In fact, Shu Tang had considered a very realistic issue: in South Island City, she was still the mermaid’s therapist and fully in charge; but once in Yan City, when the old academician took over, a young, inexperienced therapist like her might not only not be in charge, she could even be squeezed out of having a place to stand.
Shu Tang had a premonition, but she didn’t expect it to come this soon.
The person dispatched by the Federal Research Institute to fetch the veteran was none other than Professor Tang, a close disciple of the old academician who now teaches at Yan University. He is a very amiable alpha.
When Shu Tang arrived, Professor Tang immediately stood up, smiling as he shook hands with her: “Dean Qiu mentioned that you’re considering pursuing your graduate studies at Yan University? I’m recruiting students this year. Have you thought about studying with me?”
Before coming to Yan City, he was already aware of Shu Tang. Since the Research Institute had taken over the veteran’s treatment, these authoritative figures naturally could not tolerate a youngster being the chief in charge, thus Professor Tang was involved.
Initially, Professor Tang thought Shu Tang was an impressive individual, but upon meeting, he realized she had a face that seemed easy to bully.
This remark by Professor Tang was a form of subtle intimidation, reminding Shu Tang that she was merely his junior and should understand her place.
Unaware that she had been labeled as easy to bully, Shu Tang did not grasp his implication.
She just subconsciously glanced at Professor Tang’s bald spot.
Professor Tang: “…”
At first, Shu Tang didn’t understand what Professor Tang was getting at by dragging her into various topics. It wasn’t until he had beaten around the bush for quite a while, probably realizing she couldn’t grasp the “subtext,” that he spoke plainly.
Finally, Shu Tang understood. Professor Tang tactfully pointed out that Shu Tang lacked practical experience and was not affiliated with the Research Institute, therefore she was not knowledgeable about the new therapy.
He suggested that she allow other therapists more opportunities to interact with patients and to delegate some important tasks to others.
Listening to Professor Tang talk extensively about the new therapy and discussing numerous cases his team had cured, he asked if Shu Tang had treated other patients before.
Shu Tang shook her head.
— The mermaid was her first patient.
At that moment, Shu Tang truly felt a bit shaken.
If Little Rose could receive better treatment and recover faster…
She didn’t notice that Professor Tang immediately gave a signal to someone behind him.
The Research Institute had received the latest report on the veteran’s mental energy levels, which indicated that his condition was relatively stable now, and the risk was considerably lower than before; Secretary Chen also mentioned that the veteran had recovered some of his memories.
This gave them a risky foundation to proceed. It’s said that fortune favors the bold, but because Shu Tang had been consistently by the veteran’s side, other therapists simply couldn’t get involved.
Only by temporarily separating Shu Tang from the veteran could they possibly get a chance to approach him.
— Just getting familiar with the veteran, and having him willing to try other therapists, even if just to help a little, could gradually replace Shu Tang’s unique position as his therapist.
And then, at that moment, Shu Tang suddenly heard the sound of a car starting.
She turned around and saw the lead armored vehicle suddenly moving.
Shu Tang was momentarily stunned.
She was anxious, a sense of panic rising in her heart.
She almost wanted to ask them if they were insane, but seeing their utterly shocked expressions, Shu Tang no longer wished to speak further with them.
Shu Tang heard the familiar, sharp shriek in the rain; she wanted to run toward the vehicle, but was stopped by Professor Tang’s student.
Everyone else faded from Shu Tang’s view, and all she could see was the armored vehicle gradually moving away, shaken by the beast, with the sound of iron railings being crushed.
The people around uttered slightly frightened noises, and Professor Tang’s group seemed panicked as well:
“What’s happening, wasn’t it reported that…”
“Wasn’t it said that the situation was improving?”
…
All those voices disappeared from Shu Tang’s ears.
In her eyes, there was only the mermaid in the vehicle, looking at her through the glass window.
