Teppanyaki or steamboat chicken?
Dr. Yin’s office in China is located at Tsinghua University. Just like her style, it is decorated in a warm and lively manner. Next to the soft recliner is her newly bought dancing orchid, which jumps when someone walks by.
"I've been playing with crochet lately. Look at this little table mat. It's beautifully crocheted, but it strains my eyes."
Whenever she is not working, Dr. Yin is a chatterbox. She has known Zheng Cheng for a long time. She is also willing to chat about life with him even when she is not consulting. The two have long become friends regardless of age difference.
Back then, when Zheng Cheng was devastated, the only people who could communicate with him as if he were a normal person were Zhou Min and Dr. Yin.
Zheng Cheng just needed the feeling of being treated normally, which was why he still came for consultation on time even after stopping his medication.
"I've never heard you say this before. So you're on a hunger strike just to get home." Doctor Yin gave him a thumbs-up. "You've got a really tough temper."
"Yes, at that time, all I wanted was to go home," Zheng Cheng said, lying on a recliner, his fingers flicking the dancing orchids, watching them sway from side to side. "It's funny, but when I finally got home, I wasn't very happy."
"The home you're talking about is the Zheng Mansion?"
"I don't know." Zheng Cheng dropped his hands back onto the sofa. "I just want to go home, but I don't know where to go."
The Zheng family has properties all over the world. Zheng Cheng alone has more than ten properties under his name. He has a house to live in wherever he goes. So where can he call it home?
"We've discussed this before, and the crux of your problem is probably here." Dr. Yin put down his notebook. "Chengcheng, what does your ideal home look like?"
This question is difficult to answer, Zheng Cheng thought about it for a while.
"It's a place where I can get a good night's sleep," he said finally.
Maybe he would have said a lot a few years ago, a warm house, a kind father, a gentle mother, lively brothers and sisters... But when you think about it carefully, the Zheng family has all these, but something is missing.
"Well, your current home has a very comfortable bed and is safe, so why can't you sleep well?"
"I have been asking this question for eight years. If I knew the answer, why would I come to you?" Zheng Cheng smiled bitterly.
"We've indeed been searching together for a long time," Dr. Yin said. "We've repeatedly rebuilt a sense of security from the trauma of kidnapping and imprisonment. But the cause of your relapse remains unknown."
"So, have we been looking in the wrong place all these years?"
"No, we've only solved part of the problem. The answer to the other part may be hidden in your home." Dr. Yin held his hand, her palm was warm. "Chengcheng, don't worry, let's work harder together."
After the consultation, Zheng Cheng always needs a long time to be alone.
There is a small river at the back door of Qingjiang University, which is a tributary of Shanghai's Lupu River. There is a large green space beside it. Zheng Cheng would come here to stare blankly every time he finished his work.
The consultation with Dr. Yin was like taking bitter medicine. Zheng Cheng had to take himself apart for her to see. The more painful the area, the more he would not let it go. When everything was over, Zheng Cheng would go to the river, find an empty bench to sit on, and then slowly piece himself back together.
This is what psychological counseling is like. If you want it to be effective, you have to uncover the scars. Although Zheng Cheng is almost numb to the trauma, it will still take him a long time to sort out the topic of family he talked about today.
Dr. Yin guided him to think about his happy memories of home. All he could remember were playing with Zheng Sisi and Aunt Zhang taking naps with him, these little things.
"They're all good, but when you get back you can continue to think about other things that make you feel at home."
The cicadas in the trees were very noisy. The wind was strong today, making the shade of the trees a little cool. However, a corner of the bench where Zheng Cheng was sitting was exposed to the bright sun, and soon the sun, which was approaching noon, would make him feel its power.
I can't sit still, it's too hot.
Zheng Cheng walked along the shade of the trees, planning to look for a taxi once he reached the main road. Zhou Min offered to pick him up, but he refused. If he accepted, he would still have to ask questions, which was annoying.
A gate closer to the green space was on the other side of the river. He covered his forehead with his hands and looked for it, and saw a bridge in front of him.
