"Alright!"
Although they didn't go out for a walk, the two of them chatted until midnight, yawning incessantly but unwilling to sleep.
Early the next day, the two of them woke up late and hurried out of the door in a flurry.
Fei Xiaoxiao rode her electric scooter charging forward;
Chen Ke tucked her shirt into her jeans as she ran towards the bus station.
Once on the bus, she fixed her hair, and it wasn't until the bus began to climb the hill that she finished all her grooming.
In Haicheng, the sun rises early, the sunlight outside the window is brilliant, trees cast mottled shadows, and the bus air conditioner is on.
"Jinghai Psychological Sanatorium has arrived, please exit from the rear door."
Chen Ke stepped off the bus, rushed through the clinic gates, grabbed the bag on her shoulder, and sprinted, sunlight shining on her, she looked just like the female protagonist in some TV drama.
"Young lady!"
Chen Ke turned her head to look.
An old man stuck his head out from the third floor of a residential area, shouting at her, "The doctor said, 150 minutes of walking is enough, no need to run!"
"Old man, do you think she looks like a new patient?" a voice came from a window on the second floor.
"Miss Zhuang said, lifestyle therapy is needed by everyone, isn't she a person?" Another figure appeared at a different second-floor window.
"It must be the new doctor, I heard that two new ones arrived yesterday."
"Another two servants, not bad."
An entire wall was covered in ground ivy, with many windows; several psychiatric patients stood chatting by the windows, like pictures in frames, and these people were the ones in the pictures.
Chen Ke waved her hand and yelled, "Good morning!"
Like a gentle ray of sunlight cast over them, then reflecting back, the patients also greeted, "Good morning, new doctor!"
Chen Ke continued her sprint.
"You can do it!" the crowd cheered her on.
Chen Ke rushed into the office building and skidded to a halt at the reception, quickly asking the nurse with the apple-shaped face, "Am I late?"
The nurse looked at her watch, "You still have one minute!" She, too, became excited.
Chen Ke dashed towards the corner, saw that the elevator was on the fourth floor, and went straight for the stairs without a second thought.
"Sorry, I'm late!" As she walked into the director's office, she'd regained her composure, except for her soft chest moving up and down silently as she eased her breathing.
Zhuang Jing smiled, "Good morning."
Chen Ke felt a bit hot in the face, not knowing if the director had heard her greeting the patients; luckily, her face was already quite red and warm.
"Good morning," she bowed in return.
She was the last one to arrive.
Gu Ran and Su Qing had already arrived, one on each sofa, resembling Zhuang Jing's male and female secretaries.
"Qing, you take them to do rounds first, to get familiar with the procedure," Zhuang Jing said to Su Qing.
"Alright," Su Qing got up from the sofa.
"Mrs. Jing, I'll head out first," Gu Ran followed suit and got up as well.
Zhuang Jing smiled, "Go on."
Chen Ke bowed to Zhuang Jing once more before she was the last to leave the office. Outside, she apologized again.
It was so wrong to have nearly been late on her first day at work!
Su Qing didn't say much, for Chen Ke hadn't actually been late; such a minor matter wouldn't bother her.
She considered herself to have a good nature, and before, she'd planned to let Gu Ran off the hook, but he insisted on digging up old issues, so he couldn't blame her for being ruthless.
Su Qing led them first to the second floor, where all the offices were located, including those for doctors, nurses, and accountants, naturally with restrooms as well.
There were two doctors' offices, and Su Qing brought them into 202.
It was very spacious, with a heavy bookshelf and filing cabinets along the wall, as well as a water cooler, coffee machine, and beverage fridge.
A printer and similar items were naturally included.
There was even a changing room.
There were only three desks, arranged in the shape of the character "three."
"Chen Ke, this one is yours," Su Qing pointed at the desk nearest the door.
She walked three more steps forward, pressed her hand on the middle desk, and glanced at Gu Ran, saying, "This one is yours."
Gu Ran looked at the innermost desk, which unlike the other two, was covered with documents and had personal items such as a potted plant and a mirror – clearly Su Qing's.
Su Qing's intention was obvious – to keep an eye on Gu Ran and make sure he didn't slack off.
Gu Ran felt it unnecessary, "Qing, I was wrong."
Su Qing replied, "It's too late."
Was she saying it was too late to assign desks, or too late to admit one's mistake?
Su Qing pointed towards the changing room, "Change into your uniform."
Chen Ke changed first, followed by Gu Ran.
Su Qing also put on a white lab coat.
On the way to the living area, she said, "According to the institution's rules, we should also wear this outfit in the office, but I won't insist. Just remember to wear your white lab coat when entering the living area and patient rooms.
"It will remind you that you are a psychologist, not a patient. Taking off the coat will remind you that you are an ordinary person, not a psychologist."
The three of them entered the living area, followed by three attendants, two females, and a male.
From the windows in the living area, it was evident that the patients living there at least had no suicidal tendencies and their condition was relatively stable.
"Those living here either have mild conditions or have completed surgery in the wards and are undergoing treatment through lifestyle therapy; they have no major issues and will not harm themselves or others."
Su Qing led the two doctors and three nurses into room 101.
Gu Ran checked the information in his hand.
[Name: Zhao Wenjie]
[Age: 36]
[Family: Father, mother, wife, daughter] (and other detailed information)
[Symptoms: On March 5th, 2019, suddenly believed he possessed inner strength, resigned and went into seclusion multiple times, nearly starved to death, admitted for treatment;
[Due to a small psychological shadow area, unable to undergo surgery, treated with antipsychotic drugs.
[Discharged: May 2nd, 2019.
[Admitted again: June 12th, 2020, developed schizophrenia followed by depression, during severe episodes, attempted to practice the Iron Sand Palm.]