Yan Shen was stunned for a moment.

He could feel that since getting off the plane yesterday and stepping onto this land, his mental state had begun to feel a bit off. His temper was so frayed that it was almost bizarre, and he was also extremely easy to anger. The originally normal social engagements now required all his restraint to hold back the impulses to scold non-stop and curse at people.

This abnormally excited and emotionally elevated state was not unfamiliar to him. He had experienced it many times before - it was a sign that his bipolar disorder was starting to act up.

Forcibly suppressing himself to pretend to be in his usual calm and indifferent state, the banquet that had just ended had pushed his inner irritation to the peak. In order to avoid losing control in public, he had originally planned to just take a quick look here to pay lip service before leaving.

He hadn't expected to have an episode as soon as he landed, so he didn't bring his medication back from abroad. The most correct response at the moment was to leave here as soon as possible and go see a doctor.

On the way to this private room just now, he had already made an appointment with his domestic private doctor to meet in two hours. Calculating the driving time, leaving here in twenty minutes should be about right.

It was just a movie investment after all. He had no interest in entertainment industry matters or people. As long as it could make him money, he was indifferent to everything else.

If it weren't for the coincidence of going up and down the stairs with that previous social engagement, he would never have accepted an invitation to this kind of banquet under normal circumstances.

This was what Yan Shen had originally thought, but as soon as he entered the door of the private room, when he met those unrestrained jet-black eyes, the surging emotions in his heart that wanted to break through something suddenly paused for a moment, then slowly receded like the tide.

Although the recession was not complete, it was probably like drinking poison to quench thirst, but it was already enough for him to stay here for a while longer.

He steadied himself slightly, and at the director's enthusiastic invitation, he gave a slight nod and sat down in the main seat.

From beginning to end, those eyes like black crystal washed in water never left him.

After taking a seat, his friend beside him tugged at the corner of his mouth and lightly nudged his arm, casting him a subtle look of "Are you crazy, why aren't you leaving, do you want to make a scene here?"

Yan Shen: "..."

As one of his few friends, this other investor in the crew was well aware of the issues he had. He had just notified the other party that he needed to go to the hospital.

But plans couldn't keep up with changes. Now he was already sitting here safe and sound, looking like he was going to take this meal seriously.

However, the mentally unrestrained President Yan during an episode probably couldn't be measured by common sense. After calmly ignoring his friend's hint, Yan Shen once again cast his gaze to the black-haired youth sitting in the corner, some distance away from him.

The youth sat there in a very well-behaved posture, still slightly raising his head to look at him. There was a soft emotion in the depths of his eyes. When their gazes met, not only was there no trace of fluster at being caught peeking, he even pursed his lips and gave Yan Shen an extremely slight smile.

— What a strange person. He looked soft and harmless, and wasn't afraid of Yan Shen at all.

And he smiled.

What was even stranger was that Yan Shen also didn't feel any disgusted emotions towards this person. Instead, he felt an unusual interest.

Usually, towards people who took the initiative to approach him like this, Yan Shen couldn't even be bothered to spare them a glance, especially when he was having an episode. He would be so irritated that he wanted to kill them.

But this time seemed a little different.

Perhaps it was due to the influence of his condition, but when he was being watched by the other person, he actually couldn't help but feel a strange sense of... pleasure and satisfaction.

When he received that tiny smile, it was as if something in the depths of his heart collapsed in swathes.

......

"Bipolar disorder is short for manic-depressive disorder. It is an illness where manic and depressive states appear in an alternating or mixed form. To a certain extent, it can be said to be a mixture of the two illnesses." Su Duan listened to the system popularizing in his ear while looking at the target. "The causes of this disease are very complex. It will have multiple episodes in the patient's life, with each episode lasting between two to six months, but depending on the specific circumstances, it may not necessarily be limited to this range."

Su Duan: "Mm-hmm."

The director began talking to Yan Shen. The man moved his gaze away, lowering his eyes slightly, and responded with a very indifferent expression.

In order to listen to the system's explanation of the man's illness and not get distracted, Su Duan also lowered his own gaze back to the tablecloth.

The system continued, "The healing target is currently in the onset period of his third bipolar episode in life. The healing target's onset this time began with a manic state."

Su Duan was a little nervous and asked incoherently, "So it has already started, will he get hurt? What should I do?"

The system said, "Yes, Host, but you don't need to worry. As long as the healing target doesn't have suicidal behavior, this kind of illness generally won't be life-threatening. You can take it slow."

Only then did Su Duan feel a bit relieved. "Okay, okay." Then he asked with great eagerness to learn, "Manic state... what does that refer to?"

The system continued to explain very professionally, "Bipolar disorder is a type of mental illness of mood disorders. It is mainly manifested as an elevated mood or being easily angered. It is also accompanied by symptoms such as mental excitation, increased speech, increased activity, increased sexual desire, etc. In severe cases, it may also produce hallucinations, delusions, tension and other symptoms."

Su Duan took half a minute to try hard to understand the system's explanation, and summarized, "So Yan Shen is actually very excited and very easily angered right now?"

The system said, "That's right, Host."

Su Duan looked up at the expressionless man and froze. "..."

He clearly looked neither excited nor angry, but extremely calm and composed.

Sensing the gaze of the black-haired youth, Yan Shen, who was slightly tilting his head listening to the director say something, sensitively moved his eyes and met Su Duan's gaze.

His long raven lashes were lowered, and the jet-black eyes underneath appeared calm and restrained.

Out of some confused thought, Su Duan brewed his emotions for a moment, and glared fiercely at the man with his best impression of a "provocative" expression.

Yan Shen was stunned for a moment, not understanding why the black-haired youth who had just been smiling at him suddenly widened his eyes like glass beads and looked at him with a bit of grievance.

