Chapter Six

  Si Lu Chen's father, Si Zheng, knew that his beloved daughter was going to the United States alone and initially did not agree. However, Si Lu Chen successfully persuaded her father in two months' time. Although Si Zheng agreed, her mother, Fang Shan Yu, added another condition: she could go, but in the US, apart from tuition fees and a very small living allowance, everything else would be on her own.

  Knowing that his parents were intentionally making things difficult for him, Si Luochen not only didn't retreat but instead very much approved of their way of doing things.

  She grew up and had to rely on herself to walk her future path.

  Cherishing all things, Si Luochen left with her luggage the city she was most familiar with, rushing towards a strange yet full of expectation country.

  After re-reading at New York University for half a year, he prepared to work in a psychological clinic on Wall Street.

  It's Cai Luochen who has a high degree and relevant work experience. No matter where he goes, there will be people hiring him, let alone in an era of comprehensive psychological disorders.

  On the first day of work, Si Luo Chen made a good impression on everyone with his handsome appearance and fluent English, also leaving one person completely stunned.

  Never thought I'd meet her here.

  Because Si Lu Chen majored in personality psychology, even with experience, she had just joined the team and Professor Anna only assigned her to be responsible for some patients with mild mental illnesses.

  Cui Si did not have any opinion on this, her purpose was just for someone to follow and practice.

  Through a colleague's introduction, I became familiar with the work environment. It's really much better than I imagined, and it's no wonder she chose this place, thinking as I get familiar with it.

  Qian Tong's gaze was fixed on Si Luo Chen, but he didn't even glance at her.

  For the past two weeks, Si Lu Chen has been responsible for light psychological treatment and reviewing old medical records in the office.

  A knock at the door, Si Luo Chen was engrossed in reading materials and casually said, "Come in."

  "Lu Chen, want to go have lunch together?" It was Tony from downstairs who majored in clinical psychology. A humorous and charming man, very popular among women, often busy with social events. Rumor had it that rich ladies would often ask Tony for treatment, but Lu Chen wasn't interested in such gossip.

  Si Luo Chen glanced at the time and nodded slightly: "Wait a moment."

  Simply tidied up, picked up the bag and walked out of the office, only to find that many people were waiting at the door, including Xiang Qian Tong. Just glanced briefly, with a very calm expression, followed everyone to go eat together.

  A group of people came to the restaurant downstairs, eating simple meals and discussing some work-related things, the whole process was very lively.

  "There was a patient today who not only had autism but also selective disorder, standing in the supermarket choosing things and from morning till afternoon couldn't buy anything, finally collapsing and throwing all the goods on the counter to the ground..." Susan said, shaking her head.

  "This is still okay, I once received a patient who was actually uninterested in women..."

  Many people expressed sympathy.

  She didn't like it when they made such comments about their patients, how could they joke about it so casually. But she was new and couldn't say much about it.

  "This is a patient's, is it really okay to joke about this?" Xiang Qian Tong said with an icy expression. Ignoring the gazes of others, she quietly continued eating her sandwich.

  Cai Luo Chen glanced at him and continued eating with a slight smile on his lips.

  "Qian Tong, you really are... Our work is already dull, and the hospital's medical records can be shared, so it doesn't matter if we chat," Tony said.

  "Yes, Tony is right, isn't Qian Tong being too serious?" Susan chimed in.

  Qian Tong put the remaining sandwiches on the plate, picked up a paper towel to wipe her mouth. With a serious expression that was somewhat intimidating, she glanced at Tony and Susan, saying coldly: "They took our trust in them as entertainment for mutual exchange, they know how to look at us, huh?"

  The dinner table fell silent because of Qian Tong's words. She knew that saying anything would be useless and didn't want the atmosphere to become too awkward, so she got up and went to the counter to order a cup of coffee.

  When I came back with coffee, I found there was only one person left at the dinner table, eating quietly.

  Xiang Qian Tong sat down, her eyes fixed on Si Luo Chen's body, pursing her lips and saying: "Hey, long time no see."

  Si Lu Chen gazed at Xiang Qian Tong with a faint expression and said, "Long time no see? Don't we meet every day?"

  The faint smile on the woman's face in front of her made Qian Tong feel inexplicably uneasy, even a little nervous.

  To Qian Tong: "......"

  Why is it that every time I see her, I become tongue-tied? Now there are only the two of them here, and she's sitting right in front of me. From the first day I met her, I wanted to ask her many questions: Why did you come here? Have these three years been good for you? Or was something wrong on that side...? Most importantly, what does she think of herself? But at this moment, none of these questions can be asked.

  These years have been wasted, thought Qian Tong in her heart.

  Reason told her that Si Luo Chen's personality since childhood was suitable for being a hunter. All unintentional actions were invisible nets, no matter how careful the prey was, they would eventually fall into the net she had woven. No matter what changes occurred, she could remain calm and patient, this tolerance, even if the sky fell, still with a calm and composed expression.

