"You're a very special psychologist," Alex said.
Sam chuckled, sunlight dancing on her eyelashes: "Is it because I'm not wearing a white coat, or because I bring patients to places like this?"
"Because of the way you see things." Alex couldn't help but laugh either: "In my impression, psychologists are the type who prescribe me medicine or make me lie on a couch to recall childhood traumas."
"Oh, we do that too." Sam winked slyly: "It's just not the right time yet."
She stood up, shook the water droplets from her feet, and put her shoes and socks back on.
"Hungry? I brought lunch." Sam patted the backpack beside her, a gentle curve forming on her lips.
She deftly took out two insulated containers. The moment she lifted the lids, the fresh scent of coconut mixed with the sweet aroma of glutinous rice wafted out.
"Hainan's special coconut rice, and a few home-cooked dishes. I hope they suit your taste." With that, Sam handed one of the insulated containers to Alex.
As Alex took the container, his fingertips accidentally brushed her hand.
The momentary touch made him pause slightly, but Sam simply withdrew her hand naturally and pulled out two pairs of bamboo chopsticks from her bag: "Try it, I specifically added more coconut milk."
The two sat on a flat rock by the waterfall, the rushing water splashing tiny droplets at their feet.
Sam placed the lunchbox on her lap and picked up a piece of pickled sour bamboo shoot, "This is soaked in mountain spring water, it's very appetizing."
As she spoke, she naturally placed it into Alex's lunchbox.
Alex looked down at the golden sour bamboo shoot, hesitated for a moment, then put it into his mouth.
Unexpectedly, a sweet, sour, and crisp flavor burst on his tongue, making him unconsciously pick up another piece.
Seeing this, Sam's eyes curved into crescent moons, "Is it good? It's my mother's secret recipe."
Accompanied by the roaring water and the intermittent chirping of birds, this simple picnic tasted exceptionally sweet.
Alex realized he had finished the entire box of rice, which was a first since returning from the 40k World.
During this period, influenced by Khorne, he had almost lost the ability to taste food.
Every meal was merely to maintain vital signs, his taste buds seemingly covered by a layer of bloody mist, making even the most delicious food tasteless.
"Want some more?" Sam shook the lunchbox, which still had a little less than half left.
Seeing Alex shake his head, she smiled as she packed up the utensils: "It seems my cooking isn't bad."
After lunch, Sam winked mysteriously: "I'm taking you somewhere."
She led Alex around to the back of the waterfall, where a hidden path, perennially moistened by mist, lay.
The damp air was filled with the scent of moss, and various ferns climbed the rock walls on both sides. Fluffy moss covered the ground, feeling like a thick carpet underfoot.
"Be careful, it's very slippery here." Sam suddenly turned, naturally grabbing Alex's wrist.
Her fingers were warm and strong, the warmth of her palm transmitting through his sleeve.
Alex subconsciously clasped her hand in return, and the two walked one after another on the slippery path.
Sam's hair tips were damp with mist, shimmering with tiny lights in the sunlight.
"Look over there!" She pointed to a cluster of wild flowers blooming in a rock crevice: "This kind of flower only grows near waterfalls. I call it 'Water Sprite'."
As she spoke, her hand remained firmly holding Alex's, as if it were the most natural thing.
When they emerged from behind the waterfall, the sky was already overcast.
Distant thunder rumbled, but Sam was slow to let go of his hand.
It wasn't until the first raindrop fell on their clasped hands that she gently withdrew her hand as if waking from a dream, but her fingertips lingered in Alex's palm for an extra second, almost imperceptibly.
"It's going to rain." Sam looked up at the sky: "The weather in the tropical rainforest changes in an instant, we need to get down the mountain quickly."
No sooner had she spoken than large raindrops began to fall, at first only a few sporadic drops, then in an instant forming an impenetrable curtain of rain.
The world instantly turned a blur of white, the roar of the waterfall swallowed by the downpour, leaving only the rushing sound of rain hitting rocks and leaves.
"Hurry!" Sam grabbed her backpack and pulled Alex, running back.
Rainwater streamed down her hair, and her eyelashes were covered with fine droplets.
Alex followed closely, the ground quickly becoming muddy, each step splashing murky water.
The path was quickly submerged by rainwater, forming a rapid stream.
Sam's sneakers were already soaked, and she almost slipped on the wet rocks. Alex quickly steadied her arm, the warmth from his palm strikingly distinct in the cold rain.
"This way!" She suddenly turned, pulling Alex into a rock crevice half-hidden by vines.
The entrance was narrow, requiring a slight duck of the head to enter, but the interior was surprisingly spacious and dry.
The rocks on the cave walls emanated a faint warmth, as if they had been heated by geothermal activity for years, forming a stark contrast to the damp cold outside.
Sam let out a long breath, shaking her wet hair, water droplets scattering. She turned to Alex and suddenly burst out laughing: "You look like a drowned rat."
Alex looked down at his soaked clothes, then at her equally disheveled appearance, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously lifted: "Same to you."
The sound of rain outside was still noisy, but in this small refuge, time seemed to slow down and become peaceful.
"Sorry, I didn't expect the weather to change so quickly." Sam wrung water from her hair; her sportswear was soaked, clinging to her body and outlining her slender figure.
"It's alright." Alex took off his jacket and handed it to her: "At least we saw the waterfall."
Sam took the jacket and draped it over her shoulders, then suddenly started laughing: "You know, the first time I took a patient for outdoor therapy, my mentor warned me that I might encounter all sorts of unexpected situations.
But the unexpected situations I imagined were patients having emotional breakdowns or physical discomfort, not being trapped in a cave by rain."
Alex also smiled: "Life is always full of surprises."
"Yes!" Sam looked at the curtain of rain outside, her voice soft: "Just like I didn't expect to receive Liu Yi's call, and I didn't expect to meet a patient as... special as you."
The sound of rain filled the silence between them.
Alex found that he didn't mind this quietness, even feeling a strange comfort.
When he was with Sam, he didn't need to explain those inexplicable experiences, didn't need to hide his abnormalities, because she always seemed to understand the unsaid words.
"The rain has lightened." About half an hour later, Sam poked her head out to look: "Let's go down the mountain now; we should be able to get back to the hotel before dark."
The return journey was muddy and difficult due to the rain, but by supporting each other, they were even more in sync than when they arrived.
When they finally saw the sign for the forest exit, the setting sun happened to pierce through the clouds, casting a golden hue over the wet rainforest.
"What are your plans for tomorrow?" Alex asked before they parted.
He was surprised to find himself looking forward to their next meeting.
Sam tilted her head, thinking, water droplets dripping from her hair: "Tomorrow I'll take you somewhere even more interesting."
She smiled mysteriously: "But it's a secret for now! Get some good rest, you did great today."
Alex watched her receding back and suddenly realized that the violent thoughts about chopping heads had not appeared even once today.
Perhaps Sam's therapy was indeed effective, or perhaps her mere presence was enough to make him temporarily forget those dark memories.
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