Yue Linze, however, looked relaxed: “I’m sorry for deceiving you and killing you back then. I’m sorry for selfishly dragging you along for so long. My wish is just one step away. Consider me a completely selfish person. After I die, forget about me. Don’t think of me even once. Don’t be bound. Just be a happy, free girl…
Bullshit! Without you, I wouldn’t be happy at all!” Tao Yu finally broke down, throwing a snowball at his hand. At the same time, a gunshot rang out. Yue Linze’s face revealed a peaceful smile, and Tao Yu watched the slow bullet heading towards his head.
“No!”
Tao Yu’s piercing cry rang out, and then everything stopped. The bullet, being the smallest thing, quickly disintegrated, turning into a light spot before touching Yue Linze’s temple.
Tao Yu wept uncontrollably, watching the person in front of her rise from the wheelchair, growing younger as he approached her, until he stood before her as a handsome young man in his twenties. Her crying did not stop.
Yue Linze sighed, embracing her. Tao Yu collapsed, hitting his back and sobbing: “Bad person! Bad person…”
“There, don’t cry, I love you,” a clear voice came from his lips, gently looking at the girl in his arms. “Being able to spend a lifetime with you is my blessing, but this bullet… I’m afraid I can’t return it…”
“Who cares…” Tao Yu suddenly broke free from his embrace, glaring at him with red eyes, trembling uncontrollably.
Yue Linze looked at her tenderly: “I owe you too much. If possible… if possible, I will compensate you bit by bit. So take care of yourself, will you wait for me?”
Tao Yu watched his body gradually become transparent and fragmented. At the moment she fell into darkness, she whispered softly: “Okay.”
A routine dark coma. When Tao Yu opened her eyes, she saw a familiar yet strange environment, realizing she had returned to the real world.
The treatment was over.
When she realized this, a corner of her heart seemed to collapse, unable to recover for a long time. Therefore, she did not notice that Yue Linze on the bed had already opened his eyes.
After waking up, Yue Linze remained still, frowning and receiving a continuous stream of information in his brain. He discovered that he had not awakened after the treatment in the previous world, but directly proceeded to the next.
After resting for a long time, he sat up and saw Tao Yu in a daze on the sofa. He calmly asked: “How did this one go?”
Tao Yu was startled, sitting up and triggering the instruments on her body. A few items fell to the ground. She hurriedly removed everything and stood up, facing Yue Linze. The moment their eyes met, she was momentarily dazed.
“Speak,” Yue Linze said slowly, his face expressionless.
His voice was devoid of emotion, as if she were just a familiar stranger. Tao Yu instantly became clear-headed, pausing before apologizing: “Sorry, this treatment lasted too long. I haven’t fully withdrawn yet.”
“It’s okay, rest for a bit. Sit,” Yue Linze gestured to the sofa.
Tao Yu assessed her mental state and felt she indeed needed rest, so she thanked him and sat down. The room fell silent. Twenty minutes later, Tao Yu regained her spirit and stood up to politely tell Yue Linze about the previous sub-personality’s death and emergency treatment.
Yue Linze’s eyes darkened slightly as he asked casually: “So, my illness is cured?”
“In principle, yes, but we still need to do a comprehensive check. If it’s confirmed that no residual personalities remain, then this treatment will be considered successful.” As her consciousness withdrew from the mental world, the time perception there would affect her less and less. After twenty minutes of adjustment, she was now much clearer.
Once she began focusing on the real world, she thought about the large commission she was about to receive. Once she got this money, her previous debts would be completely cleared, and if she was lucky, she might even have some left over to treat herself.
Just thinking about these money-related matters made her feel happy.
“You seem happy?” Yue Linze looked at her coldly.
Tao Yu realized she was being too obvious and coughed, saying: “Sorry, I can’t help but be happy thinking about the successful treatment.” This reason was reasonable enough, right?
Yue Linze stared at her, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes: “It seems solving those sub-personalities is indeed something to be happy about.”
“Isn’t it? Mr. Yue will no longer be troubled by those sub-personalities, and I’ve learned a lot in this treatment. It’s the best news recently,” Tao Yu said with a professional smile.
Yue Linze glanced at her: “Oh.”
Tao Yu was stunned, feeling his attitude was somewhat strange. Wasn’t he becoming gentler before? Why was he so cold now?
Tao Yu looked at him questioningly. Yue Linze was silent for a moment, then slowly said: “Dr. Tao has worked hard. Go rest for a bit. As for subsequent treatment, we can discuss it after you’ve rested.”
Tao Yu wanted to say there was only one routine check-up left, but seeing Yue Linze’s indifferent expression, she wisely kept quiet and left with her head down.
As soon as she left, Yue Linze’s previously cold eyes immediately became complex – anger, relief, and a mix of longing. His eyes held a hundred emotions that were hard to describe. Although his brain finally felt less chaotic, he still felt a headache.
After a while, he closed his eyes to calmly organize his memories. When he opened his eyes again, the other emotions were gone, replaced by a stubborn determination.
[Author’s note section follows, which I’ve omitted as it seems to be commentary from the author]
When she woke up, it was already dark. She sat on the bed for a while before getting up, yawning and tidying herself up briefly, planning to eat something and then go back to sleep.
As soon as she went out, she saw the housekeeper standing at the door about to knock. She was stunned for a moment before reacting: “Mr. Housekeeper, is there something I can help you with?”
“Dr. Tao,” the housekeeper said with relief after seeing her come out, “Mr. Yue suddenly complained of a headache. I’m worried it might be a post-treatment sequela, so I wanted to ask you to take a look.”
“A headache? That shouldn’t be the case. His brain activity has already decreased, so he shouldn’t be feeling uncomfortable,” Tao Yu said, though puzzled. She told the housekeeper, “Please go ahead, and I’ll call someone and come right away.”
“Okay,” the housekeeper said and hurriedly left.
Tao Yu was confused for a moment but didn’t have time to think more. She went back to change into her white coat and then ran to Yue Linze’s room. As soon as she pushed the door open, she saw Yue Linze sitting on the sofa with a furrowed brow. She quickly walked over and politely asked, “Mr. Yue, how are you feeling now?”
“Headache,” Yue Linze said slowly.
Tao Yu asked further, “Where specifically?”
Yue Linze extended his long fingers and pointed to his temple.
Tao Yu nodded to the assistant who was already prepared. The assistant immediately began preparing the equipment. She then smiled and said, “Let’s do a check-up. I want to see your current brain activity level.”
“Mm,” Yue Linze gave her a casual glance and lay down on the detection device.
Tao Yu immediately began the examination with her assistant, rushing back and forth for three hours. They fell silent facing the test results.
Yue Linze had fallen asleep on the detection device. When he opened his eyes, he saw Tao Yu’s complicated expression. He paused and asked casually, “What’s wrong?”
“Mr. Yue, does your head still hurt?” Tao Yu asked seriously.
Yue Linze was silent for a moment before saying, “It hurts.”
