When Wen Jialuo called the psychologist named Cha whom she had contacted before, she was surprised to be told that he now had a clinic in this city.
Coincidence, or destiny
They did not meet at the clinic, but agreed to go out for dinner like friends.
Wen Jialuo took Xu Shiqi with him. As soon as they sat down, Dr. Nacha pushed his glasses and asked Wen Jialuo, "Are you wondering why I'm here?"
"From what you said, it's not a coincidence?" Wen Jialuo said as he ordered the dishes and raised his eyelids to glance at him.
Doctor Cha is a man in his forties with a gentle appearance. When I saw him in the clinic before, he was always well-dressed and never wore a white coat, as if he never considered himself a doctor. But today he really looked like he was here for dinner, wearing casual clothes, looking very relaxed. Wen Jialuo stole a glance at Xu Shiqi. She had told the woman that the man in front of her was a doctor. At first, she instinctively resisted him from the bottom of her heart, so she would be on guard and be extremely alert every time, fearing that he would get the truth out of her. But Xu Shiqi looked very calm, not nervous at all.
"In fact, as soon as you came to this city to work, I received a call from your mother. She hoped that I could show up immediately to help you when you needed me, even if you might not need me at all." Doctor Cha smiled, "You probably don't know this."
Wen Jialuo frowned slightly. This was indeed something she didn't know. She relaxed a lot after leaving home. Without anyone to worry about, she could live her life the way she wanted. She spent several years in comfort. But when she recalled those days, it was like a blank sheet of paper, so empty that she couldn't even find any trace of life.
"So, you finally got my call now?"
"No." Doctor Cha took a sip of the water brought by the waiter. "As long as you are famous, it doesn't matter where you open a clinic. If you hadn't called me, I would have almost forgotten that you were my client."
"Client?" Wen Jialuo's mouth twitched slightly. He just felt that this person had a bit of elegance, but immediately he could smell the mercenary nature of a businessman. I guess my mother must have given him a lot of benefits to get him to move to her city.
"Let me introduce you," Wen Jialuo put his arm around Xu Shiqi's shoulder, "My friend, Xu Shiqi. Shiqi, this is Doctor Cha."
"Hello." Dr. Cha stood up and reached across the table.
Xu Shiqi also stood up and shook hands with him.
"Let's order first." Wen Jialuo grabbed Xu Shiqi's hand and stuffed the menu into her hand. "Is there anything you want to eat in particular?"
Xu Shiqi shook his head, closed the menu and handed it to the man opposite him with a slight smile.
Dr. Cha didn't hesitate and actually ordered a few dishes.
They didn't talk much during the meal. Xu Shiqi didn't eat fast, and Wen Jialuo didn't eat much. As for Dr. Cha, who sat opposite them, he drank a little wine calmly and ate a lot.
"There is a cafe downstairs. I wonder if I could invite you two to sit down for a while." Dr. Cha asked very gentlemanly.
"Shiqi can't drink coffee." Wen Jialuo frowned. She had clearly told him about Xu Shiqi's situation on the phone.
"If you don't want coffee, there's milk tea, and there's music to listen to, and the environment is nice, isn't that great?"
Wen Jialuo actually hated his persuasive tone, but she was still very clear about what she was here for today. Turning to look at Xu Shiqi, Wen Jialuo asked her what she meant.
Xu Shiqi tilted his head and took out paper and pen.
I know Dr. Cha is trying to help me relax, but that's okay, I can just go back to your clinic.
"Good handwriting." Dr. Cha praised the note and then sighed in his heart.
Wen Jialuo snatched the note away. She had been reading Xu Shiqi's handwriting every day these days, and could already tell her mood from her handwriting. And how was this better than her usual stiff handwriting? Sure enough, she was still nervous, not as calm as she looked.
"In that case, Miss Xu, please come back to the clinic with me." Doctor Cha looked at Wen Jialuo, "You don't have to go."
"Why?" Wen Jialuo raised his eyebrows and asked dissatisfiedly.
"When I sent you to me, didn't you also drive your family away?" Doctor Cha said in confusion, and then looked at her quietly, "I think you can understand her feelings."
