CH 12

Song Ning couldn’t remember exactly when he fell asleep but when he woke up the next day, Liang Rong was still lying beside him, sleeping soundly with his eyes closed.

The thin blanket on him was pushed down to the waist, revealing a strong-looking chest and a high bulge that was covered up like a small mountain towering there.

Song Ning’s face instantly burned red. Of course he knew what that was, but he had never seen such a big one before.

He didn’t dare to take a second look so he hurried out of bed and slipped to the bathroom to wash up.

When he came back, Liang Rong was already up and was talking outside with Song Ning’s dad.

Song Ning’s dad asked, “Did you sleep well last night?”

Liang Rong happily answered, “Really well.”

Song Ning’s dad smiled and his eyes turned into crescents. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes showed themselves. “Then, stay a few more days. This child of ours, Ah Ning, hasn’t been home much after graduating from high school. He brought a friend along this time too. His mother and I are really happy.”

Liang Rong showed a sheepish smile, looking like he was about to agree to it. Song Ning rushed out to stop him, “Dad, tomorrow is Monday. I have to go back to work. There are patients waiting for me.”

Liang Rong didn’t get it and interjected, “Don’t you only have me as your patient?”

Song Ning: “Shut up!”

26.

On the same day, Song Ning took Liang Rong home after they had lunch. When they were about to leave, Liang Rong looked a little reluctant to go. He stood by the door and called out to Song Ning’s mother. “Auntie, have a good rest. I’ll visit you again next time.”

That made Song Ning’s mother extremely happy.

On the way home, Liang Rong asked Song Ning, “Your relationship with your parents don’t seem that great?”

Song Ning: “No,”

“Then why won’t you go home more often? Your home’s so close-by too.” Liang Rong thought about it and asked, “Is it because you had a conflict with them due to the fact that you like men?”

Song Ning froze. He did not expect this silly child to be this sharp.

“It’s all in the past. They understand me quite well now.”

Liang Rong nodded and whispered, “That’s great then.” And he went silent.

After that, Liang Rong did not speak again throughout the journey home. Song Ning stole some glances at him but only saw him with earphones in his ears, looking out of the car window with a blank look. Who knows what he was thinking.

27.

Several days after returning home, Liang Rong’s mental state didn’t seem to be stable. Song Ning saw him sitting on the carpet, hugging a pillow in a daze.

From a psychiatrist’s point of view, Song Ning thought this was a good sign, more specifically a sign of self-doubt within the split personality. It indicated that this period of treatment showed success.

But from a friend’s point of view, Song Ning couldn’t quite bear watching him like this.

He walked over and sat down beside him, asking softly, “Anything on your mind?”

Liang Rong glanced at him, his mouth opened and closed before he shook his head.

Song Ning tried to probe further, “If something’s going on, don’t hold it in. You might feel better if you say it out.”

Liang Rong: “It’s an adolescent’s problem. You won’t understand even if I told you.”

Song Ning: “……”

28.

As someone who was almost 30, it’d be good enough if he was still functional, let alone in the adolescent phase. Song Ning secretly dissed him in his heart.

But in order to get Liang Rong to cooperate with the next step of treatment, he still had to think of a way to deepen this self-doubt on his own and slowly realize the existence of the master personality.

Song Ning wanted to do hypnosis on Liang Rong once as that was the area he was really familiar with. It could lead the patient to completely expose their subconscious in front of him.

But Liang Rong was obviously not up for it. He asked, “Why should I be hypnotized?”

Song Ning smiled and said, “Because I want to further understand you.”

Liang Rong was slightly stunned. No one knew what came to his mind, but he blushed and then agreed to it.

29.

There were no defenses put up at all in Liang Rong’s subconscious towards Song Ning as he entered a hypnotic state.

Song Ning held a pen in his hands while asking questions and making notes, “How old are you?”

Liang Rong answered obediently with his eyes closed, “16.”

“Have you ever thought about what you’ll be doing when you grow up?”

“No.”

Song Ning continued to guide him, “I noticed that you often watch old movies. Do you want to become a movie actor?”

Liang Rong didn’t have much of a special reaction. He just replied with, “I can consider it.”

This answer was out of Song Ning’s expectations. He remembered reading an interview with Liang Rong in a magazine before, saying he had been aspiring to be a movie actor ever since he was a child and that he had put a lot of effort into it. But now it seemed like that was just an official answer.

Song Ning had a change of plans, “Then, is there anything that you like?”

Liang Rong said without thinking, “Basketball, games, music and…”

He suddenly stopped in the middle of his sentence.

Song Ning asked curiously, “What else?”

“And you.”