Chapter 224 Chapter 224: Second Diagnosis (Bonus Chapter For Sakuraba ①)
Chapter 224: Second Diagnosis (Bonus Chapter For Sakuraba ①)
Her head felt heavy and groggy, as if she were about to drift off, yet the moment she opened her eyes, her thoughts were crystal clear.
Su Tao wasn't even sure how she'd made it to morning.
The sky outside was dark and grey, thanks to recurring thunderstorms and thick clouds; had it not been for a message from a young nurse at the hospital, she wouldn't have known morning had arrived before her phone even rang.
The room, with its curtains drawn, remained steeped in darkness.
Su Tao rose wearily, rubbing her stinging eyes, and only then did she notice it was already half past nine.
Professor Su was a busy man; she couldn't constantly hound him for updates on Chi Xiaocheng's progress. So she had added a young nurse, asking her to keep an eye on things.
Now...
Su Tao looked at the message, her eyes widening instantly.
“Is Xiaocheng’s psychological treatment starting so soon?”
She quickly threw off the covers and got up. After a quick wash, she hastily grabbed a piece of bread and a bottle of milk before heading out the door.
Meanwhile, inside the hospital ward, Professor Su held a small notepad as he addressed Chi Xiaocheng, “Miss Chi, we’ve confirmed there are no major issues with your body. The nerves throughout your system show slight abnormalities, but they aren’t very pronounced at the moment.”
“The equipment by your bedside can be temporarily removed, but regarding your diet, it would be best to stick to nutritious porridge for now. We’re still not sure if your digestive system might develop other issues.”
“If you feel you can put strength into your legs, please let me know, and I’ll arrange some simple rehabilitation exercises for you. After all, you haven’t been out of bed for a month, so your body functions will need time to readjust.”
Listening to Professor Su’s concerned words, Chi Xiaocheng nodded docilely. “I understand. Thank you, Doctor Su.”
Hearing the slightly distant address, “Doctor Su,” Professor Su couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
He continued, “However, there’s still one more diagnosis today. We also need to confirm your psychological state. Two psychologists will be coming to ask you some questions about your daily life, and you can just answer them casually.”
“Okay~”
Professor Su nodded gently and left the ward.
The diagnosis by these two psychologists was, of course, not merely about confirming whether Chi Xiaocheng had psychological issues. Their primary mission was to use everyday conversation to determine the nature of Chi Xiaocheng’s jumbled memories!
What memories she had lost, and what memories she had gained.
What was certain was that the timeline in question began after she entered college and extended until she was shot last month. Only the memories from this single semester were jumbled.
As for emotional deficits and a certain dullness, these would need to be summarized together after the diagnosis was complete.
The first to enter was Dr. Chen. He excelled at subtly guiding conversations through extremely ordinary dialogue, while simultaneously observing the patient’s demeanor, tone, micro-expressions, and subconscious movements to ascertain their specific condition: whether they were lying, if there were any unusual symptoms, and so on.
So, upon entering the ward, Dr. Chen put on a smile as gentle as a spring breeze. He closed the ward door and windows, but then pulled back the curtains. The thunder was largely muffled, and the sound of raindrops pattering against the window created a comforting and pleasant atmosphere. Creating a world for just the two of them served to both increase her sense of security and lower her subconscious guard.
Most people subconsciously feel an aversion to psychologists. No one wants to admit they have psychological issues. By the time they are facing a psychologist, that thought has already taken root in their minds.
Having done all this, Dr. Chen pulled a chair and sat by Chi Xiaocheng’s bed. “We meet again, fellow student Chi. Do you remember me? We met at school.”
“Of course, I do.” Chi Xiaocheng picked up on his lead. “You and Dr. Lin were the ones who conducted my assessment during the school’s mental health event.”
Dr. Chen laughed heartily, as if recalling the past. “Yes, that’s right. I was assessing students one by one back then, and when it was your turn, I was quite surprised. Despite our age difference, I never expected you to be the friend I could talk to the most.”
He finished speaking, but Chi Xiaocheng blinked in confusion. “That’s not right, Dr. Chen. I actually cut in line to see you for that assessment, and Dongfang Yang was the one who let me cut.”
Dr. Chen immediately rubbed his head, a slight headache forming. “Is that so? It seems I’m getting on in years and my memory’s not what it used to be.”
“Yes, you are! And you’re not old at all, Dr. Chen; you’re still very young.”
“Haha, thank you for the compliment. So, fellow student Chi, do you remember that story I told you last time? I told you I found out what happened next; it’s super interesting...”
Time ticked by, and Dr. Chen gradually guided the conversation. From that interesting follow-up, he began to connect to the various events happening around Chi Xiaocheng. Dr. Chen quickly transitioned from a storyteller to a listener. Whenever Chi Xiaocheng spoke about something, he would provide ample emotional validation and feedback, then casually inquire about more details regarding these matters. Listening to Chi Xiaocheng talk about happy things and air her complaints, he gradually excavated her memories through the guise of conversation.
Throughout the entire process, Chi Xiaocheng didn’t feel even the slightest bit of discomfort or abnormality. It was like two friends who hadn’t seen each other in a long time. Although there was no wine, their mutual griping about things around them never ceased.
Dr. Chen’s timing was precise. After exactly one hour, seeing that Chi Xiaocheng was tired from talking, he proactively ended the conversation.
“You rest first. We can talk about the rest later. I need to go pacify the other doctors.”
After leaving a remark to that effect, Dr. Chen exited the ward. Avoiding excessive entanglement and maintaining a slight distance and conversational freshness with the patient would make subsequent diagnoses and treatments much easier.
Half an hour later, Dr. Lin took her turn. Her questions were more direct. While she still made the patient feel comfortable, her demeanor was more akin to a doctor’s than a friend’s. She guided and questioned, occasionally introducing a sudden topic that caught one off guard. She even played a game of “Ask and You Shall Answer” with Chi Xiaocheng for a while. Facing the other person’s questions, one had to answer without hesitation within three seconds. The loser had to draw two turtles on Si Chen’s face with a marker.
The final outcome, of course, was Dr. Lin “losing.”
But precisely because of the game and the conversation, her jumbled memories were gradually woven and integrated by the two doctors. By noon, when Su Tao arrived at the hospital, the two doctors were still in their office, discussing and integrating their findings. They planned to consult Professor Su and then, once Si Chen arrived in the afternoon, review the situation together.
It was yet another long wait.
Su Tao had already been waiting for a day and a night. She desperately wanted to know Chi Xiaocheng’s exact condition. She wanted to understand how treatment could proceed. She wanted to know... if Chi Xiaocheng truly hated her.
She was right there in the hospital, just an elevator ride and a few floors up from her room. Yet now they said to be mindful of Chi Xiaocheng’s emotional state, and that it would be best for her not to visit.
But I’ve been waiting for a month! From her death to her resurrection, I’ve been waiting with bated breath for so long! All I want is to see her!
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