CEO office.
Adrian Carter watched as Riley Palmer still sat on the sofa in a daze, her soul clearly still floating somewhere in the clouds.
"President Carter." Yulius Linn lowered his head respectfully.
Adrian waved his hand casually, signaling him to leave.
Yulius lowered his head again and left the office.
Riley Palmer seemed not to notice the familiar scent of jasmine that drifted into the room.
Adrian walked quietly over and sat down beside her.
Only then did Riley slowly turn to look at him. Her eyes, usually bright and sparkling, were now somewhat dim.
Adrian gently stroked her hair and looked at her. "Tired?" His eyes were full of tenderness and distress.
"Riley, let's go home."
Riley did not answer, nor did she show any strong reaction. She obediently followed him to the underground parking area.
Adrian helped her into the passenger seat and fastened her seat belt for her.
He opened his phone and stared at the three characters in his contact list: "Yudy Palmer," frozen for a long moment.
In the end, he closed the phone.
The car came to a steady stop in the parking lot beneath the apartment building.
Adrian unbuckled his own seat belt and looked over at Riley, who had already fallen asleep, her face showing signs of exhaustion.
"Riley." Adrian called her softly.
She seemed to be in a deep sleep and did not respond at all.
His expression immediately became anxious.
Without thinking further, he quickly dialed the familiar number.
"Yudy." His voice was tense as his hand kept gently shaking the girl beside him.
"What's wrong?" Yudy caught the abnormality in Adrian's voice at once, and Riley's image flashed through his mind.
"Did Riley… have an episode?" Yudy's voice came through the line.
"What do you mean?" Adrian frowned, his hand slowly stopping.
Yudy sighed on the other end. "Adrian, take Riley up to the apartment first. I'll come back later and explain everything to you in person."
"Okay." Adrian looked worriedly at the girl beside him, but still asked the question he cared about most. "She's really going to be okay, right?"
"Let her sleep for a while. She's probably been too tired lately."
"I still have something to handle here. I'll hang up first."
"Beep beep beep—"
Adrian stared at the girl beside him, his eyes deep, as he gently brushed her hair aside.
"Knock knock—"
May Miller slowly got up from her bed, a trace of impatience on her face as she walked to the door. "Who is it?"
She leaned against the door and slowly opened her eyes. When she saw Adrian standing there holding Riley, the heaviness in his eyes was gone, replaced by shock.
But she quickly noticed that something was wrong with Riley.
"What's wrong with Riley?" May stood on tiptoe, examining her condition.
Adrian's voice was low. "She's just tired."
May immediately stepped aside. "Hurry!"
Adrian gently laid Riley on her plush, toy-filled bed.
Riley's body slowly curled up, wrapping herself into a tight little ball.
Adrian looked at her and softly called her name, carefully trying to uncurl her body.
"Riley… Riley…"
But the more he tried, the more her body curled inward.
"Just let her be for a while." May came over with a glass of water in her hand and handed it to Adrian.
She took out her phone, looked at the message on the screen, then walked to a small table by Riley's bed. "It should be this."
When May stood up again, she had a small bottle of medicine in her hand.
"What is that?" Adrian slowly raised his eyes to look at the medicine.
May froze for a moment, her voice slightly trembling. "You're not allowed to tell Riley that I told you this."
She tightened her grip on the bottle. "This is medicine that helps Riley regulate her mental state."
"Mental?" Adrian slowly walked toward her and took the bottle from her hand.
He looked at the plain white bottle, which had no labels or ingredient list, and frowned.
He poured out one pill and took out his phone, calling someone.
"Pinnoc, Tianshan Apartments, Room 208."
He glanced at May, who was still standing there in a daze. "Miss Miller, is there anything else?"
"N-no…" May waved her hands quickly. "I'll go. Make yourself at home."
She slipped away quickly, fleeing the scene.
Adrian's gaze returned to Riley. He gently covered her with the blanket and slowly patted her back.
"Don't be afraid, Riley. I'm here."
[I'm here, Mr. Carter.]
Adrian slowly stood up and walked out of the room.
"Click—" The door closed quietly.
The entire room fell into silence and darkness.
Riley's eyes snapped open. She looked around the dark room, then pulled the blanket over herself, hiding completely under it.
"Hiss—"
A beam of light slowly shone in.
Adrian turned on the light and looked at the slightly trembling lump under the blanket.
His eyes showed a flicker of light—and also some darkness and confusion.
"Riley, you're awake?" He carefully approached the little bundle.
Riley's eyes were unfocused, full of panic. She clutched the blanket tightly.
