Chapter 04 Psychological Assistance

But the young girl immediately lifted her face, her gaze filled with intense hope. She slightly turned away from his hand and glanced towards the increasingly nearer village ahead, as if an infinite courage was bursting forth from her heart.

Mr. Pei, I would like to ask whether the interruption of our psychological counseling for any reason would have an impact on the previous agreement

The next day, after getting up, Jian Huixi washed her face with cold water and went to knock on Su Ruhao's door

In the end, she was still taken to the grand mansion she had visited before

After the phone call ended, she remained standing in the corridor for a long time without going back in

Xia Huixi held her phone, feeling somewhat confused. The previous impression she had of Pei Yueze was calm and direct, seemingly an excellent hunter, neither arrogant nor impatient, always patiently waiting for his prey. However, the tone in his voice during the call just now was filled with suppressed irritation

The old man coughed once and said: "Yes, the chemical plant has ceased operations, but that village can no longer return to its former state..."

Xia Huixi understood that it is only when people are tense and anxious that they pay attention to the orderly things in the external world. This is the source of obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, she was not to that extent

At this moment, Xia Huixi did not notice his unusual gaze and affectionate actions. She hurriedly turned her gaze away, feeling quite satisfied, regretting her earlier moment of weakness.

She finally raised her eyebrows and said, "I understand. I will be more careful next time"

He murmured it again, completely retracting the smile in his eyes, which seemed distant as if they were two bottomless black abysses: "Disturbance?"

Her gentle and soft tone replied calmly: "Not at all"

Xia Huixi was eager to share the good news with him, but Su Ruhao's reaction was rather understated, showing no surprise: "Is that so? That's great."

Next time, you may try to consciously remember your dreams, in case we cannot find an entry point for analysis at the moment

A small drop of ink fell onto the snow-white notebook, and the dye spread along the fine paper fibers, instantly blooming like a blue lotus.

Although not many words were spoken, it felt particularly exhausting, to the point of nearly falling asleep, until I received a call from a colleague in the office whom I usually get along well with.

When the topic of dreams was mentioned, a slight sense of unease brushed through Xia Huixi's heart, especially when facing such a pair of exceptionally bright and radiant eyes, resembling glass beads, illuminating the dreams of the past in her heart with exquisite clarity

He slowly sat down, as if all his strength had been drained away, and then extended his hand to support his chin. Suddenly, he heard a creaking sound.

He nodded slightly, saying, "A wash will suffice." Before he had even started the car, he suddenly heard her voice softly say, "Thank you."

Su Ruhao gently patted her shoulder, his tone filled with concern: "What happened?"

She slightly composed herself and said, "It's nothing."

The lighting is exceptionally good. Large swathes of light pour in through the window frames, and the floor is also made of terrazzo, as if someone had taken a brush, dipped it in water, and with a flourish, depicted intricate patterns resembling plum blossoms and vines.

Xia Huixi walked to the door, and the driver opened it for her. Only then did she take a moment to glance at her watch. Although there was a financial crisis, she found it increasingly easy to make money. The thirty minutes of consultation earned her the equivalent of her monthly salary.

He asked her with great caution, like the night breeze lifting the lace curtains, like the drifting clouds brushing against the endless sky, soft and serene

She shook her head, perhaps due to the warmth of sleep, her cheeks still bearing a hint of rosy color, resembling the petals of peach blossoms that have passed this season.

Su Ruhao did not rush to respond; he calmly parked the car by the roadside, turned to look at her, reached out to stroke her hair, and said gently, "You have been working hard."

The old man clearly recognized Ke, and his murky eyes flickered with a glimmer of light as he sighed and said: "That girl has made something of herself, and her conscience is good. A few days ago, she brought a lot of things and spent a long time talking with them. After their conversation, they seemed a bit happier."

On the way back, Su Ruhao's car was akin to having gone off-roading, covered in splashes of mud. Before getting into the car, Xia Huixi sighed, "What a good car has been turned into this."

