HD Chapter 23

“The 7th medical record:

Male, Xu Zhi, 26 years old, computer programmer.

Main complaint: delusional state, cognitive function impairment, believing that his boyfriend is a character in the novel he writes, no violent tendencies, and no risk of suicide.

History of current illness: On July 11, he entered a delusional state. He believed that he signed a contract with the xx website at the beginning of the month, changed his career to that of a novel writer, and wrote a novel with Zhou Mu as the male protagonist. Based on this, he identified his live-in boyfriend as a character in the novel.

Past history: The patient was diagnosed with paranoid psychosis when he was 16 years old.

Family history: Grandfather suffers from schizophrenia.

Physical and neurological examination: No obvious abnormalities were found.

Attention, memory, and intelligence: Occasionally there is a lack of concentration during conversations, but rough tests of memory and intelligence are normal.

Cognition: Does not consider the above experiences and thoughts as pathological, acknowledges having anxiety disorder, and does not resist treatment for anxiety disorder.

……”

“The seventh time?” Ji Peiqing raised his head and asked in surprise.

“Yes.” Wen Shuyao looked at Xu Zhi, who was sleeping in Zhou Mu’s arms, and nodded.

Five hours ago, Xuzhi emerged from a state of delusion, teetering on the brink of a mental breakdown. Wen Shuyao, driving overnight, brought him to the hospital where his senior brother Ji Peiqing works.

Ji Peiqing happened to be on duty and met them at the entrance of the hospital.

“This is the one you were talking about…” Ji Peiqing looked at Xu Zhi and confirmed the person coming, “Your close friend with delusions?”

Wen Shuyao nodded, “Go in first.”

Ji Peiqing took them to the diagnosis and treatment room, raised his finger, and pointed at Xu Zhi, “What’s going on?”

Zhou Mu lowered his head, “When he came back, I was working downstairs. He didn’t see me. He must have been frightened.”

“Emotions were too intense,” Wen Shuyao pinched the bridge of his nose, adding, “He fell asleep.”

“State the symptoms.” Ji Peiqing walked behind the table, sat down, and pulled out a medical record.

Wen Shuyao stood up and walked over, handing him the temporary medical record taken out of the hospital.

Ji Peiqing flipped through a few pages and was very surprised that Xu Zhi had relapsed seven times in eight years. He closed the case and walked over to look at Xu Zhi.

Xu Zhi must have cried a lot before sleeping. There were some inconspicuous tear stains on his face, and his long eyelashes were wet and stuck to his lower eyelids.

Zhou Mu hugged Xu Zhi and sat on the sofa without saying a word.

“What’s going on with the anxiety disorder?” Ji Peiqing sat back at the table and took out a pen to record.

“Nothing much,” Wen Shuyao shook his head, “He thinks his mental disorder is a severe anxiety disorder, which is considered unclear. In fact, he only has occasional anxiety tendencies.”

Ji Peiqing looked very serious. He reached out and tapped the medical record, “He discovered delusional symptoms at 16 years old. Why wasn’t he admitted to the hospital for treatment at that time?”

“He is unwilling, and his guardian also chooses outpatient treatment.” Wen Shuyao glanced at him, speaking assertively, though it wasn’t clear whom he was addressing.

“Can’t you speak properly?” Ji Peiqing put down his pen and looked at Wen Shuyao with squinted eyes.

Wen Shuyao raised his chin slightly and looked back, then smiled and said, “It’s proper enough.”

Ji Peiqing stopped replying and looked at Wen Shuyao with a sullen face, apparently scolding him for not being able to carry it clearly.

Wen Shuyao suddenly laughed softly and asked Ji Peiqing, “Brother, my memory is not very good. What are the two criteria for ‘involuntary hospitalization’ in the Mental Health Law?”

Article 30 of the Mental Health Law stipulates that hospitalization for mental disorders must be voluntary.

The two criteria for involuntary hospitalization are: one experiencing severe mental disorder, and the other is behavior or danger that harms oneself or endangers the safety of others.

Both criteria are indispensable.

Although Xu Zhi fell into a delusional state, he did not threaten himself or others, and his social functions were intact.

Ji Peiqing understood, turned his head, ignored Wen Shuyao, and asked Zhou Mu, “Have you tried to remind him?”

Zhou Mu was currently lowering his head to wipe Xu Zhi’s face, and for a moment, he didn’t realize Ji Peiqing was addressing him. Subconsciously, he glanced at Wen Shuyao.

Wen Shuyao responded with a touch of irritation, “He’s asking you. Why are you looking at me?”

