218: SESSION (PART 5)

SESSION (PART 5)

"Really? Can you handle it? There is a high chance you will vomit or get sick. I don't want either to happen to you. That will be terrible."

Ge Chen also thought about this problem. "Give me three months to prepare."

Xue Lin became excited. "You bet I will! I'm looking forward to it."

Later, Xue Lin went to the washroom to wash her hands. Ge Chen was alone with Professor Ivanov.

"How long have you known Lin?" Professor Ivanov inquired.

Ge Chen answered, "Two years. We stumbled into each other while we were with our friends."

"I'm sure you are interested in her." Professor stared at Ge Chen, reading his subtle change of expression and movement. "You like her. You are very curious about her."

"…" Ge Chen stayed quiet. He didn't like it when others read him like an open book. 

"I'm sure you don't know that your wife has an eating disorder."

"Sleeping disorder…" Ge Chen mumbled. He seemed neither surprised nor curious. He hid his emotions well. "Why did that happen to her?"

Professor Ivanov gave him a short explanation, "That's because she lost someone very important before going to Paris. Moreover, she was neglected and abused by her family. She still cannot remember the killer of her loved one who died. She blames herself and is disgusted with herself. 

"At the same time, she loves herself because she wants to give herself the best thing because she knows she suffers. Her duo personality is causing conflicts and she vented it on her most favorite thing – food. Either she forgets to eat or when she starts eating, she will eat a lot and she cannot stop herself from doing so."

He suddenly asked Ge Chen, "Have you ever heard about Binge eating disorder?"

Ge Chen put down his knife and calmly stared at Professor Ivanov. "I'm not familiar with eating disorders, Professor. Would you like to share?"

Professor Ivanov had no problem sharing the information. He lived by giving lectures. 

"Binge eating disorder is believed to be one of the most common eating disorders. It typically begins during adolescence and early adulthood, although it can develop later on. Individuals with this disorder have symptoms similar to those of bulimia or the binge eating subtype of anorexia.

"For instance, they typically eat unusually large amounts of food in relatively short periods and feel a lack of control during binges. People with binge eating disorder do not restrict calories or use purging behaviors, such as vomiting or excessive exercise, to compensate for their binges.

"There are some common symptoms of binge eating disorder, such as – eating large amounts of foods rapidly, in secret and until uncomfortably full, despite not feeling hungry; feeling a lack of control during episodes of binge eating; feelings of distress, such as shame, disgust, or guilt, when thinking about the binge eating behavior; no use of purging behaviors, such as calorie restriction, vomiting, excessive exercise, or laxative or diuretic use, to compensate for the binging."

Ge Chen remarked, "I've never seen Lin vomit after eating. However, she doesn't get fat even though she eats so much. How can there be any logical explanation for that?"

Professor Ivanov responded with a nod. "Indeed. Because she cannot digest all the food she eats. You must have noticed that she is suffering from malnutrition. That's because during her stay in Paris and Germany, whenever she was alone, she hardly ate anything. 

"I found out later about her abnormal behavior. When I asked her, she said that she didn't feel like eating and sometimes she didn't feel hungry. So, whenever I was there, I made sure she ate with me. I asked her classmates to take her to the canteen as well. But she doesn't like to get along with people she has no reason to. It was hard.

"Later, I noticed that she started eating a lot. She ate so much in the blink of an eye that even I was baffled. Later, she kept vomiting everything she ate and then ended up sleeping the next few days.

"You have no idea how surprised I was when she looked healthier than before. Who knew she got married and ate properly with her husband? I'm grateful to you. Please take care of her like that in the future."

"I will. Thank you for telling me this." Ge Chen thanked him from the bottom of his heart. If the Professor didn't disclose this matter, he would never find out. 

"Is there any way I can prevent her from eating more than necessary?"

"Yes, always be there when she eats. Serve a proper amount of food. Don't let her eat more than necessary. Don't let her skip a meal."

"I think she will come to hate me,"

"As long as someone is caring for her, she will understand. She isn't unreasonable."

"Are you sure? When it comes to food, she is pretty defensive."