She responded vaguely, and a tranquil and gentle feeling suddenly descended, a sense of peace she had not experienced for a long time

"I do not have any dreams. Moreover, Miss Xia, I have no troubles. I invited you here simply to find an opportunity to meet with you. Therefore, you need not make so many preparations." Pei Yueze's voice coldly interrupted her, laced with sarcasm, as if it were a sword forged from frost, "I do not wish to be analyzed by others."

Xia Huixi was overwhelmed with her thoughts, unable to muster even a hint of a smile. Her phone kept vibrating; she stood up and quietly said to Su Ruhao, "I need to take a call"

The autumn wind swept over in gusts, like cool water splashing on her neck, inexplicably making her shiver. She glanced at the time with some irritation, realizing she had arrived five minutes early. Remembering that morning when Pei Yueze's assistant called her, the tone was polite, almost robotic, reminding her: "Miss Xia, I will come to confirm once more at 2 PM this afternoon"

She also felt a bit excited, changed the subject, and finally said: "I have a case in hand that is quite strange; let's find a time to study it together."

She suddenly hesitated, unable to take that step forward

Before agreeing to him, there was no relationship between them, and she had a myriad of reasons to resist and reject him. However, now she must dissolve all past negative emotions to prevent any potential countertransference that may arise during the consultation process. If one were to calculate seriously, then the previous dream could also be considered a form of countertransference

Dazed and confused, she nearly jumped up from the back seat upon hearing a few words: "Did you say someone anonymously donated how much?"

Xia Huixi followed his finger and looked over; the two young men, who should have been strong and robust, were both sleeping with their eyes closed, looking almost like nothing but skin and bones. The old man unbuttoned his coat again, revealing large patches of red spots on his neck, saying, "These all appeared after drinking that contaminated water..."

Xia Huixi was almost about to step out the door when the man behind her called out to her, his tone somewhat hesitant and gentle: "Are you angry?"

Then the gaze fell to the ground, as if it were the wind-dried fragments of rock scattered about, or the ashes drifting in the breeze. It was so desolate that one could hardly bear to look at it.

The distant bamboo, after being washed by the autumn rain, does not show signs of decay; instead, it appears even more vibrant and green, contrasting with the jewel-like blue of the sky. It seems to cleanse the vision, leaving it refreshingly clear, as if one has a mint candy in their throat, making each breath feel cool and refreshing

After a brief conversation, I realized that the reality is even more unbearable than I had imagined

At that moment, I felt somewhat impatient. Since yesterday, I had confirmed it three times in total; her memory couldn't have deteriorated that much. As for my own schedule, it wouldn't be as hectic as Pei Yueze's. These small details were deepening my unconscious aversion. I took a deep breath and saw that car approaching.

For example, you may feel that you no longer need my consulting assistance. Or..." She pondered for a moment, "I will be on a business trip for a few days

Beep... Beep. ... ... ... Beep...

She answered cheerfully, "What is it?"

He does not conform to all psychological profiles

It still aligns with my profile of him. In this way, my heart gradually settled down. This psychological pursuit made me feel as if I were hanging on a cliff, surrounded by bare, desolate rocks, devoid of any vegetation. As I looked around, I suddenly found a place to gain support, an inexplicable joy, as if I had caught a glimpse of a faint, not entirely clear light amidst the looming shadows, and thus I suddenly felt a sense of control.

Whether it is a villa or an apartment, once cast in modern steel and concrete, it inevitably carries a similar essence. Only the houses of ancient China, with wood as their bones and earth as their flesh, possess a living soul, enduring through the vicissitudes of life and passing down through generations.

We are all discussing this here. It is said that the funds are specifically intended to relocate the remaining villagers, but it is more than sufficient. In this day and age, there are still those who do good deeds without seeking recognition, truly...

Such thoughts rendered his expression somewhat restrained and serious, infused with a hint of coolness, to the extent that his profile appeared strikingly handsome, as if frozen in time.

Xia Huixi felt a slight twitch in her nose and smiled helplessly: "One is under the eaves."

Su Ruhao came out to look for her, seemingly sensing her despondent mood, and took her hand: "Let's go, let's take a look in the village."

