Chapter 37 The First Lesson of Therapy
Bangkok's rainy season was hot and humid. When the helicopter landed on the manor's helipad, Professor Klein straightened his wind-blown coat and glanced around expressionlessly.
The manor's bodyguards stood in a line, lowered their heads and held their breath. No one dared to look directly at the authority who was "invited" by Mo Xiaohan himself.
A-Tai walked forward quickly and said respectfully, "Professor, Miss Ruan is already waiting for you in the treatment room."
Klein pushed his gold-rimmed glasses and said "hmm" indifferently, but his gaze passed over the crowd and fell on the corridor in the distance.
Mo Xiaohan stood there, with the sleeves of his black shirt rolled up to his elbows, an unlit cigarette between his fingers, looking over here with a serious look.
"Mr. Mo." Klein approached, his tone steady and calm, "During the treatment, I need absolute control."
Mo Xiaohan said nothing, but slowly crushed the cigarette. The tobacco fell to the ground.
"Including you," she added.
The air stagnated for a moment, and the bodyguards lowered their heads even lower. No one dared to look at Mo Xiaohan's expression.
Finally, Mo Xiaohan stepped aside to make way, his voice low and hoarse: "Don't let her feel any pain."
The treatment room is like a clear crystal, completely transparent from floor to ceiling, yet indestructible.
Sunlight penetrates the glass, casting tiny spots of light on the white carpet, while the texture of the metal mesh is faintly visible in the glass interlayer.
"Bulletproof, explosion-proof, constant temperature and humidity." Mo Xiaohan stood behind her, his voice cold and hard, "The air filtration system can block 98% of harmful substances."
The professor raised an eyebrow and tapped the glass wall with his fingertips: "Is this the consulting room or the vault?"
"It's a coffin," he corrected calmly, his gaze fixed on the slender figure in the treatment room. "If anyone hurts her here, I'll fill all of Southeast Asia with it."
The glass reflected his cold eyes, and the professor suddenly realized that this was not protection, but a sacrifice of paranoia.
Ruan Xingchen sat on a soft chair, her bare feet on the wool carpet. The pale blue veins on her ankles were visible under the pale skin. Her fingertips stroked the silver ring on her left ring finger. When she saw Professor Klein come in, she straightened her back slightly.
"Ms. Ruan." Klein put down his briefcase. His voice was much softer than it had been at the seminar. "Shall we begin?"
Ruan Xingchen raised his eyes and nodded slightly.
"Today we won't talk about the past, we'll just do one thing - find your 'safe word'."
"Safeword?"
"An anchor that can instantly pull you out of the nightmare." The professor took out a card with several options listed on it: "Starry Sky", "Candy Wrapper Boat", "Biscuit", and "Xiao Han".
Ruan Xingchen's fingertips paused on the last word.
The professor noticed it but didn't point it out.
"Pick one, and I'll help you solidify it with bilateral stimulation therapy."
Ruan Xingchen hesitated for a moment and whispered, "Candy paper boat."
Mo Xiaohan had been standing outside the one-way glass for some time. His gaze seemed to be drawn by an invisible thread, locked on the interior of the treatment room. The surging emotions in his eyes betrayed his anxiety.
A-Tai reported in a low voice: "Boss, the professor said that no one is allowed to interfere during the treatment—"
"She frowned." Mo Xiaohan suddenly spoke in a hoarse voice, "She's scared."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ruan Xingchen in the treatment room began to tremble slightly, and her fingers clenched the corners of her clothes - the professor was using gentle tapping sounds to guide her to recall the scenes at the auction.
Mo Xiaohan pushed A Tai away and pressed the communicator: "Stop."
In the treatment room, Professor Klein frowned and looked towards the source of the sound.
Ruan Xingchen suddenly said, "Candy paper boat."
The professor was slightly startled: "What?"
"I said...candy paper boat." She took a deep breath and repeated, "This is my safe word."
Mo Xiaohan's knuckles were clenched stiffly, but he didn't say anything.
After the treatment, Professor Klein walked out of the treatment room and met Mo Xiaohan's gloomy gaze.
"She was shaking just now," he said coldly, his tone filled with suppressed anger.
"This is a necessary process." The professor pushed up his glasses, "unless you want her to be trapped in PTSD for the rest of her life."
Mo Xiaohan's jawline tightened, and he finally asked, "When is the next treatment?"
"Three days later." Professor Klein paused. "Also, I suggest you reduce the amount of attention in the manor—especially those with 'emotional' attention."
She glanced meaningfully at the corner of the corridor, and several maids hurriedly lowered their heads and dispersed, but they could not hide the jealousy in their eyes.
Mo Xiaohan followed her gaze and glanced at the maid who was pretending to wipe the railing. He didn't say anything, but just raised his chin to A Tai beside him, his eyes as cold as ice.
A Tai immediately understood and whispered, "Yes, Boss."
After Professor Klein left, Atai silently took the maids away.
Soon, a few very light, muffled sounds were heard in the distance, like heavy objects falling to the ground, and then it returned to silence. Those prying eyes never appeared again.
Late at night, Ruan Xingchen woke up from a nightmare, her pajamas soaked with cold sweat. She subconsciously reached for her side, but felt something warm.
Mo Xiaohan leaned against the head of the bed, holding a freshly folded candy wrapper boat in his hand.
"Candy paper boat." He whispered, placing the boat in her palm, "Your safe word."
Ruan Xingchen was stunned, and his eyes suddenly turned red.
She clutched the boat and snuggled into his arms.
Outside the window, heavy rain was pouring, and the sound of his heartbeat became her best sedative.
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