Although They're Mentally ill, They're Extremely Easy to Comfort - Chapter 30

“What are you two doing?” Qin Yun swayed her body as she walked into the office, her voice arriving before she did, as usual.

It seemed like a habit to warn the people inside to adjust their state, lest they be caught in an unbecoming scene by an outsider.

However, it was no use. Ji Changyi, who followed closely behind, saw the two holding hands as soon as she entered the door. In her sight, their gazing eyes were filled with affection, deeply stinging her own.

The interrupted atmosphere suddenly became awkward.

Ling Xi tried to pull her hand away, but Qiao Bo’er held it tightly, refusing to let go.

Standing up, she led Ling Xi over to the two, introducing her simply: “This is Ling Xi, my ancient text studies instructor.”

“So you are Associate Professor Ling. Bo’er mentions you often, I didn’t expect you to be so young.” Qin Yun was a social phobia, a social terrorist, capable of saying white was black.

Mentions me often? Ling Xi was puzzled, but quickly blushed with embarrassment: “Not at all, you flatter me.”

Qiao Bo’er glared at Qin Yun, then introduced the other person: “Ling Xi, this heavily made-up village woman is Qin Yun, you can ignore her. This is Dr. Ji Changyi, Dr. Ji. They are both my friends.”

“Dr. Ji, hello.”

Facing the friendly greeting, Ji Changyi was unmoved, because the bright red hickey on Ling Xi’s neck was too eye-catching. As a result, Ji Changyi’s expression grew colder. She nodded indifferently, skipping even the gesture of opening her mouth to respond.

The atmosphere became increasingly awkward. Luckily, Chu Xi rushed in and changed the subject: “What would everyone like to drink?”

“Three lattes, and prepare milk for Ling Xi separately.”

I’m not a three-year-old baby, why order milk? Ling Xi had wanted to drink happy-fat water (soda), but Qiao Bo’er had directly made the decision for the three of them.

It was just a simple arrangement, yet it was enough for everyone to see that Ling Xi was the most special existence in Qiao Bo’er’s world.

Every tiny detail, like a needle, pricked Ji Changyi’s heart. Her face remained outwardly calm. Only she could feel the painful tightening in her throat, the discomfort brought on by unwillingness.

Ji Changyi automatically classified Ling Xi as an outsider. Therefore, it was inconvenient to discuss matters concerning treatment. She turned to look at Qiao Bo’er, hesitating to speak.

Qin Yun sensed the hostility and spoke up to tease: “Associate Professor Ling, you haven’t toured our company yet, have you? I’ll take you around. If you get tired of being a teacher, come to Jiattai to retire.”

This cunning and witty fox spirit, Qin Yun, effortlessly created space for Ji Changyi to be alone with Qiao Bo’er.

She greeted Ling Xi, but her gaze was fixed on Qiao Bo’er, seemingly seeking her approval.

“Okay, I’d like to look around too.” Ling Xi felt Ji Changyi’s unfriendliness. Staying in the office would only make her more uncomfortable, so she accepted Qin Yun’s invitation.

Qiao Bo’er nodded in silent agreement. Qin Yun’s clingy nature was fully exposed; she immediately linked arms with Ling Xi, almost nestling into her embrace.

This won’t do!

Qiao Bo’er’s jealousy instantly flowed down three thousand tons. She coughed non-stop to show her displeasure. If Qin Yun pressed against Ling Xi for one more second, she would rush over and start a fight.

Ling Xi disliked overly intimate contact from strangers, so she shook her shoulder to escape Qin Yun’s grasp, then cautiously looked back at Qiao Bo’er, as if afraid she would be angry about it.

Why is she suddenly so concerned about the crazy woman’s feelings? How strange, how unbelievable!

After watching the two leave, Qiao Bo’er’s forced casual expression instantly crumbled into a piece of dead ash: “How long are you planning to stay this time?”

“That depends on your situation.”

Ji Changyi sat down on the sofa. Like everyone else, she was already used to Qiao Bo’er’s unpredictable moods.

“I will be very busy during this time, so I can’t accompany you around Xuan City. You can inform Chu Xi and Qu Ye about anything you need. As for the treatment time, we’ll arrange it later.”

“Are you busy because of that Associate Professor Ling?” Ji Changyi’s question lacked confidence, but she wanted to find a different answer in the slim chance.

Obviously, Qiao Bo’er would only amplify her disappointment: “Yes, I want to spend more time with her.”

The answer was heartbreaking. Ji Changyi frowned deeply and did not agree with this arrangement.

The usually wise and gentle woman’s temper suddenly became aberrant: “Do you know what I regret most these past few years? I shouldn’t have helped you analyze Ling Xi’s illness in the first place. You can’t even take care of yourself, and yet you’re dragging her down. Two mentally unstable patients will influence each other, inducing an onset and worsening their condition. You should know this principle very well!”

