By the time they arrived, the hospital departments were mostly closed for the day. The empty outpatient hall felt cold, sterile, and unnervingly quiet. The moment Chu Lingyun stepped inside, the clinical chill and the sharp tang of disinfectant hit her, causing a wave of psychological discomfort and tightening her chest.
The two tall men walked with longer strides, leaving her trailing behind slightly. Every hospital had its share of ghostly urban legends, and the eerie quietude amplified her unease into palpable dread.
Gao Muyang, keenly observant, noticed her lagging. He deliberately slowed his pace, pausing to wait for her to catch up. Ye Tianzong shot them an amused glance before striding ahead to his clinic door. He pulled out cold, hard keys and unlocked it with a decisive click.
Chu Lingyun hesitated for a moment, her breath catching slightly as she looked up at the large sign above the door: PSYCHIATRY. But she gathered her courage and stepped inside. The hesitation, noted by Gao Muyang's ingrained detective suspicion, could be interpreted in another light.
Lying back on the cool leather surface of the treatment couch, Chu Lingyun watched as Ye Tianzong dimmed the glaring overhead fluorescent light, softening the harshness. He instructed her to focus on the rhythmic swaying of a pocket watch, its steady tick-tock providing the hypnotic backdrop in the dim room.
Ye Tianzong began, his voice a model of soothing patience, guiding Chu Lingyun to relax her agitated or fearful mind. He then led her through a progressive muscle relaxation technique, tensing and releasing each body part to deepen the state into tranquility.
This method, commonly used for hypnosis and insomnia, was executed by Ye Tianzong like a master artist. His skill was evident, the hypnotic induction seemingly flawless and deeply persuasive.
As time passed, someone did indeed slip into slumber. Unfortunately, it wasn't Chu Lingyun. It was Gao Muyang, sitting quietly on the row of chairs nearby, waiting wearily.
Overwhelmed by the suggestive pressure of the hypnosis combined with the bone-deep exhaustion of the arson investigation, he succumbed to deep sleep. His heavy body slid gradually down the smooth metal frame of the chair.
Then, with a loud and startling THUD, the sleeping detective lost his battle with gravity and hit the floor hard. The sudden noise jolted Chu Lingyun wide awake instantly. The grand hypnosis session was officially a failure!
This unexpected turn even stunned the accomplished psychologist from the top-tier hospital. No patient had ever resisted his potent induction for more than 10 minutes before. Chu Lingyun was the first! An unprecedented anomaly.
Even a trained detective like Gao Muyang, whose job demanded constant alertness, hadn't been immune. Yet Chu Lingyun seemed completely resistant, maintaining crystal-clear awareness. Truly bizarre and intriguing.
Ye Tianzong came from a prestigious medical family. Handsome, wealthy, and exceptionally skilled, he treated each case like a unique work of art. A graduate of the top medical school, his credentials were impeccable. Barely over thirty, he was a deputy chief physician – the youngest medical prodigy the hospital had ever seen.
His name, Tianzong, hinted at both genius (tiancai) and effortless charm (fengliu). Yet, no one could have predicted he'd face the most humiliating setback of his career – defeated by Chu Lingyun.
Rubbing her eyes, Chu Lingyun twisted the knife further: "Huh? Didn't work at all! I was wide awake the whole time, not even sleepy!" Her casual words almost made Ye Tianzong cough up blood.
Gao Muyang, meanwhile, was dazed from the fall. Rubbing his sore arm, he staggered to his feet. "What the hell? Tianzong, you hypnotized the wrong person! It was supposed to be her, not me! And you call yourself a famous doctor~"
Gao Muyang grumbled, oblivious to his friend's darkening expression. His words were salt rubbed deep into Ye Tianzong's wounded pride. I never should have taken this job, Ye Tianzong fumed silently. Pure reputation suicide! And as a man, I can't even admit failure. These two are my nemesis! Outrageous!
Simultaneously, a fierce competitive spirit ignited within him. This woman was extraordinary. Resisting deep hypnosis… He was intensely curious about the inner workings of Chu Lingyun's mind. Unintentionally, she had become his new professional challenge – a perilous peak he felt compelled to conquer.
