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The Manipulator's Obsession

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The Manipulator's Obsession

CHAPTER 1

🖤 The Manipulator’s Obsession

Chapter 1 — A Name He Shouldn’t Remember

The atmosphere inside the clinic was… warm.

Not because of the temperature,

but because of the person sitting inside it.

“Take your time, sir,” Su Yanxin said gently, his voice soft like a quiet breeze. “There’s no rush here.”

A faint smile rested on his lips—natural, comforting, the kind that didn’t feel forced.

It was the kind of smile that made people believe…

Maybe things could get better.

Across from him, a man sat stiffly, his fingers tightly intertwined as if holding onto something invisible.

Stress. Fear. Hesitation.

Yanxin noticed it all.

He always did.

Tilting his head slightly, he asked again—this time a little softer,

“Tell me… what’s been troubling you?”

The man exhaled slowly, his shoulders dropping just a little.

“…Doctor,” he began, his voice rough, “I’ve been working for someone… for years.”

Yanxin nodded lightly, signaling him to continue.

“It wasn’t… normal work,” the man admitted, his gaze lowering. “You could say it was… dark.”

Yanxin didn’t react.

No judgment. No surprise.

Only quiet attention.

“And now?” Yanxin asked.

“I want to leave,” the man said, almost desperately. “I want a normal life. I want to get married… start a family… live peacefully.”

For a brief moment, Yanxin’s eyes softened even more.

That kind of dream…

It was simple.

And yet, for some people, it felt impossible.

“But he won’t let me go,” the man continued, his voice tightening. “He says if I leave… it means I betrayed him.”

A silence followed.

Not heavy. Not suffocating.

Just enough for the words to settle.

Yanxin leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees, his expression thoughtful but still gentle.

“What kind of man is he?” he asked, a faint frown appearing between his brows.

The man let out a bitter chuckle.

“The kind… you can’t refuse.”

Yanxin didn’t like that answer.

Not because it was unclear—

but because it sounded like fear disguised as respect.

He tilted his head again, this time his tone a little firmer, yet still warm.

“Everyone has the right to choose their life,” he said softly. “No one owns you, sir.”

The man looked up at him, surprised.

Yanxin smiled—bright, reassuring.

“If your heart wants peace… then you should follow it.”

“…But what if he doesn’t let me?” the man asked quietly.

Yanxin’s gaze didn’t waver.

“Then you don’t ask for permission,” he replied gently. “You decide.”

There was no force in his words.

No pressure.

But somehow…

they carried strength.

Real strength.

The kind that didn’t need to be loud.

The man stared at him for a long moment, something shifting in his eyes.

Fear… slowly giving way to something else.

Hope.

“I… I just want to live normally,” he whispered.

“And you will,” Yanxin said with a soft smile. “It might be difficult at first… but difficult doesn’t mean impossible.”

A pause.

Then, a lighter tone—

“Besides,” Yanxin added with a small chuckle, “you deserve to be happy too, don’t you?”

The man blinked.

Then, for the first time since he entered the room—

he smiled.

It was small. Weak.

But real.

“…Thank you, Doctor.”

Yanxin simply nodded.

“No need to thank me,” he said warmly. “Just live well. That will be enough.”

The session ended shortly after.

As the man stood up to leave, his steps felt… lighter.

Not completely free.

But no longer trapped.

At the door, he turned back once.

“Doctor… I really mean it. Thank you.”

Yanxin smiled again, that same soft, steady smile.

“Take care of yourself.”

The door closed.

And silence returned.

Yanxin let out a quiet breath, leaning back slightly in his chair.

For a moment, his smile faded into something more thoughtful.

That man…

There was something about his words that didn’t sit right.

“What kind of person makes someone feel like they don’t have the right to leave…?” he murmured under his breath.

A faint frown formed.

Then—

a thought crossed his mind.

He sat up slightly.

“Sir,” he had asked just before the man left, “can you tell me one thing?”

The man had paused.

“That person… the one who won’t let you go…”

Yanxin’s voice had remained calm, but there was curiosity beneath it.

“What’s his name?”

The man hesitated for a second.

Then answered.

“…Chi Cheng.”

Back in the present—

Yanxin blinked slowly.

“Chi Cheng…” he repeated under his breath.

The name felt unfamiliar.

But for some reason…

it left a strange impression.

A faint discomfort.

Even… a little anger.

He didn’t like people like that.

People who controlled others.

People who treated lives like something they owned.

“…What kind of man are you?” he muttered quietly.

There was no answer.

Only silence.

A few minutes later, Yanxin stood up and stretched lightly.

“Alright… time to close.”

He glanced at the clock.

5:00 PM.

His last patient had already left, and the clinic slowly returned to stillness.

After organizing his desk and turning off the lights, he grabbed his bag and stepped outside.

The evening air greeted him softly.

Cool. Calm.

Just like he liked it.

Ring.

His phone vibrated.

Yanxin didn’t even need to check.

A small, knowing smile appeared on his lips.

“…Troublemaker,” he murmured, already answering the call.

“Hello?”

“YANXIN—!” a dramatic voice exploded from the other side.

Yanxin sighed.

“What kind of trouble are you in this time, bro?”

A pause.

Then—

“…How did you know?” Ji Yang sounded genuinely shocked.

Yanxin chuckled softly, adjusting his bag on his shoulder as he walked.

“Because you only call me when your life is falling apart.”

“HEY—!” Ji Yang protested. “That’s not true!”

“Really?” Yanxin raised an eyebrow. “Then hang up.”

“…Wait no, okay fine, you’re right,” Ji Yang admitted instantly.

Yanxin smiled, already expecting that.

“So,” he said, “what is it this time?”

The tone on the other side suddenly changed—becoming unusually sweet.

Dangerously sweet.

“Yanxinnnn~” Ji Yang dragged his name like honey. “My dear best friend… my lifesaver… my only hope…”

Yanxin stopped walking.

“…I’m hanging up.”

“NO WAIT WAIT WAIT—!” Ji Yang panicked. “Listen first!”

Yanxin sighed again.

“Five seconds.”

“Okay okay!” Ji Yang rushed. “Tomorrow I have to organize a big business party—BIG client, super important, everything has to be PERFECT—like no mistakes, zero errors, absolute perfection!”

“…And?” Yanxin asked calmly.

“…And I’m short on staff,” Ji Yang said weakly.

Silence.

Then—

“No.”

“YANXIN PLEASE—!” Ji Yang practically screamed. “If this goes wrong, I’m DEAD! My boss will kill me, the client will blacklist us, my career will END—”

“That sounds like a you problem,” Yanxin replied smoothly.

“Bestie…” Ji Yang’s voice dropped into pure emotional blackmail mode. “Brother… soulmate… light of my dark life…”

“…Stop.”

“Please help me just this once!”

Yanxin pinched the bridge of his nose.

He already knew…

He was going to lose.

“…What do you want me to do?” he asked finally.

Ji Yang gasped dramatically.

“I knew you loved me!”

“Answer the question.”

“Just help with the event tomorrow! Basic coordination, managing guests, nothing hard!”