It wasn’t a problem that the coffee shop didn’t serve meals. Having money was enough.
Soon enough, Zhao Li revealed her true decisive nature. She immediately summoned a coffee shop employee and sent him to the neighboring restaurant to pack some food.
The employee set off without delay. Less than ten minutes later, boxes brimming with steaming dishes covered the table.
Shen An, who hadn’t eaten for who knows how many days, eagerly tore open the boxes one by one and dove into the meal.
He devoured the food ravenously, with no regard for his image.
Across from him, Zhao Li elegantly sipped her coffee. The contrast—her alluring seriousness juxtaposed against the scene—felt mismatched yet oddly entertaining.
As Shen An ate, he pondered silently.
Judging from her recent commands, this noblewoman was clearly a woman of authority, not some idle vase content with a quiet life.
The commanding presence from their first meeting hadn’t been an illusion.
Her earlier restraint in conversation, the hint of humility, and the “gentle elegance” she projected were probably all for her daughter’s sake.
When you need a favor, you have to humble yourself. That was an unchanging truth.
The smarter someone was, the faster they could adapt to the situation.
But another worry gnawed at Shen An: she hadn’t given the employee any money for the takeout.
Wage slaves had it rough.
Actually, what he feared more was that she’d expect him to pick up the tab.
He was flat broke right now. If she made him pay, he’d end up washing dishes at the restaurant next door.
After scarfing down his food for about half an hour, Shen An finally felt full.
He let out a satisfied burp, grabbed a napkin from nearby, and wiped his mouth.
Seeing this, Zhao Li set down her coffee and asked softly, “Are you full?”
“Stuffed, stuffed. Sorry about that.”
Shen An figured he needed to salvage his dignity a bit.
He said softly, “I really hadn’t eaten in days.”
Zhao Li’s smile stiffened. Truth be told, she didn’t care.
“You’re truly devoted to your work,” she said politely.
“No, it has nothing to do with work.”
Shen An explained, “A few days ago, I saved someone who was trying to kill themselves. I only woke up this morning.”
“Then I ran into that patient with suicidal tendencies. After all that chaos, I lost my composure. Sorry you had to see me like this.”
Saved someone?
Zhao Li’s eyes narrowed as her fingers gently traced the curve of her coffee cup.
“Looks like you paid a heavy price in the process, Doctor Shen.”
“Nah, I nearly lost my life.”
Shen An shrugged. “She was a girl—pretty one, too, right in the bloom of youth.”
“Is that so?”
Zhao Li maintained her smile.
“But not as pretty as you, Ms. Zhao Li,” Shen An said with a laugh.
Pfft~
Zhao Li covered her mouth and chuckled, a touch of girlish shyness crossing her face. “Doctor Shen, you’re too kind.”
“I’m a doctor. You have to trust my professional judgment,” Shen An said softly.
Tsk.
“Thank you for your professional judgment,” Zhao Li replied, nodding slightly.
“But Doctor Shen, you’re handsome too—and you look so young.”
Zhao Li rested her chin on her hand, returning the compliment.
“Uh, I don’t just look young. I am young.”
Shen An said it with dead seriousness.
Pfft~
Zhao Li couldn’t suppress another laugh.
It was true, but hearing someone state it so earnestly was rare.
“How young?” Zhao Li suddenly decided his quirky personality wasn’t such a bad thing.
At least in conversation, he felt more approachable than other doctors.
“Hmm~” Shen An paused, about to blurt out his age.
But the words caught in his throat. He quickly pulled out his wallet to check the ID card the System had given him.
“Hang on, let me take a look.”
Zhao Li found it even more amusing.
A grown man who couldn’t remember his own age and needed his ID card?
But now that she’d accepted his eccentric side, the behavior struck her as oddly endearing.
“Well? You’re not going to need to do some math now, are you?”
Zhao Li teased.
Damn~
Shen An slipped the ID back into his wallet.
He looked up and said softly, “No math required. Just one small question: what year and month is it?”
He’d memorized the date on the ID—August 23rd, matching what he remembered. But he had no clue about the year.
Zhao Li lost it completely. She clutched her stomach and burst out laughing. “Doctor Shen, you are hilarious.”
Shen An: …..
Was it really that funny?
Okay, fine, it was pretty funny.
Pretending not to care, he unlocked his phone screen, where the date was displayed.