Zhou Mu withdrew his gaze.

“I tried,” Zhou Mu nodded and continued, “but his logic is very rigorous and there are no gaps. I didn’t dare to go too deep.”

“How so?” Ji Peiqing sat up slightly and looked at Zhou Mu, his expression becoming serious.

Zhou Mu thought of the time when they were washing dishes at home. Xu Zhi confidently said that he never washed dishes, so he kept ordering takeout, so he told Ji Peiqing about this situation.

“Is there any more?” Ji Peiqing picked up the pen and wrote down this phenomenon in the medical record.

“Yes,” Zhou Mu nodded, “He always thought that he was a frequent visitor to the porridge shop downstairs, but in fact, he only went there once a few months ago.”

“Mhm,” Wen Shuyao wrote down Zhou Mu’s description in the medical record and motioned for him to continue.

“And,” Zhou Mu suddenly paused and looked at Wen Shuyao with an unhappy expression, “he thought the pair of slippers I had at home belonged to Wen Shuyao.”

Ji Peiqing: “…”

Wen Shuyao: “…”

Wen Shuyao pretended to cough uncomfortably.

Ji Peiqing didn’t even give him a look and continued to ask Zhou Mu, “Has Wen Shuyao given him any psychological counseling?”

“Last time…” Wen Shuyao said.

“Twice,” Zhou Mu nodded, interrupting Wen Shuyao, “But this time is more severe. Shuyao said he strongly resisted, and his anxious emotions were very evident. There was no way to get into the state.”

“That time…” Wen Shuyao wanted to say.

“When the patient comes for treatment involuntarily, there is no right to force information out,” Ji Peiqing interrupted, jotting down notes in the medical record and nodding occasionally.

Wen Shuyao shut his mouth and stopped talking.

Zhou Mu responded and continued, “But this time is different. Shuyao said that his avoidance reaction was a bit strong.”

Wen Shuyao has been Xu Zhi’s counselor since he started working in the psychological counseling industry. The two grew up together, so every time they receive psychological counseling, it is Xu Zhi who takes the initiative to contact him.

But after Xu Zhi entered a state of delusion, he firmly believed that Zhou Mu was an unrealistic character created by him, and when Wen Shuyao was about to conduct an in-depth investigation, Xu Zhi subconsciously chose to conceal it.

“I think subconsciously,” Ji Peiqing closed the medical record and said to Zhou Mu, “it was to protect you.”

“Maybe,” Zhou Mu said.

Wen Shuyao’s medical record was not comprehensive, so Ji Peiqing decided to conduct further tests on Xu Zhi after he woke up.

Xu Zhi didn’t sleep for a long time. He didn’t cry when he woke up. He followed the three people very honestly and got checked one by one.

After Ji Peiqing gave Xu Zhi a preliminary diagnosis, he suggested that Xu Zhi be admitted to the hospital for treatment.

Xu Zhi completed the procedures and was admitted to the hospital at dawn the next day.

However, due to Xu Zhi’s extreme mental disorder, Ji Peiqing formulated a closed treatment plan. In order to cooperate with the treatment, family members were not allowed to visit him for two weeks.

Xu Zhi didn’t speak much after being admitted to the hospital. It wasn’t until Ji Peiqing’s ward rounds on the third day that Xu Zhi was willing to look up at him.

His eyes were timid.

“Awake?” Ji Peiqing put the pen in his pocket and smiled at Xu Zhi.

“Yeah.” Xu Zhi nodded and sat on the bed honestly.

His skin is very white, and his eyes are big. He has been through too much these days. He is wearing the striped uniform of the hospital and looks sicker than the average person.

“There’s free time for a while,” Ji Peiqing suggested, “Why don’t you go out for a walk?”

Xu Zhi shook his head, thinking of the hysterical shouting of some patients coming from the corridor in the past two days, and pursed his lips sadly.

Although he is not that extreme, in the eyes of others, he is no different from those who yell, but he still does not wish to cause trouble for the nurses.

Ji Peiqing saw that he didn’t want to say more, so he left after a while.

Before leaving the room, Xu Zhi stopped him.

“Brother Pei.” Xu Zhi’s voice was very low, and he looked at Ji Peiqing hesitantly.

“What’s wrong?” Ji Peiqing asked him patiently.

Xu Zhi didn’t dare look at him for too long. He looked down at Ji Peiqing’s white clothes, hesitated, and asked him, “Today…”

Ji Peiqing nodded and motioned for him to continue.