Did he do something to hurt others...?

President Yan couldn't help but frown. After thinking it over, he still felt that with his impeccable appearance and elegant demeanor, he shouldn't have left a bad impression on anyone. The fault shouldn't lie with him.

Someone must have bullied him.

Scanning the table, he noticed the black-haired youth sitting in the corner, clearly isolated. It all made sense now.

The two exchanged glances across the table several times. The friend sitting next to Yan Shen gradually sensed that something was off.

He thought, "No wonder Yan Shen refused to leave as soon as he entered. Turns out he had his eye on someone inside."

Who knows if that private doctor whose appointment was cancelled would be furious...

But he remembered that even when Yan Shen had an episode and acted like a narcissistic lunatic, he generally didn't flirt with people, right?

What happened this time?

The friend was quite troubled.

He couldn't just forcibly drag Yan Shen away. Putting aside how it would look to others, if he dared to force Yan Shen now, the end result would likely be getting rebuked by this patient who couldn't stand being contradicted.

No matter what, he had to find a way to soothe Yan Shen's mood first.

......

After the director engaged Yan Shen in a tactful chat for a while, he introduced the main cast and supporting actors at the table one by one. Of course, he didn't dare do anything extra, just simply read out the names. Yan Shen and the other investors nodded, and that was that.

He stopped after introducing the last person before Su Duan. Su Duan's identity was too troublesome to explain, and the sudden replacement was inexplicable. The boss might not be in the mood to listen.

Yan Shen frowned, thinking that the black-haired youth was indeed being deliberately snubbed, and prepared to speak up for him.

But before he could say anything, his friend's voice already rang out: "Director Xie, isn't there one more person you haven't introduced? Look, the one sitting over there."

"Oh, oh." The director seemed surprised that the other would take the initiative to ask about Su Duan. He explained again cautiously: "...This is a newcomer under our male lead Xie Zhu. His name is Su Duan. Xie Zhu suddenly fell ill today and couldn't make it, so we gave this little newcomer a chance to see the world."

The director laughed and said, "The kid has a fresh face and doesn't know how to talk much."

"He has a good temperament," the friend smiled and said, "Why don't you come sit over here?"

As soon as he said this, the room instantly fell silent for a moment.

The intention behind his words was very obvious, so obvious that no one bothered to hide it. Everyone present understood what it meant. For a moment, some of the stars who hadn't been favored showed reluctance and jealousy in their eyes.

Although the original intention of this dinner party wasn't to pimp anyone out, it didn't stop some of the attendees from having that idea.

The investor who had taken a liking to Su Duan and planned to take him under his wing also changed his expression.

There were differences among investors. The other investors at the table were not on the same level as the two big bosses.

If the other party took a fancy to Su Duan, he probably wouldn't have much of a chance.

Although it wasn't a big deal, it was still a bit frustrating to see the duck that was about to enter his mouth being snatched away.

The friend seemed oblivious to the unusual atmosphere in the private room and calmly instructed the waiter, "Come, move a chair over there," pointing to the spot on Yan Shen's right.

He sat to Yan Shen's left, watching him, letting the little newcomer that Yan Shen fancied sit to his right. He refused to believe that Yan Shen would still have anything to be dissatisfied with.

Since the boss had spoken, there was no reason to refuse and lose face. So despite the complex emotions, after a brief silence, everyone started moving to make room for Su Duan.

Very quickly, the director originally sitting to Yan Shen's right was replaced by Su Duan, with everyone from the director onward shifting back one seat.

Although he didn't know what happened, being able to sit next to his partner made Su Duan very happy.

He couldn't help but wiggle his butt, sitting on the edge of the chair closer to the other person.

Noticing the black-haired youth's little movements on the chair, Yan Shen couldn't help but lower his eyes to conceal a hint of almost bizarre delight, meeting the youth's gaze with a normal expression.

The black-haired youth's gaze on him carried an undisguised intention to get close, so direct that he couldn't help wanting to reach out and pull the youth to his side, tightly pressed against him, to satisfy the youth's wish.

It was only the last shred of rationality remaining that told him he couldn't make such an undignified move in public, barely restraining the urge to do something.

After staring at his seemingly still very calm partner for a while, Su Duan suddenly thought of something and blinked, asking the system in his mind, "The prop I bought in the previous world has taken effect, right?"

The system said, "Yes, Host. The special prop [I Am a Medicine] that you purchased for 100 experience points in the previous world has taken effect. Every part of your body now has a medicine-like effect. Please make reasonable use of it, Host~"

Su Duan: "Mm-hmm."

After changing seats, the dishes began to be served by the waiters in an orderly manner, and the private room gradually became busy.

Taking advantage of no one paying attention, Su Duan's lowered left hand lifted slightly. Under the cover of the tablecloth, according to the position he glimpsed from the corner of his eye, he slowly felt for the leg of the person beside him.

The sensation of soft fingertips touching his leg, separated by a layer of suit fabric, wasn't actually very noticeable. But under excessive concentration, that slight rubbing sensation was amplified many times over, turning into an unbearable, maddening itch, as if it could drive a person crazy.

Yan Shen's body stiffened for a moment, his pupils constricting and his Adam's apple also uncontrollably rolling.

One of the clinical manifestations of mania was increased impulses in that area.

Just from being touched so lightly, he, who usually had excellent self-control, actually couldn't control the restlessness in his body.

The friend, who saw everything happening under the tablecloth clearly because he was sitting close: "..."

Damn, his eyes hurt.

But come to think of it, this little newcomer who looked so innocent was really more clever than he expected.

Sure enough, no matter how pure one looked on the outside, there wasn't a clean one in this circle.