Chapter 34: Her Malady

Chapter 34: Her Malady

Shen Xian restrained the person and followed the shadow with her gaze.

Goodness gracious! What did she just see?

"Help! Someone, help!"

Shen Xian was on the verge of tears, her voice shrill and despairing.

Everything happened in an instant, too fast for anyone to react.

The mall had five floors, each with a vertically symmetrical circular atrium. The perpetrator was near the center, with vast open spaces on either side. With that throw...

As Shen Xian's cries echoed, a team of security guards, alerted by the commotion, rushed over to subdue the attacker.

Shen Xian was freed, but it was already too late!

She saw the mother lying across the glass railing on the opposite side, wailing desperately downwards.

Upon witnessing this scene, Shen Xian felt her entire body go limp, as if all her bones had been drained from her, causing her to collapse towards the ground in a weak heap...

Amidst the cacophony of voices around her – cries, the raucous shouts of the assailant, and the security guards' attempts to intervene – her ears were assaulted by a piercing, shrill roar...

Just as she was about to hit the floor, a tall, sturdy figure caught her, and they both crouched down together.

With blurred vision, Shen Xian sensed an arm crossing in front of her, supporting her shoulder. Her body trembled, and her hands dangled limply at her sides.

"Everything's alright now. The child is safe. It's alright, Shen Xian!"

A deep, resolute male voice echoed above her head, yet it seemed to come from a distant world to her ears.

She felt as if something within her chest was struggling to break free, only to be forcefully suppressed. This back-and-forth struggle left her chest feeling congested, an unbearable discomfort that filled her with agony.

Shen Xian's hair, disheveled from the scuffle, framed her reddened eyes, and her whole body quivered uncontrollably.

In her daze, she sensed a barrier before her. Gazing blankly at the arm blocking her view, she suddenly lowered her head and bit down hard.

"Aah..."

The person supporting her winced in pain but didn't release his grip on her shoulder. The other hand that was patting her back instinctively halted its motion.

By then, the police had arrived on the scene. They apprehended the assailant with handcuffs taken from the security guards and collected the fallen kitchen knife in an evidence bag.

"It's alright now, Shen Xian. Look, the police are here."

The rim of the golden glasses grazed the corner of Shen Xian's forehead, the cold sensation jolting her back to reality.

She released her bite on the arm and looked up to see Gu Chen's serious expression gazing at her.

"Mr. Gu?"

Shen Xian's voice barely resembled her own, weakly calling out as she regained her composure and suddenly realized she had bitten Gu Chen.

"I'm so sorry."

She raised her hand to press against the spot where she had bitten through her clothes, leaving two deep marks on the fabric.

Apologizing incoherently to Gu Chen, her hand resting on his arm trembled uncontrollably.

Every quiver of hers was vividly perceptible to Gu Chen.

"Don't be afraid. The police have arrived, and the child is safe. Everything's alright now." Gu Chen's voice was unusually gentle.

In his eyes, Shen Xian appeared utterly distraught, filled with despair and fear, and desperately vulnerable.

"Is everything alright now?"

"Yes, it's all over now."

As Gu Chen spoke, he gently patted Shen Xian's back and, with great effort, helped her to her feet.

The person in his arms felt delicate and boneless, limp and leaning entirely on him. Gu Chen's grip on her shoulder unconsciously tightened, hoping that this would help to stabilize her trembling.

"I'm sorry to disturb you. Would it be convenient for you to come with us... to give a statement now?"

A police officer approached, looking rather apologetic at the visibly shaken Shen Xian who could barely stand.

"Sure."

Shen Xian appeared dazed, uncertain if she truly comprehended the police's words. Without much thought, she agreed to their request.

Gu Chen was still supporting her, with most of her weight leaning on him. If he let go, she wouldn't be able to stand on her own.

Looking down at Shen Xian, whose gaze was resolute, Gu Chen felt as if she were as light as a feather despite being right beside him in his arms. Could someone so weightless like her follow through with this?

"I'll accompany you," Gu Chen's tone was calm, devoid of any discernible emotion.

Shen Xian's mind was in chaos, unable to ponder over anything at that moment. She followed the police as they descended the stairs.

Behind them, Chen Nuo rushed out from the crowd, flustered.

She had heard the commotion outside the restroom and saw a girl rush in, claiming that someone had been hurt and a fight had broken out. Worried about Shen Xian, she rushed out but failed to locate her friend anywhere.

Amidst the buzz of discussions around her, Chen Nuo pushed through the layers of people obstructing her view. She noticed the police and security personnel escorting a burly man, while Shen Xian was trailing behind them. They had already taken the escalator downstairs.

The person standing next to Shen Xian was... Gu Chen?

Chen Nuo was at a loss whether to pursue or not.

Considering that President Gu was by Shen Xian's side, she would be somewhat taken care of, so perhaps it was best for her not to go.

Then again, something didn't add up. Why would Shen Xian need to follow?

"One really has to admire this girl's courage. Look, that man is twice as muscular as she is."

"I think she's just as scared, she can hardly stand on her own."

"Well, if not for that handsome guy supporting her, she might not have been able to walk."

