Chapter 34: Pathological

The moment she said those words, the air seemed to freeze.

Su Ling had wanted to say this in her past life but hadn’t dared to back then. She could choose not to express love for him, but she couldn’t outright declare that she would never love him in her lifetime.

Though a bit frightened after saying it, she didn’t regret it.

Qin Xiao’s expression was terrifying.

Su Ling didn’t dare look at him. After a long silence, he let out a laugh: “Very good, you’ve got spirit.” But his tone dripped with coldness, and anyone could tell this wasn’t praise. Su Ling wanted to get out of the car, but Qin Xiao had already locked the doors.

“Let me out. I’m not terminating my contract with Star Entertainment.”

He acted as if he hadn’t heard her and started the car. Su Ling turned her head to look at him. Qin Xiao’s face showed no emotion; his eyes were fixed ahead as he turned the car around.

Su Ling didn’t believe Qin Xiao was kindly driving her back.

She didn’t know how much her words had affected him, but judging by his current state, it was clearly something significant.

She felt a twinge of fear: “Qin Xiao?”

Qin Xiao ignored her—he was afraid of losing his temper completely.

He finally understood: every word from her was like a dagger, piercing him without hesitation, simply because she didn’t love him, didn’t like him, and didn’t care about him.

But what was most absurd was that he had offered his heart willingly. He must have gone mad—after living freely for twenty-eight years, he had fallen head over heels for a woman in the most neurotic way possible.

The level of uncontrollable obsession made him question his own sanity, as if he had been poisoned. A faint smile from her could leave him spellbound. He was infatuated with everything about her—her voice, her scent, her body, even the hormonal charge in the air when she was near.

His spine tingled, his soul trembled.

Long ago, he had heard an absurd poem—While my eyes rain for her, my heart holds an umbrella for her. That is love.

Back then, he was in high school, and these words were written in the diary of his nerdy deskmate, a line by Tagore.

When one of the troublemakers in class found the diary and read it aloud dramatically, the entire classroom erupted in laughter.

“Who’s this girl you’re secretly pining for, Four-Eyes? Tell us, and we’ll help you pursue her!”

“Is it that ‘class beauty’ from next door—the chubby girl?”

“Hahaha, so cultured!”

As Qin Xiao strolled in leisurely with his hands in his pockets, they happened to be reading that line.

The moment the others saw him, they fell silent.

At the time, Qin Xiao was a delinquent, but he despised bullying like this. The group quickly tossed the diary back onto Four-Eyes’ desk and fled, fearing Qin Xiao’s wrath.

Four-Eyes, humiliated, burst into tears.

“Move,” Qin Xiao said coldly.

Four-Eyes hastily gave up his seat, and Qin Xiao retrieved his game console from the desk drawer. As he left, he caught sight of the open diary, the neatly written line catching his eye.

He sneered.

The person who wrote this must have been crazy—what nonsense was this supposed love? If someone stabbed him in the heart, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill her. Love? Holding an umbrella for her?

Yet now, sitting in the car with the young woman timidly watching him, he recalled his teenage disdain for that line—and realized it wasn’t the poet who was insane. It was him.

After her clear rejection and aversion toward him, the first thing he thought of when he calmed down was planning how to make Star Entertainment terminate her contract voluntarily.

Even as his heart bled and pooled blood beneath his feet, he still clung to the hope of possessing her.

Love? Was it truly love if she hated him?

Could such a ravenous beast, starved for too long, ever be satisfied?

For the first time in his life, he felt a flicker of confusion. His burning desire scorched the air, making every breath painful. Yet he craved even the smallest possibility, the faintest sweetness, enough to sustain a caged beast through an entire winter.

But what could he do?

He couldn’t control himself. He couldn’t bear her looking at him with such disgust, yet he couldn’t let go either. If she smiled, he’d traverse any distance just to reach her side. What dignity was there to speak of?

With a fierce punch to the steering wheel, Su Ling instinctively tightened her seatbelt. She knew better than to provoke him while he was driving, but not knowing where they were headed filled her with unease.

Qin Xiao turned the car and stopped in front of a clinic.

The clinic was located in a secluded area, its entrance surrounded by lush greenery.

Qin Xiao opened the car door: “Get out.”

Su Ling stepped out and looked up at the building, realizing it was an entire tower with the sign “Zoe Clinic” displayed prominently.

Hospitals and clinics often inspired fear.

She glanced at Qin Xiao. His pupils were pitch-black, his lips pressed tightly together as he stared silently at the sign.

“What are we doing here?”