The phone call was abruptly disconnected

She wore a navy blue knitted sweater, her hair casually tied up. This time, she did not wear a headband, but instead used two ordinary black hairpins to pin back her slightly long bangs to one side, the ends slightly curling up, resembling the tail of a plush yellow duck sold at the market. There was still a hint of youthful innocence about her.

His room had the window wide open, and as soon as one entered, a chill was felt, as if the cold had frozen the very organs within. Su Ruhao stood motionless in front of the window, seemingly admiring the mountain view directly opposite.

He turned his head at the right moment and saw Xia Huixi, a smile breaking out on his originally solemn face: "Are you up? Was it still cold later?"

The man sitting still gazed at her, his eyes seemingly凝成细细的针线, landing on Xia Huixi's face, almost evoking a slight sensation of pain.

He seemed to smile gently and asked, "How did the phone turn off just now?"

Pei Yueze lazily glanced at the notebook she had taken out, and at the serious grip on the pen, before finally letting out a low laugh: "Isn't psychological counseling just about chatting to relieve boredom?"

Su Ruhao raised his eyebrows slightly, seemingly unfazed, and simply repeated, "Resolved?"

When he spoke these words, he seemed to have everything under control, exuding a strange power, calm to an astonishing degree. His usually gentle and beautiful eyes sparkled with a cold light at that moment, as if they could see through everything, resembling a deity with immense authority, casting a complex and inscrutable glance at her, and then fell silent with pursed lips

Pei Yueze was listening intently, his expression unchanged, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. This gave Xia Huixi a bit of confidence, and she organized her thoughts to continue: "This kind of distress is quite common among successful individuals, Mr. Pei, do you dream?"

Since the psychological assistance charity organization is named after CRIX, all operations immediately appeared to be formalized. The group specifically assigned personnel to handle all communication matters, including website development, social donation channels, and volunteer recruitment, everything seemed to be in order. As for Nanda, there is also an intention to use it as a training base for students

Xia Huixi did not notice these things; she unconsciously capped the pen, gently spinning it a few times between her fingers, and finally deftly paused: "So, what troubles you?"

Su Ruhao's hand rested on the steering wheel, momentarily still. He recalled a long time ago when he had said to her: "... I came to see you!" This was the first time he had seen her in a daze, her lips slightly parted, perhaps just enough to hold a cherry, playfully making him want to kiss her. Suddenly, he seemed to uncontrollably remember that this "thank you" might have also been said by her to that person, equally sincere and gentle.

Xia Huixi glanced at the rather hideous skin and couldn't help but gasp: "Is there anyone left in the village?"

When they sat down face to face, Xia Huixi had already regained her composure and spoke in a calm tone: "Shall we begin?"

Pei Yueze's fingers gently twitched, as if he was trying to restrain himself. With her smile, he said: "I apologize, I truly am an outsider."

Xia Huixi pushed open the door of the compartment, seemingly unable to adapt to the sudden brightness, and slightly closed her eyes.

There were government officials accompanying them to the hospital. They found the oncology ward. Just as Yu Ke had said, in this small county hospital, almost all the patients in the oncology department were villagers from Cui Xiang, both young and old, and many had just been transferred from the provincial hospital, filling half of the ward.

Unable to articulate the emotions that entangled her in an instant, Xia Huixi bit her lip and calmed herself for several seconds. Her attention was not at all focused on the phrase "I called you over just to find an opportunity to meet you"; rather, the final statement enlightened her: "I do not wish to be analyzed by others"

The sounds in the ward gradually became noisy and lively. She listened intently and was surprised to find that she did not know what method Su Ruhao had used, as if he had seamlessly integrated into that group of suffering people in just a fleeting moment. This made her feel a complex mix of emotions, akin to self-loathing, yet also resembling envy.

Xia Huixi let out a soft laugh. This was the first time she had laughed so freely in front of him, without a trace of vigilance, her brows forming a delicate and graceful shape resembling the character "川".

Under such scrutiny, Xia Huixi felt that her action of taking off her backpack was somewhat clumsy. She smiled awkwardly and greeted, "Mr. Pei."

