Chapter 8

  At the time when Si Lu Chen was taking a bath, Qian Tong curled up on the sofa in the living room and stared blankly.

  For every glance and expression of Si Luo Chen, it seemed like a nerve string was pulling her heartbeat. For these feelings, Xiang Qian Tong wasn't unable to understand, but rather didn't dare to understand.

  She who has always pursued freedom as her goal should not waste extra energy on things that have no outcome.

  This is what Qian Tong said to herself, as if she had already made up her mind.

  However, one thing was overlooked. As a psychologist should know, when someone deliberately makes the opposite decision because of something or someone, they are already deeply trapped in it.

  So, the first person people lie to is always themselves.

  She thought she had made up her mind, turned off the TV and came into the house to tidy up the room. She took out a pillowcase from the storage cabinet and put it on the pillow, then picked up the quilt to prepare for tidying. Suddenly, she found Si Luochen standing behind her, quietly watching her with a hint of turmoil in his eyes.

  Jian Xiangqiong looked at her, and Si Luochen finally said softly: "You've worked hard."

  "Faintly responded: 'How can it be hard work, usually alone, now more people busy is also good.'"

  Si Luo Chen didn't say a word, and with her still damp hair tied back behind her ear, she came to the bedside to help tidy up. One bed, two pillows, two quilts, although they were very close together, there was an unbridgeable distance between them.

  They had just finished tidying up and Si Lu Chen was about to get into bed when Xiang Qian Tong stopped him: "Your hair is still not completely dry, sleeping like this isn't good for your body, let me help you blow it dry."

  “……”

  Qian Tong was most afraid of Si Luo Chen's silent stare.

  A face still misty with water vapor and slightly flushed, the corners of his mouth curled up, saying softly: "Qian Tong, you're really... virtuous."

  Ignoring the woman's eccentric side, he turned and walked into the bathroom to grab a hair dryer, plugged it in, and reached out to lift up Si Luo Chen's black, soft locks, which were so silky they could be used for shampoo commercials - both dark and shiny.

  Turning on the power, the surroundings are filled with the humming sound of blowers.

  She sat there with her straight back, looking at the woman in the mirror who was blowing her hair so seriously, pursing her lips and enjoying herself.

  I remember the last time I helped Qian Tong blow her hair dry was in my sophomore year. After getting rained on and falling ill, I originally wanted to just collapse onto the bed and sleep, but this woman dragged me up and pressed me into a chair to blow-dry my hair, and even forced me to change clothes and drink medicine before allowing me to go to bed. Such a domineering woman, in this world, apart from Si Lu Chen's mom, only she dares to treat me like this.

  Qian Tong casually raised her eyes to find that Si Luo Chen was staring at her in the mirror. Their eyes met, and all she saw was Si Luo Chen's lips slightly opening, as if he had whispered something, or maybe nothing at all, with only the sound of the air conditioner audible.

  After drying her hair completely, Si Luo Chen slipped into the quilt and poked out her head to say: "Qian Tong, I'm going to sleep first, goodnight."

  "Uh-huh, goodnight."

  Qian Tong tidied up and slipped into bed, turning to quietly gaze at Si Luo Chen's sleeping face. His breathing was deep, as if he had been asleep for a long time. The delicate features of his face no longer held the elusive expression they once did.

  It's just like this, and it's enough.

  The corners of his mouth slightly pursed, he said softly: "Lu Chen, goodnight."

  The next day, the two of them came to the clinic together, everything was as usual.

  Professor Bobby called Si Luochen into his office to evaluate her work over the past period: "Luochen, I'm very satisfied with your recent performance. However, you majored in personality psychology and there's only one vacancy available at present. You and Susan both majored in this field, so I'll give you two a six-month probationary period, after which I'll make my choice between the two of you. Hope you can continue to work hard and maintain your good performance."

  This way, Si Luo Chen knew she would also tell Susan again, with no expression, lightly nodding and saying: "I understand, Professor, I will strive to do my own work well."

  Returning to the office, she found Xiang Qian Tong standing inside, staring at her with no expression.

  "I know Professor Bobby will ask you to give a talk, I've been through it too, and I believe in your ability. There's a psychology lecture this afternoon with many patients with psychological disorders, do you want..."

