The next day, Su Nian arrived at Xie Chen's apartment early. She needed to ensure that Xie Chen could face the "important" interview in a relatively stable state. When she opened the door, she saw Xie Chen (the main personality) already dressed and sitting on the sofa in the living room, his hands nervously clasped together. His face was still a little pale, but he was much better than he had been after yesterday's breakdown.
Upon seeing Su Nian, he felt as if he had found his pillar of support. He immediately stood up, his eyes filled with dependence and unease: "Assistant Su... I... I'm a little nervous."
"Relax, Mr. Xie, it's just a routine interview." Su Nian said calmly, handing him the hot milk she had brought. "Let's eat something first, then we'll set off. We have plenty of time."
She deliberately created an atmosphere of order and control, which was very effective in calming the anxious main personality. Xie Chen nodded obediently, sipping his milk, but his tense shoulders did not completely relax.
On the way to the interview location—a photography studio for a well-known fashion magazine—Xie Chen silently stared out the window, his fingers unconsciously digging into the edge of the seat. Su Nian sat next to him and could feel his slight trembling.
[Host, the primary personality's tension is high, and its mental barrier is weak.] 088 monitored the data. [The secondary personality's consciousness is suppressed but active; any strong stimulus could trigger a switch. Today's interview... is a bit risky.]
Su Nian knew the risks were high. But her agent's firm stance meant that a complete rejection could cause unnecessary trouble and even affect Xie Chen's career, which in turn could upset him. She could only try to control the situation and adapt to the circumstances.
Upon arriving at the studio, the staff were already prepared. Flashlights, reflectors, and various photographic equipment illuminated the space like daytime, creating a bustling and noisy atmosphere. For Xie Chen, who preferred quiet, this environment was itself a source of stress.
Agent Yang Li also arrived. Upon seeing Su Nian and Xie Chen, she quickly walked over. Today, she was wearing a sharp black suit skirt, her makeup was exquisite, and her sharp gaze swept over Xie Chen, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.
"Why are you still in such a bad state?" Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable pressure. "Xie Chen, cheer up! Today, all the mainstream media are here; it's about the exposure of your new album and your image!"
Xie Chen shrank back in fright at her words, lowered his head even further, and stammered softly, "I'm...I'm sorry, Sister Yang..."
Su Nian stepped forward, subtly standing between Xie Chen and Yang Li, her tone neither humble nor arrogant: "Ms. Yang, Mr. Xie will adjust his state. Please give us some time to prepare."
Yang Li glanced at Su Nian with a scrutinizing look in her eyes, but ultimately said nothing more and turned to talk to the director.
The process of getting his makeup and hair done was also an ordeal for Xie Chen. He kept his eyes closed, letting the makeup artist do as she pleased, but his body remained stiff, and his long eyelashes trembled incessantly. Su Nian stayed by his side the whole time, occasionally whispering a few words of encouragement, which helped him barely maintain his composure.
The interview officially began. The host was a media professional known for his sharp insights, asking one question after another, from the inspiration behind the new album to future development plans, occasionally interspersed with some slightly personal topics.
At first, Xie Chen was able to manage, his answers brief but still acceptable. Su Nian stood outside the camera's view, closely watching his condition.
However, the balance was broken when the host asked a question that seemed unintentional.
"Xie Chen, we all know that your music is full of rich emotions, especially that delicate sense of sadness, which is very touching. Many people are curious about the source of this unique emotion. Is it related to your upbringing, or... family?"
The word "family" was like a poisoned needle, piercing Xie Chen's most sensitive nerve!
His face turned deathly pale instantly, his hand holding the microphone trembled violently, his eyes began to glaze over, and his lips moved but no sound came out. The air in the interview room seemed to freeze.
[Warning! Warning! The target's mental state has deteriorated rapidly! The alternate personality is at a critical point!] 088's alarm blared sharply.
Su Nian was startled and was about to step forward to interrupt the interview.
Just then, Xie Chen suddenly lowered his head, covered his face with his hands, and his shoulders began to heave violently, emitting suppressed, animal-like whimpers—the collapse of his dominant personality under extreme fear!
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I can't..." he cried intermittently, completely losing control of his emotions.
The host and other staff were stunned, and an awkward silence fell over the room. Yang Li's face turned extremely pale.
However, the expected switch to the alternate personality did not occur immediately. The primary personality continued to cry, as if trying to release years of pent-up grievances and fears all at once.
Su Nian immediately signaled the director to stop recording, quickly walked to Xie Chen's side, squatted down, gently patted his back, and reassured him in a voice only the two of them could hear: "It's alright, Mr. Xie, it's alright, the interview is over, let's leave..."
Her voice seemed to possess a certain magic, and Xie Chen's sobs gradually subsided, turning into soft sobs, but he still covered his face tightly, not daring to look up.
Yang Li walked over, her face ashen, and said to Su Nian in a low voice, "Take him back immediately! What kind of behavior is this!" Her tone was full of dissatisfaction and disappointment, but she didn't care much about the artist himself.
Su Nian half-supported, half-carried the nearly exhausted Xie Chen away from the photography studio, quickly getting him into the van and leaving this place of trouble. In the car, Xie Chen leaned back in his seat, his eyes closed, but tears still streamed down his face, making him look as fragile as a delicate glass vessel.
Back at the apartment, Su Nian settled him in the bedroom, and he quickly fell into a deep sleep due to exhaustion.
Su Nian tucked him in, looking at his restless expression even in his sleep, and sighed inwardly. Today's breakdown of his dominant personality, though pathetic, was perhaps a form of catharsis. The emotions he had been suppressing had finally found an outlet.