“Today…” Xu Zhi grabbed the edge of the bed with his fingers and exerted a little force, but he couldn’t say anything.

Ji Peiqing walked over, patted him on the shoulder, and said with a smile, “You want to ask about Zhou Mu?”

Xu Zhi lowered his head and hummed softly.

“Keep it confidential.” Ji Peiqing smiled, his hands in his pockets. “Whether he comes or not, it doesn’t matter. Anyway, I won’t arrange for you two to meet.”

Xu Zhi pursed his lips, resisted the urge to shed tears, and nodded.

Ji Peiqing stayed with him for a while and continued his ward rounds.

After he left, Xu Zhi got off the bed.

Xu Zhi’s ward is at the end of the corridor. The bed is not big, but there is a window that is not very small, but the outside of the window is reinforced by barbed wire.

Xu Zhi thought, this is what it feels like to live in a mental asylum.

The patients’ screams, the nurses holding handfuls of bitter medicine, and the strict work and rest schedule.

Xu Zhi felt that these could be tolerated.

What he couldn’t endure was the genuine desire for Zhou Mu.

Ji Peiqing returned to the office after checking the room. As expected, he saw someone who had been waiting there for a long time.

“Doctor Ji,” Zhou Mu stood up, “How is Xu Zhi?”

“The overall situation is good,” Ji Peiqing walked in and asked Zhou Mu to sit down, then poured him a glass of water, “I just met him.”

Zhou Mu took the water and said thank you, then asked, “Can he remember me?”

“Yeah,” Ji Peiqing poured himself a glass of water, “He was asking you just now.”

“I still can’t see him today, right?” Zhou Mu asked.

Ji Peiqing raised his eyes and glanced at him, “The treatment has its cycles; family members shouldn’t be too anxious. Meeting each other can easily lead to dependency and affect his recovery.”

“Okay,” Zhou Mu nodded, “I understand.”

Ji Peiqing looked at Zhou Mu for a few seconds and suddenly said, “You are different from what I thought.”

“Huh?” Zhou Mu didn’t understand.

Before meeting Zhou Mu, Ji Peiqing had heard about Zhou Mu. His impression of Zhou Mu was that he was a very ambitious businessman.

As one of the top ten outstanding young entrepreneurs in the neighboring city, Zhou Mu runs a hotel chain company. The hotels he created with the theme “Technology Travel” are well-known throughout the world.

But even such a person will be helpless when faced with a lover who forgets him again and again.

There are many people in the hospital who have been sent here and never seen again, but Xu Zhi’s condition has relapsed so many times that Zhou Mu has never been willing to send him away.

Even when he does, he comes to visit every day without fail.

“It’s nothing.” Ji Peiqing smiled and stopped continuing the topic. “We can arrange for you to meet in another ten days.”

“It won’t be long then,” Zhou Mu said.

When he spoke, he turned slightly sideways and rubbed the back of his neck with his right hand. Ji Peiqing judged it to be a typical sign of low mood and self-comforting behavior.

Suddenly, Zhou Mu smiled and interrupted Doctor Ji’s observation of him, saying, ‘Are you and Shuyao are really…”

“Huh?” Ji Peiqing was stunned and asked Zhou Mu, “Really what?”

“You are very similar,” Zhou Mu said with a smile, “Shuyao often tries to comfort Xu Zhi after he has done so, and then he also tries to comfort me.”

It has to be said that Wen Shuyao is a qualified doctor. After all, some patients’ family members have more prominent psychological problems than the patients themselves.

Ji Peiqing did not answer this sentence. He changed the topic, “When Xu Zhi relapsed for the first time, you should have admitted him to the hospital for treatment.”

“Wen Shuyao also said the same thing,” Zhou Mu paused and continued to add, “Exactly.”

Ji Peiqing: “…”

Ji Peiqing picked up the glass and drank water. He coughed slightly and asked awkwardly, “Wen Shuyao isn’t here?”

Zhou Mu raised his eyebrows and couldn’t help but joked, “If Doctor Ji wants him to come, I’ll ask him to come with me next time.”

Ji Peiqing muttered something about who wanted him to come, then put down the glass and stopped asking, changing the topic, “Xu Zhi has a very rich imagination.”

Zhou Mu chuckled, and said helplessly and indulgently, “Indeed.”

“When was the first time?” Ji Peiqing asked.

“When we first got together,” Zhou Mu recalled, “that time was also…”

“Very interesting.” Zhou Mu smiled and used these two words.

 

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The author has something to say: The next chapter is sweet.