Chapter 78: Calling Her to Dinner
Jiang Shulan’s powers of observation were truly astonishing.
Su Zhaozhao hadn’t expected to be found out when she thought she’d hidden it so well.
No wonder Xie Huaizheng had said Jiang Shulan was pushing himself so hard.
Indeed, just as they suspected, Su Zhaozhao couldn’t help but feel it was a real shame that Jiang Shulan’s leg had been ruined in such a bizarre accident.
Su Zhaozhao smiled at Jiang Shulan. "I am a little sad, but I’m okay."
"So, Shu Lang, you have to keep living well. Truly strong people will strive to survive, no matter how terrible the situation. I hope you will, too."
After leaving Jiang Shulan, Su Zhaozhao went to another area to conduct the final counseling session with the other patients.
When Lin Shumo saw Su Zhaozhao, his expression was complicated. "You’ve heard, haven’t you?"
Su Zhaozhao nodded. "I have."
"Something like this... it’s just shocking." Lin Shumo’s usual gentle and refined face had turned somewhat cold.
"The disaster didn’t drive her to her death, but her own family did."
"Yes. The ones who can hurt you the most are often the people closest to you. They know exactly how to twist the knife."
Lin Shumo hadn’t expected such a young woman like Su Zhaozhao to be able to say something so profound.
"Since this is the last session, why don’t I hand it over to you?" Su Zhaozhao looked at Lin Shumo. "Want to give it a try? I can supervise from the side."
"Me? No, I’m not a psychologist. You should do it." Lin Shumo waved his hands in refusal. "I’ve only been observing. I don’t have enough experience for practical application."
"What if you need a psychologist again in the future? What if your regular psychologist is away on a business trip then, too?"
After all, people in their profession needed to attend regular training every year to learn new things and reinforce their knowledge.
"We’ll just call you again, right? I think you’re very skilled."
But Su Zhaozhao shook her head. "I might not stay here."
’I might want to go earn more money.’
Once she established her business in West State and saved up enough capital, she might head south to develop in places like Shencheng City, Yangcheng, and Hu Cheng.
Speaking of which, it had been almost a month since she transmigrated into this book.
’I haven’t been transported back. I’m slowly starting to blend in and become a local!’
’I wonder how my real self is doing in the real world.’
But in this world, for every day she lived, she was determined to live it well.
"I thought you would be staying here permanently." Lin Shumo was a little surprised to hear her say that.
Since she was engaged to Xie Huaizheng, she had come here to marry him.
If that was the case, why would she leave?
"That’s not set in stone! Anyway, whatever choice I make, it’ll be one I’ve thought through carefully," Su Zhaozhao told Lin Shumo.
The final session was also simple and relaxed. The patients were all very grateful to Su Zhaozhao.
"Doctor Su, where do you live? When I get back, I’ll bring you some of our homemade cured sausages!"
"Doctor Su, this is the first time I’ve ever really understood psychology. I used to think it was all a scam, but thanks to you, I’ve been sleeping so soundly these past few days. No more nightmares."
"By the way, Doctor Su, are you single? How about I introduce you to my nephew?"
...
Su Zhaozhao hadn’t expected them to be so grateful after just a few days of therapy.
"No, no, that’s alright. I appreciate the thought," Su Zhaozhao said quickly.
In the past, her patients had never been this enthusiastic.
’Then again, most of them were criminal suspects.’
’And maybe it’s also because I wasn’t pretty enough?’
Now that she had inherited the original owner’s beauty, she was the center of attention wherever she went.
Sometimes it was a good thing, but other times, Su Zhaozhao found it annoying.
Turning her head, she saw Lin Shumo leaning against the wall, a soft smile on his face as he watched her.
His gaze was as gentle as a clear lake.
Just looking at him seemed to make some of her gloomy feelings vanish instantly.
"Would you like to have dinner together tonight?" she asked Lin Shumo.
She hadn’t forgotten what Fu Yuling had asked her to do last night.
She didn’t really have an appetite, but she had to get it done.
"Okay." Lin Shumo’s thin lips curved into a smile. He was a little happy, not expecting Su Zhaozhao to take the initiative and invite him to dinner.
"Zhaozhao, are you okay?" Fu Yuling’s voice suddenly rang out.
Lin Shumo was taken aback when he saw Fu Yuling.
Su Zhaozhao looked at Lin Shumo. "Is it okay if Yu Ling joins us?"
With Fu Yuling standing right in front of him, Lin Shumo knew it would be impolite to refuse.
So, he smiled and said, "Of course."
The three of them started walking toward the cafeteria.
Fu Yuling brought up Wang Dahua’s case. "Ugh, that old hag! She’s ancient, but she can’t even be bothered to build up some good karma for her descendants. Driving her own daughter-in-law to suicide... she’s utterly devoid of conscience!"
Fu Yuling was furious. The hospital had been in a complete frenzy all day because of it.
After hearing the inside story, everyone couldn’t help but curse Li Xiuhong.
But no amount of cursing could bring that vibrant life back.
Lin Shumo glanced at Su Zhaozhao. Her expression was calm, but he knew her spirits weren’t high.
’Isn’t Fu Yuling just making Su Zhaozhao relive those bad memories?’
From the psychology he’d been learning these past few days, he knew this wasn’t a good approach.
’Constantly talking about bad experiences just reinforces them. It must be painful for Zhaozhao every time it’s brought up, right?’
He was just about to interrupt Fu Yuling.
Just then, a deep, cool voice called out, "Zhaozhao."
Su Zhaozhao turned and saw Xie Huaizheng.
He seemed to have just come from training, still in his uniform.
It made him look tall and lean, exuding a raw, powerful energy.
His gaze swept over Lin Shumo and Fu Yuling for a moment before landing on her, and he started walking toward her.
Watching the man approach step by step, Su Zhaozhao thought back to what happened that afternoon and couldn’t help but take two steps back.
’I hate it when he pinches the back of my neck!’
Seeing her avoid him, Xie Huaizheng felt a surge of irritation and pressed his lips into a thin line.
’I was just trying to tease her this afternoon. I didn’t think she’d actually get scared.’
’Sometimes she seems so bold, but other times she’s so timid.’
"Come on, let’s go eat." He stopped about a meter away from Su Zhaozhao and said to her.
Su Zhaozhao hadn’t expected Xie Huaizheng to come find her for dinner personally, especially since it was out of his way.
However, she didn’t have much of an appetite anyway, so his arrival was perfectly timed.
So she said to Lin Shumo and Fu Yuling, "You two go ahead. I’m going to eat with Huai Zheng."
"Okay, take care then." Fu Yuling couldn’t help but smile. ’Isn’t this the perfect chance for me to spend some time with Lin Shumo?’