"Come in."

The door opened in response, revealing a man in casual wear. Though a man, his delicate bone structure gave him a youthful air. The top two buttons of his shirt were undone, exposing a sliver of skin so fair it would make a woman envious.

His open collar was perfectly neat, unaffected by the strong wind outside, suggesting he’d carefully adjusted it after entering the building.

He turned to close the door, then walked straight to Niu Shurui and sat down. Niu Shurui, sensing something, smiled and praised him, "You did well. This is the first time you haven't repeatedly checked the door after entering. I believe your condition will soon be cured."

Ye Li was one of Niu Shurui's most severe cases. Initially, she’d been hesitant to take on such a challenge. After all, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), while seemingly straightforward, is anything but.

The treatment had been ongoing for over a year. Ye Li was cooperative, but his condition hadn't improved. Until a few days ago, when his symptoms suddenly took a turn for the better. The number of times he checked the doorknob after entering had steadily decreased, until today, he’d only glanced at it once.

Yet, Ye Li's face showed no trace of joy. His dark eyes remained placid, as if looking at inanimate objects.

He said flatly, "Is it possible for one psychological illness to transform into another?"

Niu Shurui paused, then quickly understood. She softly inquired, "Have you experienced any new symptoms recently?" Her hand, which had been rhythmically twirling a pen, stopped, poised to take notes. Ye Li glanced at it briefly; the black pen made her delicate hand appear even more pale.

Niu Shurui, who had been intently observing him, noticed the glance and looked down at her own hand. Just as she began to wonder about the significance, Ye Li said, "Nothing. Let's start today's session."

It was the first time he'd taken the initiative to change the subject. Niu Shurui was even more surprised, and because of this, she overlooked the subtle shift in Ye Li's gaze.

He didn't want to mention it, simply because this change was both inexplicable and persistent.

It all began at the last Ye family banquet.

***

Due to the severity of Ye Li's condition, Ye Yanhui had never forced him to do anything. But since he’d started seeing Niu Shurui, Ye Yanhui had begun mentioning outside events to him.

The banquet was one such instance. He'd asked Ye Li if he was interested in attending.

Ye Li refused without hesitation. Ye Yanhui had anticipated this, but couldn't help feeling disappointed. A year had passed, and if the best psychologist in the country couldn't cure Ye Li…

Ye Yanhui sighed. "Alright… then tomorrow, ask Dr. Niu if she'd like to attend. Tomorrow's banquet is less formal, and it would be a good opportunity for her to meet some new people."

A flicker of something crossed Ye Li's eyes. He seemed to consider his father's words for a few seconds. Ye Yanhui, having said his piece, got up to leave. Unexpectedly, he’d barely taken a few steps when Ye Li called out, "I'll go to the banquet." Ye Yanhui's heart skipped a beat. He could hardly believe his ears. He turned back to look at his son, still seated, and stammered, "Good… good."

The turnaround was so swift that Ye Yanhui forgot to question Ye Li's sudden agreement. It wasn't until he returned to his room that he realized something was amiss.

Niu Shurui naturally couldn't refuse Ye Li's invitation. At the banquet, Ye Li's entrance with Niu Shurui on his arm was a showstopper. The Ye family's young master had never attended a banquet, let alone with a female companion.

No wonder Ye Yanhui had been beaming before the banquet even began.

In an instant, Niu Shurui's face was imprinted in everyone's minds.

The less formal banquet had a more relaxed atmosphere, with a large area in the center cleared for dancing. Niu Shurui glanced at it several times, a bold idea forming in her mind. "Ye Li, shall we dance?"