Chapter 39 "Don't go astray."
"Then I'll go with you."
Chen Yao'an didn't expect him to say that, "You don't have to go to work anymore?"
He had only recently given in to his father and hadn't been working here for very long.
"I'll take leave and go back with you."
"Really, there's no need. If you go back now, won't your relationship with your dad become even more strained?"
Xu Jialan was stunned for a moment, not expecting that this was what she was thinking.
He changed his attitude completely, becoming nonchalant, "Do you think I did this for you? I have something to take care of back home."
Chen Yao'an asked suspiciously, "Really?"
Xu Jialan raised an eyebrow. "You can leave the resources you have on hand without using them. It's up to you."
He was about to leave when he said that.
Chen Yaoan reached out and grabbed his arm.
Xu Jialan grew up in northern Beijing and came from a powerful and influential family. Her friends were certainly not simple people either, and having him around could indeed save her a lot of trouble.
Xu Jialan's lips curled into a wicked smile as she looked down at the hand gripping his. "You'll have to beg me."
Chen Yao'an's expression changed several times before she finally let go.
Xu Jialan was displeased. "Is it so hard for you to say something nice?"
Chen Yaoan looked away.
"Alright, take these next few days to prepare." Xu Jialan compromised. "I'm leaving now."
"Thank you," Chen Yao'an said to his retreating figure.
Xu Jialan waved to her without turning her head.
Over the next few days, Chen Yaoan researched a lot of information on psychiatrists in northern Beijing, and finally decided to find the most authoritative one.
She didn't want to be careless about Zhou Yao's matter.
She sent the doctor's information to Xu Jialan, who promised to help her inquire whether she could get an appointment with him.
Xu Jialan was very efficient. A few days later, Chen Yaoan received a message from him saying that the number had been registered and would be available a week later.
After saying hello to Yan Shumei, Chen Yaoan began packing her and Zhou Yao's things.
Shi Xinyu's news came quickly; she found out before Shi Xinyu even told her.
“I heard it from Xu Jialan. I heard he’s going back with you. That’s good. He can take care of you when you go to Beijing.”
The two sat together in the Chen family's living room, where Shi Xinyu expressed her concerns.
"Once you get there, be sure to call me immediately if anything happens."
"Beijing is so far away, can you really fly there in one go?"
Shi Xinyu was unhappy. "I can't fly there, but I can send you some money quickly. What do you need money for to go there?"
"By the way, do you have enough money? I'll give you some more."
Chen Yaoan reassured her, "Don't worry, the money I borrowed from you before was for rent and my mother's medical expenses. I've been saving it up."
"That's good."
The two chatted for a long time, and when Shi Xinyu was leaving, she bumped into Gao Hou again at the Chen family's door.
"You're here too? Should I wait for you and we can go together?"
"No need, you can go first." Gao Hou looked like he didn't want to go with her.
Shi Xinyu waved at him dismissively, "Then I'll be going now."
As Gao Hou entered, Chen Yao'an was checking her and Zhou Yao's identification documents, as well as some of Zhou Yao's past medical records.
Seeing him, she wasn't too surprised. "You're here too. Shi Xinyu just left."
Gao Hou put down what he was holding. "I bumped into it."
"Why did you bring anything with you?" Chen Yaoan glanced at the things on the table.
"I bought this for my aunt; it's just some fruit."
Gao Hou paused for a moment, then asked her, "When are you leaving?"
"Next Monday."
"Should I take you there?"
"No need, Xu Jialan will drive directly to the airport."
"Xu Jialan is seeing you off?"
"No, he went with us."
"Xu Jialan is going with you?" Gao Hou suddenly became restless.
"Yes, he said he had some things to take care of when he got back, so we went together. Besides, he even helped us contact a doctor."
Gao Hou was somewhat uneasy, "Yao An, I..."
He got carried away on a whim and didn't know what to say next.
Seeing his hesitant expression, Chen Yao'an asked, "What's wrong?"
