Love in a Mental Hospital

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"Sure, I can do that, but with you being so shy, can you really apologize properly?" Chen Ke asked with a laugh.

"Don't underestimate me," Liu Xiaoting said, "When a person has no tomorrow, her candor can surpass anyone's imagination."

"Since you've requested it, I'll let him know, but whether he comes or not is uncertain," Chen Ke tried not to care too much.

"Tell him that his good looks are beneficial for my condition!"

"Now you're being too frank! But, well, he is a really handsome guy, so I can understand."

"You'll share the benefit, too, good sisters share their blessings."

Chen Ke nearly died laughing.

After returning, she first asked Su Qing, "How long does Xiaoting have to live?"

Incredibly, the already quiet office became even quieter.

Is there a silence more silent than silence?

This might be the silence of the Mind World.

Su Qing put down the file she was holding and looked at Chen Ke: "She has stopped taking anticancer drugs. If she's lucky, she might live until September, but if not..."

Chen Ke felt something clogging her chest.

Her eyes burned, and tears suddenly blurred her vision.

But she didn't cry, as she was still somewhat in disbelief and unable to accept the fact.

She had thought there would be at least a year left, or even half a year. She had not expected that even one month would be wishful thinking, no wonder Xiaoting cared so much about the next outing and was so frank.

"I advise you not to get too emotionally involved," Su Qing sighed slightly, "What's more, most of your feelings are sympathy and pity, and such emotions will only aggravate her depression, making her condition deteriorate faster."

Chen Ke sniffed softly.

She didn't shed tears, just her voice was a bit hoarse: "I understand."

"What a pity, she's so young," Gu Ran remarked.

To him, it wasn't sadness, as they had only met twice; it was just unavoidable sentimentality.

"By the way," Su Qing said to Gu Ran, "from now on, you're forbidden to appear before Liu Xiaoting. One reason is that you've upset her today, and the second..."

She paused:

"Don't continue to pour your feelings into someone who is destined to die. While you're still not close, cut ties now. Jinghai's care for Liu Xiaoting is sufficient with the nurses and Chen Ke."

She then looked at Chen Ke: "Even you, I think it's best to reduce contact, but it's up to you to decide."

"We're already friends," Chen Ke said without hesitation.

"But you are also doctor and patient," Su Qing emphasized, "If your presence worsens Liu Xiaoting's condition, I will forbid you from contacting her."

"I understand."

Su Qing looked at her for a second, her tone softened, and she said softly, "Go to the bathroom and wash your face."

Chen Ke subconsciously wiped the corner of her eyes, apologized, and left the office.

Gu Ran was deep in thought when someone grabbed the back of his collar, abruptly yanking him back, almost making him fall.

"What are you doing?!" He was a bit startled.

"I said, you're not allowed to contact Liu Xiaoting anymore, did you hear me?" Su Qing warned coldly in his ear.

"I heard you," Gu Ran broke free, straightening his collar, "I know you're not being cold-hearted, but kind-hearted. I don't want to experience the pain of losing a friend either; I'm not an idiot."

Su Qing's cold, delicate face seemed to melt like early snow.

She smiled and said, "If you interact with her, you might not just experience the pain of losing a friend, but perhaps also love."

"Stop right there."

"Not just love, Liu Xiaoting may be pitiful, but without a doubt, she's a mental patient. If she really falls for you and goes crazy, she might end up dragging you into dying together—stealing a stone, a tile shard, and slicing your throat when you least expect it."

"Is it that serious?"

Su Qing stood up, took a file from the bookshelf, and handed it to him.

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Gu Ran flipped through the pages, and inside were records of psychiatric patients injuring doctors and nurses, some nearly resulting in death.

Line by line, photo after photo of wounds, bloodied heads, terrifying bite marks, scratches,

In many textbooks, many teachers also mentioned in psychology courses that when a patient approaches you, if you notice something off about their gaze, you should run immediately.

Su Qing stood by the table, looking down at him.

Her tone was calm as she said, "With Chen Ke here, my mother can't give you any special attention over me until you prove yourself. She has to treat everyone equally.

"But she also specifically instructed me to take good care of you. She said you are like a son to her, and I can't let you die, as it would impact our already strained mother-daughter relationship."

Gu Ran raised his head.

"What about Chen Ke?" he asked. "What should we do about her? It's dangerous for her to be around Liu Xiaoting, too."

Su Qing thought for a moment, "Find a way to waste her time, keep her away from the ward as much as possible. It would be best if a psychiatric patient came in; then she would need to collect information, need to interview, naturally leaving her no time to develop a friendship with Liu Xiaoting."

Chen Ke was just outside the door.

She had hastily wiped the corners of her eyes in the restroom, hurried back, and went to the ward, accidentally overhearing the conversation between the two.

She leaned against the wall, hands thrust in the pockets of her white coat, feeling powerless.

Her heart was filled not only with sympathy for Liu Xiaoting but also with resignation to the unpredictability of life.

So hard.

She remembered Zhuang Jing's words that if a relationship is unbearable, let it go. But to actually do this was very difficult.

As a psychologist, she felt her immaturity, but Gu Ran's words also touched her to feel the camaraderie between colleagues.

Like a blood relationship, after all, they were colleagues who would work closely together for five years.

"I have a suggestion," Gu Ran's voice came from the office.

Chen Ke, hearing the word "suggestion," couldn't help but perk up her ears.

"Instead of waiting for patients to come in, when Chen Ke goes to visit Liu Xiaoting, the two of us could follow along—we too can waste her time," he said.

"Ha!" Su Qing laughed, seemingly finding the idea naive but touched by the naivety, "What if Liu Xiaoting tries to kill someone?"

"I can protect you."

Su Qing's response was not heard.

Only Gu Ran quickly added, "Of course, I'll protect Chen Ke, too."

"With that little bit of flesh you have?"

"Ha!" Gu Ran mimicked Su Qing's scornful laugh, "I'm what you call 'deceptively strong'."

"Then take off your pants and show me."

"...I think I'm cheeky enough, you're even worse than me!"

"I just want to see your thighs. You're not going to take your underwear off too, are you? Or should we continue the topic of whether you have hair on your butt?"

"Shut up! Chen Ke is coming back!"

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"Personal Diary": August 2nd, sunny, the unpredictability of life, cherish the moment, today I vow to abstain from lasciviousness.

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"Doctor's Diary": Should a psychologist maintain an objective and impartial attitude with patients, or become a confidante?

Becoming friends violates the code of conduct for psychologists.

Neither money nor friendship should be given to patients by a doctor.

To guide patients, letting them realize for themselves what they need and how to get it, is what a doctor should do, and the only thing they must do.

But who can truly maintain absolute objectivity and neutrality?

I am very confused.

I hope to find my own answer in the future.