DF Chapter 15
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Si Gui proudly carried the dish of big plate chicken to Zhen Yi’s nose and bragged, “Look at this! First try, and it’s already perfect in color, aroma, and taste. Yang Zi, come taste my virgin big plate chicken.”
Zhen Yi snorted, “Good thing you didn’t make buns today, or it’d be too shocking to taste your…”
“Shut up, you filthy-minded freak!” Si Gui roared, kicking Zhen Yi out of the kitchen.
“Zhen, you’ve been getting more and more outrageous lately.”
“Maybe I’m reaching that age when I’m as fierce as a wolf. Just the other day, I saw a boar on TV and thought, ‘Wow, its skin is so smooth and tender.’”
Yang Zi burst into laughter and nearly choked. “Oh please, with how much guys like you, is it really that hard to find someone? You clearly just want to focus on your career while you’re still young.”
Si Gui gnawed on a chicken leg, disagreeing. “I think Zhen just has high standards.”
“Yeah.” Yang Zi chimed in, “Zhen Yi’s standards are sky-high. The guy has to be ambitious, family-oriented, responsible, and on top of that, look like a Greek god with a model’s body. Are you looking for an alien?”
Zhen Yi slowly sipped her soup. “I’m not bad-looking, I have a good personality, I’m not shallow, ignorant, or malicious, and I’m not vain. I earn a good salary with my professional skills. I’m happy and fulfilled without a man. So why shouldn’t I have high standards? If a man can’t bring more joy than I already have, what’s the point of dating him?”
Si Gui had nothing to say, and Yang Zi shook her head, smiling.
Work hadn’t been going well for Yang Zi lately. In the case of Yao Feng’s brutal attack on his classmates, there wasn’t much she could do. Yao Feng’s future hinged on a psychiatric evaluation, and her role was minimal. To make matters worse, what should have been a case that sparked national attention was overshadowed by the drama surrounding Lin Ziyi and Song Yi.
Midway through dinner, Yang Zi thought of the gossip at the office and asked, “Yi, how’s Song Yi’s case going?”
“There’s been a bit of a hiccup.” Zhen Yi mumbled through a mouthful of food, while Si Gui focused on eating without getting involved.
“Yi… you’ve got to hang in there.” Yang Zi’s voice was a bit somber.
“What’s up?” Zhen Yi noticed something was off in her tone and looked up.
Yang Zi hesitated, then confessed, “People are waiting for you to slip up. Song Yi’s case seemed easy at first, like you’d make easy money without needing a trial. But now things have taken a sharp turn, and people think you won’t be able to handle it. I even heard rumors that Song Yi is mad at you…”
Zhen Yi didn’t seem bothered, chewing a large piece of meat. “So what if I lose? Winning and losing is normal.”
“That’s not it, Yi. This case was supposed to help you earn a bonus and build your reputation. Everyone knows how biased the boss is toward you, which is why people are watching with such interest…” She trailed off awkwardly.
Si Gui’s expression darkened even more than Zhen Yi’s.
“The people at the firm don’t know about your relationship with Bian Qian, so they secretly gossip, saying you’ve… seduced him.”
“Say what?” Zhen Yi’s eyes widened.
Just as Si Gui and Yang Zi were about to comfort her, Zhen Yi put down her chopsticks, rushed over to the mirror behind the door, and leaned in close to examine her reflection. “Do I even look seductive enough for that?” She cupped her face, inspecting herself from all angles, then put her hands on her hips and wiggled a little. “Overall, I’m satisfied, except for my chest. That’s my dad’s genes. As for Bian Qian, if I tried to seduce him, that’d be incest. They’re just jealous I have such a good brother.”
Si Gui watched her antics in silence, realizing it was pointless to worry about this weirdo.
Yang Zi doubled over with laughter, impressed by Zhen Yi’s ability to poke fun at herself. “As long as you’re not upset.”
“People are always harsh on those who are lucky.” Zhen Yi said casually. “Wanting to be lucky and have a good reputation? That’d be too greedy.”
“I admire your attitude. If it were me, I’d cry in frustration.”
“I’m great at letting things go in one ear and out the other.” Zhen Yi returned to her meal, eating heartily. “There’s no real fairness in this world. The people on the lower end of the scale are always the ones crying about it.”
“Wow, you’ve got it all figured out.” Si Gui kicked her under the table. “Let’s hope you always stay on the upper end.”
“No need. I prefer a life like a seesaw.” Zhen Yi grinned. “With a good mindset, I won’t complain even when I’m on the lower end. The ups and downs are what make life interesting.”
Surrounded by lush greenery, two white buildings stood side by side—not tall but covering a large area with a modern, minimalist design. In front of them, a marble slab bore several lines of text. On one side, it read: “National Institute of Psychiatric Treatment”, “National Institute of Neuropsychology”, “National Institute of Personality Psychology”, and “National Institute of Clinical and Counseling Psychology”. The other side simply stated: “K City First Psychiatric Hospital”.
If not for these two marble slabs, the blue skies, white clouds, and the serene, almost deserted grounds could have passed for a paradise.
Standing beneath a large tree, Zhen Yi pulled out the business card Yan Ge had given her and dialed the number. After one ring, the call was picked up. “Hello, K City Psychiatric Treatment Lab”, a young man’s voice answered quickly, so fast she almost couldn’t catch it.
“I’m looking for Yan Ge.” she replied, realizing the awkward silence on the other end and quickly corrected herself. “…Teacher Yan, Professor Yan!”
“Please hold.”
After a brief moment of silence, a familiar voice, calm and low, came through. “Who is this?”
“It’s me. I happened to be in the area, no appointment. Are you busy?”
He didn’t answer. “You’re downstairs?”
“Yeah, it seems pretty tightly guarded. They won’t let me in.”
“Wait a moment.”
Zhen Yi hung up, pacing around the tree as she mulled things over.
She had gone to the police station today and gotten details about Lin Ziyi’s death, but nothing more—no other evidence or forensic reports. After all, Song Yi was still just a suspect.
Soon, a young man in a white coat appeared in the empty first-floor lobby of the research institute. He hurried to the thick glass door, swiped a card on the security panel, and spoke—Zhen Yi could see his mouth moving but couldn’t hear him.
He pulled the door open, smiling brightly. “I’m Xiao Ke. Sorry for the wait.”
“Not at all.” Zhen Yi replied, surprised by his politeness—something Yan Ge certainly wouldn’t have said.
After checking in, they entered the bright and spotless lobby. The large marble floors gleamed, silent and pristine. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the greenery and sunlight were perfect. As they left the elevator, glass-walled labs lined the hallway, and people inside occasionally glanced up from their work to curiously observe Zhen Yi.
Xiao Ke led her to a room at the end of the hallway. Through the glass window, Zhen Yi saw Yan Ge standing inside in a white coat, wearing black-framed glasses, and jotting down notes in a notebook. In front of him, a monkey in a cage was smoking a cigarette, eerily mimicking human behavior.
Even in the same white coat as the others, Yan Ge exuded an effortless elegance, like a natural clothes hanger.
Xiao Ke gently knocked on the door and pushed it open. “Professor Yan?” Though they looked about the same age, Xiao Ke treated Yan Ge with great respect.
Yan Ge turned around and, upon seeing Zhen Yi, paused for a second. “Why are you here?”