When she saw Adrian leaning in, her arms reached out to his neck, hugging him tightly.
Pinnoc stood nearby and carefully took out a pen, recording every movement and reaction she made.
Her pupils were slightly scattered, and her whole body lacked energy.
Adrian picked up the medicine May had brought over and handed it to Pinnoc. "Take a look."
Pinnoc stepped forward, carefully examined the pills inside, and even smelled them.
"This should be a kind of medication that controls mental conditions," he said with certainty, clearing Adrian's doubt. "But the exact ingredients… I'll need to analyze them further."
He poured one pill onto his palm and then handed the bottle back to Adrian. "Mr. Carter, you can give Miss Palmer one pill first."
Adrian looked worriedly at Riley, who was weakly leaning against him. "Riley, take your medicine."
Taking the glass of water May had brought, he watched quietly as she swallowed the pill.
After taking it, her eyes gained a small bit of light, and she yawned.
"Go to sleep." Adrian gently patted her back, looking at the arm she was gripping tightly. "I'm not leaving."
Riley glanced at him, then slowly closed her eyes.
"Mr. Palmer." Pinnoc bowed respectfully.
Yudy Palmer gave a slight nod and made a quiet "shh" gesture, placing a finger before his lips.
He looked at Adrian sitting by the bed. "We'll talk later."
Then he left the room, took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and walked onto the balcony.
Adrian waited until the girl had fallen into a deep sleep before carefully pulling his arm away.
Pinnoc nodded to Adrian and hurried off to the lab to analyze the medicine.
Balcony.
As soon as Adrian stepped out, he saw the almost-full ashtray. "Aren't you afraid of being photographed?"
Yudy glanced at him and slowly pressed the half-burned cigarette into the ashtray. "Is Riley asleep?"
"Yeah." Adrian put his hands in his pockets, his eyes heavy as he watched the sun slowly sink. "Riley, she…"
"Depression." Yudy gripped the railing and slowly said the rest. "And somatization."
He kept flipping the lighter in his hand, the 'click click' sound going on for a long time.
Adrian's eyes widened slightly as he looked at the sadness in Yudy's eyes. "That's impossible."
"Adrian, three years ago… Riley had a severe somatization episode. It hasn't flared up for a long time. When she suddenly left without notice, we were all worried, so everyone rushed back. Even Chloe Frost, who was in another city, found an excuse to stay by Riley's side."
Adrian's brows knitted tighter as he listened to the truth unfolding.
Depression…
When did it start?
How did it begin?
Why hadn't he noticed anything all this time?
"You don't need to feel guilty. You've protected Riley very well. Maybe you can give her more time, so she can truly hold your hand in the outside world."
Yudy looked at Adrian. "Adrian, Riley's illness started many years ago."
"Maybe from the first time she met you on the rooftop. Or maybe from when I was always away from home, and our relatives almost forced her to marry an idiot."
"I actually don't know how she survived all those years. I wasn't a good brother."
"Originally, I thought I could just earn more money and let her live as a carefree princess."
"I overestimated myself. Riley… has had it tough."
"I know." Adrian slowly tightened his grip on the railing, and there was a new firmness in his eyes. "Riley is very strong."
"Crash—"
Adrian and Yudy exchanged a glance and rushed back into Riley's room one after the other.
They saw a cup shattered on the floor and Riley sitting there, stunned and frightened.
Adrian didn't think twice. He hurried over and wrapped her in his arms. "It's okay, Riley, it's okay."
Seeing that her pale hands were uninjured, he finally relaxed a little.
Yudy brought in a broom, carefully cleaning up the glass pieces, smiling as he spoke to her, "Riley is bringing peace for the year."
Riley's eyes curved slightly. For the first time in hours, she showed a trace of emotion.
Adrian immediately sent this update to Pinnoc.
[This is a very good sign.]
[Mr. Carter, I have a junior who studies psychology.]
[I think Madam may need his help.]
[Send me his information.]
[Yes, sir.]
"Riley, are you going to sleep more?" Adrian gently picked up a hair tie and tied up the hair by her ear.
Riley didn't answer. She just touched her stomach.
"Are you hungry?" Adrian's warm palm rested against her cold hand.
Riley quietly looked at him.
Adrian understood. The little girl was indeed hungry.
He stood up, ready to go make something to eat for her.
Riley tightly clutched his sleeve, her big eyes staring straight at him.
Adrian slowly crouched in front of her, raising his head to look at her. "Do you want to go together?"
Riley nodded slightly.
Adrian stood up, took off his stiff coat, and carefully picked her up. "Okay." His voice was very gentle, afraid of startling her.