After a quick glance, he said casually, “This is my therapeutic technique.”
“Oh~ That’s nice.”
Zhao Li reined in her laughter. “I rather like this treatment style.”
“Heh heh.”
Shen An grinned. “Mystery solved: I’m twenty-one this year.”
Huh???
Zhao Li’s smile froze in surprise. “How old?”
“Twenty-one.”
She repeated it, her smile fading. “Twenty-one?”
“Doctor Shen, repeating the same joke too many times kills the humor.”
Clearly, Zhao Li wasn’t buying it.
“Okay, fine—actually twenty-two now. My birthday was a few days ago.”
Shen An sounded a bit deflated.
“Doctor Shen, let’s get down to business. I didn’t bring you here to treat me. I don’t have any mental illness.”
Zhao Li’s smile vanished entirely. A little humor could liven up a chat, but too much had the opposite effect.
Shen An arched a brow, dropping his playfulness for a cool tone. “Everyone harbors some unspeakable wounds deep down—secrets they can’t bear to mention, or simply won’t.”
“But they exist, objectively. No one can deny that.”
“If you don’t believe me, look up the stats. Surveys show most modern people suffer from mental health issues to some degree.”
“And if you truly believe you’re perfectly healthy mentally, then I’m glad—even if it’s not true. At least you have that optimistic outlook.”
“Also, I’m not joking. I’m dead serious. I really am twenty-two.”
With that, Shen An smoothly pulled out his ID card and waved it before Zhao Li’s eyes.
The numbers on the card leaped into her view.
Her lips quivered slightly. For a moment, she was at a loss for words.
He…
Was really twenty-two.
A twenty-two-year-old professor?
She couldn’t tell if she’d misread the numbers or simply underestimated him.
No wonder Professor Hu said his disciple… was in no way inferior to him.
Shen An leisurely tucked the ID back into his wallet.
Now fully in character, he propped his chin on his hand and said softly, “Surprised? Don’t worry—almost everyone who meets me is.”
“But what can you do? Some things are innate. I’m a genius by birth.”
It was a boast that grated on the ears.
But Zhao Li had no grounds to argue.
Because it was the truth!
“Sorry, it was my narrow-mindedness,” Zhao Li apologized forthrightly.
Earlier, she’d lost her cool, assuming he was just teasing her.
“No worries. I’m magnanimous—I don’t hold grudges.”
The corner of Shen An’s mouth quirked up. “Especially not against pretty women. Ah, sorry, I got a little carried away.”
Meeting his gaze, Zhao Li shyly brushed back a lock of hair. His eyes were really quite striking, she thought.
“But generosity is one thing—consultation fees are another.”
Shen An reined in the flirtation and steered back to business, tactfully giving her an out.
“Of course.”
Zhao Li nodded and said softly, “As long as the matter is handled properly, the fee will absolutely satisfy you.”
“No, no. I stick to professional ethics. The standard rate is the standard rate.”
Huh?
Zhao Li blinked in surprise again.
Within reason, she never mocked those who wanted more—greed was human nature.
But she respected those who held to their principles even more.
This wasn’t even at the hospital; she was asking for his help in a private capacity.
She quickly realized, though. A man who’d risk his life without hesitation to save a stranger…
His commitment to principles far outweighed any greed.
Unbidden, a sense of respect welled up in Zhao Li. “My ignorance again.”
Shen An smiled faintly, a trace of helplessness hidden in his expression.
He wasn’t truly that noble. He wasn’t a real mental health expert at all.
He knew nothing about how to diagnose or treat.
He didn’t even know what the “standard rate” was.
But that didn’t stop him from playing the role of the principled genius doctor in front of Zhao Li.
If he couldn’t get tangible benefits, he’d at least earn a good impression.
“We’ve strayed a bit.”
Shen An cleared his throat lightly. “Can you give me a quick rundown of the situation first?”
Zhao Li nodded slightly, but then she could no longer hold back her emotions. With a somewhat dejected sigh, she continued.
“Actually, I specifically invited you here because I hoped you could help treat my daughter’s psychological condition.”
“Your daughter?” Shen An asked, feigning surprise even though he already knew.
“Yes, the patient—it’s my daughter.”
Zhao Li took a light sip of her coffee. The brew was already bitter, but now it mingled with her own bitter mood, overwhelming her entire heart.
