Gu Nianzhi grew silent. She knew exactly what it felt like, so she decided not to make any comments about the situation for now.
Song Jinning peered curiously at the Gu Nianzhi and Huo Shaoheng’s exchange, but she recognized the familiar name, “Bai Jinyi,” through the fog of confusion and blurted out, “Jinyi is my classmate; she’s bright and capable. She also can work very hard!”
Gu Nianzhi looked at Huo Shaoheng and raised her brow while mouthing, “Really?”
Huo Shaoheng was quiet as he sat on the sofa and gave an noncommittal look. Gu Nianzhi knew he always made this expression when he didn’t want to admit to something he also couldn’t deny.
“Got it.” The corners of Gu Nianzhi’s red lips raised as she smirked and sent a knowing look at him.
Huo Shaoheng could only avert his gaze and look in the direction of the front door. Suddenly, three people walked in from the entrance—Huo Guanchen, Huo Jialan, and a tall, slim woman with honey-colored skin. The woman appeared to be quite older, with deep crow’s feet at the corner of her eyes, but her features were elegant and slightly resembled the glamorous and charming Bai Yueran. Of course, this woman was much older than her.
Gu Nianzhi immediately knew that this person was none other than the renowned physicist, Bai Jinyi. Born into the Bai family, she had used her own education and ability to create her career, instead of leeching off the family fortune. From this perspective, Gu Nianzhi admired her. However Gu Nianzhi thought it was peculiar how Huo Shaoheng said she was in charge of treating Song Jinning’s illness. To begin with, Song Jinning’s condition required the constant care of a professional psychologist. And as a female scientist and a known workaholic, how had Bai Jinyi found the time to take care of Song Jinning? Gu Nianzhi remembered when she was first rescued from the car accident, Chen Lie had basically surveilled her 24 hours a day under the supervision of Huo Shaoheng. This situation lasted for three months, until Gu Nianzhi eventually recovered from an uncontrollable state of fear. Afterwards, Chen Lie began watching her 12 hours a day for a year and she gradually made a full recovery.
Gu Nianzhi was curious to know how Bai Jinyi allocated her time. Huo Shaoheng slowly rose when the three people walked inside. Gu Nianzhi followed suit and Song Jinning stood timidly beside her. Bai Jinyi rested her gaze on Song Jinning as soon as she came in.
“Jinning, do you still remember me? I’m Jinyi.” She quickly stepped forward to stand beside Song Jinning, smiling as she gave an introduction.
Song Jinning remembered the name and face of “Jinning.” However, she was doubtful when she saw the woman in front of her. “Are you Jinyi? Why did you get so much older? Look at the crows feet on your face, and eye bags, spots, oh my! You even have wrinkles around your mouth? This can’t be right?! Are you really Jinyi?!”
Bai Jinyi looked like she had been slapped in the face. Gu Nianzhi couldn’t hold in a snort of amusement and quickly turned around as she faced the sofa, shaking with silent laughter. Bai Jinyi finally shifted her gaze onto Gu Nianzhi and asked “This is…?”
Huo Shaoheng replied, “Gu Nianzhi.”
“This is Gu Nianzhi?!” Bai Jinyi’s expression was animated despite her age; she had a youthful energy. “Why does she look like that? Are you sure?” When Gu Nianzhi was rescued from the car accident at the age of 12, Bai Jinyi had been one of the witnesses at the scene. She had seen the little girl Huo Shaoheng had carried out of the burning car. Bai Jinyi exclaimed, “That fat little girl had had narrow eyes and round lips—I would have never thought that there would be such a dramatic change. It’s as though she’s an entirely different person!”
“She’s always been with me, from the ages of 12 to 18.” Huo Shaoheng shoved his hands into his trouser pockets. “What is Director Bai implying?”
Gu Nianzhi was angered by her words and couldn’t help making a comment, “Huo Shao, I think Physicist Bai is having doubts about the abilities of the Special Operations Forces. She thinks that someone can be swapped right under the watch of Huo Shao.”
Bai Jinyi gave her a flabbergasted look and shook her head disapprovingly as she spoke to Huo Shaoheng. “Mr. Huo, haven’t you educated her properly? What is the meaning of her back talking to her elders in public?”
Huo Shaoheng was quiet and only tilted his head at Gu Nianzhi. Gu Nianzhi accepted his encouraging look and stood up a little straighter. Her talent was making something out of nothing in any situation and so laid no attention to how others perceived of or judged her; she only feared Huo Shaoheng and how he might chastise her. Now that she had his support, she would certainly show no mercy to Bai Jinyi. She walked up closer and scrutinized Bai Jinyi from head to toe, “May I ask what your name is?”
“Last name Bai, what’s it to you? Didn’t you just call me Physicist Bai? How did you forget all of a sudden?” Bai Jinyi was getting impatient; she’d hurried to the Huo manor to treat Song Jingling. She wasn’t here to bicker with a snotty little girl.
