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At night, Tong Le arrived at the bar as promised, where Lan Qingqing and Tian Ling had already been waiting for a while. Both Tian Ling and Lan Qingqing were Tong Le's university classmates; the three had been inseparable since their freshman year, forming a solid trio.
The atmosphere in the bar was dimly lit, with someone singing on stage while others were laughing and playing in the crowd. It wasn't exactly a quiet bar, and the clientele was a mix of all sorts. The smell of alcohol and cigarettes hung heavily in the air, making Tong Le feel quite uncomfortable. It was clear that Lan Qingqing had specifically chosen this place, where drinking and secondhand smoke were prevalent; it almost seemed as if she wished for her unborn child to be affected.
Tong Le greeted Tian Ling, who was already tipsy after three cocktails. Tian Ling, unable to hold her liquor well, was feeling lightheaded. Tong Le reached out to press down on Tian Ling's glass, advising her gently, "Tian Ling, don’t drink anymore. You know you can’t handle it."
Lan Qingqing chimed in, "Just leave her be; she’s dealing with some worries." She then stood up and asked Tong Le, "What do you want to drink? I’ll go get it."
Tong Le replied, "Just get me some juice; I can’t drink alcohol while pregnant."
With a smile, Lan Qingqing said, "Alright, I’ll get you a juice and maybe a cocktail too? A little bit of alcohol won’t hurt at this stage; just sip a few drops to satisfy your cravings." She turned and left their booth.
Tong Le looked at the half-dazed Tian Ling. Dressed in a sporty outfit that reflected her university style—simple and unadorned—Tian Ling had never been one for makeup or elaborate clothing.
Tong Le first met Tian Ling during a psychological counseling event organized by their school. Initially, she thought of Tian Ling as just a girl next door. However, as they spent more time together, Tong Le realized that Tian Ling was quite timid and sensitive. She disliked physical contact and avoided participating in various campus activities.
The only psychological counseling session they attended together was due to Tian Ling's long-standing severe mental health issues. It wasn’t until their junior year that Tong Le learned about Tian Ling’s troubled past.
Tian Ling had experienced sexual abuse during her innocent years—a dark and terrible memory. She had been sent to stay with an uncle where she endured prolonged torment both mentally and physically. Initially contemplating suicide, she somehow managed to survive but found no meaning in life afterward. The shadows of her youth left her wary of everyone around her, especially men, whom she viewed as an unapproachable taboo.
Tong Le remembered how many boys pursued Tian Ling during their university years because of her sweet and innocent appearance—she was fair-skinned and simple-hearted. However, the relentless attention nearly drove Tian Ling to drop out of school.
Upon learning about Tian Ling's past experiences, Tong Le took it upon herself to fend off unwanted advances. Whenever someone pursued Tian Ling, Tong Le would confront the boys directly and firmly reject them on her behalf.
Tian Ling always hid behind Tong Le, as Tong Le was close with Lan Qingqing, whom Tian Ling considered a dear friend.
Tong Le handed Tian Ling a glass of water and said, "Stop drinking, have some water instead. Otherwise, you'll end up throwing up again."
Tian Ling lifted her gaze slightly to look at Tong Le and asked, "Tong Le, are you happy in your marriage? Everyone around me has a family now, but I don’t."
Tong Le's expression turned bitter. "Father is home for me; I don’t have a home anymore either."
Tian Ling blinked at the empty glass in front of her. "Yes, Father is home, but every time I go back, I remember my childhood. It’s a nightmare; I don’t want to go home or face it."
Tong Le handed Tian Ling a tissue, anticipating that she was about to cry.
As tears streamed down her face, Tian Ling said, "A few days ago, a guy from work confessed to me, but I didn’t have the courage to face his affection. Am I destined to be lonely for the rest of my life?"
Tong Le sighed silently. This was a knot in Tian Ling's heart that had never been untied since she had known her; it only seemed to tighten over time.
Taking out her phone, Tong Le found her good friend Dao Wen on WeChat and sent a message: "Sister Wen, do you know any particularly good psychologists? Someone who specializes in childhood trauma like sexual abuse? I have a friend who needs psychological help."
In an instant, Dao Wen called her.
Tong Le stood up and walked into a quiet corridor.
On the other end of the line, Dao Wen said, "I do know a few psychologists; their fees are high, but their effectiveness isn’t guaranteed. Your friend experienced sexual abuse as a child?"
Tong Le replied, "Yes. She’s older now but struggles with relationships. She can’t just avoid men for the rest of her life."
Dao Wen said seriously, "Lele, if you trust me, take your friend to see Fan Qinghua. He’s a male gynecologist and can use his identity to help your friend confront her issues. Plus, he’s skilled in psychological therapy; he has plenty of certificates."
Tong Le remembered Fan Qinghua; he had helped her with pregnancy documentation at a private hospital last time. Zong Zeyu had been there too, which meant Fan Qinghua was also Zong Zeyu's friend. For some reason, thinking of Fan Qinghua as Zong Zeyu's friend made her feel more secure and reliable.
"Alright, Sister Wen," Tong Le said. "Please let Doctor Fan know about this. I’ll schedule an appointment and bring my friend to see him."
Dao Wen replied, "No problem! What have you been busy with lately? Do you need me to help with anything?"
"Not for now," Tong Le said. "But I will definitely need your help later."
Dao Wen laughed lightly, "You should have started living for yourself long ago!"
After hanging up the phone, Tong Le returned to the main hall in search of a booth. Along the way, she noticed a man sitting alone in the corner—Zong Zeyu.
Zong Zeyu had indeed come to the bar and sat alone in the corner looking somewhat lonely; however, that didn’t last long as unfamiliar women continuously approached him with drinks. After all, Zong Zeyu had an exceptional demeanor and striking looks.
Tong Le couldn't be bothered to greet Zong Zeyu; she completely failed to understand what his purpose was in coming here. Returning to her booth, Lan Qingqing pushed a glass of juice and some drinks in front of Tong Le.
Tong Le only picked up the juice.
Lan Qingqing said, "Lele, are you planning to go back to work at Jie Company today? You hardly ever went to the office before."
Tong Le shook her head. "No, I just went for a stroll because I had nothing else to do. Jie asked me to come by the company to keep him company, so I went. Besides, I have a good husband supporting me, and now that I'm pregnant, why would I need to work?"
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