Rhodes Island's Psychologist

Ch 116: Don't Stay Too Late On the Fourth Floor

Lin Yie has been replaying the look that Nightingale gave him, in his mind for the last thirty minutes.

Back then, after waking up from the experiment, Nightingale gave off a strange feeling, but somehow, it wasn't unfamiliar. If anything, it felt as if he had seen her gaze before, somewhere he just couldn't place.

He didn't have any time to confirm his suspicion, however, before Hibiscus brought Nightingale back to her room to rest. As a safety measure, Nearl forbade Lin Yie from using his ability on Nightingale for a day or two, and with Shining's agreement, the matter was settled.

He tried asking the others if they noticed something different with Nightingale, but they apparently hadn't noticed anything. They just said that Nightingale was tired.

But was she really just tired?

...

It has been a long day.

Lin Yie stares at the document in front of him, but his mind keeps wandering elsewhere.

"Doctor," Ptilopsis says, "This is the third reminder from Operator Ptilopsis, your document is upside down."

"Oh." Lin Yie replies, finally leaving his trance, "Thanks."

Aside from serving as the chief psychologist, Lin Yie is also the manager of the fourth floor of this building. Right now, he's supposed to be reviewing a document from HR concerning the cleaning and installation of the necessary equipment to the fourth floor, because other than his office and the somewhat functional bathroom, the whole floor, to be frank, looks like a garbage dump. He has no idea how the residents of this floor could bear sleeping on cardboard boxes and living with trash around them, but if the floor were going to be cleaned, it would need the approval of its manager, that is, Lin Yie. Therefore, Lin Yie promptly signs his name on the documents without a second thought.

Lin Yie hands the document to his assistant, "Is the cleaning done manually or by the drones?"

Clutching the document in her arms, Ptilopsis replies "In Rhodes Island, maintenance is performed only by drones."

"So that means I don't have to worry about it?" Lin Yie asks, "I'm done for the day?"

Ptilopsis shakes her head and mechanically replies, "Incorrect, as floor manager, you are required to oversee the drones in case of errors."

Lin Yie nods helplessly. All he wanted to do right now is go back to the dorm to sleep.

After all, he woke up early and used his ability five times in a row. Even though his ability doesn't seem to affect his body, he did enter five different dreams across four different time periods (Hibiscus and Lava's dreams took place in the same period of their lives), and on top of that, he ended up dying in two of those, all thanks to Shining's mighty swordplay. The "time-traveling" business really gave him a lot of stress.

Lin Yie glances at the clock. It seems his work will end in two hours, so he asks Ptilopsis "Are the drones coming today?"

"Yes."

"I guess I'll wait here then," Lin Yie says, "You've been busy today and done a good job, so you can get off duty early."

"Do you wish to dismiss Ptilopsis ahead of schedule?"

"You don't want to?" Lin Yie jokingly asks.

"No, Operator Ptilopsis has no issues," she turns to leave without hesitation, "Goodbye."

"Ptilopsis," he calls out to her, "Wait a minute."

"Is there anything else?"

Ptilopsis remains standing still, but her head makes a 180-degree turn to look at him.

Lin Yie almost drops the pen in fright, but thanks to a certain owl in the past, he has developed some immunity to this frightening sight. He manages to calm down quickly.

He takes out a copy of his recruitment notice from a drawer, and passes it to her, "Help me put this up on the bulletin board."

Ptilopsis takes the recruitment notice and scans it, "You wish to obtain additional assistants?"

"Well, Dr. Kal'tsit gave me three slots," Lin Yie says, "What do I have to lose?"

Ptilopsis shakes her head, "Ptilopsis does not understand. Why would you need so many assistants? Was Operator Ptilopsis's performance unsatisfactory? Did Operator Ptilopsis not satisfy your desire?"

Lin Yie is struck speechless, "Can't you speak normally? Don't learn from those Sarkaz's."

"It was a joke. Ptilopsis calculated that you wouldn't mind," She then points at his notice, "But Ptilopsis will inform you that your requirements would exempt a large majority of Rhodes Island personnel. If you wish to hire another assistant, you should lower the standards."

"Ha, that's funny."

Ptilopsis locks eyes with Lin Yie, before firmly replying, "Ptilopsis is not joking."

"..."

"If you have already made your decision, then Ptilopsis will help you post the announcement," Ptilopsis turns her head back, "Assuming that Ptilopsis's database does not suffer any sudden malfunctions."

"..."

"Just kidding, Ptilopsis knows you wouldn't mind," Ptilopsis walks out the door, "Goodbye."

"..."

Lin Yie sighs gently.

Who said talking to a beautiful girl would make people feel good? Why is he feeling even more tired? Lin Yie doesn't understand. He's obviously the protagonist here, but while the other male protagonists are off enjoying their harems, he is stuck running a kindergarten. No, it's not a kindergarten. It's a damn mental hospital..

Thinking about all of this only further exhausts Lin Yie, but before he could lie down on his new couch, he hears Ptilopsis's voice again, "Doctor, Ptilopsis advises that it would be undesirable to stay too late on the fourth floor."

Lin Yie turns towards the door and finds Ptilopsis standing there. His irritation and shock coloring his tone, "What's wrong with you?"

"Ptilopsis is currently running at optimal capacity," Ptilopsis replies, "Operator Ptilopsis recommends that you avoid staying too late on the fourth floor unless you wish to have an undesirable encounter."

"Is that another joke?"

"No, Ptilopsis dislikes joking."

Lin Yie waits for her to return, but hearing the sound of footsteps slowly fading away, he realizes that she's really gone this time.

"What a crazy girl," Lin Yie sighs, "When can I meet a normal person?"

Lin Yie is obviously not taking her words seriously.

...

He had intended on taking a light nap until the drones arrived, but who knew that he would end up actually falling asleep?

By the time he wakes up, the room is completely dark, and he could hear the sounds of small engines as drones fly back and forth to clean the room.

Lin Yie drags himself up and fumbles for the lights. With a flick of the switch, the room explodes in brilliance. After a few seconds of adjusting to the light, he checks the clock.

9:37 PM.