At seven o'clock, the incredibly painful psychological therapy finally ended for Zhao Yanan.
Seeing her good friend drenched in sweat, Zhou Xiaoruo's eyes were filled with concern. She took Zhao Yanan's icy hands, which felt as if they had just been taken out of the freezer, and with tears welling up in her eyes, forced a smile and said, "Nanan, are you okay?"
Zhao Yanan slowly shook her head, her breath trembling slightly, and with a tone of extreme despair, said, "Ruo Ruo, am I beyond help? I feel like it's getting worse."
"That's not true; it will definitely get better, trust me!" Zhou Xiaoruo said confidently, "Just relax and adjust your breathing. Yes, like that..."
Under her guidance, Zhao Yanan gradually calmed down.
"Nanan, you need to start controlling your medication now. After so many years of taking it, continuing will lead to dependency, and it could get even worse..."
Zhao Yanan sat up and finished the cold coffee in front of her. Weakly, she said, "I understand..."
Zhou Xiaoruo pursed her lips and said, "I still suggest you try interacting with the opposite s*x gradually. Try to control your emotions and engage in simple physical contact, like handshakes or high-fives. It might help with your condition."
Zhao Yanan, looking unwell, said, "It's useless. I've tried many times, shaking hands with different people, but every time, I can't last more than three seconds before feeling completely uncomfortable."
Zhou Xiaoruo sighed and said, "If you had a good male friend who could regularly interact with you, it would naturally benefit your condition. But you're like a nun, with no men around. The only one is Liu Kai, who can barely be considered a man. It's really stressing me out. I almost wish I could become a man myself!"
Zhao Yanan smiled faintly, "Be careful, or Liu Kai might hear and skin you alive."
Zhou Xiaoruo, with a mischievous glint, said, "Calling him a half-man is too much, haha..."
Just as she finished speaking, Liu Kai called her.
The two friends exchanged a knowing smile. Zhou Xiaoruo said, "This guy is really something! Haha... Nanan, you go have dinner with Liu Kai first. I'll save you some expenses and head to the next appointment. Haha... I'm going to get rich!"
Twenty minutes later, as they went downstairs, Zhou Xiaoruo's phone rang again.
She initially thought it might be the "half-man" Liu Kai urging her again, but it was an unfamiliar number.
This psychologist had recently done a small ad for her clinic on a platform, so unfamiliar numbers were usually from consulting patients. However, the actual number of people who came for treatment was quite small.
"Hello?"
"Dr. Zhou, I'd like to schedule a psychological treatment. Is it convenient now?"
Zhou Xiaoruo curled her lips in disdain, thinking Murphy's Law was not just a joke. After having a quiet day, just as she was about to enjoy herself, business came knocking.
Her hourly fee was set at five hundred, but it was often negotiated down to around three hundred. There were many psychologists, and with her young age and average qualifications, she lacked reputation. If she didn't take the job, there would be plenty of others who would.
Normally, she would have happily accepted and pretended to be formal, saying, "Actually, a patient canceled, so I can fit you in. Next time, remember to make an appointment two days in advance."
But right now, earning three or four hundred was not as satisfying as enjoying herself with Zhao Yanan, who was a real rich lady. She immediately declined, "Sorry, I'm off work now."
After a pause, as if she thought there was still hope, she added, "How about coming tomorrow?"
The person on the other end was very calm, "Right now."
Zhou Xiaoruo was puzzled and wondered which discerning person found her undiscovered talent. Deciding to test this keen eye, she quoted a high price, "I'm very expensive. One hour... two thousand!"
The weight of the "thousand" made her heart race for a moment, but she quickly felt she might be overestimating herself. Two thousand was the rate for experts; the caller was just someone with psychological issues, not a brain disorder.
Sure enough, the voice on the other end questioned, "Two thousand?"
Zhou Xiaoruo was not discouraged by this seemingly fruitless excitement. Just as she was about to say goodbye, she heard the voice on the phone laugh and say, "I'll be there in ten minutes. One hour, twenty thousand. Payment first, then the treatment. If it works, there will be a reward; if not, no refund."
Zhou Xiaoruo was stunned, her expression frozen for a long moment. She slowly looked up at the gray sky, staring blankly at Zhao Yanan, and whispered, "Nanan, did you see an eye open in the sky?"
Zhao Yanan: ???
Zhou Xiaoruo swallowed hard, trying to maintain her composure, and said to the phone, "Okay, your persistence has moved me. It seems you really need my help. See you in ten minutes."
After hanging up, Zhou Xiaoruo could no longer contain her excitement and began bouncing around like a madwoman, "My dream of becoming a rich lady is about to come true! Hahaha..."
"Nanan, go have dinner with Liu Kai first. I'll save you some money and head to the second appointment! Wahahaha... I'm getting rich!" Zhao Yanan: ...
Not far away, a silver-gray GTR parked in a hidden corner. Chu Yuxuan, smoking a cigarette, was spinning his phone with one hand and muttered, "What a nuisance."
Ten minutes later, the doorbell of the psychological clinic rang.
Zhou Xiaoruo, who had been eagerly waiting behind the door, took a deep breath to appear calm. She managed a perfect smile, serene and elegant, and opened the door on the fourth ring.
"You..."
As the word "good" was still in her throat, the beauty who dreamed of becoming a rich lady froze. Her smile seemed to be coated with a layer of cement, and if she were a man, she would probably be in even more discomfort.
Chu Yuxuan, with a calm demeanor, raised his eyebrows and said, "Doctor?"
Zhou Xiaoruo took a step back in shock. Just that one step made her mind race with a million questions. Adjusting her mindset, she continued to appear calm and graceful, smiling, "Hello, please come in."
Chu Yuxuan nodded and walked in, following the doctor to the treatment room. From behind, Zhou Xiaoruo seemed as composed as a maiden, but in reality, her previously graceful and refined expression was now as varied as a Sichuan opera face-changing performance.
"How could it be him?! Nanan wouldn't let him come here! Is there really such a coincidence in the world? What a fateful connection! Oh God, did you open your anus instead of your eyes?"
Grumbling inwardly, Zhou Xiaoruo had to face reality. She sat upright, pointed to the high-end leather chair she had saved up a month's salary to buy, and smiled, "Please take a seat."
Chu Yuxuan sat down and, like a nouveau riche, took out two stacks of cash and placed them on the table, smiling, "I saw your ad online. Since I was passing by, I decided to drop in. Keep the money."
"Seems like it's really a fateful connection," Zhou Xiaoruo thought, feeling a bit resentful. Relaxing her guard somewhat, but adhering to the principle of "a fool who doesn't make money," she smoothly took the money and adopted a very professional attitude, saying, "Let's discuss your condition first."
Chu Yuxuan smiled and said, "Not urgent. I have a question... Hmm..."
After pondering for a moment, Chu Yuxuan continued, "If a normal woman suddenly becomes very excited and her emotions become uncontrollable when interacting with the opposite s*x, what... is that?"
Zhou Xiaoruo: ...
"Can you two just cut it out? Do I have a problem or not?!"