Dr. Ou’s Psychotherapy - Chapter 6

Induction and Intimacy

The following morning, the intellectual property case against Sihai Hospital began at nine o’clock.

In the courtroom, Yi Zhize was calm and collected, taking every step in stride, his voice was like a sword, loud and clear, he was calm and unhurried, and he was courteous; he forced the other side’s defence lawyers into a cold sweat, their tongues tied, and they had to respond in haste, as if they had been sunk in battle and had abandoned their armour, so desperate!

Ou Tingyun sat in the gallery and looked at his patient with interest.

Yi Zhize’s psychological case was very different from anything he had ever studied.

Full of admiration, his eyes followed the lawyer’s figure closely.

Capturing his demeanour, his stance, his words, his change of expression… Unwilling to miss even the tiniest detail.

He was a mystery that needed to be solved, Ou Tingyun thought.

At the end of the trial, Yi Zhize won the case without a shadow of a doubt.

After leaving the courthouse, Du Wenkang began to praise him incessantly: “Mr. Yi is really Mr. Yi, the gold standard of our political and legal circles in A City! Director Ou, I told you he was the right person to go to, and now your case is done!”

Ou Tingyun looked at his wristwatch, “It’s nearly 12 o’clock, how about we go for lunch?”

Yi Zhize didn’t say anything, just nodded in agreement.

Du Wenkang was happy to say yes, but when he looked up and saw the meaningful look in Ou Tingyun’s eyes, he changed his mind and said, “I suddenly remembered that I have to go to the hospital to attend to something, so I won’t be able to join you, sorry! I’ll put the meal on my tab!”

Ou Tingyun smiled, “Okay.”

On the way to the restaurant, Ou Tingyun said, “Zhize, do you know that you have a nickname in A City?”

“What’s the nickname?”

“They call you Pizza Hut in private.”

Pizza Hut was originally the name of a pizza restaurant, but it was later used to refer to a lawyer who always won his cases.

The implication was that if he handled a case, he would win it.

Yi Zhize quickly figured this out: “It’s just a joke, I have cases that I can’t handle.”

Ou Tingyun said with a smile, “If you can’t handle it, I’m afraid there’s no one else in A City who can.”

“You’re too kind, Director Ou.”

“There’s no one else here, so don’t call me Director Ou.”

“Okay, Professor Ou.”

Ou Tingyun teased, “Zhize, how come you’re only obedient at night and then you turn your back on me during the day? Hmm?”

Yi Zhize felt that the meaning of his words was simply inexplicable, “Dr Ou, we just have a doctor-patient relationship, your words are too ambiguous.”

“If I were to give professional advice,” Ou Tingyun said with a straight face, “Zhize, a safe and stable personal relationship would be of great benefit to the treatment of your condition.”

“Then how would you like me to address you?”

“You may call me Teacher when you are being treated. In ordinary times, call me by my name, as I call you.”

“…. Okay.”

“Do you want to say it to hear it?”

“There’s no need.”

Ou Tingyun said with a low smile, “Okay, I won’t force you, Zhize.”

During the meal, beautiful piano music was playing in the background of the restaurant.

Ou Tingyun observed his hand on his right leg unconsciously beating to the rhythm and asked, “Do you like this piece?”

“En, Richard Mandela’s Romeo and Juliet.”

“You have studied piano music?”

“It can’t be considered studying,” Yi Zhize took a sip of his drink, “music has a relieving effect on my anxiety.”

“In a psychological sense, music does have a therapeutic effect.” Ou Tingyun suggested, “It’s Friday, do you have plans for the weekend? Why don’t we go to a concert together?”

Before Yi Zhize could say no, Ou Tingyun added, “Different kinds of music can have different effects on anxiety, especially when dealing with individuals who are very different. The choice of music preference and type is especially important. Zhize, why don’t you think of it as a therapeutic process? Hmm?”

Yi Zhize did not answer.

Ou Tingyun didn’t push either.

It was only after the meal was over and they were parting ways that Yi Zhize said, “I can’t do Saturday, but Sunday night is fine.”

Ou Tingyun smiled deeply: “Okay, I’ll book the tickets first. I’ll send you the e-ticket later.”

“Okay, thanks.”

“You’re welcome, see you on Sunday.”

“Mhmm.”

On Sunday night, the piano recital hall of the Grand Theatre in A City.

Yi Zhize was seated according to the seat on the ticket, which was the first row.

Ou Tingyun sat right next to him, and nodded and smiled at him as a greeting.

It was a pianist’s recital and the audience was quite large, so he seemed to be a well-known figure.

The recital had not yet started and there was occasional soft chatter in the hall.

Ou Tingyun leaned close to his ear and lowered his voice, “Zhize, have you heard of this pianist?”

Yi Zhize glanced at the brochure on his seat, on which was printed the name and profile of the piano player.

———

Mu Xin, a well-known pianist in A City.

Graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music.

He was invited to perform at the Vienna Concert Hall.

Winner of the International Artist of the Year Award [Italian Classical Music Award].

———

Yi Zhize shook his head: “I just like to listen to musical pieces, I don’t know much about contemporary figures in the music industry.”

Ou Tingyun whispered, “I’m told he’s very good.”

At eight o’clock in the evening, the lights went out and the concert officially started.

Wearing a black and white tuxedo, Mu Xin walked gracefully towards the centre of the stage.

Yi Zhize’s gaze was instantly drawn to him.

Ou Tingyun immediately regretted it: he thought this man was an old man, who knew it was a young pretty boy?

Yi Zhize didn’t have so many messy thoughts, his interest in Mu Xin was simply out of respect and desire for the art of music.

Coincidentally, the first piece Mu Xin played was Romeo and Juliet, one of Yi Zhize’s favourites.

Ou Tingyun also noticed that the pianist was actually making eye contact with Yi Zhize in between playing.

His guts were burning with regret, he knew he should have bought seats in the last row.

Throughout the concert, Yi Zhize was very engaged.

When Ou Tingyun looked at his relaxed and happy face, his heart felt relieved too.

The two hours passed quickly.

After the concert, Yi Zhize went to the washroom.

At the sink, he happened to bump into Mu Xin.

What Yi Zhize didn’t expect was that Mu Xin would take the initiative to talk to him and say, “How did you feel tonight?”

“It was wonderful.”

“I’ve noticed that you have an affinity for music.”

“I don’t understand music.”

“But you do understand it.”

Yi Zhize was silent.

He was really bad at socialising, and any interesting conversation would end immediately when it came to him.

He quietly turned off the tap.

Mu Xin said, “Have a good night.”

“Thank you, you too.”

It was late at night when they came out of the concert hall.

A clear moon hung in the sky, and Ou Tingyun walked with him through the tree-lined streets.

The two men each drove their cars over and parked them in a car park not far away.

Ou Tingyun said, “You’re very engaged today, it seems you’re well suited to music therapy, we can try it next time.”

“Okay.” Yi Zhize took out his car keys and pressed them, and the lights flashed.

Ou Tingyun said to him, “Good night, Zhize.”

“Good night.”

“See you tomorrow.”

Yi Zhize was puzzled, “Tomorrow, Monday, I don’t think we have a therapy appointment, do we?”

“Mr. Yi, do you work on Mondays?”

“Of course.”

“Is it okay if I make an appointment with you now?” Ou Tingyun’s expression was sincere and earnest: “I have a financial dispute, and you are the only lawyer I trust in the whole of A City, Zhize.”