On the other side of the river, there were many old men who were not afraid of the heat. They were holding benches and fishing rods and sticking their heads out from the gaps in the railings to fish. The "No Fishing" sign was right in front of them, but they seemed not to see it.
There is also a sign prohibiting drinking river water directly, but why didn’t I see any old man drinking a few glasses?
Among the men in white vests, there was a young man in a black vest, sitting on a small stool with his long legs bent.
Not only did the young man's vest have a different color, he also wore a basin hat, which squeezed against the old men's bald foreheads, making it hot and irritating just by looking at it.
Who would go fishing with an old man on a good weekday? Zheng Cheng thought.
After crossing the small bridge, the gate is at the corner behind the old men.
The young man suddenly stood up.
He said goodbye to a group of old men with a smile, poured the fish in his bucket into the bucket of the old man next door, patted his pants, picked up his fishing rod and closed his stall.
It would be strange if you weren't hot wearing all black. You can't stand it, right? Zheng Cheng smiled secretly and hurried over to the young man, turning and walking towards the door.
"Zheng Cheng?" someone called him from behind.
?
I just heard this sound yesterday.
Zheng Cheng pretended not to hear and quickened his pace.
"Slow down, don't run!" The footsteps behind him quickened.
Don't come over here!
A strong wind blew behind him, and Zheng Cheng was about to run two steps when he felt a sharp pain as something pulled on his head, so he had to stop.
"I told you not to run away." The person behind him laughed, "You've taken the bait now."
"What is that?!" Zheng Cheng shouted, reaching out to touch his head.
"Don't touch it, it pricks your fingers." The young man came forward with a smile and took out his cell phone.
Take out your phone!?!?
"Hu! Han! Yu! Stop filming and take off your broken fishhook!" Zheng Cheng didn't dare to move after hearing what he said and could only feel helpless and furious.
Hu Hanyu put the phone back while smiling, then went forward to help him unhook the fish.
"Does it hurt? I just saw you sitting on the other side." After Hu Hanyu untied the fishhook, he gently touched his head with his hand.
Comforting the children?
"Why do I keep running into you here?" Zheng Cheng straightened his hair and said unhappily.
"I should be the one asking this question. Why is Mr. Zheng here at Qingjiang University... Oh, is he here to see a doctor?" Hu Hanyu reacted halfway through his words.
"What else can I do? I'm here to be caught like a fish by you?" Zheng Cheng walked forward without thinking. "I don't know who is the hook."
"I am, I am." Hu Hanyu followed him. "Are you in a hurry to leave? Is there a car to pick you up?"
"Yes, you're not needed..." Zheng Cheng just remembered that he hadn't called a taxi yet.
There was an elevated ramp in front of me. Most of the road was surrounded by fences, so I would have to walk for a while if I wanted to call a taxi.
But Zheng Cheng didn't know whether to go left or right, or even what the road was called. He usually returned the same way and located the main gate of Qingjiang University. It was too hot today and he was too lazy to go around.
I almost forgot that I am road-blind once I leave Wutong District.
Hu Hanyu behind him silently put away the fishing rod, rolled it into a small piece and hid it in his overalls pocket.
"Where is the car?" he asked when he saw Zheng Cheng didn't move.
"...Where can I call a taxi nearby?" Zheng Cheng could only ask him.
Hu Hanyu chuckled: "I'll take you there. I'm driving."
"Oh, sorry for the trouble." Zheng Cheng breathed a sigh of relief. Remembering that he had signed a contract with him, he suddenly felt more confident. "I'll count it as your attendance for one day. I'll ask Xiao Ming to reimburse the gas money when the time comes."
"No need, I just want you to come with me to get the car." Hu Hanyu said as he walked forward.
Zheng Chengying took two more steps and stood shoulder to shoulder with him:
"You still haven't told me why you're here? What are you fishing for on such a hot day?"
"There's no place in the city. This place is near my hometown. An old neighbor recommended it to me." Hu Hanyu pointed to the opposite side of the elevated road. "Go ahead from there and you'll find Jiangkou Old Street."