"…Just do what I said."

"…"

"Don't tell her I told you. She will kill me."

Ge Chen lightly smiled. "All right."

-----------

Ge Chen and Xue Lin went back home around midnight. Xue Lin took a bath first. Then, she  let her husband go to the bathroom. 

She was wiping her hair, sitting on the bed when suddenly, her cell phone rang.

She dropped the towel on her lap and checked the mobile screen.

It was an unknown number from China.

'Don't tell me it's from my so-called stinky family?' she wondered.

She deliberately waited for some time. But the phone kept ringing. It was buzzing in her ear. 

She couldn't take it anymore and answered the call, "Who is this?" Her voice automatically became stern.

"Hello? Ms. Xue Lin?" A heavy voice spoke from the other side of the phone. The voice explained that the caller was a middle-aged woman.

'So, it's not them.' Xue Lin's voice relaxed, "I'm Lin. Who am I talking to?"

The woman replied, "Ms. Xue Lin, I'm Zhao Shu from the B city. I found your contact number from Xiao Lin. I told him that I needed to take my daughter to a counselor. That's when he gave me your number."

'Xiao Lin?' Xue Lin frowned and tried to recall. 'Oh yeah, I cross-dressed again to defeat that blonde playboy. What was his name again…? Anyway, I did hand in all the business cards I had. She must be one of my clients from the host club.'

She cleared her throat. "Madam Zhao, how can I help you?"

Madam Zhao seemed to be relieved from the other side. "I guess you know Xiao Lin. He is such a good man, always helping others. It's about my daughter. I need your help."

Xue Lin patiently asked, "What happened to your daughter?"

Madam Zhao Shu started, "She had a crush on a guy. I didn't like that boy much. He looked like he was after our family fortune and was deceiving my daughter. She is my only daughter and so precious.

"So, I opposed their relationship. But she was so spoiled by her father that she didn't listen to me. She ran away with the boy. My husband and I looked for her everywhere. 

"Three days later, we found her in a hotel. She was alone. The bag she took from home before leaving was gone, along with money. She didn't have to tell us anything. We already knew that the boy was gone. He was really after our money.

"Now my daughter is like a stone. She doesn't speak or eat. She sits beside the window and gazes at the sky. We called her friends. They came to cheer her up but nothing worked.

"I don't know what to do anymore. My child is getting thinner and sicker. Please do something."

The woman couldn't control her emotions anymore and wept.

Xue Lin stayed silent and let the woman cry all she wanted. 

'They must be rich enough if she calls me long distance and has the guts to spend this time crying. I hope the girl wasn't physically hurt and only the money was taken.'

When Madam Zhao Shu stopped crying, she apologized, "I'm sorry. I didn't have anyone to share my anxiety with. My daughter won't let the hospital examine her. She won't let anyone near her. I just don't know what to do. I'm devastated."

"It must be hard on you," Xue Lin softened her tone.

"It is…" Madam Zhao Shu confessed.

"Do you know the whereabouts of the guy?" Xue Lin inquired.

"My husband already found out. He is apparently a university student. He is a basketball player. My husband wanted to send him to jail but we couldn't prove that he was there with her. And I told you that my daughter was so shocked that she cannot speak. We have no idea what happened for three days."0

The more she spoke, the more anxious she became.

"So, without proof, nothing can be done," Xue Lin murmured. "Can you tell me what was your daughter's condition when you found her? Was there any scar or mark on her body?"

"No. She havn't."

"Thank goodness. All right, Madam Zhao. It's good to talk to you. I'll be going to China in two days. I'll meet you then. This is the number I have to call you, right?"

"Yes, yes." Madam Zhao Shu sounded relieved. "Please come and save my daughter."

"Leave everything to me." After hanging up the call, Xue Lin wiped her wet hair.

Ge Chen came out of the bathroom, wearing his pajamas. He noticed his wife was looking at the table lamp in a daze.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

"…I was thinking…" she stated.

"What were you thinking?" 

"My husband."

"My wife."

"I think I will become a sugar mommy."

"You will what?!"

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