The mental health counselor arrived the next afternoon, dressed in a white coat that exuded a gentle demeanor. The smile on his face made people feel warm and comfortable.
“Mr. Zhong, hello.”
Chu Yan put down the entertainment magazine in his hand, looked up at the counselor’s words, but hesitated when he saw the person. After a while, he nodded slightly, “Hello.”
The counselor chatted with him for a while before getting straight to the point.
“Have you not found your behavior to be unusual? In fact, you must have noticed that your recent condition is quite abnormal, haven’t you?”
Chu Yan lowered his head and remained silent for a while before nodding almost imperceptibly, “I know.”
During the conversation, the psychologist asked him more questions. However, gradually, cold sweat started to form on his back. It was evident that this was no longer just mild depression.
On the surface, the patient appeared to have an optimistic attitude towards life, but internally, he was feeling suppressed, negative, and self-deprecating. He even harbored feelings of pessimism and world-weariness. Most cases had a tendency to relapse, indicating that if this suicide attempt was unsuccessful, there could be another one in the future.
This type of case was something he had encountered several times before.
“Mr. Xu, the patient’s condition has become quite severe, and it’s evident that this is the result of long-term development. The most challenging part is that he’s unwilling to open up to me.”
The doctor’s brow furrowed slightly. “Is Mr. Xu a friend of his? I have a few questions regarding the patient that I’d like to ask you.”
After a moment of contemplation, Mr. Xu nodded. “He is my partner. You can ask me any questions you have.”
The doctor’s face showed a hint of surprise, and after hesitating for a while, he carefully continued, “Based on my conversation with Mr. Zhong earlier, it appears that all his relatives have passed away, and his career ambitions aren’t very strong. His plans for the future are also not particularly clear… Additionally, it seems his friendships are quite superficial. So, as his partner, you are likely his only close connection in this world. And from our conversation, I have a sense that he might view you as his sole emotional anchor…”
“This is actually a very dangerous psychological tendency in itself, and I believe you don’t need me to tell you that. However, what truly puzzles me is that the patient seems quite unwilling to discuss these matters. So, I’d like to ask, is there any issue with your relationship?”
Upon hearing these words, Mr. Xu’s heart felt as if it had been struck by a heavy blow, leaving him dazed.
The sole emotional anchor?
The term itself instantly filled him with a sense of trepidation. He had always thought that in their relationship, Zhong Yu’s level of emotional investment was far from as deep as his own. Due to Zhong Yu’s proud and carefree nature, he could easily sever ties and move on, be it in other aspects of life or even in relationships. That was why he was able to end their relationship decisively, despite Xu Linshen’s impassioned pleas, without a hint of nostalgia.
However, now the doctor was telling him that Zhong Yu had actually regarded him as his sole emotional anchor. The gravity of the word “sole” was such that even thinking about it sent shivers down his spine.
He struggled to comprehend what kind of emotion this was—someone channeling all their feelings towards a single person. It was like embarking on an irreversible gamble. What if he didn’t love Zhong Yu? What if he ended up betraying him?
Upon introspection, he could confidently say that in this world, Zhong Yu was the person he loved the most. He was willing to give his life for Zhong Yu without hesitation or regrets.
However, at the same time, there were other things in his life. He had ambition and goals, he had his own career and his own family, all of which held a certain place in his life.
But did Zhong Yu not have any of these things?
He could sense that Zhong Yu’s career ambition was indeed not strong. In fact, a director had praised Zhong Yu for his natural acting talent before. It was just that he hadn’t received any professional training, and his heart had never been truly in that direction. So, he had never cared about or even shown any concern for the criticisms of his acting skills from the outside world. As for friends, since he entered the entertainment industry, his daily schedule was so packed that he had no time to make friends.
After that misunderstanding occurred, what did Zhong Yu think during the time he considered himself a substitute for Ye Jingyun? What did he go through during the period of their breakup?
Xu Linshen dared not even think about it. The mere contemplation sent a chilling shiver through him, as if bone-deep coldness was creeping up from his feet.
The doctor looked at Xu Linshen’s distracted expression and sighed softly, “These are some insights I’ve gathered from my conversation with the patient. Mr. Xu, my suggestion is, whenever you have the chance, talk to him openly. Perhaps he’s only willing to open up to you.”
—
After sleeping for a while, Chu Yan woke up and saw Xu Linshen sitting by his bedside. He wasn’t sure how long Xu Linshen had been sitting there, but he seemed unusually cold and silent, exuding an indescribable sense of sorrow throughout his body.
When Xu Linshen noticed that he was awake, his expression softened a bit, and the icy demeanor surrounding him began to melt away. He spoke softly and gently, “It’s already noon. Would you like to eat something?”
Chu Yan didn’t say anything, just gazed at him silently. After a long while, he spoke softly, “Sure.”
In the depths of his pupils were as countless tiny stars, his jet-black, soft hair draping over his nearly colorless cheeks. Remaining motionless, he stared at Xu Linshen, looking like an insecure little creature trying to confirm something in this manner.
Xu Linshen gently touched his hair and had someone bring a bowl of fragrant and glutinous mixed shrimp congee from the small kitchen. He then fed Chu Yan, sip by sip.
[You specifically chose the right hand for this, or how else could you be enjoying this five-star feeding treatment now?!] System 2333 was taken aback by his comment: [Host, is this also your reason for self-harm?]
After finishing the congee, Chu Yan leaned back on the bed, his gaze vacant and melancholic. After a while, he felt his hand being held.
“Chu Yan…” Xu Linshen stared at him for a long time. When he saw Chu Yan turn his gaze toward him, he opened the bedside table and took out a small velvet box.
