Chapter 12.2 (1/2)

Deep in the Act

Translator: Kotoni

Editor: Isalee

First Published on Chaleuria

Chapter 12.2

Fang Chi frowned a little at his words, but he soon recovered his appearance of neutral composure. A professional therapist must never allow such expressions to be seen by his or her patients. ”How can you be sure that you're a woman in your dreams?”

”My feet hurt. Because I was in heels.” All color had drained from Gao Zhun's face. He averted his head, his face white as a sheet, unable to look at Fang Chi. ”And there's my voice. And…”

Gao Zhun gritted his teeth. Fang Chi thought of something and ventured a wild guess, ”Was there someone else in your dreams?”

Staring at him in shock, Gao Zhun blushed. A deep crimson soon suffused his cheeks.

”Who was it? Was it someone real?” Fang Chi asked, s.h.i.+fting his chair closer to give Gao Zhun a greater sense of security by reducing the physical distance between them.

Gao Zhun's face paled again. Watching as the blood drained bit by bit from the corner of Gao Zhun's lips, Fang Chi's heart began to ache. He did not want to see the other man suffer anymore. ”Was it… me?”

Gao Zhun clamped a hand over his own mouth. His eyes widened in absolute terror and shame, like a frantic, pathetic creature in the throes of its death-struggle at gunpoint. Despite knowing what was coming next, Fang Chi had no choice but to press on with his questions, ”What were we doing in your dreams?”

Tears gushed from his eyes and flooded down his face. ”Sor… sorry! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!”

”It's alright. There's no need for you to apologize.” It seemed that Fang Chi was right in his guess. It was not the first time he had encountered patients in the same situation as Gao Zhun, though their numbers were few. Most of them started having such dreams after developing some kind of dependency on their therapists. ”It's very common - don't worry about it.”

Fang Chi's unperturbed demeanor put Gao Zhun at ease. ”Really?” he asked in a small, timid voice.

”Really,” Fang Chi a.s.sured him with a gentle smile. He did not elaborate that patients who developed such conditions tended to be women, most of whom were victims of domestic abuse or s.e.xual a.s.sault. Fang Chi made a mental note of this anomaly.

”I was disgusted with myself. I… I was so vile. When I woke up, I gave myself a beating. I really did!” Anxious to convince Fang Chi of how sorry he was, Gao Zhun leaned forward in his chair, as if he would fall into Fang Chi's arms at any moment. ”Please. I beg you. Please don't look down on me. Please don't…”

On reflex, Fang Chi stretched out a hand to catch him. But he held back at the last moment. ”Do you know why you were having such dreams?”