Return of the Antagonistic Lady Boss

Chapter 184 - 185: Beginning Treatment

"Exploring the human mind is a long and complex process. I’m enamored with this journey. Dong Yi, one day you’ll become just like me, exhilarated by the quest to understand the human heart."

"I think I might not be able to reach your level..."

Ever since seeing Qian’s treatment, Dong Yi increasingly doubted if choosing this profession was the right decision. Could she really reach the stage where she could understand everything with just a glance, like Qian? They were all freshmen, but Qian seemed to possess so much more than her.

"Level? Haha." Qian chuckled. She still couldn’t see through herself. No matter how much she learned, she remained the patient.

Perhaps she was also a flawed problem set by heaven, with no correct answer, always making mistakes regardless of what she did.

"Qian, can you tell me more about gender identity disorder?"

"We live in a world of either male or female, but those with gender identity disorder are neither men nor women, so they suffer greatly, even more than homosexuals, and they feel helpless. The one you just saw is a man in a woman’s body, and a famous talk show host is a woman in a man’s body—I won’t discuss this. I recommend you read a book—no, not going to mention it. Anyway, there are many films on this topic, all based on true stories."

Qian originally wanted to use a transgender talk show host dancer as a case study but felt it was inappropriate since the person was not yet famous. She also thought of recommending Dong Yi read a book by an American transgender author, "Gender is a Caterpillar," but realized that book hadn’t been written yet.

"What movies are there?"

"...Boys Don’t Cry, based on a true story from the United States. Other movies on the same topic you will have to discover slowly." Qian pondered and realized this seemed to be the only one that had been made, as the rest were not yet filmed. This topic, after all, was too radical for contemporary society.

"Qian, how should we view these people who are different from us?"

"Firstly, understand that gender identity disorder is not the same as homosexuality. This group consists of patients, and as doctors, we cannot discriminate against our patients. No matter how much societal pressure is imposed on them, we must not follow the public chaos and must maintain a calm, objective mind."

"How to help then? You also said that everything is wrong no matter what we do."

"Our power cannot overturn the established values of society, but as doctors, we need to understand our patient’s pain and help them alleviate their mental illness from an objective perspective. Ironically, the discrimination and pressure they face come from ’normal people’."

"Understanding?"

"Yes, that’s a fundamental aspect for psychologists. We must understand each patient."

"Qian, you’re a kind person."

"No, kind people are unsuitable to be psychologists. They’re prone to breakdowns. I understand, but I won’t invest too much emotion. I must keep a calm and objective mind to help my patients, just like a doctor treating tumors. If a doctor sympathizes with patients to the point of weeping, can he remain calm and rational enough to perform surgery?"

Like other doctors, psychologists must remain calm, objective, and understand the patient without excessively investing emotionally. Doctors face too many patients daily, and excessive involvement can cause breakdowns. There are many instances of psychologists experiencing depression and committing suicide.

"Qian, you are a good doctor." Dong Yi quietly regarded Qian as her role model, hoping she could become like Qian after completing her studies.

"Yes, I am one of the top psychological experts in the country. You will be too in the future." Qian was not modest about this at all.

Taking Dong Yi to the pre-arranged hotel, they stayed in a room for two people. This town was close to the grasslands, and it was just a ten-minute drive to the natural grasslands.

"Why did you bring me here?" Dong Yi asked upon entering the room.

"What’s wrong, don’t you like it? Yes, this hotel is a bit old-fashioned, still operating under the old state-run model, but don’t underestimate it. It’s one of the few buildings around here."

In the past, this place was state-run, and even the signs remained the same, with white and green half-paint on the walls.

"It doesn’t matter where we stay, but didn’t you say we were visiting relatives?"

"Their home is inside the grasslands’ banner; there’s no transport at this time. We’ll get up early tomorrow to go. You should lie down and rest for a while. Tonight, we’ll go out and eat some lamb skewers."

Dong Yi didn’t know, but the room had already been tampered with. There was no television or entertainment. By the time they finished the skewers and returned to the hotel, it was already dark.

"Qian, what are you looking at?"

Dong Yi noticed Qian continuously looking around.

"I always feel like there’s a pair of eyes watching me from the shadows. Maybe it’s just an illusion."

Qian didn’t spot anyone following them, yet she felt observed. Was it her second brother’s people?

Staying here was arranged in advance by her second brother. The two had agreed on a time and plan beforehand. Qian thought it was her brother’s people and didn’t care.

From a distance, binoculars tracked Qian into the room, only then reluctantly shifting their gaze away.

That night, Qian and Dong Yi lay separately on two small beds. An old-fashioned light bulb hung down from the ceiling, emitting a dim glow.

Dong Yi lay in bed, reading a professional book she had brought. Qian retrieved a palm-sized essential oil burner from her bag, lit it, and added a few drops of essential oil.

"What are you doing?"

"This is pure essential oil Shi Touyu got for me from abroad, called clary sage. Most sage is toxic, but clary sage is an exception. It helps care for women and in psychological treatment can alleviate anxiety and induce relaxation. However, it has many contraindications, so generally people shouldn’t use it casually due to its danger, especially when driving."

A scent similar to muscadine wine spread through the room. Qian brought out two beautiful bottles, opened one, and handed it to Dong Yi.

"What’s this?" Dong Yi took it, had a taste, and found it delicious, though it seemed to have a bit of an alcoholic taste?

"Fruit wine, drink it, given to me for free. Not drinking it once opened is a waste."

A mysterious gleam flickered in Qian’s eyes. Clary sage mustn’t be used with alcohol, or it causes hallucinations, especially while driving, which is disastrous. Thus, this essential oil has certain risks. The later-sold versions domestically were low in purity and had fewer incidents. The one Shi Touyu acquired was high-purity.

The reason she dared to do this was that Qian was a professional psychologist. Ordinary individuals must not try this.

Watching Dong Yi drink over half the fruit wine, Qian kept track of time, beginning to conduct a discreet treatment on Dong Yi. After a brief guidance, Dong Yi, affected by the essential oil, became entangled in Qian’s discourse.