"But she seemed so capable when she was fighting with that man just now. How come she's struggling all of a sudden?"

"Maybe she got startled by the boy. Who knows? It takes great bravery to intervene in such a situation."

"Wait, you're saying that girl just fought off that villain?"

Chen Nuo couldn't believe what she was hearing. Yes, Shen Xian was tall, but slender. How could she possibly engage in a fight with someone of such a build?

"Indeed, she seemed to have some skills as she fought with calculated moves."

"Absolutely, she was so cool! Do you think she's had martial arts training?"

"I doubt I'd last a second against her; she'd probably send me flying with one slap."

Chen Nuo observed the scattered groups of people discussing the incident with lingering fear, a thousand questions swirling in her mind.

She had no doubt that Shen Xian was brave, but she never knew she could fight with such finesse.

At this moment, Chen Nuo couldn't afford to overthink. All she wished for was that Shen Xian wouldn't get hurt.

Shen Xian, along with key witnesses, arrived at the police station to give their statements. The police expressed great admiration and gratitude for her actions, even considering awarding her for her bravery. However, noticing that Shen Xian appeared to be in a fragile state, they were concerned about possible trauma and promptly called in a police psychologist to provide her with counseling.

Gu Chen, who had been waiting outside for too long, grew anxious as he saw everyone from the mall exit after giving their statements, except for Shen Xian.

This wasn't the first time he had seen Shen Xian in such a state.

The last time he saw her like this was back in the warehouse.

Later, Zhang Chi mentioned that Shen Xian had acted strangely when she visited him.

This time, it seemed even more severe than before.

Gu Chen had some suspicions, but he wasn't entirely sure.

As he paced outside, lost in thought, a door behind him opened, and a female police officer emerged.

"Excuse me, did you come here with Ms. Shen Xian?"

"Yes," Gu Chen replied, coming to a halt and answering earnestly.

"Are you... in a romantic relationship? Or...?"

Gu Chen paused for a moment before responding, "We're colleagues."

The female officer seemed to have some concerns after hearing Gu Chen's response. She scrutinized him up and down, appearing hesitant.

"Ah, she's my assistant," Gu Chen added. "Is there a problem with her?"

Perhaps due to Gu Chen's composed appearance and his position as Shen Xian's superior, the officer found him trustworthy and put her mind at ease.

Leading Gu Chen forward, she said earnestly, "It's like this: your subordinate needs psychological counseling. It would be best for her to see a professional psychiatrist."

Gu Chen's expression darkened. "See a psychiatrist?"

"Yes, her condition just now was very poor. After a brief conversation, I've assessed that she's suffering from severe survivor's guilt, a pathological psychological disorder also known as survivor syndrome. Common symptoms include depression, nightmares, emotional fragility..."

At this point, the policewoman paused briefly.

"But Ms. Shen Xian's reaction is particularly intense. She feels guilt and self-blame over things beyond her control, even directing hatred towards herself. This is a highly dangerous form of psychological self-suggestion. Furthermore, her psychological issues have already led to physical responses rooted in instinct..."

Gu Chen's thin lips pressed together, his handsome brows knitted tightly. The officer's words to some extent confirmed his suspicions.

"You're saying that her strong reaction wasn't due to fear of the criminals or the aftermath of the fight, but rather because of her survivor's guilt?"

"Yes, and it's very severe. I recommend you seek professional psychiatric help as soon as possible. Otherwise, the consequences could be dire."

The policewoman's words were like a key that unlocked Gu Chen's confusion about Shen Xian's paradoxical bravery and timidity.

"Alright, I understand. Thank you, officer."

"You're welcome. We should be thanking Shen Xian, actually. If not for her, who knows what might have happened today. Initially, we intended to award her for her heroic act, but considering Shen Xian's condition..."

The female officer didn't continue. As a woman herself, she admired Shen Xian's actions but also empathized with her struggle against her psychological barriers.

"I'll express Shen Xian's gratitude, but I think she wouldn't want too much attention drawn to her."

"Understood!"

The policewoman nodded sympathetically. She pointed at the door they had just come from.

"She's in there. You can take her back now. I suggest she gets plenty of rest today. In the long run, early treatment is crucial."

"Alright, thank you very much!"

Gu Chen nodded politely in gratitude, then turned and pushed the door open to enter.

In the brightly lit room, Shen Xian sat hunched on one corner of the sofa with her head lowered, holding a cup of water in her hand.

Presumably, it was the police officer who had given her the water to calm her nerves due to her obvious tension. However, half of it had spilled onto the floor because of her trembling hands.

The bottom of Shen Xian's pants were now damp, but she was completely oblivious to it.

Seeing this scene, Gu Chen's handsome features darkened. He approached her slowly and crouched down slightly, patting Shen Xian's shoulder.

"Shen Xian, we can go now."

The moment his fingers brushed against Shen Xian's clothes, she instinctively lifted her head and recoiled, her eyes filled with fear. Almost all the water in the cup would have drenched Gu Chen if not for his quick reflexes, learned from their previous encounter.

He gently grasped Shen Xian's wrist with one hand while taking the cup from her with the other.

"Mr. Gu…"