A White Cloud (GL ABO) - Chapter 28

Xu Yiyi first received psychological counseling from the police.

After Tomb Cheng took her back, she received long-term and continuous psychological treatment at Huajing Medical University.

Shen Zhiqing was always her primary doctor.

Over two years, from Tomb Cheng’s perspective as a family member, Xu Yiyi’s condition improved significantly compared to the beginning.

However, in the doctor’s eyes, Xu Yiyi’s treatment made no real progress.

Shen Zhiqing, as her primary doctor, understood her mental state well.

She lifted her head from Tomb Cheng’s arms and said seriously, “Before we discuss this, do you want to tell me about her background?”

“Background?”

Shen Zhiqing nodded.

She hugged her, resting her chin on her flat chest, “Hmm.”

Her voice was soft, listening to Tomb Cheng’s heartbeat, “About where she came from, her…”

Shen Zhiqing’s voice paused here, “Her mother or something.”

Tomb Cheng didn’t seem to notice.

She asked with a puzzled, hesitant tone, “Does this relate to her condition?”

“Finding and understanding the cause is what every doctor does when treating a patient,” Shen Zhiqing said, placing herself in a professional stance, trying not to mix in personal emotions.

“I remember she first came with Dean Luo. Were you in the military then?”

Though she had some guesses, Shen Zhiqing stubbornly wanted to ask her.

Tomb Cheng nodded in response, “Hmm, I didn’t have much time. I completed the procedures and went back.”

“Before you returned, was her mother taking care of her?”

Tomb Cheng thought for a moment, “Hmm, probably.”

So, she didn’t know much about Xu Yiyi.

Back then, she returned for three days.

When she found Xu Yiyi, the child was curled up in a corner, scared.

Her hair was uneven and messy, like it had been chewed by a dog.

The police, knowing Tomb Cheng was an active soldier, didn’t make things difficult during the procedures.

They only instructed her to take the child for a psychological evaluation.

Tomb Cheng’s time was limited.

She took Xu Yiyi to an orphanage, stayed with her for two days, and was called back to the military.

“You don’t know who her mother was?”

Tomb Cheng shook her head, “…I know.”

Shen Zhiqing gripped the clothes in her hand tightly, “Where is she?”

“She died.”

Shen Zhiqing bit her lip, unwilling to ask further.

She always lacked the courage to face how Tomb Cheng had this daughter.

But now, she confirmed one thing: the woman who gave birth to Xu Yiyi was no longer a threat to her.

But did a deceased person truly hold no place in the hearts of the living?

“Do you still like her?”

Shen Zhiqing pressed her lips together, suppressing the ripples in her heart, and asked.

She didn’t dare look into Tomb Cheng’s eyes, fearing she’d see longing for the deceased or any other emotion.

Tomb Cheng looked down at her, paused, and didn’t answer directly, “This question probably doesn’t help her condition.”

Shen Zhiqing murmured a soft “hmm” against her chest.

The doctor knew her thoughts were exposed.

She forcibly steered the conversation back, trying to place herself in a less awkward position.

“Why was she at the Public Security Bureau?”

In Shen Zhiqing’s memory, Huajing’s social security was strict these years.

A typical missing child case wouldn’t escalate to the Public Security Bureau unless it involved a criminal case or pheromone chaos.

As if confirming her thoughts, Tomb Cheng’s reason surprised her, “Her mother had a pheromone disorder and committed suicide at home.”

Hearing this, Shen Zhiqing’s heart sank.

Xu Zhu prepared everything before her suicide, including Xu Yiyi’s arrangements.

Shortly after her death, someone broke in and took Xu Yiyi away.

With childhood autism and the trauma, Xu Yiyi’s state was worse then.

Before Tomb Cheng arrived, she only squatted in a corner, hugging her knees, murmuring Tomb Cheng’s name.

After Tomb Cheng shared what she knew, she noticed Shen Zhiqing hadn’t spoken for a while.

She looked down and saw Shen Zhiqing’s face pale, her lips trembling, and cold sweat forming on her back.

She quickly pulled Shen Zhiqing into her arms, frowning with concern, “What’s wrong?”

The warm embrace and familiar body heat soothed Shen Zhiqing’s anxious heart.

Tomb Cheng thought her story scared her and comforted her gently, “It’s all in the past. With you helping Yiyi now, she’ll be fine.”

She held Shen Zhiqing’s cheeks, her voice gentle like a warm breeze, “I trust you, okay?”

The slight upward lilt in Alpha’s last word carried comfort.

Shen Zhiqing recalled how this person used to speak with sincere devotion in every sentence.

But she hadn’t cherished it well.

Shen Zhiqing emerged from her nightmare.

Tomb Cheng’s steady heartbeat, thumping strongly, filled her ears, bringing deep comfort.

Seeing her face regain color, Tomb Cheng loosened her hold slightly.

She tucked the blanket around her, staying by her side silently.

Calmer now, Shen Zhiqing reached up to hug Tomb Cheng’s neck.

She promised, “As a doctor, I’ll do my best to help her, striving to let her accept herself and the world’s love and hate.”

She spoke earnestly. Tomb Cheng couldn’t quite discern her personal motives.

Shen Zhiqing felt relieved.

She was glad she took on Xu Yiyi’s case and that Xu Yiyi was Tomb Cheng’s daughter.

Though she occasionally felt jealous, learning Xu Yiyi’s background mixed her jealousy with a different emotion—pity for Xu Yiyi and for herself.

“When she was first admitted, we conducted a comprehensive physical exam. Through her brain CT, MRI, and various neurological tests, we concluded she has hereditary autism,” Shen Zhiqing said clearly, nestled against Tomb Cheng’s chest.

“Since we don’t know what her life was like before, treatment has stayed at the observation and guidance stage.”

Tomb Cheng nodded repeatedly, “I heard from the dean that the hospital doesn’t recommend medication.”

Shen Zhiqing explained seriously, “It’s not my bias against medication, but her condition isn’t suitable for it.”

“What condition?” Tomb Cheng asked.

For Xu Yiyi’s treatment, Tomb Cheng always followed the hospital’s decisions relayed by the dean.

This was her first time hearing the doctor explain directly.

She listened carefully to every word Shen Zhiqing said.

Shen Zhiqing pursed her lips, exhaled lightly to seem relaxed, and continued, “For some reason, she trusts you deeply.

In all her social relationships, your presence ranks above everything, even more important than her biological mother.”

“And,” Shen Zhiqing took a breath. Tomb Cheng watched her attentively, waiting for more.

“Her brain only responds to things about you.

Her hippocampus is much smaller than a typical child’s.

The temporal lobe sends limited information to the hippocampus.

But when she hears your name, the hippocampus quickly sends all related information back to the temporal lobe, triggering shallow memories stored there.”

Tomb Cheng understood only partially.

Shen Zhiqing simplified it, “In short, her brain rejects everything except things related to you.”