03

"Naturally." He smiled, unwilling to say more

"Alright, Simon." He suddenly stood up, smiling at me while packing the medicine box.

He turned his head to look at me, then turned back to the room. A moment later, he brought out a medical kit, without saying a word, pulled me to the sofa to sit down, and quickly took out cotton balls and medicine.

How do you know my name

Have you ever gone crazy? I don't know why, but I completely regarded Ji Rui as a friend with whom I could chat freely, as if we were of similar age.

What is wrong with your face?" he spoke again

I am not ill I said to him directly, very calmly

Dr. Ji's psychological clinic is hidden in a small alley in the bustling city, featuring the rare bluestone pavement of this city. Two rows of slender willow trees extend along the road to its end, and there are many uniquely decorated shops nearby, including clothing stores, cafes, and elegant bookstores. In such hot weather, this place seems like another world, tranquil and cool.

What happened

I was taken aback by my own inexplicable thoughts, how could this be! We have only just met for the first time

It was at that moment that I suddenly developed a fondness for Ji Rui, even though he appeared in my life as a psychologist, a role I was quite resistant to. This fondness had nothing to do with love. I admired his handsome appearance, even as he approached middle age, his wit, his attentiveness, and his wisdom. The image of the father I hold in my heart is precisely that of Ji Rui.

"It's nothing, I'm going home now." I pinched my arm and told myself in my heart that it was probably just a hallucination from just waking up, yes, it must be a hallucination! Uncle Wei is so good to Auntie, how could it be possible

I watched this series of actions unfold in one go, forgetting even the pain from the medicine piercing my wound, simply staring blankly at the person who was gently and carefully cleaning my injury with a slight tilt of his head. We were so close... close enough for me to see his trembling eyelashes and the texture of his skin. The aura he exuded made me momentarily dazed; it felt warm, like... like the feeling of a father.

I exclaimed in anger, "I was scratched by a rude stray cat!"

"Hmm, I know," he looked at me and said, "Adolescent love is meant to be wild."

I couldn't help but let out a chuckle, and the heaviness in my heart was instantly lifted. It's truly remarkable; does every girl in this world enjoy being complimented?

I held the address written by my mother and searched for a long time, asking several passersby before finally finding this place. I was initially somewhat impatient, but the moment I stepped into the alley, my inner irritation was replaced by joy. Having lived in this city for over ten years, I had never known that such a wonderful alley existed.

When I woke up again, the lights outside the window had already begun to shine brightly. Only a desk lamp was on in the room, and Ji Rui was deeply engrossed in his work. I gently pushed open the glass door and stood on the balcony, looking down. The streetlights in the alley emitted a soft white light, each one partially hidden beneath the willow trees, casting a faint glow that made my heart involuntarily soften.

When I walked into the psychological clinic with a bleeding wound, the female assistant in the clinic screamed in fright, her cry drawing out a middle-aged man from the room. He furrowed his brows and said to the assistant, "Miss Huang, this place requires quiet." His tone was gentle, yet carried an authoritative weight. The assistant lowered her head and apologized.

You look just like your mother. " He extended his hand, "Hello, I am Ji Rui, you can call me Uncle Ji, or of course, you can just call me by my name, " he winked, "that way, it won't constantly remind me that I am getting old.

Standing in front of the stairs of the psychological clinic, I took a deep breath and told myself in my heart, "It's nothing, Ximan, don't be afraid!" Then I walked towards the third floor. However, just after taking a few steps, a strong gust of wind brushed past my ear, and immediately countless stars appeared before my eyes. Then I felt a piercing pain radiating from my cheek. I cried out in pain, reached out to touch it, and found my fingers stained with bright red blood. I turned back abruptly and saw a tall figure flash past the stairway. Then I heard the roar of a motorcycle engine starting up. Ignoring the pain, I continued towards the third floor. But just after taking a few steps, a strong gust of wind brushed past my ear again, and countless stars appeared before my eyes once more. Then I felt a piercing pain radiating from my cheek again. I cried out in pain, reached out to touch it, and found my fingers stained with bright red blood again. I turned back abruptly and saw a tall figure flash past the stairway again. Then I heard the roar of a motorcycle engine starting up again. I disregarded the pain and covered my cheek as I rushed down, but all I could see was the swirling exhaust of the motorcycle and a helmet growing smaller and smaller.

I followed one house number after another, thinking to myself that Dr. Ji really knows how to choose a location; such a tranquil environment must surely be twice as effective for treating psychological disorders

Damn it! I couldn't help but curse loudly, "Bastard, you better pray that I don't run into you again!" How infuriating, hitting someone and acting as if nothing happened! Who knows what that guy was wearing, there was actually a weapon on his sleeve!

From beginning to end, he did not behave like the psychologist I had imagined, who would ask me numerous questions and then present himself as a savior, offering one formulaic suggestion after another

"Did you sleep well?" Suddenly, I heard Ji Rui's voice beside me. I turned my head in a daze, and when I looked back, the figure at the entrance of the coffee bar had already disappeared. I rubbed my eyes and looked again, but there was still nothing.

Suddenly, my gaze was drawn to a couple embracing at the entrance of a nearby café. The man was on the right, with his arm around the woman's shoulder, and he was leaning in to say something to her. Despite the long distance, despite it being just a fleeting moment, and despite the dim lighting, I still caught a glimpse of the man's face, which seemed to be... the father of Weilan. However, the woman he was holding was not her mother. Despite the long distance, despite it being just a fleeting moment, and despite the dim lighting, I still caught a glimpse of the man's face, which seemed to be... the father of Weilan. However, the woman he was holding was not her mother

Is the little wild cat so clever now, specifically picking on beautiful faces to bully?" He raised his eyebrows

I stood there in a daze as I shook hands with him, but in my heart, I was thinking, how could that be? Ever since I was little, the most I have heard is "Ximan doesn't resemble her mother at all." Yet, Ji Rui actually said that I look just like my mother, as if we were cast from the same mold. His perspective... how peculiar.

I nestled into the soft, large sofa in his workspace, indulging in many green bean cakes baked by Miss Huang herself, while sipping a rich jasmine milk tea. Before I knew it, I fell asleep, seemingly having a sweet dream. For the first time, my dream was no longer filled with the endless riverbanks of dark nights and the bone-chilling cold.

At that moment, I simply wanted to hold his hand and say a hundred thank yous