CH 17

Fit and Touch

On the rooftop, the night was as deep as ink.

The stars were shining brightly and the moon was gentle.

Empty bottles of wine tumbled casually onto the rough concrete floor, and the breeze brushed through his hair, bringing a slight coolness.

Ou Tingyun gently embraced him without saying a word.

It was as natural as the ocean's acceptance of a beam of light: no matter how sharp the light, no matter how sharp and reckless it may have been before it arrived...

The ocean is its eternal home.

Even though the outpouring of emotion was no longer repressed, the man in his arms remained cautious and restrained.

Buried in the crook of his neck, silent and resolute.

Ou Tingyun wrapped his arms around him and gently stroked his hair.

Yi Zhize trembled gently, but did not refuse.

He was clearly immersed in his emotions, yet he was always alert; he was clearly sensitive, yet he still pretended to be calm.

Ou Tingyun thought that his patient was like a frightened beast, slowly licking its wounds and gradually calming down under his own comfort...

An inexplicable urge rose up in him.

I want to...

tame him.

While his mind was swirling with thoughts, Yi Zhize pushed him away.

The moon was obscured by clouds and it was impossible to see each other's faces.

Ou Tingyun stood still as Yi Zhize whispered, "Sorry, leave me alone for a moment."

His voice was a little husky, the distinctive quality of a choked sob. It was a far cry from his previous pearly voice.

Ou Tingyun smiled: "Okay, go back to the room, I'll find another place to stay."

Yi Zhize did not say thank you, but raised his eyes to look at him, as calm and clear as a dark pool.

What kind of heart was hidden beneath that frost-like surface?

If he could break this barrier and discover where it all began, would he be able to solve his riddle?

Ou Tingyun stayed on the rooftop until the middle of the night.

He took out the envelope from his coat pocket and read the contents of the old newspaper, piecing together the bits of information to come up with a rough guess: Yi Zhize was originally from B City, and his mother had died in a car accident during his childhood. This traumatic experience was perhaps the ultimate source of all of his psychological problems and mental anxiety.

Finding the source was only the first step.

Rushing to touch the trauma is extremely damaging and counterproductive for the person being treated.

It takes constant information gathering, deepening the understanding, stabilising the relationship, gaining trust and taking things slowly.

He needs to be guided step by step, to deliver both the conscious and subconscious mind completely.

Ou Tingyun looked at the half-moon hidden by the clouds, his eyes filled with the thrill of manipulation and the arrogance of conceit.

He had always been very patient with this particular challenge.

He enjoyed the process of hunting.

In the early hours of the morning, Ou Tingyun returned to the room they had reserved.

He did not seek alternative accommodation, not because he had deliberately broken his promise, but because he was cautious and meticulous as a doctor and was a little uneasy about his patient.

His movements were gentle, barely making a sound.

He entered the room without turning on the light.

After standing at the doorway for a while, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, he was able to see the general outline of the room through the moonlight that spilled into the room through a gap in the curtains.

Yi Zhize had fallen asleep.

It was not clear whether it was because of drunkenness.

Or if it was because he was too tired.

Or maybe it was a combination of both.

Ou Tingyun quietly approached and stared at his sleeping face for a while before whispering, "Sweet dreams."

———

The next day, when Ou Tingyun woke up, it was already late morning.

He subconsciously went to look for Yi Zhize, but he was nowhere to be seen. There was a message from him on WeChat: [Went to work first.]

Ou Tingyun immediately replied: [Zhize, where are you now?]

About ten minutes later, Yi Zhize replied: [The materials have been collected and I'm on my way back.]

Ou Tingyun looked at the time, it was almost noon: [Send me a location, I'll drive over to pick you up and then go for lunch.]

Yi Zhize: [No need, I'm already downstairs at the hotel.]

After washing up and getting dressed, Ou Tingyun went to the lobby on the ground floor of the hotel and met Yi Zhize in the lounge area.

He was wearing a light grey flannel shirt and a narrow black tie, concentrating on his papers and materials as if he were a triumphant officer taking stock of the fruits of his victory.

Once again, the coolness and rationality of the past had returned.

Ou Tingyun couldn't help but recall the night before, on the rooftop, when he had cried softly in his arms.

"Tingyun, the materials are complete and the subsequent steps should be taken gradually in accordance with the legal procedures." Yi Zhize's words interrupted his thoughts.

Ou Tingyun said, "Okay, everything can be arranged by you."

"When are you going back to A City?"

"After lunch."

The two of them went to the dining area of the hotel and after ordering their food. Ou Tingyun asked, "Zhize, why didn't you wake me up this morning?"

"You needed to rest."

"Why do I need to rest?"

"You came back at one in the morning."

"I woke you up? I thought you were asleep."

Yi Zhize didn't answer.

Ou Tingyun guessed that he was probably suffering from anxiety and was therefore a light sleeper and prone to waking up: "Zhize, when are you free? We can make another appointment for an in-depth hypnotherapy session."

"How about this Sunday night?"

"Okay." Ou Tingyun's phone screen lit up and he got up, "I'm going to take a call."

It wasn't until Yi Zhize had finished his meal that Ou Tingyun had returned, explaining, "I need to go home, Zhize, so wait here for a while, it will be no more than two hours at most."

"That's not necessary," Yi Zhize refused, "I can take the high-speed train back."

"No!" Ou Tingyun's tone was firm, "It's too dangerous at the high speed train station now that the epidemic has resurfaced again. In case anything happens to you, I'll have to follow the quarantine rules too, and I don't agree."

Yi Zhize: …...

Ou Tingyun coaxed him again, "There's a coffee shop on the first floor of this hotel, it's very quiet. You go and sit there for a while, I'll be right back, be good."

Yi Zhize really didn't know where he could get so much sophistry: "Dr. Ou, if you become a lawyer instead, you will have a great future."

Ou Tingyun smiled, "Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Yi."

———

Yi Zhize went to the coffee shop on the first floor of the hotel, opened the laptop he carried with him and began to work on his work.

After a while, however, he saw someone approaching who greeted him softly, "What a coincidence, Mr. Yi, we meet again."

Yi Zhize raised his eyes and saw Mu Xin.

His semi-long hair fell on his shoulders, and his temperament was gentle and melancholic. He sat down beside Yi Zhize, "On a business trip?"

Yi Zhize closed his computer and said indifferently, "Mhmm."

Mu Xin said, "Tonight, I have a concert here, but I haven't thought of a specific piece yet."

Yi Zhize was curious, "Isn't the repertoire for the concert already decided?"

"Tonight is my recital, the arrangement of the repertoire is more free." Mu Xin asked, "What would Mr. Yi like to hear?"

"Sorry, I'll be returning to A City this afternoon."

"That’s... okay, I just want to hear your opinion."

"Bach."

"Why did you think of him?"

"No reason, I just said it off the top of my head."

"Bach's music is solemn, sacred, logical and rational, and it makes you feel a gentle concern when you listen to it." Mu Xin smiled, a slight ripple in his eyes: "It's a lot like you."

"Thanks."

"Mr. Yi, do you remember the orphanage benefit performance I mentioned to you before?"

"Mhmm."

"These children lack love from their parents, and I want to make up for it through music." There was a slight note of relief in Mu Xin's voice: "A few of these children have great musical talent, and I'm teaching them myself. But they really lack an audience. I was wondering if Mr. Yi could come and have a visit when he is free?"

Thinking of his own childhood experience, Yi Zhize was more or less in the same boat as these children, and his heart could not help but soften a little: "Okay."

At this moment, a playful voice suddenly echoed in his ears, "Zhize, who is this? Can you introduce me too?"