Gu Nianzhi had no intention of letting her off so easy and clapped her hands with a smile. “So you know you’re a Bai too? Then, how are you my elder?”
“How am I not your elder?” Bai Jinyi despised delicate, beautiful girls that looked like they had walked right out of a fairy tale. She believed that those in possession of extreme beauty were corrupted by it, and were therefore disrespectful and immature; thus she had no patience for Gu Nianzhi.
“If you’re not a Gu or Huo, then may I ask how you’d be considered my elder? Don’t use your age against me. Who gave you the right?” Gu Nianzhi didn’t hesitate to relentlessly counter Bai Jinyi.
“You—!” Bai Jinyi backed up a step, deeply hurt by Gu Nianzhi’s words. She looked at Huo Guanchen and grew quiet.
Huo Jialan had been crossing her arms and watching with great interest. She finally gave a quiet laugh and made an escape route for Bai Jinyi, “Aunt Bai, don’t be angry. Little Gu has been here for a few days and didn’t know your status in our family. Ignorance can be forgiven.” She gave Huo Shaoheng a sidelong glance.
Huo Shaoheng cast his eyes down and didn’t bother explaining himself or telling Gu Nianzhi to stop.
Emboldened, Gu Nianzhi spared no politeness for Huo Jialan. “Aunt Jialan, may I ask if Physicist Bai is a relative of the Huo family?
“Oh, she’s not yet…” Huo Jialan glanced at Huo Guanchen.
Huo Guanchen frowned. “That’s enough, no more nonsense. Jinyi, didn’t you say you have to check on Jinning’s condition?”
“Yes, this Gu Nianzhi was stirring the pot and I got so angry I almost forgot.” Bai Jinyi laughed heartily as she reached out to Song Jinning. “Let’s go, Jinning. Come upstairs with me and I’ll give you an assessment.”
Song Jinning looked at her with hesitation and didn’t give her hand. She mumbled, “Why did Jinyi end up looking like this? Are you really Jinyi?”
Gu Nianzhi giggled as she took Song Jinning’s arm, “Mrs. Song, I’ll come with you. Don’t be scared.” She wanted to find out how Bai Jinyi was treating Song Jinning.
However, Bai Jinyi frowned and stopped her. “Gu Nianzhi, Mrs. Song isn’t used to close contact with others, so please let go of her. When she gets into an episode you’ll be in trouble. Also, I’ve never needed outsiders present when I’m diagnosing her.”
“Really?” Gu Nianzhi intoned. “Physicist Bai, I know you’re a renowned woman of science, but I didn’t know you moonlighted as a psychologist too? May I ask if you have the professional credentials?”
“Little Gu, Aunt Bai received a doctoral degree in psychology at an esteemed school! She’s more than qualified to act as a psychologist.” Huo Jialan interjected in Bai Jinyi’s defense as she urged her, “Aunt Bai, don’t waste anymore time. Go now.”
“Not so fast.” Gu Nianzhi refused to let them leave and rudely told Huo Jialan, “Aunt Jialan, it’s obvious you don’t know the law. What did you major in while at university? Did you take fundamental law courses? That’s a requirement for many schools.”
The corners of Huo Jialan’s mouth twitched as she attempted to maintain her composure, “I studied at Yale. I’ve never heard of any fundamental law courses.”
“Oh, no wonder you don’t know the law.” Gu Nianzhi didn’t seem to think much of the name, “Yale,” much to Huo Jialan’s embarrassment.
She smiled. “I graduated from Yale, but you’re saying I don’t know the law?”
Gu Nianzhi wanted to roll on the floor laughing. So Huo Jialan wanted to pick a fight with her?
She was going to get destroyed.
“You graduating from Yale has nothing to do with whether or not you know the law.” Gu Nianzhi shook her delicate finger. “That’s what someone who doesn’t understand the law would point out. But, you’re saying that you understand it just by graduating from Yale? May I ask if you graduated from the Yale Law School?”
Huo Jialan certainly hadn’t graduated from Law School. In reality, she had majored in art appreciation through adult education online courses. She had given up the chance to study abroad in order to take care of Song Jinning and had only been able to take online courses from Ivy League schools.
Gu Nianzhi saw her reluctance to speak and knew she hadn’t graduated from Law School. Otherwise, she’d already be up in arms to refute her. “Fine, stop arguing with me.” Gu Nianzhi patted Huo Jialan’s shoulder graciously and turned to Bai Jinyi. “Physicist Bai, I request to be present if you are giving Mrs. Song a psychological assessment.”
“That’s no good! Jinning isn’t used to strangers being there; she’ll get scared and panic.” Bai Jinyi frowned, making her wrinkles even more apparent. “All this time, I’ve been treating her alone.”
“Really? May I ask at what frequency you’ve treated Mrs. Song? Do you have medical records?” Gu Nianzhi was very familiar with psychologists because she had studied the classes and had also carefully checked the legislation in this area since she was in the Faculty of Law.