  Si Lu Chen's face didn't show any particular expression, interrupting Xian Tong's words, his tone icy: "No need, I can do it myself."

  "Lu Chen, you know I didn't mean it that way."

  "Are you worried?" Si Luo Chen asked her with a pair of eyes staring at her.

  Qian Tong didn't say a word, it was clear that Si Luo Chen was very concerned about this review period.

  "If you believe in my ability, why introduce your clients to me?"

  "Can you let me finish?" Qian Tong walked up to Si Luo Chen and looked straight into her dark, shiny eyes, saying seriously: "This afternoon, there will be many patients with mental illnesses attending. You're new here and have a lot of unfamiliarity, psychiatrists are the doctors who need word-of-mouth and popularity the most. I think this would be a great opportunity to let more people get to know you. I'm not trying to introduce my clients to you, wouldn't that be underestimating you?" A confident smile played on her lips.

  Xie Luo Chen's icy expression gradually softened as he listened to Qian Tong's explanation.

  "Did you do it like this when you first came?"

  Nodded at Qian Tong.

  "Old cunning fox."

  To Qian Tong: "......"

  After lunch, the two took a taxi to the psychology lecture. Unexpectedly, it was already packed inside, and they had to go all the way to the back to find two seats.

  The content of the speech was very rich, first by a psychology expert to let everyone understand what is mental illness, and then some recovered patients talked about their treatment process. Si Luochen listened very seriously, and felt a sense of regret in his heart, why such speeches are rare in China.

  After the three-hour speech, many people exchanged their feelings and experiences with each other. Si Luo Chen got to know some people under Qian Tong's leadership, including doctors, patients, and family members of patients.

  Can't help but admire Xiang Qian Tong's workplace survival skills, she can distinguish which ones are here to listen for their family members, which ones are just to understand, and which ones are like them coming to find resources. With every gesture and word, carrying her unique confidence, she quickly becomes a highlight among some people.

  She could easily do these things, but Si Luo Chen was somewhat left in the dust. From an early age, she was not good at communicating with people and even less liked being the focus of attention, only handing out her business card to them as Xiang Qiong introduced her.

  "Qian Tong, how did you do it?" Si Luo Chen asked curiously.

  "What?"

  "I can't communicate with them as freely as you do." said Si Luochen frankly.

  "A bit thicker skin would be enough." Xiang Qian Tong smiled and responded: "But you don't need to learn these things, nor are they suitable for you. You have your own expertise, that's enough."

  "Does this suit you?"

  "I've gotten used to it," said Qian Tong.

  I didn't expect her to say that, and Si Luo Chen felt a little depressed with her words. In this society where the strong prey on the weak, if she weren't the second miss of the Si family, perhaps she would also have to learn to develop such a thick skin...

  "Are you psychological counselors?" A pleasant voice appeared behind the two of them.

  "Yes, hello." Xian Qiong replied while handing over his business card.

  The woman smiled and replied, "My name is Shen Lue, I'm half in charge of the South District Rehabilitation Center. We've taken in many people with post-traumatic stress disorder, can you do some external psychological counseling for them?" As she spoke, she also handed her business card to the two people in front of her, smiling humbly and politely.

  This is a big order, I don't know how many people want to ask for it but can't get it, and now it's delivered to our doorstep. Rehabilitation centers are usually national institutions, but unexpectedly the person in charge is Chinese.

  "Shouldn't there be many more professional people than us here? Why did they find us?"

  "We're all Chinese, do we need a reason? Or...?" Shen paused for a moment, puzzled: "You're not interested?"

  Noticing Xiang Tong's confusion, Si Luo Chen said: "We still need to go back and discuss it, after all, we are conducting external tutoring. If possible, can I visit your rehabilitation center next week?"

  Shen nodded slightly in response, a captivating smile playing on his lips.

  She saw off the two of them and let out a gentle sigh, what sharp women they were.

  Watching Si Luochen's gradually distant back, Shen Lue's eyes narrowed slightly, it turned out that the second young lady of the Si family could also smile.

  Not only can she laugh, but her laughter is so beautiful and gentle. It's as if she has melted like a snow mountain when she met Xiang Qian Tong.

  What's next? A faint smile seeped from the corner of his mouth.