A trace of surprise and puzzlement flashed in Chu Yan’s eyes. He then saw Xu Linshen open the box, revealing a pair of subtly designed men’s rings nestled in the soft white velvet. They emitted a radiant shine in the cool light.
“I bought these rings a year ago, but I always thought that something like this should be more solemn, that I should wait for the perfect moment to ask… But now, I realize that these things aren’t as important as I originally thought.”
Xu Linshen gazed steadily at Chu Yan, his voice gentle yet incredibly clear, his tone solemn to the point of reverence: “Zhong Yu… Would you be willing to legally join me as my partner, to spend the rest of our lives together regardless of poverty or wealth, in sickness and in health?”
Chu Yan looked at him, his complexion growing paler due to his words. His lips trembled uncontrollably, and he finally closed his eyes heavily, his voice hoarse as he whispered, “I’m sorry…”
“I can’t… I can’t promise you…” Chu Yan shook his head, then raised his hand to cover his eyes tightly.
Seeing him like this, Xu Linshen hesitated for a moment, slowly prying open Chu Yan’s hand. Unexpectedly, his hand touched scorching tears, tears that seared through his fingertips and pierced straight into his heart, causing his body to freeze in place.
He gazed at Zhong Yu, his breath catching, and then gently asked again, “Why?”
Zhong Yu lowered his head, refusing to meet his eyes, his voice fractured, “I already know… Don’t lie to me anymore. I know everything…”
It was as if emotions had reached a breaking point and were now erupting completely. Desperation was palpable, and Xu Linshen’s body stiffened, a terrible premonition flooding his mind.
—
Ye Jingyun received Xu Linshen’s call at a social event. He was already a bit tipsy, and his mind was a bit unclear when he saw the incoming call reminder on his phone.
However, when the cold and clear voice came through the phone, it was as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over Ye Jingyun. His intoxication seemed to vanish instantly.
The study was silent, every sound audible, and Ye Jingyun’s old fear, buried deep within him for years, began to resurface as he looked at Xu Linshen, who sat behind the mahogany desk, engrossed in reading documents, his head lowered and not a word spoken.
Ye Jingyun stood there for a while, until the mantel clock chimed with a muffled sound. Only then did he cautiously and carefully speak up, “Big Brother, what brings you to summon me at this late hour?”
Xu Linshen raised his head, closed the document in his hand, and calmly said, “Nothing much, I just wanted to have a chat with you.”
Then, looking at Ye Jingyun standing there motionless, he said, “Why stand so far away? Come over.”
Ye Jingyun shifted his legs slightly and walked slowly to the edge of the desk, thinking to himself—this was actually extremely unusual for him.
“How have you been recently? Have you adapted to being back?” Xu Linshen leaned back against the chair’s backrest, his gaze assessing Ye Jingyun up and down.
Perhaps due to the lighting and angle, Ye Jingyun actually felt that his gaze held a hint of cold, sharp scrutiny, causing an involuntary shiver from deep within him.
Ye Jingyun’s throat moved up and down, but he couldn’t make a sound for a moment. He paused and then spoke again, “There isn’t much of a difference from before, so I can’t really say whether I’ve adapted or not.”
Xu Linshen nodded and then smiled slightly, “You’ve always been intelligent and hardworking, from childhood to now.”
The implication of his words wasn’t clear, and Ye Jingyun’s fingers tightened, his palms slightly sweaty. “Big brother…”
Xu Linshen lifted his hand to silence the words that Ye Jingyun hadn’t spoken yet, and continued slowly, “Your academic performance has always been excellent, yet you decided to proactively tell Father that you want to give up studying finance management and choose film and television performance as your major.”
“I initially thought that you could continue being so intelligent, diligently doing what you should, and with your current development, you had an unlimited future in the entertainment industry.”
Pausing here, he looked at Ye Jingyun, “But unfortunately, you’ve become foolish. I warned you before, but you didn’t take it to heart.”
Ye Jingyun gazed at him, and for some reason, he suddenly became calm, “What are you referring to, big brother?”
Xu Linshen flipped through the documents on his desk, not lifting his head as he said, “Last Friday, you met up with Zhong Yu, right? However, I seem to recall that I told you not to disturb him before. Hm?”
Ye Jingyun’s expression changed slightly, looking at Xu Linshen, “We just happened to bump into each other during an audition, and we chatted for a while.”
Xu Linshen stared at him, his tone calm but carrying an icy undertone that would go unnoticed without careful listening, “Indeed, you only chatted for a while, and every word was for my benefit.”
Ye Jingyun furrowed his eyebrows slightly, sensing something amiss.
Xu Linshen tossed a document in front of him and said lightly, “The Jiaxin Accounting Department did some manipulation for you… though you managed to make it relatively clean. Originally, I intended to observe for a while longer. After all, these matters are considered family matters that shouldn’t be made public.”
Ye Jingyun suddenly looked up, puzzled, and glanced over the documents on the table. To his surprise, he found his own signature at the bottom.
The handwriting was a perfect match; every stroke was exactly replicated.
But he had never signed this document before. Ye Jingyun looked at Xu Linshen in disbelief. Xu Linshen, on the other hand, watched him with keen interest, his gaze calm and unruffled. Ye Jingyun moved his lips, attempting to speak, but after a long pause, no words came out.
Framed?
His hand, which had been hanging by his side, clenched tightly. After a while, he released his grip and gritted his teeth, coldly laughing, “You said I’ve become foolish, yet you’ve always been the foolish one… You’d better watch over him every moment from now on, praying he won’t relapse. You managed to save him this time after he cut his wrist, but what might happen next time?”
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