yuan as a nest egg for his wife. He planned to deposit it into the bank, but overhearing a delivery colleague warn that money stored in banks might become inaccessible, he reconsidered.

After much thought, he decided to buy a safe to keep the money at home rather than trusting the bank.

But when luck runs dry, even drinking cold water can choke you.

When buying the safe, the original owner wanted to test its security by placing the money inside, locking it, and then trying to open it without a key. Just as the safe door slammed shut with a bang, two dim-witted robbers, as if on cue, charged straight into the safe store.

The shop owner, sensing trouble, immediately fled.

Without hesitation, the original owner charged at the two fools, throwing a punch to protect his money. Faced with such fierce resistance, the robbers exchanged a glance and, muttering that he was tough, bolted.

After the robbers fled, the original owner resumed pondering ways to open the safe without a key.

Before long, the shop owner returned with the police, kicking the door down. They were dumbfounded to find the original owner squatting there, prying at the safe with his rear in the air.

Robbing a safe store was one thing, but trying to break open the safe for money? That was absurd.

Despite the strangeness, the police detained the original owner and took him to the station. During his detention, the Qiu Dayong from the parallel universe arrived.

Perhaps still dazed from the crossing, Qiu Dayong foolishly confessed his identity as a traveler from another world to avoid capture.

Well, that sealed his fate. Coupled with the safe incident, unsurprisingly, Qiu Dayong was sent to a psychiatric hospital.

And now, he had just been discharged.

“Here, this is the money you locked in the safe, along with your medical certificate.” The female doctor stepped forward, handing the two items to Qiu Dayong.

Shortly after Qiu Dayong was admitted to the psychiatric hospital, the police reviewed the surveillance footage from the safe store, clearing his name. Yet, because of Qiu Dayong’s “transdimensional” claim, they still required him to undergo compulsory treatment at the psychiatric hospital.

“Doctor Su, is it possible to do without this certificate?” Qiu Dayong instinctively resisted when he saw the bright red psychiatric diagnosis in his hands.

It read: “Patient suffers from severe delusional disorder. If behavior becomes erratic, please contact our hospital.”