Dashing Student

Chapter 353 - 353, Bizarre Dreams

Chen Nan quietly waited in the private room for almost half an hour.

Suddenly, a crisp clip-clop sound came from outside the door.

It was the sound of high heels tapping on the ground, like beautiful musical notes leaping through the air.

This sound drew closer, carrying with it a mysterious allure.

Shortly after,

the door was gently pushed open and the figure of Yang Ruoshui appeared in Chen Nan’s line of sight.

She was clad in a sky-blue blouse, the color of which was like the clear sky, fresh and captivating.

It only served to better accentuate the fullness in front of her, making it seem even prouder. The ample curves were like flowers caressed by the spring breeze, vibrant and full of life, giving off an impression of being on the brink of bursting forth.

Especially when she moved, the slight trembling was all the more eye-catching, like a pebble cast upon a still lake, conjuring enticing ripples.

The black pencil skirt she paired it with snugly wrapped around her lean legs, perfectly outlining the smooth and graceful lines of her limbs.

Her high heels were like the finishing touch, each step she took imbued with confidence and elegance, making her figure appear even more upright.

With every move she made, she exuded a certain mature feminine charm.

That was a blend of intellect and elegance, like a fine wine treasured in an ancient castle that, with the passage of time, had become even more fragrant and enchanting.

It was hard to associate such an intelligent and charming beauty with being the chief of Jizhou Prison.

Upon seeing Chen Nan, Yang Ruoshui’s face broke into an alluring smile, "I thought I would arrive first, but I didn’t expect you to be here ahead of time."

Chen Nan joked with a smile, "When treating a beauty to dinner, one naturally can’t keep her waiting." He then made a welcoming gesture.

Yang Ruoshui elegantly took a seat at the dining table and although her face did not show it, Chen Nan’s use of the word "beauty" was quite pleasing to her.

After all,

it had been many years since anyone had called her that.

Chen Nan then asked the waiter to serve the dishes.

He poured a cup of tea for Yang Ruoshui and got straight to the point, "Prison Chief Yang, I am a straightforward person and I speak my mind. You didn’t invite me here today just to have a simple meal, did you?"

"Indeed, inviting you here today was not just for the sake of this meal," Yang Ruoshui took a light sip of tea and set the cup down, her gaze returning to Chen Nan, filled with undisguised admiration.

Chen Nan’s forthright character was like a ray of light into her somewhat dreary life, which delighted her.

At this point, she couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh, her brow furrowed slightly, a trace of helplessness flickered across her face as she slowly said, "I won’t hide it from you, Mr. Chen, I am deeply troubled by a sleep disorder."

"It’s not that I can’t sleep, it’s that... I’m afraid to sleep!" Yang Ruoshui’s eyes dimmed, her words revealing a deep sense of helplessness.

She had learned from Jiang Li that Chen Nan was a hidden master, especially skilled in medicine.

It was for this very reason that she made a special appointment with Chen Nan to have lunch here, hoping to find a solution to her problem from him.

Chen Nan’s face was filled with confusion, and he couldn’t help but ask, "Why are you afraid to sleep?"

Fear instantly flashed in Yang Ruoshui’s eyes, as if she recalled some horrifying scene, her body trembling slightly as she said, "Whenever I fall asleep, I find myself in a dark and sunless valley."

"That valley was like a forgotten corner of the world, surrounded by steep cliffs, with barely a glimmer of sunlight, only endless darkness enveloping everything."

"Poisonous insects were everywhere in the valley, densely covering every inch of land."

"These venomous creatures were all blood-red and emitted a strange glow in the darkness. Their bodies displayed a chilling hue, as if they were demons crawling out from the depths of hell."

"They writhed and climbed, vying to swarm onto me, and that feeling was like countless icy tentacles roaming over my body."

"They forced their way into my body through my orifices, and I, as if affected by an immobilization spell, could not move, only watch helplessly as they invaded my body, and that fear and despair... seemed to be swallowing me whole."

She took a deep breath, with the remnants of terror still lingering in her eyes, as she continued, "I know it’s only a dream, but that dream feels terrifyingly real."

"Every detail, every sensation, felt as though I was experiencing them firsthand."

"Moreover, this nightmare, like a haunting specter, entwines itself around me, relentlessly replaying every night, draining me of all my energy."

Chen Nan furrowed his brows, his face solemn as he asked, "Have you seen a psychologist?"

He had read many medical books in the mountains, which also recorded many strange and rare diseases.

Yet, this was the first time he had heard of such a bizarre condition, and his heart was full of astonishment.

Yang Ruoshui smiled wryly and shook her head, "I have, but it did no good."

"All those psychological treatment methods are like punching cotton when faced with this nightmare; they’re utterly ineffective."

Chen Nan couldn’t help but press on, "How long has this been going on?"

Yang Ruoshui answered, "For one year and three months now. Over this past year, not a single day have I had a peaceful sleep."

Chen Nan then asked, "When did you start working as a prison chief?"

Yang Ruoshui was somewhat puzzled by Chen Nan’s question but still replied honestly, "A year and a half ago."

Chen Nan nodded thoughtfully, paused for a moment, and then offered his opinion, "If there is nothing wrong with your psyche, then it’s almost certain that your current condition is related to your work at the prison."

"Why do you say that?" Yang Ruoshui asked with a face full of suspicion, unable to understand the connection between her nightmares and her work at the prison.

Chen Nan shrugged, smiling as he explained, "Prison is a special place, where criminals are confined."

"It’s filled with various negative emotions and energy."

"The sunless cells, the cold iron bars, the oppressive atmosphere—all these things make the prison a place heavy with Yin Energy."

"As a woman, you are naturally more Yin, and working for a long time in such an environment heavily laden with Yin Energy must inevitably have a serious impact on both your body and mind."

"The resentment and regret exuded by the prisoners, like invisible tentacles, erode the environment bit by bit."

"Being surrounded by it every day, these negative energies gradually permeate your body and your mental world, disturbing your spirit, which then manifests in the form of horror in your dreams."

Yang Ruoshui nodded in semi-understanding, her eyes filled with admiration for Chen Nan—clearly, she did not expect someone of his young age to possess knowledge of feng shui.

Coming back to her senses, a trace of inexplicable nervousness appeared in Yang Ruoshui’s beautiful eyes as she cautiously asked, "Since Mr. Chen has identified the problem, do you have a way to help me dispel this nightmare?"