This was something Xie Lingluo hadn''t anticipated.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Maturity is closely rted to a person''s experiences. The more one experiences, the moreprehensive their perspective bes, and the more adept they be at handling situations. It''s at times like these that people praise you for being mature.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Five-year-old Huo Guining had endured more than her peers. Xie Lingluo could understand that in certain aspects, she was more sensitive and mature than others her age, naturally thinking more deeply about things.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    When Xie Lingluo first began working with her, the treatment goal was to help her be a child appropriate for her age, enjoying the happiness of childhood. Now, it seemed there was still a long way to go to reach that goal.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    But the immediate concern wasn''t toment this fact.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    After a brief moment of reflection, Xie Lingluo didn''t rush to dismiss Huo Guining''s feelings. Instead, she asked, "What''s your standard for being useful?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Huo Guining looked puzzled. "Standard?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Xie Lingluo rephrased her question: "In your opinion, what would make someone useful in a kidnapping situation?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Huo Guining replied dejectedly, "Like my brother - brave, bold, and strong. That''s very useful."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Huo Xiaozheng had already briefed Xie Lingluo on what had happened, so she knew who Huo Guining meant by "brother."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "Did you know that your brother actually had a chance to borrow a phone and call for help directly?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Huo Guining was clearly unaware of this. She shook her head in shock. "If my brother had made that call, would he not have been hurt so badly?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Xie Lingluo smiled gently. "That''s possible."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    After a pause, she asked, "Given your brother made this mistake, do you think he''s useless?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Huo Guining immediately denied this.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "No, my brother was already very brave! He must have been too anxious, so..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Her voice trailed off under Xie Lingluo''s gentle gaze.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "You''re very clever," Xie Lingluo praised sincerely. "I believe you''ve realized it now? You easily understood your brother and forgave his mistake."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "So what about yourself, Ning?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Huo Guining''s heart skipped a beat.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    This was a question she had never considered before.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "Ning, you did great too. If something that big happened to me, I''d probably be crying my eyes out, not knowing what to do."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "But you were brave enough to tear off the tape, and after your brother fell, you protected him, didn''t you?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Huo Guining''s eyes began to water. This urge to cry wasn''t just because of Xie Lingluo''s words, but also because of her past life.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    At 15, she had been diagnosed with cancer.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Before that, she had been trained as a dance prodigy, with her parents hoping she would enter a dance academy in the future.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Her mother had always been in poor health, and her father was often away on business trips.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Her childhood, even her early teens,cked warmth.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Her father loved her mother deeply, reserving all his affection for her.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    As a child, she had craved her father''s closeness.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    But after giving birth to her, her mother''s health deteriorated. Her father repeatedly taught her to be quiet and well-behaved, to avoid disturbing her mother.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    By the time her mother recovered, she had outgrown the age of seeking hugs from her father.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    While her family wasn''t poor, she learned to be independent early on.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Washing up, preparing simple meals, going to and from school alone, traveling to other cities for exams...<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Over time, she became the capable daughter her father envisioned.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Or rather, she became a daughter who at least wouldn''t trouble her mother.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    After her cancer diagnosis, the pain broke down her emotional defenses.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Her mother often stayed with her, but remembering her father''s teachings, she didn''t dare show her suffering in front of her mother, not wanting to worry her.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    As for her father...<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Once, when her chemotherapy side effects were particrly severe, vomiting left her emotionally devastated.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Tears streaming down her face, she longed for her father to hug her.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    She was eighteen then.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    A daughter as good as an adult, and a stern father.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    It was difficult to bridge the gap of time and perform such an intimate yet unfamiliar gesture.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    That day, the sound of medical equipment seemed to shatter her eardrums.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Her father reached out and patted her shoulder, saying, "This too shall pass."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Her father''s subtle rejection felt like a p in the face.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    In that moment, she felt not only shame but also pain and hatred.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    She hated that she couldn''t die, hated her terrible luck, wondering why, out of all people, she had to be the one with cancer.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Looking back now, her past life had been nothing but a struggle to endure.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "Parents are true love, children are idents."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    This joke from the inte was almost a disaster in her reality.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    She had grown ustomed to reading people''s expressions, weighing pros and cons, making decisions that would please her father.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Her father wanted her to be independent, self-reliant, and poised, so she strived to be independent, self-reliant, and poised.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    She had forgotten how to ask for help, let alone how to love herself.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Huo Guining struggled to control her body''s trembling. At this moment, she wasn''t the "Huo Guining" from the novel.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Xie Lingluo remained silent, quietly watching Huo Guining cry, offering tissues when appropriate.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Huo Guining, fighting back sobs, managed a apologetic smile: "I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to... but..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Xie Lingluo sped Huo Guining''s hands in hers: "Don''t worry about what I think. You can cry if you need to."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    When you''re sad, thest thing you want is someoneforting you.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Huo Guining was no exception.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Hearing Xie Lingluo''s words, she covered her face with her hands and burst into tears.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    In a corner where Huo Guining couldn''t see, Xie Lingluo''s expression wasplex.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    After the intense crying session, Huo Guining, as usual, fell asleep from exhaustion.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Xie Lingluo opened the door to the adjacent room and sat down in front of Huo Xiaozheng.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Seeing her serious expression, Huo Xiaozheng sat up straight: "What''s wrong? Is Ning''s condition very serious?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Xie Lingluo shook her head with a smile: "No, not at all."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Huo Xiaozheng looked puzzled.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "Earlier, Shen Shiyan mentioned that Ning might have schizophrenia. You''re aware of this, right?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Huo Xiaozheng nodded.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "In future treatments, I might need to use hypnotherapy on her."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "Hypnotherapy?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Xie Lingluo nodded: "Ning''s defenses are incredibly strong. So far, she''s never voluntarily mentioned anything about her past."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "Whenever she does speak of it, it''s always vague."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "Without a thorough understanding of her past, we can''t guide her to unravel her emotional knots."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Huo Xiaozheng furrowed his brow: "Is hypnotherapy absolutely necessary?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Xie Lingluo smiled: "Of course not."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "If you can help her lower her defenses, we won''t need hypnotherapy at all."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    On the way back, Huo Xiaozheng kept reying Xie Lingluo''s words in his mind, so much so that he didn''t notice when Huo Guining woke up.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "Dad? Are we back?" Huo Guining called out to him several times.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Huo Xiaozheng snapped back to reality and carried her into Huo Yueze''s hospital room: "Yes."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Huo Yueze was half-sitting up in bed, hisplexion now rosy.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Seeing his sister, he happily waved his hand.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Huo Guining was still a bit listless, but she mustered up the energy to greet Huo Yueze.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Huo Xiaozheng, however, handed Huo Yueze a set of keys.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "What''s this?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Huo Xiaozheng replied concisely: "Heard you''ve always wanted this supercar model. Saw it, so I bought it for you."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Huo Yueze let out a high-pitched squeal of delight.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0