novelraw Chapter 58: First Treatment
Chapter 58: First Treatment
"First, your treatment will need more than six months. Twice a week for this half month, and twice a month thereafter. I’ll set the schedule."
"Okay."
"Second, consultation fees will be calculated by the hour, fifty per hour... almost said fifty thousand, "fifty bucks, but for anything I need your help with, you cannot refuse."
It’s practically free, she didn’t really want to charge, but if she didn’t, this suspicious man Zheng Xu would definitely get suspicious.
"Okay."
"Third, in front of me, we are just doctor and patient. Besides that, you cannot have any physical contact with me. If I catch you touching me like earlier, I’ll stop the treatment immediately."
"Why?" Zheng Xu was still wondering if she was intentionally using treatment to get close to him, but upon hearing her third rule, he was stunned.
"I’ve said, everyone might have different phobia tendencies. Yours is sawtooth phobia, and I have a contact phobia tendency. I don’t like people getting close to me, do you understand?"
Her contact phobia is much milder than compulsive hand washing, just a tendency, not yet pathological, much like many people simply prefer cleanliness, a bit more sensitive.
"Aren’t you a psychologist?"
Qian shook her head.
"You think too highly of psychologists. We are not gods, we don’t have superpowers, we can’t save ourselves, and we can’t directly save our family members. Do you know how many psychologists die of depression each year? A lot! Mental illness has nothing to do with whether you have a strong will. Some people don’t get sick simply because they are luckier than those who do, much like the flu virus; no one knows who can catch it."
"...So there’s no man who can touch you?" Zheng Xu was incredulous, are there really such women?
There is, isn’t Yu Minglang? Qian didn’t understand why she disliked being touched by men and women, except Yu Minglang. It wasn’t until much later that Qian realized it wasn’t because of love, but a destined fate, everything has cause and effect.
"If you agree to my terms, our first session starts now." Qian shifted focus.
"If I’m not your patient, can I pursue you?" Zheng Xu used the word "pursue."
For women, usually, if you want it, you have it, but he knows the one in front of him is different from those. This is the first time he said he wants to pursue a girl.
"The biggest taboo for a psychologist is getting emotionally involved with a patient. It’s professional ethics. Once violated, you lose your qualification to be a doctor. I don’t think you have the charm to make me give up the job I love."
Zheng Xu stared at Qian for two seconds and then burst out laughing.
"I want to try."
Hearing Zheng Xu’s response, Qian chuckled and shook her head, while Zheng Xu was puzzled.
"What’s so funny?"
Of course, Qian wouldn’t tell him she thought of Yu Minglang.
That goof didn’t say anything after holding back for ages and only knew to give carnations.
Zheng Xu, on the other hand, was straightforward, blunt even, but he could only be a friend. She’s particularly clear about such boundaries; two people too similar together are uninteresting.
Qian gathered her thoughts and said to Zheng Xu.
"Have your men prepare the place. I need a space where you can relax, a comfortable reclining chair, sandalwood essential oil, hand sanitizer, paper."
"...Essential oil, paper?" The things she mentioned, Zheng Xu couldn’t help but think waywardly.
These things, he had used them with previous girlfriends, but always to enhance interest...
"Erase those mixed-up thoughts from your mind, otherwise—" Qian gestured a sawtooth again, and Zheng Xu was dazed once more.
This woman...!
Zheng Xu’s impression of Qian changed completely after their first therapy session.
The place where Zheng Xu could relax was his villa, opulently decorated. Zheng Xu had never brought a woman there before; Qian was the first.
She showed not a hint of surprise at the luxurious environment. With what luxury had she not experienced in her previous life? Naturally, she wouldn’t appear like a country bumpkin looking around.
Qian first had him sit down, then sat opposite him.
"I thought you would wear a doctor’s white coat." Zheng Xu still couldn’t see Qian as a doctor, his words carried a hint of teasing.
"Unless specifically required, I don’t wear a doctor’s uniform. I need to make patients feel relaxed."
"Actually, I think you’d look good in a uniform," the kind with nothing underneath.
Qian raised her hand with intent to make a sawtooth gesture, causing Zheng Xu to relent, quickly stopping his teasing.
"What category does my situation fall into?"
"Mental disorders usually stem from three reasons: neurological issues such as heredity or brain tumor and external stimuli; second is neurotransmitter imbalance, which can be treated with medication; the third is psychological barriers, with most phobias being the third situation. I think you’re in this category, but what specifically triggers you, leaving a shadow, no one knows. If we find this cause, the treatment will speed up."
This string of professional jargon was incomprehensible to Zheng Xu, but his expression slowly turned serious.
"Are you really a psychologist?"
"What do you think I am otherwise? A woman in a doctor’s uniform playing with costume temptations like in those movies from that island country?" Qian glanced at him. Zheng Xu’s gaze at her changed.
From teasing an inexperienced girl to seeing her as an equal, he had a hunch this woman might actually be able to cure him!
"So how do you plan to treat me?"
"Systematic desensitization therapy combined with hypnotherapy. Now, when you look at the pattern I’ve drawn, does it scare you?" She held up the paper with a wavy line.
Zheng Xu shook his head.
Qian picked up another paper, this one more angular. Zheng Xu continued shaking his head. They went through over ten sheets before Zheng Xu finally seemed a bit afraid.
"How about this one?" Qian held up another sheet.
Zheng Xu’s face turned pale, his breathing quickened. Not wanting to show fear in front of a woman, he gritted his teeth and said, "Not afraid."
"Pretending to be brave won’t do you any good. Remember, I am your doctor. Good, we’ve now determined your subjective anxiety level. By following your fear hierarchy, we’ll sequence these papers and continue next session."
She organized the jagged patterns into a sequence so they could be used again next time.
"Alright, now we’ll proceed with systematic desensitization. Please lie down in the chair and follow my voice into a state of relaxation."
Zheng Xu lay in the chair, Qian’s gentle voice sounded in his ear, "Inhale, exhale, relax, imagine a light passing over your body from the top of your head, relax as the light reaches each part. Your scalp relaxes, your forehead bones relax..."