He looked at her, a mocking smile on his face: “To see if I’m sick.”

Though she didn’t understand his intentions, the strange atmosphere unnerved her.

“What kind of place is this?”

“Come in.” He grabbed her wrist and pulled her inside. Su Ling struggled, but couldn’t break free.

She was scared: “I’m not going in. I’m not sick.”

Her constant resistance ignited a dark flame within him. She was always drawing boundaries between them, and now she had run straight to Star Entertainment! If he had been even a little later, she would have finished filming, gained a horde of fans—right?

“Qin Xiao, let me go.”

He smirked, loosened his tie with one hand, and used it to bind her wrists behind her back, tying a knot.

The inherent physical disparity between men and women meant that Qin Xiao had done this before—but only in bed, as part of their intimate play. Now, however, he was on the verge of madness.

She would never love him, not even in death.

Every thought of her caused him pain. He didn’t know whether to hate her or love her more, whether to despair over her or over himself.

He bound her wrists: “Aren’t you afraid of me? Today, I’ll show you if I’m sick.”

Su Ling’s face paled. She struggled fiercely, kicking him hard. His expression didn’t change as he lifted her and carried her inside.

The interior of the building was lavishly decorated, nothing like a private clinic—it resembled an entertainment venue.

The receptionist, who had been dozing off, jolted awake when she saw Qin Xiao carrying Su Ling in: “Q… Qin Shao?”

“Where’s Zuo Yin?”

“In… in the office.”

The receptionist couldn’t help but peek at the girl in his arms.

The girl in Qin Shao’s embrace kept struggling, her hands tied. She bit down hard on his shoulder.

Su Ling hated him with all her heart. This bite held no mercy—she despised being forced upon, and hoped it would hurt him immensely.

His muscles were firm. Qin Xiao had fought in his youth and worked out regularly since starting work. Her teeth ached from biting, but she stubbornly refused to let go.

His entire body tensed, but his expression remained unchanged. When the elevator opened, he sneered: “Bite harder. Leave a scar that lasts a lifetime. Every day it reminds me of you.”

How could he say such twisted things!

Embarrassed and furious, Su Ling finally released her bite. She dreaded his lingering attachment. She tasted blood in her mouth, her teeth aching. When the elevator opened, Qin Xiao set her down and gently wiped the corner of her mouth with his thumb, smirking: “How does it taste?”

Madman!

Without giving her a chance to rinse her mouth, he pushed open the door and led her inside.

The man sitting in the chair was leisurely reading gossip columns. Seeing someone barge in without knocking, he frowned, but upon recognizing Qin Xiao, he grinned: “Well, what wind blew Qin Shao here?”

Zuo Yin was genuinely amused. He and Qin Xiao had been high school classmates, initially clashing before becoming close friends.

However, Qin Xiao had ranked at the bottom of his class, while Zuo Yin excelled academically. Unlike Qin Xiao, Zuo Yin took his studies seriously.

Later, Zuo Yin majored in psychology for his undergraduate degree and went abroad for further studies, returning only two years ago.

Back then, when Qin Xiao heard Zuo Yin was studying psychology, he sneered: “Treating psychos?”

Zuo Yin smiled through gritted teeth, too lazy to argue with an ignoramus: “Hopefully one day you won’t become my client.”

Qin Shao, raising a toast back then, arrogantly replied: “Dream on.”

Yet here he was, sitting on the couch in front of him years later, his face cold: “Start.”

Zuo Yin nearly laughed himself silly. After all these years, he couldn’t hold back his laughter, pounding the table as he roared.

Qin Xiao’s face remained icy: “Laugh enough? Then start.”

Su Ling was seated beside Qin Xiao, realizing this man was a psychologist.

Around the same age as Qin Xiao, he wore thin gold-rimmed glasses. A tea set sat on his desk, brewing tea that filled the room with fragrance.

She bit her lip, the metallic taste in her mouth making her uncomfortable, but her upbringing forbade her from spitting it out here.

Zuo Yin laughed until tears formed at the corners of his eyes.

Normally serious and gentle during consultations, today’s scene was… exhilarating. This joke could last him twenty years!

Zuo Yin scrutinized Su Ling.

Honestly, she was stunning.

More beautiful than anyone he’d ever seen, especially since she was brought in by Qin Xiao. Observant by nature, Zuo Yin noticed how Qin Xiao roughly seated her on the sofa but handled her with utmost care, as if afraid of breaking delicate glass.

The first thing Qin Xiao did upon entering was untie the tie binding her wrists. Though the fabric was high-quality, the delicate skin of her wrists was still rubbed red.

