No one knew what Huo Xiaozheng was thinking.
Not even Huo Guining, lying on the hospital bed.
Xie Lingluo had already informed Huo Xiaozheng that hypnotherapy would not be effective in a single session before the treatment began.
Throughout the treatment, neither Huo Xiaozheng nor Shen Shiyan left the hospital room.
They sat down on the sofa by the window, quietly watching them.
After Huo Guining entered a hypnotic state, things began to deviate from Xie Lingluo's planned course.
Huo Guining voluntarily greeted her.
If it weren't for her tightly closed eyes, Xie Lingluo would have suspected a paranormal event.
Xie Lingluo steadied her emotions, but before she could respond,
She heard Huo Guining ask herself, "Why are you so uneasy?"
Xie Lingluo realized that Huo Guining wasn't talking to her, but conversing with another personality.
She pretended to be the second personality and continued the conversation.
When they heard Huo Guining anxiously say that she couldn't save Huo Xiaozheng, all three people present were somewhat stunned.
Xie Lingluo was the first to regain her composure. She tried to inquire about the identity of the second personality but almost got exposed.
Xie Lingluo changed direction and continued to ask about Huo Xiaozheng.
When she heard her say she was afraid something would happen to her father, Huo Xiaozheng stiffened his spine.
His body tensed, his eyes fixed unblinkingly in Huo Guining's direction.
Xie Lingluo continued to ask for the reason.
But from Huo Guining's mouth, she heard the names Jiang Suyuan and Qin Zhiyi.
Shen Shiyan looked at Huo Xiaozheng with some confusion, not understanding why those two people would cause Guining such deep fear.
Seeing that Huo Xiaozheng seemed completely unaware of this, Xie Lingluo immediately asked for the reason.
However, Huo Guining's vigilance was too strong.
Or rather, the successive questions earlier had already made her suspicious.
This time, Huo Guining no longer answered. Instead, she expressed her doubts about the identity of the White-Clothed Girl.
Xie Lingluo made an excuse that her body wasn't well, so she couldn't remember some things clearly.
For a moment, Huo Guining felt guilty.
But the words "not feeling well" seemed to trigger some unpleasant associations.
Huo Guining broke out of the hypnotic state and immediately experienced cardiac arrhythmia.
Shen Shiyan called for medical staff to inject her with pre-prepared medication.
Huo Guining then fell into a deep sleep.
After the medical staff left the room, Huo Xiaozheng asked softly, "So, it's the pressure I've put on her that's caused her to be overwhelmed?"
His words were more of a statement than a question.
Fearing his friend would get stuck in a mental rut, Shen Shiyan immediately advised, "You can't think like that. Guining was just worried about you out of concern..."
Xie Lingluo also agreed, "Dr. Shen is right."
"The one who was talking to me just now should be Guining's second personality."
Huo Xiaozheng's tone was sharp: "What do you mean by second personality?"
Xie Lingluo sighed, "I discussed this with you before. Guining is very likely suffering from schizophrenia. You heard it during this hypnosis session."
"Guining's conversation partner was clearly not me."
Xie Lingluo's words exploded like a muffled thunder in Huo Xiaozheng's mind.
Huo Xiaozheng had no room for rebuttal because the facts were as they were.
Seeing his expression, a trace of sympathy flashed across Shen Shiyan's face.
Xie Lingluo said tactfully, "Mr. Huo, if you're not feeling well right now, we can discuss this later."
Huo Xiaozheng said softly, "No, I'm fine. Please continue."
Xie Lingluo glanced at Shen Shiyan and continued, "Mr. Huo, you shouldn't be too pessimistic. This is actually a good thing for Guining."
"At least we don't have to blindly try to comfort her with ineffective words of consolation anymore."
Huo Xiaozheng looked back at his daughter on the hospital bed.
Her face, usually full of smiles and laughter, was now as still as if she had no breath.
"What's the current treatment plan?" Huo Xiaozheng asked.
Xie Lingluo said with difficulty, "At present, although Guining is in a continuous state of sleep, her vital signs are relatively stable."
"My suggestion is to continue with hypnotherapy."
"Perhaps we can find a key breakthrough point from the conversations."
Huo Xiaozheng said woodenly, "How long will it take for Guining to wake up if we do this?"
The room fell into silence.
No one dared to guarantee when Guining would wake up.
Neither Shen Shiyan nor Xie Lingluo could.
Huo Xiaozheng continued on his own, "I understand."
Shen Shiyan wanted to say something, but was held back by Xie Lingluo.
She shook her head at him, and then led him out of the hospital room.
Xie Lingluo walked into Shen Shiyan's office and said something surprising, "Senior, I feel there's something odd about Guining's situation."
Shen Shiyan was also taken aback, "What's odd about it?"
Xie Lingluo pondered for a moment before speaking, "Don't you think Guining's worries seem a bit unfounded?"
Shen Shiyan: ?
"Although Guining's abuse wasn't directly carried out by Jiang Suyuan and Qin Zhiyi, they can't be completely absolved of responsibility."
"In that sense, Guining's worries aren't unfounded at all."
Something flashed through Xie Lingluo's mind.
"Isn't Guining's worry about her father getting into trouble mainly because she's afraid of being abandoned?" Shen Shiyan's words made Xie Lingluo lose grasp of that fleeting doubt. She hesitated, "I just feel like I'm overlooking something."
"Knock knock."
The office door was suddenly knocked.
Shen Shiyan: "Come in."
The door opened, revealing Huo Jing.
Seeing Xie Lingluo present, Huo Jing asked, "Is it okay if I come in?"
Shen Shiyan nodded.
Huo Jing walked in, followed by Huo Yueze.
"How is Guining's condition? I just went to the ward and saw my brother holding Guining's hand without saying a word. It was a bit scary."
The Huo family only knew about Guining's chest pain problem, but they didn't know much about her mental illness.
At this point, there was nothing to hide.
Considering Huo Xiaozheng's emotional state, not only could they not keep it from the Huo family, but they actually needed their help.
Shen Shiyan told Huo Jing everything from beginning to end.
Huo Jing collapsed into a chair, murmuring, "How could this happen..."
Huo Yueze's eyes widened in disbelief: "Uncle Shen, you're joking, right? Guining was always so lively..."
Huo Yueze couldn't continue.
The incident of Guining fainting in their guest room was still fresh in his mind.
In fact, he knew that Guining wasn't lively at all.
She preferred to be alone, drawing those pictures he dared not look at.
But fearing others' worry, she would always cheerfully agree to whatever the adults suggested.
To avoid troubling others, she always chose to compromise herself.
But when her family was hurt, she always put on a brave face, wanting to be the protector.
Huo Yueze felt a lump in his throat and asked hoarsely, "What needs to be done for Guining to wake up?"
It seemed he had broken his promise. He hadn't protected his sister after all.
