The couple was terrified the little boy might accidentally die, which would spell their doom.

If that happened, their secret of buying and abusing a child would surely come to light. Fearing exposure, they started devising ways to rid themselves of the burden the boy had become.

A few days later, they abandoned him at the doorstep of an orphanage, then fled immediately, relocating to a new address.

For the little boy, this marked the end of his torment. Yet, he lost all memories of his life before the age of three. The only thing etched in his mind was the terrifying image of that cruel couple, forcing him to call them Mom and Dad.

He even developed a fear of the words “Mom” and “Dad.”

The only memories left in his mind were of pain and darkness.

After being taken in by the orphanage, the boy was reserved and rarely spoke. Despite being six years old, he displayed none of the liveliness or energy typical of a child his age.

Then, he was introduced to learning. Immersing himself in studying brought a faint spark of light back to his once-dim eyes.

Through his studies, he absorbed knowledge, trying to bury the pain of his past.

Even though he worked hard to seal away those three horrifying years, the damage to his body remained.

He discovered he stuttered. No matter how much he wanted to speak fluently, his words always came out halting and fragmented.

This was the root cause of Zhou Nanye’s stuttering.

After reliving these horrifying memories under hypnosis, Zhou Nanye lay on the hospital bed, visibly distressed.

His brows furrowed tightly, his handsome face etched with unease and fear.

Jiang Mianmian knew he must have seen all the pain from his past. It was as though an old, festering wound had been reopened, causing even more agony.

But simply covering up a scar was not the way to heal it. True recovery required cutting out the decay, a painful process that allowed new, healthy growth.

Jiang Mianmian gently held Zhou Nanye’s clenched fist and wiped away the slight dampness at the corners of his eyes.

She softly comforted him, whispering in his ear, “Don’t be afraid, Xiao Nanye. I’m right here with you.”

Upon hearing Jiang Mianmian’s sweet, soothing voice, Zhou Nanye’s pain seemed to lessen.

It felt as though a glimmer of light had pierced the darkness of those three agonizing years.

Under the doctor’s guidance, Zhou Nanye gradually woke from the hypnosis. As soon as he emerged from the painful memories, he couldn’t stop himself from reaching out and pulling Jiang Mianmian into his arms.

“Mian… Mianmian…”

He murmured her name softly, his voice filled with grievance and a plea for comfort.

Holding her close, he felt as though he had been brought back to life.

Those three years of childhood trauma had been unbearable, but the girl in front of him was his greatest solace.

With her by his side, the intense pain seemed almost manageable.

Naturally, Jiang Mianmian wrapped her arms around him in return, gently stroking his soft hair, giving him all the reassurance he needed.

“I’m here.”

Meanwhile, the doctor stood awkwardly nearby, watching the young couple embrace. With a hint of exasperation, he thought to himself, This lovey-dovey pair sure is inseparable.

After a while, the doctor hesitated before speaking up, “Can we move on to the next step of treatment now?”

It was only then that Zhou Nanye realized he had instinctively hugged Jiang Mianmian. Embarrassed, he let go, his face turning red. However, he couldn’t shake the lingering reluctance in his heart.

Because Zhou Nanye’s stutter made it difficult for him to recount his memories verbally, the doctor asked him to write down everything he had seen. The doctor would then analyze and diagnose the situation.

After reviewing Zhou Nanye’s notes, the doctor nodded. “Now that we’ve pinpointed the root of the problem, we can proceed with treatment in a more targeted way.”

“The most important thing is to confront and overcome these fears and shadows. Remember, you’ve grown up. You’re no longer that helpless little boy. Try to minimize the impact of these memories on your life.”

Turning to Jiang Mianmian, the doctor added, “Young lady, you’ll need to support your boyfriend as much as you can. Help him find joy in life and relax. It’ll be good for his recovery.”