That Strange Process
Leaving aside the driver who kept glancing at her through the rearview mirror the entire way, they finally arrived at the hospital.
“Hello, doctor. I think I might have a mental illness.”
Su Yuning stared nervously at the young doctor sitting across from her, waiting for his conclusion.
To ensure she received the best possible treatment, she had specifically paid a hefty sum to book an appointment with a specialist.
The young specialist held a pen, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before he set it down. “You…”
He stood up, asked his assistant to leave the room, walked over to Su Yuning, pulled out a chair, and pursed his lips. “You, sit.”
Su Yuning: “Ah, thank you.”
She sat down on the chair.
But the doctor didn’t move. He remained standing, looking down at the top of her head.
Su Yuning waited for a long time, but he didn’t return to his seat across from her. Confused, she looked up. “Doctor?”
She met a pair of deep, thoughtful eyes.
Only then did she notice that this young doctor was quite good-looking—with regular features, clear and bright eyes, and handsome overall.
So handsome, in fact, that she began to doubt his medical skills.
Su Yuning mentally scolded herself: Don’t judge people by their appearance! Someone this young who can become a specialist must be incredibly, incredibly talented!
She tentatively spoke up: “Um, can we start now?”
“Hmm… hmm. Okay.”
Only then did the other person walk back behind the desk and sit down, speaking gently as he asked her to begin describing her “condition.”
Su Yuning gave a general account of what had happened, omitting the other party’s identity, and finally asked, “Am I hallucinating?”
The doctor remained silent for a long time, looking into her eyes before softly saying, “Perhaps not…”
Su Yuning: ??
“Ningning, what’s wrong? What are you thinking about?”
Su Yuning snapped out of her reverie, her eyes focusing on Quan Ling’s face in front of her.
Children raised in wealth and luxury have a different kind of aura. Quan Ling was very beautiful, with not a single detail about her that wasn’t exquisite.
Compared to her, Su Yuning, with her messy hair, truly resembled roadside weeds.
Su Yuning had gone to the psychiatric hospital and confirmed she wasn’t ill. So she figured it out.
If I’m not sick, then someone else must be sick!
After that sickly richest man began “pursuing” her, Su Yuning, to avoid provoking him and worsening his condition, didn’t dare to reject him too bluntly.
But he was persistent, as if he had suddenly decided she was the love of his life. First, he transferred her to a new school—this Aristocratic Academy.
His exact words were: “Sweetheart, you’re so wonderful, of course you should attend the best school.”
Su Yuning: …Seriously ill.
Next, he gave her a house, a car, a bank card, shares, and even announced he would divorce all his wives, big and small, for her.
Su Yuning was terrified.
This guy is insane!!
The commotion was so big that the first wife naturally learned about Su Yuning.
The first wife was a few years older than the richest man. Her family was involved in politics, and she herself held a string of titles. Though in her early fifties, she still retained her charm, elegance, and noble bearing.
When they met, Su Yuning sincerely suggested, “Madam, perhaps you should take him to get his brain checked.”
The first wife gave her a strange look for a while. Compared to the busty, slim-waisted, glamorous beauties the richest man had pursued before, she clearly couldn’t understand why his taste had suddenly become so… peculiar.
However, her upbringing and grace prevented the lady from uttering harsh words. Instead, she even spoke kindly, inviting her to sit down and serving her an extremely expensive but not particularly tasty tea. Seeing that Su Yuning didn’t seem to like it, she had someone bring her milk instead.
“Thank you, but I don’t—”
Su Yuning fidgeted uneasily. She was dressed in a simple short-sleeved shirt and jeans, wearing sneakers, with her hair tied in a ponytail and no makeup on.
The total cost of her entire outfit was less than the price of the plush carpet beneath her feet. In this spacious living room, large enough to play badminton in, she stood out like a sore thumb.
The lady’s jade bracelet was translucent and emerald green. She sipped her tea gracefully and said with a smile, “Try it. I have a daughter around your age. This is her favorite milk. I thought you might like it too.”
Su Yuning took a small sip and was instantly amazed—this was heavenly milk!
Was this milk?! So fragrant, so rich, so silky smooth?!
If this is milk, then what have I been drinking all this time?
Cow water?
Su Yuning couldn’t bring herself to refuse. She perched on the edge of the seat, her back stiff and straight, holding the cup as she took small sips.
The lady watched her thoughtfully, twisting the jade bracelet on her wrist. “If you don’t mind, stay for lunch before you leave.”
“No, no, that’s not necessary. I have to go back to school for classes.”
Su Yuning waved her hands repeatedly.
The lady sighed, motioned for the others to leave, and rubbed her teacup gently as she gazed at Su Yuning’s face, seemingly lost in memories.
“When I was young, I also liked a girl. She was a senior at our school…”
Su Yuning: “?!!”
Is… is this something you can tell me?
Won’t I be silenced for knowing too much?
“Don’t be surprised. Sexual orientation is a complex issue. Many people aren’t limited to just one orientation. Of course, it’s also possible that my feelings for that senior were just admiration and longing, not necessarily love.”
Su Yuning asked softly, “Do I resemble that senior in some way?”
“No.” The lady smiled. “She was famously known as a high-IQ beauty at our school.”
Su Yuning: Oh.
“But for some reason, seeing you reminded me of that unrequited first love. Youthful and thrilling, with a racing heart, the world losing its color and sound…”
Wait, why does this sound familiar?
Su Yuning felt like running away.
Maybe she was wrong—it wasn’t just the richest man who had something wrong with his head; his family wasn’t normal either!
“Don’t be afraid.” The lady set down her teacup and smiled, patting Su Yuning’s hand reassuringly. “When you get older, you can’t handle intense emotions. I just feel a lot of affection for you. Don’t worry, child. I’ll help you resolve your situation. Quan Jianqian isn’t thinking clearly—almost 60 years old and still shamelessly pursuing young girls. I won’t let him bother you anymore.
But there’s one thing he was right about: you should go somewhere better. That school is excellent, located in the capital, and it’s the best one in our circle. Besides, Quan Jianqian won’t be able to reach you there. My daughter and son are also there. Go and study in peace. I’ll have Lingling take good care of you.”
Su Yuning hesitated before speaking. “Can I refuse?”
Madam Quan smiled and said, “In L City, Quan Jianqian can be said to hold immense power. I’m afraid there might be oversights here. Perhaps people are often attached to their hometowns, but as a young person, don’t you want to go out and see the wider world?”
There was a long silence this time.
Su Yuning finally asked, “Why… are you helping me?”
“I’ve already said it. I like you very much. Of course, I hope you’ll have a better future. I’ll take care of everything with the school. You just need to focus on your studies. Don’t refuse—consider it compensation from me on behalf of Quan Jianqian.”
“…”
Su Yuning didn’t quite believe these words, but this lady kept her promises. If she wanted Quan Jianqian to have no time to look for Su Yuning, then Quan Jianqian truly became too tied up to free himself. While Su Yuning breathed a sigh of relief, she was also nervously packed up and sent overnight on a private jet to this Aristocratic Academy in the capital.
She moved into the dormitory of Quan Ling, the daughter of L City’s wealthiest family, and became her roommate.
Before this, Su Yuning had imagined many possibilities—for example, that Quan Ling might dislike her and kick her out, or find opportunities to make things difficult for her. That way, she could justifiably leave this place and return to her old life.
But none of that happened.