Wen Jialuo's face was almost wrinkled, and she was struggling violently while sitting there. Suddenly, Xu Shiqi reached out his hand, gently held hers, and pushed a piece of paper in front of her.
It’s okay, I can go alone.
It's okay, don't worry so much; It's okay, I can actually... Wen Jialuo found that Xu Shiqi said these three words more and more often. Every word was not for himself, but to relieve her worries first. This person seemed to be unable to see his own wounds, and only wanted to comfort others first.
How could there be such a person? Wen Jialuo felt so sad that she wanted to hug this woman who was still encouraging her. Who was the patient? Who needed help more? Could it be that she was the one who couldn't make it? Otherwise, why did she have to comfort him over and over again
What did she get from being with him, except for the hidden pain that she couldn't speak of? Wen Jialuo thought in a trance, feeling deeply frustrated. Xu Shiqi's thoughtfulness made it impossible for her to express too much, because that would only bring more "it's okay" and maybe "sorry" in the future... Then she would deserve to die.
Wen Jialuo stood on the street for a long time before watching Xu Shiqi follow Dr. Cha into his car.
Before going home, she went to the supermarket to buy vegetables, and when she passed by a bookstore, she picked up a cookbook.
People always need to grow up, and this does not refer to physical growth. Wen Jialuo thought that he could do better. Even if he could not cook delicious food, he should try to make himself love her more.
There was only one induction cooker at home, and Wen Jialuo didn't really understand how Xu Shiqi cooked a table of dishes every day with this one appliance. She started to rush from the moment she washed and cut the vegetables, and she couldn't take care of the pot on the induction cooker at all.
Several times she picked up the phone and wanted to call the old aunt, at least to get some help. But after thinking about it, she put down the phone and figured it out bit by bit according to the recipe. Anyway, she had an afternoon. She thought that if she, the person most familiar with her, could not be the reason for Xu Shiqi to let go of his knot, then the most unfamiliar person, maybe she could try. There was bitterness in this thought, but Wen Jialuo did not have time to pay attention to it. What is more useful than futile bitterness is actual action. The person most familiar should be the one who has no scruples. Obviously, she must not have done well enough, and the problem can only be found from herself.
She wanted to make a rice bowl like the one she had at Baohua's house last time.
Ever since she vaguely felt that she was abnormal with this woman, she began to feel hungry all the time. In fact, it was not the protest of the stomach, but just a psychological one. The empty heart was finally cast a shadow by the sun, and before it solidified into substance, she didn't know what she wanted.
I am always very hungry, and I will never forget the rice topped with leftovers and the fried egg with a tender yellow texture.
Just thinking about it, saliva seems to be secreted in the mouth, with a hint of sweetness, like that person's gentle eyes and gentle voice.
Wen Jialuo stopped what she was doing, and suddenly felt something pulling her heart, making it fall down... Then, her chest felt heavy as if there was no trace of her heartbeat. She could hardly breathe, and had to stretch out her hands and punch the place where the power suddenly went out.
How long had she not heard Xu Shiqi speak? Ever since the car accident, this nightmare-like fact had never let her go. She was not afraid that Xu Shiqi would lose her beautiful voice, in which case she would not leave that woman, but that this incident would become an indelible existence in their lives. Perhaps it would be like a bone spur that would always be there, deeply embedded in the body, and become a trigger that would penetrate her in the future.
Wen Jialuo had no idea what the trigger was, but she had this inexplicable premonition that things were sliding towards an unknown direction, and she was powerless to stop it. Wen Jialuo slowly recovered and began to deal with the beef on the chopping board with a blank face - she would not let things really go to that point. No one could separate the two of them, no matter what excuse they used.
Dr. Cha's clinic is located in a high-end office building. As the elevator went up, the slight feeling of weightlessness made Xu Shiqi feel dazed.
She didn't know how she followed the doctor into the clinic, and she didn't see the clinic's furnishings and colors. When Dr. Cha pointed to a large leather chair, she sank into it and closed her eyes.
