Chapter 101: Heartwarming Comfort

Even the psychiatrist had not expected Yunyi’s condition to be this severe. Frowning, he said, “The patient was previously diagnosed at the Second Hospital with moderate depression and treated with medication, but the condition has clearly not been well controlled and has instead become more serious. She now needs inpatient treatment. The family must cooperate. Do not刺激 her any further. Keep her mood as calm and pleasant as possible, and pay attention to communication.”

Lin Xi forced herself to steady her breathing and nodded solemnly.

Shu Yiran lifted his little face and looked back and forth between the doctor and Lin Xi. He was still only a child, and did not even really understand what depression was. He only sensed that the atmosphere was wrong, that something seemed terribly serious.

After the doctor left, Lin Xi received a call from Lu Yuxiu.

“Baby, still at the hospital?” Lu Yuxiu’s voice was languid and deep, like a lion just waking from sleep.

“Mm. Yunyi’s situation isn’t very good, so I’m staying a while. What about you? Still at your uncle’s company?” Hearing his voice, Lin Xi could not help but relax.

“Yes, I’m still at the company getting familiar with the work. I just took a break. Are you okay being alone at the hospital? I’ll pick you up once I’m done with work, all right?”

Lu Yuxiu knew she still felt resistant to hospitals and could not quite feel at ease.

Warmth spread through Lin Xi’s heart. Being kept in someone’s thoughts, having them consider her in everything they did, truly felt wonderful. She smiled sweetly. “I’m fine. I can handle it. Take your time too. Don’t worry about me.”

“All right. Wait for me.” Lu Yuxiu soothed her.

After ending the call, Lin Xi returned to the ward. Shu Yiran was standing nervously at the doorway, too afraid to go in. When he saw her arrive, he merely tugged lightly at her sleeve and did not even dare ask a question.

Lin Xi lowered her head and took his small hand in hers, squeezing it firmly as though to give him some encouragement. “Come on. Let’s go see your sister.”

“Okay.” Shu Yiran swallowed, looking a little constrained.

The two of them pushed the door open and went in. Nurse Jin was still holding a form and making notes.

Shu Yunyi was already awake. She sat leaning against the bed, her whole body listless and drained of spirit. When she saw them come in, she only managed to form a faint, strained smile. To Lin Xi, that sight was unbearably sad and bitter.

“Sis.” Shu Yiran ran quickly to the bedside and took Shu Yunyi’s hand, gazing at her with deep concern. Shu Yunyi looked utterly exhausted, but still raised a hand with difficulty to stroke her younger brother’s head and smiled in relief. “Ranran, don’t worry. Sister is fine. I’ll be better after a little rest.”

Nurse Jin set down her pen and gave Lin Xi a meaningful look. The two of them stepped out of the ward, leaving the siblings some private time together.

“Nurse Jin, what is it?” Once they were outside, Lin Xi could tell at once that Nurse Jin had something to say.

Nurse Jin frowned and hesitated for a moment before speaking. “I suddenly remembered something and thought I should tell you. These past few days, there’s been a man lingering outside Miss Shu’s ward. Sometimes at noon, sometimes in the evening, he would stand at the door and look from a distance. I thought he might be Miss Shu’s friend, and asked whether he wanted to go in, but he always refused flatly and would not even let me mention him to her. On several occasions, he asked me to bring Miss Shu fruit and nourishing meals, but he never showed himself.”

At once, Lin Xi thought of Su Chen. She pressed further, “Was that man tall, wearing glasses, with a calm, steady air about him?”

“Yes, exactly.” Nurse Jin nodded in confirmation.

Lin Xi lowered her eyes and thought for a while. Then the two of them went back into the room. Nurse Jin found an excuse to take Shu Yiran away, and for the moment only Lin Xi and Shu Yunyi remained.

“Xiao Xi, sit down.” Shu Yunyi pointed to the chair by the bed and said gently with a smile. It was obvious she understood that Lin Xi had something to ask, and that she herself had no choice but to lay bare the secret she had been suppressing for so long.

Looking at Yunyi’s still-bright little face, Lin Xi felt complicated emotions churning in her heart. After sitting down, she chose her words carefully and asked, “Yunyi, what you could not bring yourself to say last time was... depression, wasn’t it?”

Shu Yunyi’s expression remained bright and gentle, but her voice when she spoke was hoarse and faint. “Depression... I was diagnosed with mild depression when I was in university. At the time, there were classmates around me who refused to believe it, and even thought I was faking it to gain sympathy or something. Gradually, my own emotions became more and more oppressive too, and I felt that the road ahead of me was utterly dark. So I hid it from Su Chen and found an excuse to break up with him. I was afraid I would hold him back...”

By the end, she seemed to curl her lips in self-mockery, and her eyes were filled only with desolation.

Only then did Lin Xi finally understand why things between Yunyi and Su Chen had ended up this way. She sighed in distress. “Yunyi, you shouldn’t have had to bear all this alone. You can trust Su Chen. He loves you enough to understand you and carry everything with you.”

But Shu Yunyi only stared blankly and shook her head. Her lips moved slightly as she said, “Xiao Xi, you don’t understand. Because I love him, I even less want to drag him down or become a stumbling block on his path through life. I can’t do that...”

Lin Xi could understand that choice. Yunyi had always thought of others first and neglected herself.

“Then Yunyi, how did you suddenly faint?” Lin Xi was a little worried that Yunyi might have discovered Su Chen.

Shu Yunyi seemed to be recalling it as she said, “It was just suddenly... my whole body started shaking and feeling cold, I couldn’t get enough air, my heart was racing, then I felt my blood pressure shoot up all at once, and everything went black before I fainted.”

Hearing her description, Lin Xi felt a sharp ache in her chest. When she used to have attacks, it had been the same. Her trauma-related psychological disorder had made her lash out at everyone; she had even bitten her eldest brother’s arm. After she calmed down, she had also been so ashamed she could not face anyone.

The difference was that she had been luckier than Yunyi, because so many people who loved her had stayed by her side, comforting her with warmth.

“Xiao Xi, I feel so useless. I must have frightened Ranran badly.” Shu Yunyi spoke with a trace of dejection, both hands kneading the blanket over and over.

“He wouldn’t be scared. Ranran has grown up now, and he was the one who called the doctor.” Lin Xi handed her the water cup and tried to comfort her.

“That’s good. I’m glad he’s already sensible. I have no regrets now.” Shu Yunyi took a sip of water and spoke as if casually.

But Lin Xi heard it and was alarmed. She said in panic, “Yunyi, what are you saying? Staying in the room all the time is too stifling. Let me wheel you outside for a walk. Let’s go get some sun.”

But Shu Yunyi only shook her head with a slight smile, looking entirely serious. “Xiao Xi, I don’t really want to go out...”

Lin Xi knew that patients with depression often fell into self-pity and self-suppression, and what they needed most was affirmation. So she gently persuaded her, “Yunyi, the most important thing right now is for you to rest well and relax. Don’t put pressure on yourself, and don’t look down on yourself. In my heart, you are the best. You are the kindest and gentlest girl I have ever met, and you deserve everyone’s love.”

Her gaze was firm and sincere.

And, as expected, Shu Yunyi was very easily moved. Having received her best friend’s support and affirmation, her eyes grew misty with tears, and she kept saying, “Xiao Xi, thank you.”

These were the most heartwarming words she had heard since falling ill with depression.

She deserves everyone’s love...