Lu Ran lowered her head and bit her lip, her small hands nervously tugging at the corner of her clothes.
Professor Adam recommended several mental health institutions to her, writing them down on a piece of paper, his gaze filled with pity.
“This disease can’t be delayed,” he said in a low voice. “The longer it’s delayed, the harder it is to cure. For your mother’s sake, and for the safety of others, you should send her there as soon as possible.”
Lu Ran took the note, bowed to the professor, and thanked him softly.
Then she went to those places to conduct on-site investigations.
These are all hospitals with good facilities, some public and some private. The environment is quiet and clean, and the nurses are dedicated and responsible, making them very suitable for recuperation.
But Lu Ran saw another side of these doctors.
Some of the patients inside were dazed, while others were insane. As soon as you entered the corridor, you could hear shouts and screams coming from all directions.
She knew that the nurses and caregivers here wouldn't mistreat patients like those in those heartless nursing homes; such noises were simply uncontrollable when patients were having an episode.
However, it still sounds terrifying.
The nurse walked ahead, her voice gentle, her smile kind, patiently explaining things to her. Just then, someone suddenly rushed out in front of them!
The man screamed and yelled almost maniacally, his face contorted with a terrifying and sinister expression, shouting that he would exterminate everyone here.
Lu Ran was so frightened that she backed away. Soon, a strong caregiver subdued the man and tied him up with a rope.
Caregivers inevitably use a bit too much force, and Lu Ran noticed the dark red marks on the man's wrist.
Her heart suddenly tightened, and she couldn't bear the thought that such an injury would eventually fall on her own mother.
"Miss Lu, don't be afraid." The nurse in front of her spoke softly as always; she was used to this situation.
"Hmm..." Lu Ran nodded and asked, "What's wrong with this patient?"
“Oh, she has schizophrenia,” the nurse explained softly. “It’s a relatively rare mental illness. This patient has seven or eight separate personalities, each with its own unique character. The way she was just now was a murderer from one of her split personalities.”
"murderer?"
“Yes.” The nurse looked at her. “She attempted murder several times, and the police kept her under close surveillance. But because she suffers from mental illness, she was placed under our supervision.”
Lu Ran stared blankly at the end of the corridor.
The person has been taken away; according to the treatment plan, the doctor may use electric shocks...
Lu Ran's heart trembled violently once again.
“If,” she looked up at the nurse and asked with difficulty, “we don’t bring the patient here, can I take care of him at home myself?”
"Miss, are you joking? This kind of illness requires professional treatment. If you don't bring the person here, the consequences could be disastrous if they cause harm to society!"
*
Lu Ran was restless after returning from the sanatorium.
Fortunately, Cheng Suyue has remained calm these past few days, rarely leaving the house and mostly staying in her bedroom. Lu Ran prepares meals for her on time and brings them in, and seeing her lonely figure, she can't help but feel a pang of sadness.
"Ranran, don't be so distressed," Cheng Suyue said to her. "Since the professor has already spoken, then let's send me to that professional treatment facility! I can take it whether they use ropes or electric shocks!"
"Mom..." Upon hearing this, Lu Ran's tears instantly fell.
Cheng Suyue's eyes reddened as she held her hand tightly.
She was reluctant to part with her daughter, but for her daughter's future, she had no choice but to sacrifice herself.
"Ranran, you must take good care of yourself when Mommy is not around."
"Don't tell Junyang about this. I know he's a good boy, but I'm afraid... this will become an obstacle between you two."
Lu Ran was already sobbing uncontrollably and threw herself into her mother's arms.
My mother's embrace was still as warm as before, and her hands still gently stroked my hair as before.
"I'm sorry..." Cheng Suyue said with tears in her eyes, "Mom didn't do that on purpose... I couldn't control myself."
Lu Ran looked up at her, and the mother and daughter embraced each other, unable to separate for a long time.
These past few days, Lu Ran has been frequently visiting Professor Adam.
Besides preparing to send Cheng Suyue to a mental hospital, she also asked the professor some questions about nursing. She had a vague idea in her mind: to take care of Cheng Suyue herself.
“Ms. Lu, you need to think this through.” Adam frowned. “This kind of patient needs professional care. If you go, you might just make things worse.”
"No, it won't..."
"Don't oversimplify things." Adam looked at her, his deep blue eyes filled with sympathy and helplessness. "You think you'll be rational, but when the doctors actually use electroshock therapy on your mother, and you see her suffering firsthand, you'll panic. Then, you'll only become a burden to the doctors!"
“But Professor Adam,” Lu Ran bit her lip, “we have a saying here, ‘The child wishes to care for his parents, but they are no longer there’… I don’t want to let my mother face this pain alone when I am able to take care of her. I don’t want to regret it.”
Adam sighed and patted her on the shoulder.
*
Downstairs, Jiang Mianmian and Huo Junyu arrived at the same place at the same time. When their eyes met, they couldn't help but smile knowingly.
Why are you here?
"You came too."
Huo Junyu smiled and stepped forward to take her hand.
They had been here a few days earlier, but Professor Adam, out of professional ethics, did not reveal much about Cheng Suyue's condition to them at that time.
“I’ve always felt that we should ask the professor again,” Jiang Mianmian said, looking at him. “He must have something he didn’t tell us!”
“However,” Huo Junyu said in a low voice, “not disclosing a patient’s condition is a doctor’s basic professional quality.”
"This is of utmost importance; we absolutely must obtain this information!"
As the two were talking, Lu Ran, looking solemn, walked towards them.
Jiang Mianmian was startled, and Lu Ran also stopped in her tracks, staring blankly at the two of them.
"you……"
"Ranran?"
Lu Ran's gaze dimmed. "You came here to ask the professor about my mother's condition, right?"
"this……"
Huo Junyu and Jiang Mianmian exchanged a glance, unsure of what to say.
It's not exactly honorable to investigate someone's mother behind their back.
However, as Jiang Mianmian said, the matter was of great importance, and they wouldn't have suspected anything if Cheng Suyue's changes hadn't been so strange.
"Sister, brother-in-law," Lu Ran whispered, "please stop doubting her. She is my mother, it's true."
"Ranran, is there...some misunderstanding?"
Lu Ran felt a lump in her throat and ran away with her head down.
Jiang Mianmian sensed something was wrong and rushed to ask Professor Adam what was going on. This time, she didn't mince words and went straight to the point, asking very directly.
The professor stared at her, stunned for a long time, before slowly revealing the truth.
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