There was a look of relaxation on his face that even Wen Jialuo had never seen before, as if he could fall asleep at any time according to his heart.
Dr. Cha poured a cup of tea and gently placed it in front of her. He looked at the woman. He had not looked at her carefully in the restaurant just now because he was concerned about Wen Jialuo.
It was the first time he met this woman, so he couldn't say he knew her well. He only knew her through two phone calls.
That person said that if she comes to you, you should cover up her lie; Wen Jialuo said please help her... and help me too.
"You must have not had a good sleep for many days." Dr. Cha lowered his voice, turned on the computer, and tuned up a piece of music. This music can help you sleep, and I heard that this woman's voice was once so good that it could make people fall asleep peacefully.
Such an extreme level would indeed make God jealous.
Xu Shiqi seemed to smile, and his raised lips fell down in an instant, and he seemed to fall into a good dream immediately.
Doctor Cha looked at the clock on the wall. It was just past 1:30, so she could have a good sleep. He got up and took a small blanket to cover Xu Shiqi, then went back to work.
It was not until after four o'clock that Xu Shiqi slowly woke up. She had been sleeping in a bad posture, curled up in the chair, and her neck, waist, and legs were almost stiff. She stood up and stretched, stroking the back of her neck, and slowly looked around the clinic.
"Awake?" There was a hint of laughter in Dr. Cha's voice.
Xu Shiqi was stunned for a moment before she saw him reach out to turn off the computer, then light a cigarette and look at her.
Thank you, Xu Shiqi said silently.
"Do you have the habit of talking in your sleep?" asked Dr. Cha.
Xu Shiqi froze.
"No, I didn't hear that." Dr. Cha pushed his glasses up. "So you don't have to sleep so restlessly at home. Without good sleep quality, your body will collapse, and I don't think that's a good thing."
Xu Shiqi slowly sat down again, held the small blanket in his hands, and made the shape of thank you with his mouth.
"I can't help you with anything, but if you really can't sleep well at home, you can come to my place to rest when you have time." Doctor Cha's glasses flashed, "Don't worry, someone has paid for the consultation."
Taking out a piece of paper and a pen, Xu Shiqi bit his lower lip lightly and slowly lowered his head to write.
How are you going to tell her
Dr. Cha looked at it and smiled, then reached out to take the phone and dialed Wen Jialuo's number.
"Jia Luo? I'm Doctor Cha."
…
"Well, she's going home soon, so I thought I'd better tell you first."
…
"I talked to her for an entire afternoon... She wrote, not spoke... Her condition may be even worse than yours, so ask her to come to my place every week... No, you also know that Rome was not built in a day. You lost weight very quickly when you were anorexic, and it's hard to recover, isn't it? You have to give her time and don't ask anything. As a friend, be careful. If she has a boyfriend... Hello?"
"You actually hung up on me." Dr. Cha stared at the phone.
Xu Shiqi looked at the doctor with a mixture of laughter and tears. He was actually telling lies with his eyes open without even thinking beforehand - was he really a doctor
"You have to know," Dr. Cha shrugged, "psychological issues are serious if you say they are serious, and not serious if you say they are not serious. Well, it sounds like nonsense, but you just have to understand it."
Xu Shiqi nodded, picked up his bag from the chair, and pointed in the direction of the door.
"Goodbye." Dr. Cha held up the cigarette and nodded, "Be careful on the road."
He watched the woman leave, then ticked a box on his to-do list for today. It was so easy to make money like this, but just like before, he had to sew his mouth shut, otherwise, he would not have a good life.
Fortunately, he is a person who is easily satisfied. Even if he is forced to face such a secret again, he will find a way to make himself comfortable and never embarrass himself.
Unlike the woman who just left, the promise she had to keep was even more tormenting than his inability to speak it out loud.
Doctor Cha stood up and turned to the window. His clinic was on the 32nd floor, very high. He could see half of the city, and the other half was behind him. It takes courage to stand at such a height, and the same goes for love, which requires courage and perseverance - no matter who you are or who you choose.
It’s great to be young, with endless courage and perseverance. A year is never a long day.