"I have something I want to tell you."
"What did you say?"
Gao Hou hesitated for a while, but ultimately couldn't bring himself to say it, "Let's talk about it after you return from Beijing."
"Okay." She didn't know what important things she had to say that she had to wait until they returned.
Early Monday morning, Xu Jialan drove to the Chen family's house.
Zhou Yao was still the same as always, clutching her pillow tightly and refusing to let go. No matter how Chen Yaoan tried to persuade her, it was no use. She couldn't exactly bring her pillow onto the plane, could she?
Chen Yaoan had a headache.
"How about we try something else?" Xu Jialan said.
"Change what?"
"Change to another doll."
Chen Yaoan went to her room and found a doll of similar size, coaxing Zhou Yao, "Mom, you've mistaken him for someone else. This is the little brother. The one you're holding isn't."
"Huh?" Zhou Yao's eyes showed confusion.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Chen Yaoan snatched the pillow from her arms and stuffed the teddy bear into her bosom. Fortunately, Zhou Yao accepted it.
Xu Jialan loaded their things into the car, and Chen Yaoan took Zhou Yao out. Before leaving, she was still a little worried about Yan Shumei.
"Grandma, if you need anything, just go to Xinyu. We should be back soon."
Yan Shumei waved her hand, "I'm not so incapacitated yet. What could possibly happen at home? You should go now and come back soon."
“Okay.” Chen Yaoan pulled Zhou Yao into the car.
It took more than an hour to drive to Linan Airport, and then another hour to finally get on the plane.
Zhou Yao had never been on a plane before, and hadn't left home for many years. Once on the plane, she felt restless in her small seat.
Chen Yao'an tried her best to comfort her until the plane took off, at which point she got tired and fell asleep in her seat.
Chen Yao'an stared blankly at the seat in front of her.
"Aren't you going to get some sleep?" Xu Jialan asked her.
"I can't sleep." Her heart was constantly in her throat.
Xu Jialan asked the flight attendant for a blanket to cover her up, saying, "Take a nap, we'll be there soon."
Chen Yao'an did not resist and closed her eyes.
The distance from Linan to Jingbei was neither far nor near; they arrived at their destination in just over two hours. The three of them took a taxi directly to the hotel that Chen Yaoan had booked in advance, which was near the hospital.
After settling in, Zhou Yao seemed uneasy about the unfamiliar surroundings. She paced around the room and then started crying.
"I don't want to stay here! I want to take Xiao Qin home!"
"Mom, we're taking Xiao Qin out for a few days, and we'll be going home in a few days." Chen Yao'an held her hand.
Zhou Yao shoved her hand away, her tone harsh, as if she were treating a stranger, her movements rude, "Xiao Qin said he doesn't like it here!"
As she spoke, she rushed out of the room, but fortunately Xu Jialan stopped her in time.
He looked to Chen Yao'an for help.
There was no other way but to use the old method: tie him up. This wasn't Yao'an Town; if he managed to escape, we'd be in big trouble.
Fortunately, Zhou Yao remained relatively quiet. Although she disliked this approach, she didn't shout or yell, but simply appeared very unhappy.
After all this commotion, it was already quite late. Chen Yaoan said to Xu Jialan, "It's getting late, you should go home soon too."
Unexpectedly, Xu Jialan sat down on the sofa, crossed her hands behind her head, and leaned back on the small sofa, saying, "I have nowhere to go."
Aren't you going home?
“I don’t want to live with my dad and his illegitimate son.”
"As a rich second-generation, don't you have a place to live outside?" Aren't rich people supposed to own a lot of properties?
"Yes, I do." He pulled a room key out of his pocket and waved it in front of her.
"Isn't this the hotel room key?"
“That’s right, I’ll stay at the same hotel as you.” He stood up from the sofa. “Then I’ll go back first. I’ll stay next door to you. Call me if you need anything.”
Watching his departing figure, Chen Yaoan couldn't help but chuckle.