His gaze fixed on the girl rising from the medical couch. Something unfathomable lurked in his eyes, and a dangerous, almost imperceptible curve touched his lips. He relished complex, difficult challenges. They were… interesting.
At the hospital, numerous nurses and young doctors openly admired or pursued him. He basked in their attention yet found them bland, utterly uninteresting.
But seeing Lingyun today… something shifted. This renowned, seemingly untouchable "flower on the high peak" felt the ice thawing. His long-dormant heart gave a sudden, violent thump, surprising even him.
Is this what defeat feels like? he mocked himself. He then informed the pair that he couldn't proceed. Chu Lingyun seemed immune to hypnosis. They'd have to wait for her to fall asleep naturally and dream spontaneously.
Gao Muyang frowned, disappointment evident. He knew if even the deputy chief physician couldn't manage it, there was no room for artificial intervention. They were truly at the mercy of her natural sleep cycle.
As the hypnosis failure sank in, the atmosphere grew heavy and tense. Chu Lingyun keenly sensed the shift and awkwardly closed her mouth, silently bending down to put on her shoes, ready to leave.
Ye Tianzong watched her movements, his gaze deep and unreadable, harboring complex, indecipherable emotions.
Gao Muyang leaned against the doorframe, his posture accentuating his long legs and well-defined silhouette. As Lingyun straightened up, tying her last lace, his tall, imposing figure filled her vision. Her heart skipped a beat.
You hopeless girl! she scolded herself inwardly. Starstruck again! Led astray by a handsome face! Indeed, Gao Muyang's looks were a significant factor in her continued, unpaid assistance. Exhausted as she was, she'd certainly feasted her eyes on handsome men today.
Gao Muyang, meanwhile, conceded that the case couldn't progress further tonight. They'd have to regroup tomorrow. Both Chu Lingyun and Ye Tianzong had put in considerable effort; he owed them some gesture of appreciation.
He suggested grabbing late-night snacks as a reward for their hard work. Ye Tianzong refused immediately. He was too full of frustration to contemplate another venue; he just wanted to go home and collapse into bed.
Gao Muyang respected his choice. He'd just take Lingyun for barbecue (shaokao). He still hoped to glean more information from her, and besides, letting her walk home alone in the dark didn't sit right with him.
So, Gao Muyang and Chu Lingyun parted ways with Ye Tianzong.
As they left, Lingyun felt the distinct sensation of a scorching gaze fixed on her back. But when she turned to look, Dr. Ye seemed engrossed in tidying medication. She shook her head, puzzled. Was I imagining things? Paranoid?
She quickly dismissed it. Her mind was now filled with visions of steaming, fragrant barbecue stalls bursting with life. She vowed to eat like a whirlwind, eat until the sky fell, eat until darkness consumed the world…
She'd eat Gao Muyang into bankruptcy! That would be just revenge for putting her through today's ordeal! She'd make his wallet bleed!
The mere thought of skewers turning golden and crisp over the coals, fat sizzling and popping, sparks flying amidst the smoky aroma of meat, made her mouth water uncontrollably. She was ready to devour the feast.
Moments later, they were seated at a bustling stall, a massive spread of food before them. Warm, yellow lighting cast a rosy glow on Chu Lingyun's face, dark shadows dancing playfully across her features.
Gao Muyang found himself mesmerized. She looked utterly adorable, chomping down on skewers, her cheeks puffed out like a little hamster, her eyes alight with pure, unadulterated food lust.
He itched to poke her cheeks or pinch her softness but didn't dare. Instead, he resorted to stealing skewers from the pile in front of her, deliberately provoking her.
Predictably, even a hamster bites when cornered. "Hey!" Lingyun protested through a mouthful of food, smacking sounds accompanying her words. "These are mine! Order your own if you want some! Stop stealing!"
Frowning and pouting, she protectively shielded her skewers, looking every bit like a small animal guarding its meal. The sight melted Gao Muyang's heart.
His eyes brimmed with laughter. "Tell me," he countered, gesturing at the laden table, "which skewer here didn't I pay for? You won't let me eat, yet you're hoarding them all, eyes still greedy for more…"