Lin Wan wasn't sure whether to trust Chen Jin. He said he would cure her illness and set her free, but it sounded as unbelievable as a tiger claiming it would start eating vegetables. But she wanted to believe him, because that was the only way to have hope. And Chen Jin's actions in the following days made her believe, or rather, made her realize he was an extremist. Once he decided on something, he was meticulous to the point of obsession. She was somewhat "flattered" by it, even though she didn't quite know how to handle it.
First, Chen Jin took her to the hospital for comprehensive checks at the neurology and psychiatry departments, confirming the severity of her depression. He prescribed some medication but didn't want her to take too much, as the drugs had side effects and were addictive. Instead, he set up a rehabilitation plan for her, starting with her routine, exercise, and diet.
Every night at nine, he would make her go to bed. To prevent her from having insomnia, he'd remind her to drink a glass of milk before bed. Sometimes, he'd even warm it up for her and watch her drink it. At six in the morning, he would pull her out of bed. His biological clock was so precise that he didn't even need an alarm. He would wake up at the exact time. Lin Wan couldn't help but admire that. In the winter, he bought her thick sweatpants, sneakers, and a sporty down jacket, bundling her up tightly before taking her out for exercise. He wore little himself, but his hand, holding hers, was warm. Lin Wan couldn't help but resent it. Why did the evil ones live forever? Because they were so healthy.
There were many early risers in the park, but ninety percent of them were elderly people, and their forms of exercise varied. At their age, they were quite the exception. The first few days, they just walked briskly, what they called "power walking." Lin Wan wasn't in good shape and would be out of breath after a while, needing to stop and rest. Then, she didn't want to move anymore. Every time that happened, Chen Jin would coldly ask, "Do you still want to get better?" and then pull her hand and drag her along. His strides were so long that, once he noticed she was struggling, he would slow down, but even then, Lin Wan still found it exhausting.
After two weeks, Lin Wan had barely adjusted to this routine when Chen Jin took it a step further and took her for a hike. The mountain wasn't big, located in the park, and was only a small hill for a strong man like him. But for Lin Wan, it was a huge challenge. A couple of times, she had been so exhausted that she sat down on the ground in frustration, but Chen Jin didn't rush her. He would stand beside her, watching until she was ready to continue. She looked at his cold profile and thought, He's nothing like the man who warmed my milk last night. That was a lie, but this is the real him.
Lin Wan also had some trivial bad habits, one of which was being picky with food. Since her depression had affected her appetite, she didn't want to eat anything. Chen Jin couldn't supervise every meal, but every night, he would ask her what she had eaten for lunch, what fruits she'd had during the day. Sometimes, she would give him a vague answer, but he was sharp enough to catch her lies immediately. Then he'd drag her out for a late-night snack, making up for the nutrients she had missed. Lin Wan complained that he was overdoing it, but he would sternly reply, "You can't be careless about your health. You've become skin and bones. You need to gain some weight."
The most ridiculous part? He even bought an electronic scale and would weigh her every couple of days. If the needle went up, he would act like he had won the lottery. Lin Wan would grumble, What a weirdo. How does he get so worked up over something like this?
Lin Wan loved listening to music on her MP3 player during her commute. One day, she noticed that the songs on it had been completely changed. The sad or melancholic songs had been replaced with cheerful and soothing ones. The first song on the list was Ode to Joy. She was speechless at Chen Jin's audacity to take such liberties with her playlist, but at the same time, she felt a strange warmth she shouldn't have felt.
On weekends, Chen Jin would suggest going out for a walk. Lin Wan didn't want to go. She felt that their relationship was something to be hidden, something that couldn't be seen in the light of day. Chen Jin didn't push her. Instead, they would stay in the apartment. He would work in the studies, attending remote meetings and handling some business. After that, he'd watch TV with her. More precisely, she watched TV, and he watched her. His gaze, filled with unspoken meaning, made her uncomfortable. Every time she tried to leave, he would stop her, pulling her back.
Then, the two of them, tightly squeezed on the couch with the dog at their feet, formed a seemingly harmonious picture. The dog was content, and Chen Jin appeared satisfied, but Lin Wan was the only one who felt awkward.
Speaking of TV, they didn't exactly share the same taste. Lin Wan wanted to watch a Korean drama, but after a few minutes, Chen Jin dismissed it, saying, "This is so boring. You women get dumber the more you watch this stuff." Since Lin Wan was stuck in his embrace and couldn't move, she turned the volume up to drown out his incessant complaints. Then, the dog, Nini, started barking in protest, matching the volume. Chen Jin, annoyed, took off his slippers and threw them at Nini. The dog yelped and ran to its old corner. Lin Wan found herself laughing at the ridiculousness of it all. Chen Jin grinned proudly, "That's how you find a weapon when you need it. My mom used to use this trick on me when I was younger. It really hurt, but I was so stubborn, I'd throw her shoes far away."
"What happened then?"
"Huh?"
"What did your mom do?"
"Oh, my mom, frustrated and out of ideas, would just sit on the floor and cry. Then I'd pick up her shoes and give them back to her."
Lin Wan snorted in disdain, "You're really something."
Chen Jin froze for a moment, then smiled, "Yeah, I'm a jerk. I used to bully my own mom, but I regret it now. I've realized that the one thing you can't mess with is women."
The next day, when Chen Jin returned from work, he brought a DVD. He eagerly pulled Lin Wan to watch it with him. "It's a new comedy, Lost on the Road. It's hilarious. My idol's in it. Make sure you watch closely."
When Wang Baoqiang appeared on the screen, Lin Wan laughed and asked, "This is your idol?"
"Yeah, what's wrong with that? I liked him the first time I saw him in The Theft of the World. He's got such a joyful face."
"Didn't think so." Lin Wan muttered under her breath.
"You can't say he's not funny?" Chen Jin pretended to be angry, then quoted a line from the movie, making Lin Wan laugh even harder. "Who's the thief here? Come out, I want to see!" He mimicked the accent so perfectly, but it was his serious expression that made Lin Wan laugh even more.
Chen Jin watched her laugh and then switched to an exaggerated, old-fashioned tone, "I once turned my heart to the bright moon, but the moon shone on the gutter instead. Those who know me say I am troubled, while those who don't ask what I seek." Before Lin Wan could react, he switched again, stuttering, "Hit, hit, hit, robbery."
Lin Wan burst into laughter again. Chen Jin leaned in closer, lowering his voice, "Shh, be serious. It's a robbery." Then he got even closer, breathing out hot air as he said, "Miss, I want to rob you of your heart."