Chapter Three: Self-Consolation

Yang Lin examined Lin Xiaoyan's eyes and asked in a low voice, "How are your eyes? Do they still hurt?"

Lin Xiaoyan shook her head. "They don't hurt anymore."

"Good. As long as they don't hurt. I'll prescribe another box of painkillers for you. If the pain gets severe, take one. If it doesn't hurt or is tolerable, don't take any. Come back in three days for a follow-up."

"Alright. Thank you, Dr. Yang."

Yang Lin looked at Lin Xiaoyan and smiled. "I should be the one thanking you."

"Yang Lin, did you remember what I told you?" The hospital director nearby was pacing anxiously.

"Director, I still have patients right now. We can talk about this later," Yang Lin said to the director in his usual gentle tone. Then he turned to call the nurse, "Xiao Lin, please take this patient to get her medicine."

A young female nurse ran over and supported Lin Xiaoyan. "Sure. Come, follow me."

Lin Xiaoyan followed the nurse to fetch her medicine. On the way, she learned that Dr. Yang had just returned this year from advanced studies abroad.

"Don't let Dr. Yang's young age fool you. He's an absolute genius. He got his doctorate from Beiniao Medical School at just twenty, became a postdoctoral advisor there three years later, and is already a chief physician at our hospital. Dr. Yang has published numerous SCI papers and holds several patents. He's never had a failed surgery. He went abroad for further studies last year and just returned this year. As soon as he got back, he performed a surgery that no other doctor dared to touch. He's incredibly amazing!"

Lin Xiaoyan listened quietly, not expecting the doctor she had just met to be so accomplished.

"It's a good thing you used that mop to block the assailant. Otherwise, Dr. Yang's hand... I'm afraid... sigh, I don't even want to think about it. In short, thank you so much," the nurse said gratefully to Lin Xiaoyan.

Lin Xiaoyan felt a bit embarrassed. "No, not at all, it was the right thing to do. I couldn't just stand by and watch an innocent person get attacked."

Lin Wan accompanied Lin Xiaoyan to collect the medicine. When Lin Xiaoyan went to pay, she realized someone had already settled the bill for her.

"This..." Lin Xiaoyan looked at Lin Wan in confusion.

Lin Wan asked the cashier and found out that Dr. Yang had paid. Lin Wan smiled and said, "Don't worry, Dr. Yang paid for it."

"How could I accept that? I'll give you the money, and you can refund Dr. Yang," Lin Xiaoyan said anxiously. She hadn't saved him for this.

Lin Wan comforted her from the side. "Just accept it. Dr. Yang probably didn't know how else to thank you. Besides, you really did help him, so it makes sense for him to pay your bill. Don't stress over it..."

In the end, Lin Xiaoyan went back to look for Dr. Yang, only to find out he had taken leave and gone home. She had no choice but to head back with her medicine.

On the way, Lin Xiaoyan was careful not to make contact with anyone. She was afraid—afraid of "seeing" those visions again.

Back in her rented apartment, Lin Xiaoyan collapsed onto her bed, completely drained.

"What on earth is going on?" she muttered to herself.

"Could it be... that our family has superpowers?" At this thought, Lin Xiaoyan couldn't help but pull out her phone and call her mother.

"Hello, Yanyan? When are you coming back?" Her mother's voice sounded from the phone.

Hearing her mother's voice, the fear she had been suppressing suddenly rushed over her, and tears welled up uncontrollably. "Mom."

"What's wrong, Yanyan? Are you crying? Did something happen?" Her mother's voice carried a note of anxiety.

Lin Xiaoyan took a deep breath, trying her best to hold it in. "No, Mom, I'm not crying. I just woke up with a bit of a cold this morning, so my nose is stuffed up. Mom, I miss you."

"Mom misses you too. I told you to come back, but you just wouldn't. Now you have a cold out there and nobody to take care of you. Come back, Yanyan. Just find any job back home. It doesn't matter if the pay is high or not. At least you'll have your father and me here..." her mother coaxed earnestly.

Lin Xiaoyan's tears kept flowing. She wanted to go home too, but...

Before her older brother got married, she could live at home without a care in the world. But ever since he married the year before last, every time she went home, her sister-in-law would make passive-aggressive remarks.

Not wanting to cause trouble for her brother and parents, she had tolerated it and tried to avoid going back unless necessary.

Now that she had graduated, if she moved back, living under the same roof would inevitably lead to more conflicts. She didn't want to put her parents in a difficult position.

"Mom, I've already found a job. I want to try making it on my own out here for a few years before heading back. Now that I've finally graduated, I want to enjoy my freedom for a bit!" Lin Xiaoyan said, forcing a cheerful tone.

"You... I really can't control you. Just make sure you stay safe out there. When you rent a place, choose a safe neighborhood; don't try to scrimp on that. Do you have enough money? Let me transfer some to you. Don't skimp on meals, your health is the most important thing..."

"Alright, alright, Mom, I know. You don't need to send me money, I have enough! Once I get paid, I'll send some to you!"

"Hahaha, I don't need your money. Just take good care of yourself out there, that's enough!"

"By the way, Mom, do you think our family has any secrets? Do we have some kind of superpowers?" Lin Xiaoyan asked, half-jokingly.

Her mother laughed heartily. "Superpowers my foot! Have you been watching too many movies? If your mother had superpowers, I would fly straight to you right now, so I wouldn't have to miss you all day long!"

Hearing this, Lin Xiaoyan's heart sank slightly. She chatted aimlessly with her mother for a long while before reluctantly hanging up.

*No superpowers. Then what is wrong with me?* The more Lin Xiaoyan thought about it, the more frightened she became. She felt that she couldn't let anyone know about this. Otherwise, what if she got captured and taken away?

Having watched so many movies and read so many novels, she knew it was best to keep this a secret!

*At least I did a good deed today. That's something!*

Lin Xiaoyan thought about how she had saved Dr. Yang's arm today. Since Dr. Yang was so skilled, saving him was equivalent to saving the eyesight of countless patients!

At this thought, her gloomy mood instantly brightened.

She got up, washed her face, applied her eye drops, and took her medicine.

*Maybe once my eyes heal, I won't "see" those things anymore!*

Lin Xiaoyan comforted herself.

In the afternoon, Lin Xiaoyan braved the scorching sun to go to her part-time job.

She was currently working part-time at a foreign company, mainly organizing files. Recently, the company had been so busy that every employee wished they could split themselves in eight. With no one available to sort the documents, they had no choice but to hire a part-timer to do the filing. Once the busy season passed, Lin Xiaoyan's job here would end.

The work wasn't bad. She just filed documents from nine to five. As long as she kept the files organized, helped colleagues print documents, ran errands, and so on, she was set. The pay was calculated daily.

Earning a hundred yuan a day was already quite decent for her.

Just like that, three days flew by. Today, she was scheduled to go to the hospital for her eye checkup. Her left eye was much better now—no longer red or painful, though it still felt a bit strained after looking at things for too long.

Lin Xiaoyan had already requested an hour off from her manager yesterday. She planned to head straight back to work as soon as her follow-up exam at the hospital was finished.