Love Is Not about Possessing but Giving Your Blessings 7
The doctor took one glance at the money on the table and then looked back at Lu Bancheng with hesitation on his face.
“I am aware of her rough situation, so telling me would not be considered a breach of privacy.” After a pause, Lu Bancheng continued. “So, is her present condition good or bad?”
The doctor lowered his head. Thirty seconds later, he raised it and, looking directly at Lu Bancheng, he said, “Ms. Xu’s situation is rather bad.”
“She’s been coming here once a week for the past few months. She’s been having nightmares almost every night. At their worst, she had suicidal thoughts. She’s been on medication for a while, and it was under control, but a few days ago she ran into someone who triggered her emotions and she has become unstable again.”The doctor spoke for a long time and, after he was done, he asked curiously, “May I inquire, what is your relationship with Ms. Xu?”
Lu Bancheng didn’t respond to the doctor’s question and stared out the window into the sky, which was now completely dark. After a while, he retracted his gaze and threw out a word of thanks to the doctor before he rose to leave.
When the doctor saw him stand up, he hurriedly followed suit and passed the money on the table back to Lu Bancheng. “Sir, I do not need this money. Please take it back…”
Lu Bancheng ignored the gesture and walked toward the door as if he hadn’t heard anything.
“Sir? Sir?” The doctor pushed away his chair.
Still unresponsive, Lu Bancheng reached out his hand and held onto the door handle. Before he pushed the door open, as if he suddenly remembered something, he turned and looked at the doctor, who was now less than a foot away from him. “Don’t tell her that I came,” he said, and then opened the door and left without waiting for the doctor’s response.
He exited the building and stood by the side of the road. The tepid summer breeze blew straight in his face, which worsened his feelings of suppression and heartache. All along, he had never really liked to smoke, but right now his mouth tasted extremely bitter and astringent. He stood without moving for a moment and then paced to a nearby store and impulsively bought a pack of cigarettes. After lighting one up, he inhaled furiously, to the point of accidentally choking himself. Doubled over, he began to cough violently.