She quietly closed the bedroom door, walked to the living room, and prepared to contact Yang Li to handle the follow-up public relations issues. However, as she picked up her phone, she keenly sensed that something was amiss.
The atmosphere in the apartment... has changed.
An invisible, intangible yet cold and oppressive aura permeated the air, making her back feel slightly chilly.
She slowly turned around.
In the shadows between the living room and the dining room, a figure was seen leaning against something.
It is "Achen".
He was wearing Xie Chen's pajamas, his dark eyes, like a deep, cold abyss in the dim light, fixed intently on her. That gaze was no longer simply one of mania and rage, but rather a mixture of extremely complex emotions... scrutiny, mockery, and a trace of indescribable, icy pain.
“He cried so horribly, didn’t he?” Ah Chen said, his voice low and hoarse, carrying a kind of indifferent detachment, yet seemingly suppressing a surging undercurrent.
Su Nian was wary, but remained outwardly calm: "He just needs to vent."
"Vent?" Ah Chen scoffed, stepping out of the shadows and approaching Su Nian. "In that weak, pleading way? You've utterly disgraced 'us'." He stopped in front of Su Nian, looking down at her. "And you, just standing there, watching him cry? Like comforting an abandoned dog?"
His words were harsh and cruel, but Su Nian caught a glimpse of something deep in his eyes—almost imperceptible, something akin to "jealousy."
He wasn't mocking the weakness of the main personality; he was angry—angry that Su Nian's attention and comfort were all given to that "weak" personality, not him.
“I am doing my duty,” Su Nian replied calmly. “No matter which ‘you’ is experiencing emotional problems, I will do my best to help.”
"Help?" Ah Chen suddenly reached out and grabbed Su Nian's chin, the force carrying a punitive undertone, forcing her to look up and meet his gaze. "I don't need that cheap help! What I need is—"
His words trailed off, his dark pupils contracting sharply, as if even he himself didn't know what he truly needed. Was it complete control? Or... something else?
He stared at Su Nian's face, so close to his own, and at his own distorted reflection in her clear eyes. His breathing suddenly quickened. He abruptly lowered his head, as if to confirm something, or perhaps to destroy something, and fiercely kissed Su Nian's lips!
The kiss was utterly devoid of tenderness, filled with plunder, punishment, and a desperate possessiveness, raging like a storm. His teeth struck Su Nian's lips, bringing a subtle sting and a metallic, bloody taste.
Su Nian neither struggled nor responded, but simply endured it silently. She could feel the surging, indescribable chaos of emotions behind the kiss—anger, loneliness, fear, and a yearning for connection and confirmation that even he himself could not understand.
After a long while, Ah Chen suddenly released her, his breathing erratic, his eyes even more chaotic and agitated. He raised his hand and fiercely wiped his lips with his fingertips, as if to erase some mark that shouldn't exist, or as if to savor the memory.
“Look,” he stared at Su Nian’s slightly swollen lips, a twisted smile spreading across his face, his voice trembling almost imperceptibly, “this is how ownership is confirmed. That good-for-nothing will never be able to do it.”
Just then, a slight noise came from the direction of the bedroom.
Ah Chen's eyes instantly turned sharp and hostile, and he abruptly turned to look at the bedroom door.
Su Nian's heart skipped a beat. Had Xie Chen woken up?
Ah Chen released Su Nian, strode towards the bedroom, and pushed open the door!
Inside the bedroom, Xie Chen (the main personality) had woken up at some point and was sitting on the bed with his knees drawn up to his chest, his face pale and his eyes timidly looking at the murderous "himself" at the door.
Two completely different personalities, in a conscious state, confronted each other so clearly for the first time, separated by several meters.
Ah Chen's eyes were filled with contempt and violence: "What are you looking at? Trash!"
Xie Chen trembled with fear, tears welling up in his eyes again, but he mustered unprecedented courage and retorted in a tearful voice, "You...you are not allowed to bully Assistant Su!"
Ah Chen laughed exaggeratedly, as if he had heard something funny, but his laughter was icy cold: "Bullying? I'm teaching her who can truly protect her and have her!" He took a step closer and threatened, "And you, you only deserve to hide in a corner and cry!"
"No!" Xie Chen suddenly raised his head, tears streaming down his face, but his voice carried a desperate determination, "Assistant Su is here to help us! You...you'll scare her away by doing this! You don't know how to love someone at all!"
"Love?" Ah Chen seemed to be stung by the word, his expression instantly turning into a ferocious expression. "Who needs that kind of boring thing! I just want to possess! To control!"
"You're lying!" Xie Chen cried out. "If you don't care, why are you so afraid of her probing into the past? Why are you so angry that she cares about me? You're just afraid! Afraid of losing her!"
Xie Chen's words were like a sharp knife, precisely piercing the truth that Ah Chen least wanted to face!
Ah Chen's body stiffened abruptly, his fury freezing instantly, transforming into a bewildered, shocked, and...helpless expression of having been seen through. He glared at Xie Chen, then abruptly turned to look at Su Nian, who stood in the living room, silently watching them.
An indescribable sense of isolation, being "attacked" by both sides, and a deep-seated panic caused him to completely lose control.
"Shut up! All of you shut up!" he roared, then turned around abruptly. He didn't rush towards Xie Chen or Su Nian, but instead, like a trapped beast, he pounded his fists against the cold wall of the living room again and again!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
A dull thud echoed through the apartment, and bloodstains quickly appeared on the walls.
Su Nian looked at the back of the person who was using self-destruction to vent their unbearable emotions, and then looked at the person on the bed who was trembling with fear but still trying to maintain her personality.
She knew that the horn of war had already been sounded by these two broken souls.
And she stood at the center of this storm.
(End of Chapter 129)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com