  Si Luo Chen's eyes were like the dark night, quietly gazing at Xiang Qian Tong, with a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

  "What's on your mind? Or... did you see me and want to leave again?" The voice was extremely cold.

  Qian Tong shook his head slightly and said, "How could it be."

  You've been through it once, how could you not? It's just that at this moment, Xiang Qian Tong didn't realize the 'again' of Si Luo Chen.

  "That's good." He slightly hooked the corner of his mouth and continued: "I just arrived here, there are many things I don't understand yet. After all, we've been friends for many years, so I still hope you can give me more guidance."

  Si Lu Chen's tone was very serious, and his expression returned to its usual state, no longer the inscrutable look he had when facing Qian Tong.

  For some reason, when she heard this sentence, Qian Tong let out a sigh of relief in her heart and responded: "I will."

  In the following days, Si Luo Chen, in order to quickly blend into the environment, during the day, apart from normal work, would also follow professor-level experts on their rounds. After getting off work, he would be alone in the medical records room, looking at historical medical records.

  Xie Luo Chen admitted that looking at medical records was always more enjoyable than flipping through them. Because in the end, it was lighter than reality, and it could have a seemingly regrettable yet perfect ending.

  Life is much more tragic than this.

  Behind every mental illness, there is an unknown secret. Those experiences are not something that everyone can bear; without the correct way to relieve them, they will eventually lead to a path of mental illness. Severe cases harm both oneself and others, while mild ones cause anxiety and unease.

  Parents' education for children, the strict requirements for children and many expectations all belong to a common psychological disorder. Not to mention those who have experienced domestic violence and miserable life experiences.

  To Qian Tong, who grew up in the midst of her parents' quarrels as a child, fortunately didn't go astray and still possesses such a good mind. However, deep down, she has great unease about emotions, and being free from constraints became her goal.

  She once said that she hoped she was a bird without legs. Settling down is also having a day when you can't fly anymore, dying randomly in one place, and no one needs to collect her body for her.

  She's so afraid of stability and emotions, isn't this also a kind of psychological illness?

  Can it be cured?

  He closed the medical record and sat silently there.

  Unconsciously, it was past eleven o'clock again in the medical record room. Si Lu Chen gathered his materials, picked up his bag and prepared to leave, but just as he walked to the door, he was stopped by someone.

  It's Tony.

  Xia Lu Chen stood expressionless on the spot.

  Tony had a lot of wine and saw Si Luo Chen's mouth corner ripples with a happy smile: "Luo Chen, you're still here." His tongue was already rolled up.

  Si Luo Chen nodded slightly, without any extra expression, just as he was about to leave, but was blocked by Tony.

  "Coldly gazing at the man in front of her: 'Something's up?'"

  "Come on, let's go have a drink." said with a swagger.

  "Don't want to."

  Tony didn't think that such a charming man, who had many girls lining up to ask him out for dinner, would be rejected by the woman in front of him. He asked incredulously: "Is there something wrong with Chinese people's aesthetic?" Then he thought of something else and shook his head: "No way, aesthetics are subjective, I think you're very beautiful, you should think I'm not bad either..."

  The wine was very strong. Si Lu Chen held his breath and tried to push open the other door to leave, but as soon as he stepped out of the doorway, his hand that had not yet withdrawn was grasped by Tony.

  Si Luo Chen furrowed his brow and turned around to look at the man coldly. With a sudden flick, fortunately Tony had been drinking and fell like soft mud at the entrance. The scene attracted many onlookers on the street, but Si Luo Chen's force was too great and he stumbled backward several steps before falling into someone's arms.

  This faint scent is very familiar.

  "Are you okay?" Qian Tong had one hand around Si Luo Chen's waist and the other holding takeout. He knew she was busy every day until late at night, and today he saw that she hadn't even eaten dinner while looking at medical records, so after hesitating for a long time, he bought takeout to see if she had returned.

  Never thought I'd see this scene, with a very bad look staring at Tony.

  Si Luo Chen knew it was Xiang Qiong, and he stood up straight without a trace, calming his emotions, and unconsciously tucked the stray hair behind his ear.

  "It's nothing."

  Toni sat on the ground, still dazed, staring vaguely at the two people in front of him and smiled: "What a coincidence, let's have a drink together."

  Xiang Qian Tong ignored him and called Susan to come pick him up with Tony, then hung up the phone and turned around to pull Si Luo Chen away.

  Xia Luo Chen's wrist was pulled by Xiang Qiong all the way forward. Looking at her back, her high ponytail swayed back and forth, as if she was angry.

  The corners of his mouth curled up into a faint smile as he followed behind her, allowing himself to be pulled and led by her.

  Two oriental women with tall legs and exceptional looks, hand in hand, walked hastily into the crowd, like a radiant body, attracting many foreigners to glance at them frequently.

  As she walked around a corner, Qian Tong stopped in her tracks and turned around with a slight frown: "You shouldn't be out so late from now on."