Su Ruhao's patience is commendable, and he immediately said, "Anytime is fine." He paused for a moment and finally said, "Actually, I came to remind you, have you packed your luggage?"

The situation in Cuixiang is as imagined. It has almost become a dead village. The sick are being treated outside, while the remaining villagers have all, to varying degrees, contracted some illness, surviving on the only water pipeline that connects the village to the outside world. After the denunciation, the clamor also faded away, leaving only the lingering despair that stretches endlessly, like a nightmare, hovering over the village, reluctant to dissipate

His voice seemed somewhat distorted, tinged with coldness: "Miss Xia, I am not interested in knowing how you finally came to terms with it. I will have my assistant confirm the future consultation times with you. Additionally, you can also explain any requests you have in detail to him"

The only thing that leaves him at a loss is that, until now, he has never told himself exactly why he feels such an urgent need for a psychologist. She observes this man in secret; his speech is clear and articulate, and he has excellent emotional control, as if he were a vast ocean, hiding his inner self deep, deep within. According to cases, such individuals, even when suffering from psychological disorders, often subtly reject help.

While they were speaking with the elderly man, a young boy of about ten years old also woke up, crying out in pain. The child's mother, feeling distressed, gently wiped his face and comforted him in a low voice

Xia Huixi was in a daze, recalling the phone calls she had just received. Those executives who had appeared on the program and expressed interest in the charity project seemed to have coordinated their efforts, all calling her at this time to politely decline.

I would like to know why your attitude towards me has completely changed

He slightly raised his beautiful eyes, sparkling as he gazed at the delicate pink hue on her cheek, which resembled a complete and exquisite peach blossom petal, and unconsciously pressed his lips together: "What dream?"

The body suddenly stiffened there, Su Ruhao gently exhaled, as if he had not heard her words. Finally, with a steady tone and a gaze leveled at her, he said: "Do not worry, there will be a way."

She simply put down her pen and replied to him: "Professional ethics"

Her gaze seemed to penetrate Su Ruhao's body, bewildered, as if she were murmuring to herself: "I want to find him"

She nostalgically recalled the Chernobyl nuclear power plant leak incident. Experts say that within 800 years, this city, once adorned by modern civilization, will become a silent, truly empty city, perhaps fading away with time. It seems like a breathtaking specimen, quietly standing in the history of human civilization

The call was disconnected, and in the blink of an eye, Su Ruhao called again

Xia Huixi was holding her forehead with a slight headache. She naturally understood that during psychological counseling, one should try to help the other party relax, but the current situation was quite strange, as even the rhythm of the conversation was entirely controlled by the other party

Pei Yueze let out a low "mm" sound

She was about to explain to him in detail when she was suddenly interrupted

As they drove onto the national highway, Xia Huixi was nearly dozing off when she suddenly heard his response. Su Ruhao's tone was somewhat awkward, yet very slow and clear: "There is no need to be polite to me. This will be the case in the future as well"

She felt a subtle sense of strangeness, shook her head, walked back to Su Ruhao's side, and whispered: "The issue of psychological assistance has been resolved"

"Business trip? That is of no concern." He smiled nonchalantly, "As for the previous reason, you need not worry about it."

Those eyes gazed intently at her silhouette, as if they were small lamps covered in black jade, extinguished with a soft puff at the sound of the closing door

Capriciousness

This answer did not surprise him. Pei Yueze pondered for a moment and continued to ask: "So, starting now, you will be completely obedient to me?"

He said word by word: "Because this is decided by me"

They do not have to make this call

Before my fingers even touched the door, I discovered that it was merely ajar, and with a gentle push, it swung open

Su Ruhao was conversing with the village chief; she blinked her sore eyes, moved to a sheltered spot, and took out her phone

Moments later, Pei Yueze's pleasant and easygoing voice came through the not-so-good signal

He remained silent all the way until he turned off the highway, and the small village was already visible in the distance. Xia Huixi suddenly said: "What can I really do for them..."

He pointed at his son and daughter-in-law, sighed, and did not shy away from the volume of his voice: "Now we are relying on painkillers. They just fell asleep."