Zheng Cheng stretched his neck to take a look at the slum that used to be in the corner. The rows of brand new residential buildings should have been demolished.
"How come a young man like you like fishing?" he asked.
"I just like it. When I was little, my dad was too busy to take care of me, so I would go fishing with the neighbors. When the Japanese restaurant was closed, I would go sea fishing with my master." Hu Hanyu showed his arms. "Look, I used to be almost as white as you, but I got the tan from fishing."
"You're lying. My skin peels off when I get exposed to the sun. I won't get tanned at all. You're definitely not as white as me." He didn't know why he was comparing this, but Zheng Cheng stared at his arm for a while.
Skin color is secondary. Hu Hanyu has many scars on his arms.
There were dots, strips, and irregular shapes. Zheng Cheng couldn't help but touch the goose bumps on his arms.
Fighting, domestic violence, self-harm.
Zheng Cheng's mind raced through three possible scenarios. He suppressed his curiosity and looked away.
"That's because your skin is too tender. It will get dark if you sunbathe a few more times." Hu Hanyu didn't care about the scar at all. He put his hands back in his pockets and said with a smile.
"I go to California every summer vacation, how come I never get sunburned? And you knew to come?" Zheng Cheng wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Are you there yet? It's so hot."
"It's just ahead." Hu Hanyu pointed. From a distance, one could see his gun-colored G-Class reflecting the sunlight, bright as a nuclear bomb.
"This is a shop opened by my childhood friend. Would you like to come in and have a seat?" Hu Hanyu made a gesture to show off.
This is a decent coffee shop. The texture of the gray and red Shikumen bricks on the facade is very old-fashioned. There is an old signboard "No. 72 Jiangkou Old Street" on the side of the arch, which is probably the name of the shop.
"The outside of this house is made of old bricks, and it costs so much money to renovate it." Zheng Cheng was studying the planning of hotel opening before taking a leave of absence from school, and he remembered to learn the cost calculation of exterior facade decoration.
"About 15 yuan." Hu Hanyu rubbed the wall tiles with his fingers. "He studied art and painted it himself."
"Fuck." Zheng Cheng turned and walked towards the G-Class. "Open the door, I'm getting in."
"Are you sure we want to set off right away?" Hu Hanyu raised his eyebrows.
"Nonsense, didn't you promise to give it to me?" Zheng Cheng shouted dissatisfiedly.
Hu Hanyu shook his shoulders and laughed.
Not sure what was so funny about this, he took out his car keys and asked, "Is it teppanyaki or steamboat chicken?"
"ha?"
"Passenger seat or back seat?" He was still laughing.
"Are you sick? I'm sitting next to you anyway, you're not Si..."
A wave of heat rushed out as the car door opened. The matte black leather passenger seat had a glossy finish in the summer sun. Zheng Cheng touched it with his hand and it bounced back.
Whoever sits down gets to teppanyaki.
"You're wrong. You are the driver and I'll sit in the back." Zheng Cheng closed the door and went to open the back seat which was not exposed to the sun.
The heat flow continued to grow. Zheng Cheng's eyes even blurred the moment he opened the door.
The first thing you see inside is steam pot chicken.
"Why is this car so hot? Are you deliberately teasing me, Hu Hanyu?!" Zheng Cheng turned around and asked, and saw that the person behind him was laughing so hard that he couldn't straighten his back.
"Why would you ask me to play tricks on you? You want to leave." Hu Hanyu came over and closed the car door. "My dear, it's still this hot even if you park outdoors in the summer."
Are you kidding? Lao Chen's car and the room are the same temperature!
After a quick thought, Zheng Cheng figured it out. Both Lao Chen and Xiao Ming were waiting for him in the car and had turned on the air conditioner for him.
No wonder Xiao Ming is always sweating. He thinks driving a car is nothing to be nervous about.
Now it was impossible for him to just leave no matter what he said. He could only follow Hu Hanyu into No. 72 Jiangkou Old Street.
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