The two agreed to see a psychologist together the next day. That night, Tian Tian said to Chen Dongyang,
"Mom and Dad have worried so much about our affairs over the years, and with Chun Chun's disappearance recently... we can't let them be stimulated any further. We'll handle this ourselves."
"I'll take care of Chun Chun, and you handle him. Do you feel confident you can do it?"
Chen Dongyang believed he could. The next day, the couple went their separate ways, each embarking on their plan.
Chen Dongyang continued to help Peng Fei with his work. Learning that Chun Chun wouldn't be around today and had gone shopping with her sister, Peng Fei felt a bit disappointed. Not being very talkative, he hadn't said a word in over an hour of work.
It was clear he was dispirited without Chun Chun.
Chen Dongyang wasn't there to work either, so he called Peng Fei to take a break, and they went to the second-floor balcony.
"Peng Fei, we're both grown men. I don't want to beat around the bush. Let's be honest. Do you like Chun Chun?"
Peng Fei hadn't intended to hide it, but he hadn't expected it to be noticed so quickly.
Unprepared, he didn't know how to answer and felt extremely awkward.
Seeing his expression, Chen Dongyang knew he had admitted it. He continued,
"You can like her. Chun Chun is beautiful, cute, has a good personality, and is kind. She deserves to be loved. But do you think you two are truly suitable?"
Chen Dongyang didn't hide anything from him. He recounted how Chun Chun had disappeared for a period, turning the household upside down and consuming immense manpower, resources, and finances to find her.
"I don't know if you can imagine it, but when a close family member suddenly disappears, and you don't know if they're alive or dead, the panic your family experiences... it was as if the sky was falling."
"Later, we learned she escaped from the brink of death. Although she seemed outwardly unharmed, she suffered severe psychological trauma. Do you know how much her family hates the person who hurt her?"
"If I'm not mistaken, you were the one who caused chaos in the Zhan family and harmed her, both physically and mentally?"
Peng Fei was already flustered. After hearing Chen Dongyang's words, he was at a loss for what to do. His face turned ashen, and he stammered, looking at Chen Dongyang.
"I know I'm guilty, I know I wronged her, I know I made a mistake, brother. Believe me, I truly understand now. Before, I..."
Chen Dongyang interrupted him, "You might not be a complicated person, perhaps you were just swept along by local customs and didn't intend to truly harm Chun Chun, but the harm caused is a fact."
"It's impossible to gloss over things with a few apologies and expect her parents and family to accept you."
Peng Fei was almost beside himself with panic.
Even his brother-in-law said they were impossible. What could he do?
He didn't know what to do or how to prove his feelings. Desperate, he squatted on the ground, pulling at his hair in frustration.
"I truly regret, deeply regret, what I did before. Because of ignorance, because of stupidity, I... I know no matter what I say or do, you won't believe me anymore. But I really like her. I just want to see her every day, treat her well, and I'd give my life for her."
Chen Dongyang believed these words were true.
After all, in terms of appearance, education, or family background, Chun Chun deserved to be loved like this by any man.
But clearly, Peng Fei was not the optimal choice.
He had a low level of education, no proper job. Even if he became a live-in son-in-law for the Zhan family, if people knew they had found such a country bumpkin, especially one who had harmed her before, the Zhan family's reputation would likely be ruined.
Chen Dongyang didn't want to crush him too hard. After watching for a while, he squatted down in front of him.
"I won't say much more. Let's talk about a practical issue. If Chun Chun truly ends up with you, can you guarantee her a good life?"
"Your family can't help you, and she can't go back to the countryside with you. If you were to settle down in Nancheng, do you think you have the capability?"
"Do you know how high the housing prices are in Nancheng? Do you know the cost of raising a child? If you two get married, and she stays at home to take care of the family, can you support a family?"
Peng Fei hadn't thought that far ahead. He was just blindly following his heart, thinking Zhan Jingchun was wonderful, liking her, and wanting to be with her.
Although he also hoped to earn a lot of money, he truly didn't know how.
"I don't know how high the housing prices are in Nancheng, nor the cost of raising a child. I only know that I like her and want her to do nothing but happy things every day. I have strength, I can work multiple jobs, and I will definitely do my best to earn money and give her the best!"
Chen Dongyang was a man, and he couldn't stand such empty words.
"Don't be so naive, Peng Fei. A person's energy is limited. Relying on manual labor to get rich is impossible. You can endure for a year or two with your strength, but can you sustain it for five or ten years?"
"Without a proper job, you have no ability to withstand risks. As you both get older, your income will stagnate. Have you heard the saying 'poverty makes couples quarrel over trivial matters'? Eventually, your feelings will be worn down by the details of life, and one day, Chun Chun will naturally look down on you."
Peng Fei was despairing. If even this wasn't enough, what should he do?
Seeing his lost and helpless eyes, Chen Dongyang hardened his heart.
"Don't think Chun Chun truly likes you. In psychology, there's a condition called Stockholm Syndrome. The victim, after being harmed, develops self-loathing, believing they are not worthy of acceptance by anyone else except their abuser, and thus, they give up and accept them."
"In Chun Chun's social circle, the men are all societal elites. She has always set high standards for herself. She must feel imperfect, which is why she's experiencing this sense of confusion. This isn't love; it's a pathological psychological state, do you understand?"
Peng Fei didn't know about Stockholm Syndrome.
But when Chen Dongyang said Chun Chun's love for him was just an illness, he completely broke down.
"No, Chun Chun isn't that kind of person..."
Chen Dongyang said, "She is a patient right now, someone who doesn't know what she wants. Your words are simply self-deception. She's confused, lost, and you're going to pretend to be oblivious too?"
"If you truly like her, if you truly want her to be well for the rest of her life, I think you should act like a man."
"Either let go, fulfill her, and let her heal to meet someone better. Or become that better person yourself. Until then, I don't want you to continue harming her. Do you understand what I mean?"
For the entire day, Peng Fei felt like a walking corpse.
Zhan Jingchun, however, had gained a lot. She had a long conversation with the psychologist, acquired much professional knowledge, and gained a clearer understanding of human nature.
She was eager to return and share with Peng Fei, but Peng Fei didn't ask her to stay for dinner that night.
He said he was too tired today and wanted to rest early, his attitude so cold it made Zhan Jingchun quite angry.