Return of the Antagonistic Lady Boss

Chapter 986: Chapter 959: What Does Love Mean to You?

”I’ll give a simple example. You’re walking down the street, and you see a beautifully adorned cake in the shop window. You love it, but you can’t buy it because you don’t have the money. Every time you pass by, you look at it again and again, finding every decoration on it so captivating. One day, when you finally have the money, you rush in excitedly and buy the cake you’ve been longing for, only to find it’s not as good as you thought, even a bit sickly sweet. Why were you so obsessed with the cake during that phase? Because what you were obsessed with wasn’t the cake itself, but what it symbolized. The symbolic meaning of the cake attracted you, like a stable life, solid material comfort. When it comes to people, it’s the same. Some even enjoy the feeling of being infatuated, pretending they are the most sentimental person in the world, while the person they ’adore’ isn’t that important, just a symbol. That’s the mindset of 95% of people who have a crush, but it can’t exclude the 5% who, after getting what they desire, genuinely like it.”

Chen Xiaoqian used the simplest example to metaphorically explain a secret crush. If she were to analyze it from a psychological standpoint, she could talk for two hours, using all sorts of professional terms and analyses. But when it comes to Hai Zhao, theories are of little use, so a direct metaphor is better.

”But now that cake hides from me when it sees me; how can I know if it’s right for me if I don’t try it?”

Hai Zhao is now full of bitterness; just a moment ago, he lost his entire world.

”Chen Xiaoqian, have you ever felt the taste of a secret crush? I gave my best youth to her; all these years, my thoughts have been on her. Yet she doesn’t give me any chance. I’d rather she directly refused me than use such a cruel way, so...”

”If you really can’t let it go, then considering I’ve eaten so many of your delicious things, I’ll help you discern your feelings for her,”

”Tell me!” Hai Zhao said defiantly. He couldn’t accept Xiaoqian’s claim that what he felt for Xiaoxi wasn’t true love.

”First, clear your mind and discard all your emotions. Don’t think of pain; don’t think of her. Think of nothing at all and follow my rhythm. Answer my questions based only on instinct.”

Xiaoqian spent a few minutes pulling Hai Zhao out of his heavy emotions. Once his focus was no longer fixated on a particular point, she began the real conversation.

”What is the most touching scene in your memory of Yu Mingxi? Answer based on instinct—no thinking; 3, 2, 1, go!”

”I like her standing on stage, passionately singing. You know, her voice is incredibly beautiful and really takes the ethereal sounds to the extreme.”

Hai Zhao responded purely based on instinct.

”When did that happen?”

”It was her first time on stage; she sang a song.”

”... Xiaoxi was a child star; she enlisted at thirteen or fourteen, right?”

So, not only does this guy have a crush, but he liked her so young?

”I didn’t make a move in her youth!” Hai Zhao defended himself, and Xiaoqian shrugged.

”I admit, you still haven’t had the courage to confess to her.”

”Does it hurt you not to rub salt into people’s wounds?” Hai Zhao was again embarrassed and angry.

”Alright, I get it. After you go back, fill your bedside with pictures of female theater actresses. Do it for two days and watch them every day, especially before bed, to see if your feelings for Mingxi fade. If they don’t fade, change to pictures of celebrities—stick posters of various types of stars all around. If you can get some cooling photos of actresses from romance films in Japan, that’s okay too.”

Hai Zhao was shocked by Xiaoqian’s bizarre method.

”Chen Xiaoqian, are you messing with me?”

What kind of nonsense is this?

”I’m seriously helping you differentiate. If, after a month of pasting various photos, you still feel you insist on liking Yu Mingxi, then I’ll use Morioka Therapy. The principle of Morioka Therapy is to go with the flow and do what needs to be done. If after my treatment, you still persist, it’ll rule out you only like her for the feeling—it truly proves your love for Yu Mingxi. On that day, I’ll give you the next suggestion.”

”Chen Xiaoqian, can you really help me?” Hai Zhao found Xiaoqian’s method quite bizarre, but he currently had no one else to turn to, so he could only look at Xiaoqian helplessly.

”A great person once said, ’Trust Qian, and you shall live forever.’ If you want to live comfortably for the rest of your life, follow my instructions. I can ensure, regardless of whether the second half of your life includes Yu Mingxi, you can live happily and not be reduced to impotence at some point.”

”What did you say?”

Hai Zhao didn’t hear the last sentence clearly—was it auditory hallucination?

Xiaoqian blinked, ”You heard wrong.”

”Oh, which great person would say such a thing?”

”Yu Minglang.”

”...” Alright, you win!

After parting ways with Hai Zhao, the leader’s driver came to look for Xiaoqian. She was to take the leader’s car back to Lishi. Xiaoqian looked at the time and, with some space, gave Yu Mingxi a call.

”He cried.” Xiaoqian confirmed that when Xiaoxi hurt Hai Zhao, he genuinely cried.

He simply turned around quickly, leaving the tears to himself.

”Oh, did you hand him a tissue?”

Yu Mingxi’s voice was very calm, giving away no emotion. She was too good at hiding her feelings.

”I didn’t hand over a tissue, but I did introduce some great young women to him. After all, Hai Zhao is a boss with a decent worth. The green diamond you don’t fancy has a bunch of young girls eager to chase after it.”

Three seconds of silence on the other end of the line—a reaction out of the ordinary—made Xiaoqian certain of one thing.

Yu Mingxi isn’t as indifferent to Hai Zhao as she seems.

But whether this concern is for a friend or someone she likes, Xiaoqian couldn’t say.

”Go ahead with the introductions; we’re all free individuals. Let him do what he wants. Alright, I’ll hang up.”

”Hold on. Xiaoxi, I have something I’ve been wanting to ask you.”

”If you’re trying to speak on behalf of Hai Zhao, then forget it. Matters of the heart can’t be forced. I’m sorry he likes a woman with a heart of stone, but things I don’t like can’t be forced by anyone. If he continues like this, it will also disturb my normal life.”

”I’m not here to speak for Hai Zhao—I’m only asking you one thing. Years ago, when you had insomnia and frequently had dreams, it was my treatment that healed you, do you remember?”

”Yes.”

”Do you remember the snake you held in your dreams?”

”Of course. After meeting you, I gradually stopped having that dream.”

”Snakes have many interpretations when they appear in women’s dreams. Back then, I was puzzled as to why you would bind your feelings like that, but now I finally understand.”

The first time Xiaoqian met Yu Mingxi, she helped her solve her insomnia issues. Xiaoqian was curious about the dream Yu Mingxi had, which suggested she was restraining her own emotions, using her strong self-control to master her feelings.

Today, Xiaoqian finally unraveled this mystery.

”You understand what? How can you know things I don’t even know myself?”

”I know. Yu Mingxi, please allow me to formally ask you, as a psychologist to my long-term insomniac patient. Mingxi, who is the man living in your heart?”