Bai Jinyi suppressed her annoyance and explained to Gu Nianzhi, “Of course there are medical records. As for the treatment frequency, you know that I’m very busy with national key interest research projects, as well as working closely with the military. So, I can only give Jinning limited time. But as long as I’m free, I care about her more and will treat her even before I eat and drink myself.”
“Indeed, Aunt Bai is very responsible. Otherwise Mrs. Song’s condition wouldn’t be improving day by day.” Huo Jialan composed herself and decided to avoid any more unnecessary conflict with Gu Nianzhi by only helping with Bai Jinyi’s case.
Bai Jinyi nodded. “Jialan is too kind, I’m just doing what I’m supposed to. Jinning’s father was my mentor and she’s also my classmate. It’s only right that I help her.”
Gu Nianzhi contemplated the two women’s little charade and spoke, “Physicist Bai, it looks like you’re legally incompetent too. I’ll have to humbly explain here: According to law, Mrs. Song is considered a person without capacity to act on her own. So there must always be a family member or an independent third party present during any psychological treatment.” She paused and shook her head, a pained expression her face. “But you’ve treated her alone and behind closed doors all these years; didn’t you know that this is illegal?!”
Bai Jinyi suddenly had a headache and replied dryly, “The matter was urgent and Jinning’s condition also involves confidentiality agreements, so it was possible to proceed without the presence of a third party.”
Gu Nianzhi wagged her finger at her. “I’m not certain if that’s possible; I’ll have to go back and check the legal provisions.” She then asked, “Physicist Bai, may I ask if you have the qualifications as a professional psychologist?”
“Aunt Bai is a doctor of psychology, it’s not like she can’t be a mere psychologist?” Huo Jialan refused to stand by Gu Nianzhi’s accusation.
Gu Nianzhi didn’t even look towards Huo Jialan’s direction as she replied dryly, “Aunt Jialan, you will be taught a harsh lesson if you go around being so legally incompetent. If you don’t want to experience being sued, I would suggest that you stop exaggerating things.”
Even Huo Jianlan’s normally patient demeanor was beginning to waver under Gu Nianzhi’s tirade—her face turned red as she breathed out of her nose, her mouth twisted into a vicious scowl.
“So, Physicist Bai, you don’t have the qualifications as a professional psychologist, do you?” Gu Nianzhi shook her head in pity and looked at Huo Guanchen. “What a shame; Aunt Song’s treatment has been delayed for 16 years. If you had found a real psychologist to look at her, with a guaranteed treatment time and schedule, maybe she would’ve recovered long ago.”
Huo Guanchen was moved for a second, but then saw the humiliation on Bai Jinyi’s face. She had always been resilient and optimistic, but looked so desolate now. He couldn’t stand it and explained to Gu Nianzhi, “We had no choice. Back then, Jinning only recognized Jinyi and didn’t allow anyone else to approach her. Even now, she only trusts Jinyi.”
“Oh? Really?” Gu Ninazhi smiled, “Uncle Huo, didn’t you notice that Aunt Song’s condition has improved a lot?”
“Improved?”
“Yes. Look, Aunt Song only used to allow Physicist Bai alone to approach her, so there was no way around it. We could only ask that Physicist Bai find time in her busy schedule to act as a psychologist and treat her haphazardly. Aunt Song’s condition hasn’t worsened, so that proves Physicist Bai indeed has some ability. Because of that, I’m not going lay blame.” Gu Nianzhi walked to Song Jinning’s side and linked arms with her. Song Jinning turned to her with a smile. Gu Nianzhi looked up at Huo Guanchen. “But, Uncle Huo, you see, the situation has changed. Actually for a long time now, Aunt Song has allowed others to approach her. Didn’t you notice? All those servants personally attending to her and interacting with her is a clear sign of this. Of course, I and Huo Shaoheng can also approach Song Jinning now. In fact, didn’t Huo Guanchen walk up to her just today to give her a branch of plum blossoms? Although these changes are very small, it is huge progress for Song Jinning, who has stayed the same for 16 years.”
Bai Jinyi finally spoke, “Yes, I came as soon as I heard Jinning had changes to her condition.” She apologized sincerely to Huo Guanchen in an intimate tone, “Guanchen, it’s my fault. I’ve been too busy these years and didn’t take more time to treat Jinning. This time that I’m back, I plan to stay a few months to live with Jinning and finish the treatment.”
In the beginning, Gu Nianzhi had had no personal prejudice against Bai Jinyi and only spoke from an objective and practical perspective. She had a sudden realization when she heard Bai Jinyi apologize to Huo Guanchen and affectionately call him, “Guanchen.”
Oh my god! This famous physicist was the woman who took care of Huo Guanchen’s personal needs?!
This meant that she was the girlfriend of Huo Shaoheng’s father? Gu Nianzhi’s eyes widened as she looked at Bai Jinyi, then Huo Shaoheng. She tugged at the corner of his shirt and looked in Bai Jinyi’s direction.
Huo Shaoheng looked down and locked eyes with Gu Nianzhi. He blinked twice to indicate that it was exactly as she thought.