“Are you suggesting I cut off contact with her? How is that different from telling me to die? I’ve decided to be bound to her for life, and I won’t allow anyone to break us up. Not even you.”

Ling Xi was the cause and effect of Qiao Bo’er’s stubborn madness. She completely disregarded Ji Changyi’s concerns. Apart from Ling Xi, nothing else seemed capable of changing her obstinance.

This meticulously built relationship could not be destroyed by anyone. Even the medical authority Ji Changyi couldn’t shake Qiao Bo’er’s resolve.

Ji Changyi had treated too many people with broken minds. Only Qiao Bo’er’s treatment remained stagnant year after year, becoming a insurmountable mountain.

Somewhere along the way, Qiao Bo’er had become Ji Changyi’s concern. This emotion had long surpassed the required distance a doctor should maintain with a patient. She sighed and softened her tone, asking in return: “If you continue to be so stubborn, how am I supposed to save you?”

Qiao Bo’er was amused by Ji Changyi’s question, her laughter sharp, harsh, and grating: “Hahaha… But can you save me? The medicine you prescribed can only save me for a moment, it can’t save me for a lifetime…”

Qiao Bo’er’s emotional fluctuations were like bungee jumping, with suffocating weightlessness followed by desperate rebound after hitting the bottom. The constant ups and downs disturbed her fiercely beating heart.

After the sharp laughter came immense sorrow. Pain that was difficult to save herself from surfaced on her beautiful face. She had to grab Ji Changyi’s wrist, bitterly confessing her weakness: “Ling Xi is my life-saving medicine, but my life-saving medicine is sick. She’s sick, what am I supposed to do?”

That trembling sob was the most genuine helplessness from the depths of her heart. Qiao Bo’er’s words were cruel to Ji Changyi; she easily negated everything she had invested.

Who was wrong in the end? In fact, no one was wrong.

Suddenly, Qiao Bo’er’s mind began to rapidly flash back to the scenes that terrified her—

The filthy, dilapidated dungeon was filled with the musty dampness. The rusty iron chain around her neck was so heavy it was suffocating. Sunlight couldn’t penetrate the exhaust window blocked by straw, as if the hope of survival was swallowed by the deep abyss of darkness.

And there was the sound of leather shoes echoing outside the iron door, lingering and refusing to subside, one step after another… Vague and ethereal, they pounded on Qiao Bo’er’s chest, but it was a pain that carved out her heart and scraped her bones.

Qiao Bo’er collapsed into the corner of the sofa, curling up her body, burying her face under the cushion. Her clenched fists were uncontrollably shaking.

Qiao Bo’er was having an episode.

Ji Changyi realized something was wrong. She immediately took out the strong sedative tablet she had brought from her bag and offered it to her mouth: “Bo’er! Bo’er! Open your mouth, quickly open your mouth!”

The veins on Qiao Bo’er’s forehead bulged. When the episode struck, the world in her eyes was like an out-of-control gyroscope. Everything spun and blurred into overlapping shadows, accompanied by nerve-stimulating tinnitus, making it impossible for her to hear what Ji Changyi was saying.

Because of the chaotic and terrifying memory, Qiao Bo’er was clenching her teeth tightly. Ji Changyi could only forcefully clamp her jawbone with one hand, compelling her to open her mouth and prevent the danger of biting her tongue.

Qiao Bo’er gasped for air, looking distressed and in pain. Sweat on her forehead mixed with tears rolling down from the corners of her eyes, and her body worsened from trembling to spasmodic convulsions.

Even though the torment had driven her out of her mind, she still endured, refusing to let out a single cry of weakness.

This was Qiao Bo’er’s most humiliating side, and also the last shred of dignity she had preserved.

Ji Changyi slipped the tablet into Qiao Bo’er’s mouth. After she swallowed it, she relaxed and withdrew her hand.

Chu Xi walked into the office carrying the coffee. Seeing Qiao Bo’er convulsing on the sofa, the only thing she could do for her boss was calmly close and lock the door.

“Chu Xi, quickly go pour a glass of water.”

Ji Changyi shook her hand; the bright red teeth marks had broken the skin and were bleeding slightly. But she didn’t care. She just quietly knelt by the sofa, gently stroking Qiao Bo’er’s messy long hair, and tenderly asked: “Do you feel any better now?”

The sedative took effect very quickly. Before losing consciousness, Qiao Bo’er looked at the double-image of Chu Xi and, exhausted, instructed: “Send Ling Xi home… Don’t let her see me like this… Go quickly…”

Qiao Bo’er closed her eyes with a weary sigh. Ji Changyi frowned and sadly sighed. The overwhelming sourness made her instinctively sniffle.

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