The next afternoon, at the famous Tianmu Mountain Mental Health Hospital in Jianghai City.
Two burly bodyguards, like a human wall, stood at the top of the stairs outside the clinic.
In the hallway outside the clinic, a middle-aged man in a suit with a slicked-back hairstyle was pacing back and forth anxiously, occasionally casting impatient glances toward the clinic.
This man was Ye Hai, the richest person in Jianghai City and the founder of the Ye Group.
In front of Ye Hai, a woman who occasionally pressed her ear to the door of the clinic in an attempt to hear what was going on inside was his wife, Zhong Meiru.
Even though the couple were prominent figures in Jianghai City, when it came to their daughter's psychological issues, they were just like most ordinary parents—feeling guilty for their wrong approach to her upbringing and deeply worried about her condition.
Seeing his wife acting so unprofessional, pressing her ear against the door, Ye Hai was suddenly filled with a surge of frustration.
"Ugh, Dr. Zhang has said it a few times already—the door is soundproof, so you can't hear anything inside. Can you just act normal?"
"Mind your own business!"
Zhong Meiru shot Ye Hai a fierce glare. "It's all your fault that Yinan turned out like this!"
In front of the financial news cameras, they were the economic benchmarks of Jianghai City. To their company's employees, they were a loving couple. To the public, they were elegant and wealthy. But behind closed doors, their relationship had nearly frozen over because of their disagreements about their daughter's upbringing. Whenever they met, it was like a battlefield, their marriage existing only on paper.
Zhong Meiru cared for her daughter just like any other mother, wanting her to live a normal life like any other girl.
But Ye Hai wanted his daughter to become the perfect lady he envisioned, pushing her to learn various socialite skills from a young age.
They had argued countless times about their daughter's education, sometimes even coming to blows.
"I'm doing this for her own good!"
Ye Hai retorted, standing his ground.
"That's nonsense! Do you think I don't know what you're really thinking? You're just a hypocritical phony!"
Zhong Meiru spat out angrily. "You only care about your own image and completely disregard your wife and daughter's feelings. You don't deserve to be Yinan's father!"
"Say whatever you want. I have nothing to say to someone like you."
Ye Hai was so furious he turned his gaze away, not wanting to argue any further.
"I'm telling you, Ye Hai, once Yinan is better, I'm taking her abroad."
Zhong Meiru said sternly. "You'll never see me or our daughter again in this lifetime."
"You dare!"
Ye Hai warned sharply. "She carries my surname. You two will only stay in China for the rest of your lives!"
"Ye Hai, you jerk!"
Zhong Meiru yanked at Ye Hai's tie, throwing a tantrum, completely abandoning her managerial demeanor and acting like an unhappy housewife.
"Enough!"
Ye Hai, feeling both annoyed and embarrassed, tried to pull his wife's hands away, and they began to silently shove each other in the hallway.
Just then, the door to the consultation room creaked open.
The two, who had been in a heated argument, instantly calmed down, their angry expressions quickly replaced by friendly smiles.
A woman in a white lab coat with naturally golden curls and long, shapely legs walked out.
In her late twenties, with a prominent nose and a height just over 1.7 meters, she had a distinctly beautiful face.
This was Zhang Xiuni, the newly appointed head of Tianmu Mountain Mental Health Hospital, who had just returned from abroad with Ye Yinan.
Zhang Xiuni was highly skilled in psychology and had treated many patients with severe psychological disorders abroad. She was hired by Zhong Meiru at a high cost for one-on-one counseling with Ye Yinan.
Although Zhang Xiuni was initially not keen on one-on-one counseling, Ye Yinan's condition was critical and needed immediate treatment, otherwise it would worsen, possibly leading to suicidal thoughts.
With the hefty payment and the prestigious hospital given to her as a medical fee, Zhang Xiuni had no reason to refuse and took on this challenging case, returning to her home country with Ye Yinan.
Zhang Xiuni's father was Chinese, and her mother was American. With her mixed heritage, she had natural golden curls and a striking, curvaceous figure typical of many Western women.
As she looked over at the two influential figures at the door, a fleeting, playful smile crossed her face.
She had seen them almost come to blows earlier, and now they had suddenly switched to this polite demeanor. The speed of their change was impressive, as expected from high-profile businesspeople.
"Dr. Zhang, how is Yinan doing now? She should be much better, right?"
Zhong Meiru asked, smoothing her disheveled hair.
"I've seen her recently going out and having fun with that guy named Shen Lang. She comes back smiling. Her psychological issues should have improved, right? She won't be developing autism, will she?"
"Yes, she's doing much better. You two can come in and talk."
Zhang Xiuni smiled and led the couple into the clinic.
Inside the clinic, there was a large sand tray with several small figurines and various building toys.
This sand tray, known as a psychological sand tray, is a specialized therapeutic tool used by psychologists. It helps patients with psychological disorders to indirectly express their inner emotions and mental states by building scenes in the sand tray. The psychologist then analyzes the sand tray to identify underlying issues and determine the patient's condition.
Ye Yinan was at the window, chatting happily on the phone.
The three exchanged knowing glances. It was clear that the person on the other end of the line was Shen Lang.
The day Ye Yinan first met Shen Lang, Ye Hai had already sent someone to investigate him.
To put it bluntly, aside from not hiring a private detective to look into Shen Lang's social circle, Ye Hai had thoroughly researched Shen Lang's home address and various other details.
Seeing her parents had arrived, Ye Yinan quickly hung up the phone.
There were many things between her and Shen Lang that her parents and the psychologist shouldn't know.
"Mom, Dad, if there's nothing else, I'll head back now."
Ye Yinan, who had recently become optimistic and hopeful about the future, was now more talkative than she had been before, showing none of the gloomy attitude she had when she first returned home.