It's good that he's here.
The next morning, Xu Jialan accompanied them to the hospital.
Dr. Zhao is an authority in this field and has extensive experience in mental illnesses.
He first reviewed all of Zhou Yao's past medical records, and then carefully inquired about her past behavior.
"And now? How is her behavior different from before?"
“Now she only hugs dolls or other things as if they were my younger brother. She used to eat on her own, but now she seems to have no concept of eating at all.”
Dr. Zhao nodded, then asked, "Did she exhibit any behavior that could harm anyone?"
Chen Yao'an suddenly stopped, her hand gripping the bag tightening.
Not receiving a reply immediately, Dr. Zhao looked at her suspiciously.
Xu Jialan also turned her gaze to her and reached out to shake her hand, which was gripping her tightly.
Chen Yao'an managed to utter a few words with difficulty, "I have."
"Then could you please describe the process to me?"
Chen Yaoan described the previous situation in detail.
After listening to her, Dr. Zhao nodded. "I understand the basic situation, but your mother still needs to undergo a few tests."
"good."
After the doctor wrote out the prescription, the two of them took Zhou Yao to do several more tests, which lasted until the afternoon.
After reviewing the test results, Dr. Zhao interacted with Zhou Yao for a long time before finally making a diagnosis.
"Your mother has typical schizophrenia and a certain degree of paranoia. Her condition has worsened a lot compared to before, and she may need to be hospitalized for treatment."
Chen Yao'an didn't immediately understand, and asked again, "You mean I need to be hospitalized?"
"Yes."
She didn't speak for a moment. She was worried about Zhou Yao going to the hospital. Hospitals for mental illnesses are usually closed, which meant she couldn't see Zhou Yao all the time.
Besides, those people who are hospitalized...
That's no place for a human to live!
Seeing Chen Yao'an's concerns, Dr. Zhao did not press the matter. "Your family can go back and think it over carefully. There's no rush. But I must remind you that your mother may hurt someone at any time. Please be careful."
Chen Yao'an nodded. "Thank you."
"You can contact me anytime if you need anything."
Back at the hotel from the hospital, Xu Jialan brought them dinner. Chen Yaoan fed Zhou Yao and calmed her down, allowing her to finally catch her breath.
While Xu Jialan was packing her things, she turned around and Chen Yaoan was nowhere to be seen.
There was no one in the room.
Once Xu Jialan was sure Zhou Yao was fine on her own, she went out to look for her.
Chen Yaoan hadn't gone far; he found her in the stairwell.
The hotel stairwell was small and poorly ventilated, and it was stuffy and hot inside in this weather, but Chen Yaoan sat comfortably on the steps.
He sat down next to her. "What? Aren't you hot?"
Chen Yaoan turned to look at him and asked, "Do you have a cigarette? I'd like to have one."
Xu Jialan's face immediately darkened. "You used to smoke too?"
"No."
Feeling really down, she wanted to find something to relieve her stress. She had noticed that Xu Jialan would smoke whenever she was in a bad mood, and she suddenly decided to try it herself.
"Stretch out your hand."
Chen Yao'an obediently reached out her hand.
She thought he was going to offer her a cigarette, but instead he reached out and slapped her palm.
It hurts quite a bit.
"Don't go astray!"
She touched her palm, somewhat displeased, "You smoke too."
"It's because I've smoked before that I won't let you smoke," he said, as if lecturing a primary school student.
Then, her tone softened, "I know you're struggling with the matter of having your aunt hospitalized."
Even thinking about the patients in the mental hospital, Xu Jialan hesitated.
He took out his phone, opened a document, and handed it to her. "I asked Dr. Zhao for the hospital's inpatient department information. Take a look first."
"If we decide to send your aunt, we can let her stay in a private room."
Chen Yaoan took his phone.
"Thank you." He always seemed to know what she wanted.
"Can we go back now? Do you want to die of heatstroke?"
Xu Jialan stood up and helped her up.
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