Mr. Pei! Don't force yourself into circles you can't fit into.

It was quite late when Chu Haonan arrived. The night wind was blowing in through the cracks in the door, but the North Mountain Villa was still brightly lit. He walked around the entrance hall into the living room and glanced around.

Chu Haonan didn't see Pei Lin, only Zhang Xu standing guard by the stairwell. His heart tightened involuntarily. He quickened his pace to meet him, his voice low but filled with urgency, "What's going on?"

Calling him so late, something must have happened.

Zhang Xu looked up at him, his usually impassive face now bearing an unusual heaviness. "Dr. Chu, President Pei's condition seems..."

"It's happened repeatedly."

As those three words fell, Chu Haonan's brows furrowed instantly. He didn't stop, his hurried steps heading straight upstairs, asking as he went.

"How could this happen? He was perfectly fine when I came to see him a couple of days ago. His wounds were healing well, and his mental state was stable—"

His voice paused for a moment, his mind racing through all the possibilities. He suddenly remembered that today was Sunday, the day Pei Lin had arranged to meet with the Shen family.

Zhang Xu followed two steps behind him and answered in a low voice.

"Jiang Jin briefly mentioned it to me, it seems that President Pei encountered some trouble at sea today. But President Pei didn't say anything after he came back."

Chu Haonan paused, having already reached the master bedroom door. He instinctively reached for the doorknob, but Zhang Xu stopped him from behind.

"Dr. Chu, President Pei is sleeping in the second bedroom tonight," Zhang Xu explained in a low voice as he followed behind him. "President Pei is afraid of disturbing Mr. Shi's rest."

Chu Haonan paused, but didn't say anything.

Following Zhang Xu to the door of the second bedroom, he didn't knock but simply turned the handle.

The moment the door was pushed open, a blast of warm air mixed with a strong smell of smoke rushed out.

The room was dimly lit by only a small bedside nightlight. Pei Lin sat on the edge of the bed, leaning against the headboard. He had taken off his coat and was only wearing a dark shirt with two buttons undone at the collar.

Hearing the door open, he turned his head slightly and his gaze fell on Chu Haonan.

Those eyes remained calm, but Chu Haonan and Pei Lin had known each other for so many years, and he could see at a glance what was pressing down beneath that calmness.

His pupils were focused too intently, staring too hard, which ironically revealed their unfocused state underneath. Chu Haonan sighed inwardly and walked over to sit down on the chair by the bed.

What caused this?

Pei Lin didn't answer immediately. His gaze lowered to his outstretched palm, and he remained silent for a moment before speaking, his voice slightly low and hoarse.

"The boat took on water, so I jumped into the sea," he briefly recounted what had happened that night.

Chu Haonan's brow furrowed instantly upon hearing this. "Is it tonight?"

"Um."

Having received a definite answer, Chu Haonan remained silent. Hearing the other person continue, "I heard my mother's voice... and..." he paused, then fell silent.

Chu Haonan, however, had a bad feeling. He tentatively asked, "Shi Jiaming?"

Pei Lin rubbed his tired brow. "Mm."

"This is not a good sign..." Chu Haonan knew Pei Lin's condition well. When he had an attack, he was prone to auditory hallucinations, which were always of people who held a very important place in his heart. The more he cared, the worse the illness became, because his concern gave rise to a desire for control and possession.

This is hardly a good thing for Shi Jiaming.

Pei Lin didn't speak, and the room was quiet for a few seconds.

Chu Haonan looked at Pei Lin's face, which was clearly outlined but pale under the dim light, and his heart tightened completely.

Finally, all that could be heard was Pei Lin's low, hoarse voice saying...

"Just like before, give me some medicine."

Chu Haonan frowned and advised, "You know better than I do that it's best to avoid taking medicine if possible. It can create dependence and harm your health."

He suggested, "Let him leave. It's for your own good, and it's also for his own good."

Upon hearing this, Pei Lin's eyes grew even darker. He raised his gaze to stare at Chu Haonan, his emotions unreadable, leaving Chu Haonan bewildered. Just as Chu Haonan was about to speak, he heard the other man speak softly.

"Are you jealous of me too?"

Chu Haonan: "..." I'm speechless.

Forget it.

It seems his illness has really flared up; his paranoia has already manifested.

Chu Haonan was afraid that if he continued talking, he might become a sinner. He opened the first-aid kit he had brought, took out a box of medicine, and handed it to Pei Lin.

"One box contains six pills. Just like before, take one pill when an attack occurs. Use this medicine to control your auditory hallucinations for the next few months. I'll research ways to suppress your bipolar disorder to prevent you from impulsively hurting others if it gets too severe."

Pei Lin took it, his eyes lowered, and said in a flat tone, "No need, I have my own way."

These words made Chu Haonan frown, probably understanding what Pei Lin's method was. Without even thinking, he refused outright.

"no."

"Your method is too extreme; it's practically self-torture."

Pei Lin didn't speak, but Chu Haonan directly said to Zhang Xu, "Go and bring Xiao Hei to me. I'll take it to my place."

As he spoke, he glanced at Pei Lin and said, "I'm doing this for your sake."

Pei Lin remained silent, which was tantamount to him acquiescing to Chu Haonan taking Xiao Hei away.

"There's one more thing." Chu Haonan's expression turned serious as he looked at Pei Lin. "Have you considered whether your jumping into the sea was an accident or something deliberately done?"

Pei Lin paused, then remained silent.

"Not many people know that you suffer from paranoia. Apart from your close subordinates, even your father and Pei Shuli don't know. If someone close to you were to have a problem, shouldn't you be aware of it?"

These words made Pei Lin lower his eyes. "It must have been an accident."

"If it was an accident, why did you choose to meet at sea? Why did the Shen family happen not to come? And why did the ship leak? Pei Lin, think carefully about whether you have let anything slip these past few days."

"For example... Shi Jiaming." Chu Haonan stared intently at Pei Lin's face, noticing a slight flicker in the other's pupils.

He knew it.

Shi Jiaming definitely knew about Pei Lin's illness; Pei Lin must have let it slip.

"No..." Pei Lin rubbed his temples. "He doesn't know what PPD means." His performance couldn't be faked; it couldn't be him.

A thoughtful look appeared in Chu Haonan's eyes. "Do you really think so?"

"What if I told you, a week ago..."

"Shi Jiaming once asked me about the triggers for his paranoid episodes?"

At that time, he thought Shi Jiaming was just curious and concerned about Pei Lin, so he told him.

Looking back now...

If it really is Shi Jiaming...

Pei Lin's tone deepened, and he said with a serious expression, "I told you, it wasn't him."

Chu Haonan quickly retorted, "Whether he can find out or not, he'll have to investigate!"