Amused, Zuo Yin watched as Qin Xiao gently rubbed the red marks, his brows furrowed in concern.

No wonder women were so fragile.

This was unheard of. Zuo Yin had known Qin Xiao since he was fifteen, and Qin Shao had lived recklessly from a young age, utterly clueless about cherishing beauty.

Not to mention the charm Qin Shao exuded in his successful career. Back in the day, girls swooned over his rebellious allure and handsome face.

Adolescent hearts often yearned for rebellious boys, especially ones who looked as good as Qin Xiao.

But Zuo Yin had never seen Qin Xiao so alive. Despite being furious, he clung to her like a magnet.

Zuo Yin instantly grasped the nature of their relationship.

He poured three cups of tea, placing them in front of them, and teased: “Qin Shao, this is a psychological clinic. Do you recognize the word ‘psychology’? I’m no miracle worker—I can’t treat that wound on your shoulder.”

Zuo Yin glanced at Qin Xiao’s left shoulder.

Blood had seeped through his white shirt.

Zuo Yin clicked his tongue. Damn, that must hurt. Only Qin Xiao could remain so composed.

Qin Xiao shot Zuo Yin a cold glare, unbothered by his mockery. At eighteen, Qin Xiao had managed to seize half of his father’s inheritance—his thick skin was essential.

Zuo Yin rested his chin on his hand: “Should we get a vaccine first? I’ll have Xiaochen fetch it. Infection wouldn’t be good.”

Su Ling, who had been feigning calm, blushed deeply at this remark. Anyone could tell how that wound came to be. She felt a surge of regret and embarrassment, her cheeks flushed crimson. After all, this was the first time in her life she had bitten someone. She had bitten hard, leaving a small red mark on Qin Xiao’s shoulder.

Zuo Yin raised an eyebrow, wondering where Qin Xiao had found such an innocent treasure.

He had previously assumed Qin Xiao preferred bold, flamboyant women.

Qin Xiao glanced at Su Ling: “No need.” Turning back to Zuo Yin, he added, “Enough nonsense. Are you starting or not?”

Zuo Yin replied: “Starting. Money goes to my account. For a guest of your status, remember to pay twenty times the usual fee.”

He chuckled, then glanced at the uneasy, timid girl sitting beside them.

Zuo Yin: “One last piece of nonsense. My questions might get explicit. Are you sure you want this young lady to stay and listen?”

Qin Xiao had been certain, but then he remembered Zuo Yin was once his partner-in-crime. He turned to Su Ling. Perhaps due to her dance training, she sat with her hands lightly folded on her lap, her back perfectly straight.

She looked exceptionally well-behaved.

In contrast, he and Zuo Yin, legs crossed, exuded a rebellious aura, resembling two street thugs.

Qin Xiao: “… “

Qin Xiao curved his lips slightly: “Would you mind waiting in the lounge outside?” His tone was polite. Su Ling looked at him, her wet eyes speaking volumes. She had no intention of waiting—how could she possibly detest him more?

He cut her off, fearing she would stab him again emotionally: “Don’t run. Otherwise, I’ll come to your school tonight.”

Su Ling’s eyes widened, unable to comprehend how someone could be so shameless.

At that moment, the sunset bathed the floor-to-ceiling windows. Her hair cascaded past her shoulders, still styled in the adorable cut that had once made his heart flutter. Her pale pink cheeks and glistening eyes spoke volumes even when she remained silent.

Just a few glances, and he couldn’t suppress the stirring in his heart. His gaze softened involuntarily: “If you wait for me, I’ll take you back before nine, okay?”

Su Ling stood up and walked out, closing the door behind her.

She covered her lips. Her first priority was to rinse her mouth.

Once Su Ling was gone, Zuo Yin spoke more freely, chuckling: “Qin Xiao, you really need to grow some shame. From the sound of it, she’s still just a student, and you’re almost thirty. Aren’t you embarrassed, old bull eating tender grass?”

“Shut up.”

“Alright, alright.” Zuo Yin picked up a pen, his earlier jesting replaced with seriousness. “Why are you suddenly consulting about psychological issues? What do you think is wrong?”

“Zuo Yin.” Qin Xiao paused briefly before letting out a soft laugh.

Qin Xiao intended to describe the pathological sensation: “When I look into her eyes, I feel for the first time that time stands still. I want to rip open my chest, pull out my heart, and use its blood to dye flowers red, fashioning a crown for her to wear.”

What illness was this? Just thinking of her made his breathing hurt.