Xia Huixi spoke with gentle persuasion and great patience: "Generally speaking, individuals of your status seeking psychological counseling are likely experiencing what is referred to as 'mountain sickness.' Symptoms include anxiety, unease, and occasional dizziness. It is akin to standing at the summit of a mountain, overlooking all beings, filled with both anticipation and fear for the future"

Xia Huixi wearily pressed her fingers against her forehead. Due to the moisture from last night, the distant mountains were shrouded in a hazy mist, swirling around the clouds, perhaps accompanied by a tangle of worries that even she could not sort out.

Today, she appears somewhat unusual. Her pupils seem to be gradually dispersing, and her gaze, filled with emptiness, sweeps across his face, starkly different from her usual competence and decisiveness. This makes Su Ruhao feel a twinge of pain; his palm gently lowers, sliding to her cheek. Her face is small, and this gesture nearly covers more than half of it. Su Ruhao feels an uncontrollable urge to lean in and embrace her, his thin lips slightly parting, the words he has held back for so long lingering on the tip of his tongue, yet they remain unspoken.

It seemed like a question, yet it did not quite resemble one; rather, it felt more like a faint exclamation, gradually dissipating with the airflow that continuously flowed in through the window.

Xia Huixi stood at the door of the ward and saw an old man wearing a faded Zhongshan suit, wiping the small table by the bedside. He was a typical old farmer, with dark skin, and as he slightly lowered his head, the deep furrows on his forehead became visible, as if they were the result of generations of toil on that patch of yellow earth.

However, in this once warm and vibrant little village, no experts will come to assess how long it will take for the ecosystem to recover. Unless these villagers are diagnosed in their medical records, it seems that everything can only remain as it is.

On that hurried visit, she initially thought it was merely a well-structured siheyuan. However, upon stepping inside this time, she paid a bit more attention and looked around, realizing that this old residence was truly magnificent, reminiscent of the grand Jiangnan gardens from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Similar gardens today are either repurposed as popular tourist attractions or uniquely transformed into museums

I originally thought I would have to wait even longer

Pei Yueze stood behind the chair, his tall figure and perfectly sculpted features made him appear almost otherworldly, creating a subtle sense of distance. As for his expression, Xia Huixi felt a bit puzzled, wondering why he seemed so cautious, as if he were a disappointed child. This thought only flickered through her mind for an instant; her movements remained fluid as she stepped out and closed the door.

The southern landscapes truly deserve the phrase "exquisite and boundless"

Is it not extravagant for someone to exclusively enjoy such a grand mansion now?

The students' registration appeared to be very enthusiastic. On the afternoon of the first weekend, some volunteers hurried to Cui Xiang. Xia Huixi encountered them at the school gate, where a group of people was lining up to board the bus. Immediately, some students greeted her. She watched them get on the bus from across the street, a smile on her lips, resembling a heroic mother sending her children off to battle.

Pei Yueze was taken aback; at this moment, he had regained his usual calmness and rationality, and his tone turned slightly cold again: "Interrupted for some reason?"

She turned back with a radiant smile and said, "How could that be?"

It seemed as if she had caught a glimpse of Pei Yueze's expression, her beautiful eyebrows slightly raised, gliding over the brow bone with a perfect curve, complemented by a teasing smirk at the corners of her lips: "There are many ways to cause a project to fail; you may try them all."

In fact, she knows in her heart that when she mentioned it during the recording, it was merely a casual remark and not a definitive agreement with those individuals. If they are unwilling, it would be a better way to refuse by remaining silent from then on or treating the topic as if it had never been mentioned.

The old man glanced and said softly, "He is even more unfortunate, suffering from leukemia."

The stream appeared somewhat thickened due to the recent rain, resembling the verdigris of bronze, shimmering with an eerie yet splendid hue. In the air, there was no refreshing scent of "the fresh rain after a quiet mountain shower"; instead, Xia Hui, sensitive to the surroundings, detected an indescribable sourness.

The young man standing in front of the window was also as tall and straight as a pine tree. Against the light, his figure was slender, and his shadow fell right at Xia Huixi's feet, as if it could reach out and touch her.