“He” had been very well-behaved today, in order to fulfill the promise he made to her. Even though he disliked the smells and the noisy sounds, he didn’t show any unwillingness; he even agreed to wait for her in the vehicle, and truly remained motionless, waiting for her return.
But when she turned around, the therapist had been replaced, the car door was shut, and the vehicle had started moving, yet Shu Tang still had not returned.
Shu Tang knew the mermaid had always been reluctant to go to Yan City and had always felt strong unease. Now, the mermaid must have thought that she had deceived “him,” or had called another therapist to approach “him.”
And Shu Tang felt that if Professor Tang had really sent someone, he would claim it was with her agreement. Because Shu Tang had always appeared very eager to cure the mermaid’s illness, and her somewhat insecure behavior made this seem somewhat reasonable.
Originally, the mermaid’s hands could tear apart iron railings and easily make the vehicle stop.
If it had been a few months ago, the mermaid would have torn the small car apart without hesitation.
But the mermaid restrained himself.
The terrifying noise disappeared.
That distant vehicle gradually quieted down.
— “He” thought this was also her wish.
At that moment, Shu Tang felt like she was the villain who had abandoned a puppy.
Shu Tang was so angry that her hands trembled.
Shu Tang was an ordinary person, just like other ordinary people, who listened to teachers at school and superiors at work. Faced with authority, she also felt inadequate and would timidly think: Should such important treatment really be entrusted to more reliable experts?
She is a student who has not yet graduated, so she feels somewhat underconfident when facing other therapists. This lack of confidence peaked when she faced Professor Tang.
However, at this moment, all thoughts of retreat and timidity disappeared.
It was as if she had taken the cat that had been raised at home for a long time out for a play, and when she turned around, the fur child was stolen.
And she watched helplessly as the cat trafficker carried the cat away from her.
Flames sparked in Shu Tang’s eyes.
These cat traffickers were still blocking her, but Shu Tang could no longer hear what they were saying; she thought they were insane. Didn’t they know what the consequences of provoking a mermaid could be? But as the truck vanished from sight, she broke through the encirclement and ran towards the second armored vehicle that was about to start.
Shu Tang no longer thought about the consequences; all she knew was that if she didn’t catch up soon, the mermaid would definitely think she was abandoning “him.”
Her big fish would definitely feel angry and sad.
Professor Tang and his students looked at each other and followed her.
When Shu Tang opened the car door, she was stopped by a guard: “Therapist Shu, your car is behind; this car is reserved for the professors of the institute.”
The guard gestured that she should sit in the last car.
Indeed, South Island City and Yan City were very different. The difference in status even affected which cars they were assigned to sit in. As a junior therapist like Shu Tang, she should sit in the last car like other therapists from District 02.
Shu Tang stopped in her tracks.
She had never been so clear-headed.
She dared not change the couple nickname on social media, nor tell her parents about their relationship, always hiding like a turtle in its shell.
But she realized that what happened today was just an appetizer, and there would be many more such times to come unless she stayed by the mermaid’s side at all times.
If she did not fight, she would just watch helplessly as the mermaid drifted away from her, as was happening right now. The most tragic part was that their relationship was not destroyed by conflicts, but merely because more and more people gathered around him, and so they were dispersed by the crowd.
Moreover, Shu Tang was very clear that if it were ten years ago with the old heroes, would they dare to drive against his will?
No, they were just bullying the fact that little Rose was sick.
Should she step back and let others bully him?
Shu Tang knew she could still send a text to little Rose to explain, even from the last car. But to retreat once was to pave the way for a second and a third step.
At that moment, her stepping back or standing still was actually the slowest and most ruthless form of betrayal.
The guards tried to stop her, but Shu Tang had already pulled open the car door, ignoring Professor Tang and the others, and took the passenger seat.
She buckled her seatbelt and said:
“I didn’t come here as his therapist.”
“I am his alpha, his partner.”
“His family.”
Chen Sheng said he had no parents, no family, so she decided to become his kin.
She turned to the people in the car behind her: “Now, can I sit in this car?”