“Alright, this month’s diagnosis is done.” Mo Jiaqi packed up her equipment and also put away Xu Yinsheng’s psychological diagnosis report.
At the end of this diagnosis, a prominent red “A” was stamped.
Xu Yinsheng, meanwhile, was lounging lazily in her chair, completely relaxed, with a bag of ready-to-eat chips resting on her lap, looking every bit a happy couch potato.
Mo Jiaqi raised a hand to lightly adjust the glasses on her nose bridge. “Ah Xu, it seems your mental state has been pretty good lately.”
“Of course it has.” Xu Yinsheng shoved a handful of chips into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out, then unceremoniously licked her fingers clean.
“A rich second-generation like me, with money and power? Mental illness? That thing is miles away from me.”
“Mo Mo, if you ask me, you can just write up a certificate of successful treatment now. Save yourself the trouble of making a trip every month.”
Mo Jiaqi: …
Really? I give you a compliment, and you actually take it seriously.
Whatever. Not going to argue with a thirty-year-old woman in the throes of love.
She finished packing, said goodbye to Xu Yinsheng, and headed out.
In the living room, Zhao Yicheng was tying an apron around his waist and setting a fragrant bowl of sauerkraut fish soup on the table. He happened to bump into Mo Jiaqi coming out of Xu Yinsheng’s room.
“How about staying for lunch? It’s just an extra pair of chopsticks.” Zhao Yicheng smiled and suggested.
Mo Jiaqi glanced at him—his apron stained with seasonings, a few stray stubbles of beard, and that face often plastered on Tianlin City’s business news—yet there was absolutely no trace of the domineering President Zhao who once ruled the market like a conqueror.
She could only say: Love really is a magic potion.
“No, I have a blind date this afternoon.” She waved her hand, declining.
As she was leaving, Mo Jiaqi looked back and happened to see Xu Yinsheng sneaking out of the bedroom, darting into the kitchen as quickly and gracefully as a cat. Her youthful energy betrayed no sign of someone suffering from a mental disorder.
Indeed, love is also a remedy.
—
In the kitchen, in front of the gas stove.
Zhao Yicheng was making a dish called Cola Chicken Wings. After all, Xu Little Glutton Cat kept pestering him to try something different.
Thinking of this, a slight smile unconsciously curled at the corners of his mouth as he carefully handled the ingredients.
Cola Chicken Wings: ten chicken wings, 300ml of cola, a small piece of ginger, 3 grams of salt, 5ml of soy sauce, two star anise.
After washing the chicken wings, he made three cuts with a knife, then mixed them with No. 42 cement because of the screws… pfft!
The small knife cut his finger, and a sharp sting immediately shot from his fingertip. The dazed Zhao Yicheng snapped back to reality. He frowned at the chicken wings now stained with blood and, somewhat annoyed, threw the ruined wings into the trash can.
Just then, a little head suddenly poked in from beside him, and a band-aid was handed over.
“How many times has this been that you spaced out?” Xu Yinsheng looked at the cuts on his hand, frowning slightly.
“I feel like you’ve been absent-minded lately. Either you’re spacing out during meals and don’t respond when I call you, or you cut your fingers while cooking.”
“Old Zhao, maybe you should find time to go to the hospital and get checked out.”
Zhao Yicheng used the band-aid to tend to his wound, shaking his head. “No need. I just haven’t rested well the past few nights. I’m a bit tired. A good nap this afternoon will fix it.”
“Then… how about I take you out for a 998-foot massage to relax?”
At that, the corners of Zhao Yicheng’s mouth twitched uncontrollably.
Getting taken by his girlfriend for a 998-foot massage? That would be a first.
That’s right, Xu Yinsheng now was… well, not Zhao Yicheng’s girlfriend.
Their relationship was still at the stage where Zhao Yicheng was working for free—and bringing his own lunch, no less.
Ahem, but Zhao Yicheng didn’t care what others thought. He felt what he felt. After all, with the semi-cohabitation and intimacy they had now, calling each other boyfriend and girlfriend wasn’t far off.
“No thanks.” He waved his hand.
Seeing his refusal, Xu Yinsheng didn’t press further. She just helped out on the side, making sure Zhao Yicheng didn’t cut his fingers again.
—
Evening, in a glowing bedroom.
Rustle, rustle, rustle, rustle, rustle.
The pen tip glided across the pristine white paper. Xu Yinsheng held a Chenguang ballpoint pen in her hand, her expression both puzzled and focused.
“Future me, Zhao Yicheng has been spacing out for a long time now. Is it from too much hypnosis, frying his brain? Should I find time to drag him to the hospital for an MRI?”
Recalling the information she had overheard last time, she paused the pen tip and continued writing.
“Do you think his mental illness could be passed down to the next generation? Or affect intelligence or something?”
No sooner had the words been written than a line of delicate handwriting appeared on the next line.
“First, it’s not a big deal. Don’t worry too much. Even if something goes wrong, your current Dream Demon Form can just about handle his condition.”
“Second, Little Xu Xu~ you haven’t even clarified your boyfriend-girlfriend relationship yet, and you’re already thinking about kids? Tsk tsk tsk, can’t help but call you a thirty-year-old woman now, huh? Unlike sis, who’s forever an 18-year-old youthful beauty.”
Xu Yinsheng: …
An 18-year-old youthful beauty? More like an 18-year-old private *!!
But her gaze lingered on the word “Dream Demon” for a moment. Then, Xu Yinsheng took off her undershirt, turned her head slightly, and looked at her smooth, fair back. Her small hand brushed over it, and a pair of dreamlike pink wings spread out from her posterior ribs, slowly flapping in rhythm with her breathing.
Dream Demon Form.
In Future Xu Yinsheng’s words, this form could treat Zhao Yicheng’s mental illness.
Zhao Yicheng’s mental illness.
Just thinking about it made her teeth ache.
The moment she thought of mental illness, she thought of Zhao Yicheng. The moment she thought of Zhao Yicheng, she thought of their messy, tangled relationship!! If she said hatred, it wasn’t as intense as it was at the start. If she said disgust, that “dog man” feeling was gone. But if she said love… it was only a little bit. Just barely enough to get by.
She had no idea what her true feelings toward Zhao Yicheng were—whether she wanted to spend a lifetime with him or just enjoyed his efforts.
Feelings are simple; it’s people who are complicated.
That was the reality of Xu Yinsheng’s heart right now.
Knock, knock, knock!
Suddenly, a faint tapping sound came from outside the window. Xu Yinsheng put her clothes back on, followed the noise to the window. Her bedroom was on the second floor, with the window facing the gate, below which was an artificial pond with some koi fish and lotus leaves.
A dirty cat was perched on the windowsill, lightly bumping its head against the glass, its eyes red and glistening with teardrops.
The moment Xu Yinsheng opened the window, the blue-and-white blur pounced into her arms, transforming into a soft, adorable little prince, clutching her waist without a word. Before she could say anything, he started bawling loudly.
“Boo hoo~ Sister Xu~”
“I’ve been found out! Teacher kicked me out!”
“Boo hoo hoo~ Yan Qing is so pitiful~ Boo hoo, can you take me in?~ Boo hoo wah!”