In the morning, Shen Jingqi rubbed his drowsy eyes.
The silver gradient cat jumped from his feet.
The phone screen lit up, and a message from the Yang Haotian Psychological Studio's customer service popped up: "Hello, Teacher Shen, someone has booked your online consultation session for nine in the morning." He glanced at the time; it was already 7:30.
Because he was fully accompanying Li Baiyu, Shen Jingqi didn't need to go to the hospital.
Quickly freshening up and changing into a tidy shirt, Shen Jingqi sat in front of the computer and opened the video conferencing software.
The moment the screen lit up, Shen Jingqi was stunned.
The woman on the other side of the camera, with slightly curled long hair draped over her shoulders. Her skin was so fair it was almost transparent, as if the faint blue veins beneath could be seen. Her lips were very thin, a pale color like rose petals washed by water. She wore a cream-colored knitted cardigan, its neckline slightly open, revealing delicate collarbones.
Her eyes were single-lidded, with a mole at the center of her brow. Her eye corners slightly tilted up, carrying a hint of laziness and fatigue.
Shen Jingqi's heartbeat skipped a beat.
For some reason, he found this face unexpectedly familiar.
No, to be precise, he had never truly seen this face, but he had heard it described countless times by Li Baiyu.
The mysterious woman in Li Baiyu's world. The phantom that drove Li Baiyu to a state of mental instability.
"Hello, Teacher Shen. My name is Cong Nanxue." The woman's voice was gentle, with a slight rasp, like the thin mist of morning lightly brushing past the ear.
Shen Jingqi's throat tightened, his fingers trembling slightly. He tried to calm himself, but the shock inside surged like a tidal wave. How could Cong Nanxue appear here? Wasn't she Li Baiyu's illusion? How could an illusion truly exist? How could it schedule a psychological consultation?
"Con... Miss Cong?" Shen Jingqi's voice was somewhat parched.
Cong Nanxue smiled faintly, her smile tinged with bitterness. "Teacher Shen, I know you're very surprised. I also know, you know Li Baiyu."
Shen Jingqi's mind was in chaos. He tried to organize his thoughts, attempting to find a reasonable explanation. Was Cong Nanxue a real person? Or, was this some kind of coincidence? A woman who looked exactly like Li Baiyu's described illusion?
"Miss Cong, what is your relationship with Li Baiyu?" Shen Jingqi tentatively asked.
Cong Nanxue lowered her head, her fingers lightly caressing the rim of the teacup. "I am her family." Her voice was soft, as if fearing to disturb something.
Shen Jingqi's mind buzzed. Family? Li Baiyu never mentioned that Cong Nanxue was her family. In her descriptions, Cong Nanxue was an illusion existing only in her mind, an untouchable presence.
"Li Baiyu... she never mentioned that you are her family." Shen Jingqi cautiously said.
Cong Nanxue raised her head, a flash of pain in her eyes. "I know. She... she erased me from her memory. Or, she turned me into an illusion."
Shen Jingqi's heart sank. He realized that the situation was far more complicated than he had imagined. Cong Nanxue's existence seemed to be more than just Li Baiyu's illusion.
"Miss Cong, can you tell me what happened between you and Li Baiyu?" Shen Jingqi's voice softened, with a touch of comfort.
Cong Nanxue was silent for a moment, as if organizing her thoughts. Her fingers unconsciously twisted together, knuckles slightly white.
"We were once very happy." Her voice was deep, with a hint of nostalgia. "Back then, she wasn't ill. We were together for many years; those were the happiest times of my life." ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by No(ᴠ)ᴇlFire.nᴇt
Shen Jingqi listened quietly, not interrupting her.
"Later, her condition began to worsen." Cong Nanxue's voice started to tremble. "She started having hallucinations, unable to distinguish between reality and fantasy. She... she began to see me as a phantom. She said I didn't exist; I was just a shadow in her mind."
Shen Jingqi's heart tightened. He could imagine how devastating Li Baiyu's condition was for Cong Nanxue.
"I tried to help her." Cong Nanxue's tears welled up in her eyes. "I wanted to take her to see a doctor, accompanied her for treatment. But... she became more resistant to me. She said I was her illusion, that I shouldn't appear in her real world."
A surge of bitterness welled up in Shen Jingqi's heart. He could actually feel Cong Nanxue's pain and helplessness. She cared for Li Baiyu, yet she was seen as a phantom. This pain of being denied by family was far more heartbreaking than loss.
"Miss Cong, you came to see me today, do you hope that I can help you?" Shen Jingqi softly asked.
Cong Nanxue raised her head, a flash of hope in her eyes. "Teacher Shen, I know you are Li Baiyu's doctor. I hope... you can help me make her understand that I truly exist. I am not her illusion."
Shen Jingqi was silent for a moment. He knew that this matter was not simple. Li Baiyu's condition had completely trapped her in her own world; to have her re-accept the existence of Cong Nanxue was almost an impossible task.
"Miss Cong, this matter won't be easy," Shen Jingqi said honestly. "Li Baiyu's condition has made her unable to distinguish reality from illusion. To have her re-accept you, it may take a long time, perhaps... it may never be achieved."
Cong Nanxue's tears finally fell. She lowered her head, her shoulders lightly trembling. "I know... I know it's hard. But... I don't want to give up. I don't want her to live in her illusion alone."
Shen Jingqi was moved.
For a moment, he seemed to feel Cong Nanxue's deep affection for Li Baiyu. Even though she was denied, even though she's seen as a phantom, she was still unwilling to give up.
"Miss Cong, I will do my best to help you." Shen Jingqi's voice became firm. "But you also need to be prepared; this process may be very painful."
Cong Nanxue raised her head, a hint of gratitude in her eyes. "Thank you, Teacher Shen. As long as there is a glimmer of hope, I'm willing to try."
Shen Jingqi nodded. He knew that the work ahead would be extremely difficult.
But he also understood that the appearance of Cong Nanxue might be a turning point.
"Miss Cong, we will talk in more detail next time." Shen Jingqi said.
Cong Nanxue nodded, lightly wiping her tears. "Thank you, Teacher Shen."
The screen went dark, and Shen Jingqi leaned back against the chair, exhaling a long breath. His mind was still in chaos. The appearance of Cong Nanxue completely disrupted his understanding of Li Baiyu's condition. He needed to reorganize his thoughts and devise a new plan.
He picked up the phone and dialed the number of Yang Haotian Psychological Studio.
"Customer service, help me look up the information on Cong Nanxue," Shen Jingqi's voice was low.