Chapter 422: Chapter 415: Differences in Memory of the Story

The visitor doesn’t talk about what happened five months ago when the problem first started to appear, but instead begins talking about what they think about when their attention is scattered.

This is a form of defense manifested as “change of topic.”

This confirms to Nan Zhubin that something significant must have happened to the visitor five months ago.

Possibly a “disruption of sexual life event,” or even a “traumatic event!”

However, seeing the visitor’s state, Nan Zhubin did not fixate on this unknown event.

Being able to directly tackle the core is good, but unraveling it piece by piece also has its benefits.

Appropriately lengthening the consultation process can allow the visitor to gradually release emotions and gather strength during this course.

This is also one of the important roles of psychological consultation.

Nan Zhubin looked at the visitor who just removed his mask, observing the other’s body posture.

The other person probably really needs such a process.

Moreover, according to the normal procedures of a consultation, building rapport and collecting good information in the first session is already a task well completed.

…

At this moment, upon hearing Nan Zhubin’s request to “first talk about what you think about when attention is scattered,” and receiving a response of “Certainly.”

The visitor twisted his body: “How long do we still have in our consultation?”

Nan Zhubin did not give a definitive number: “It’s okay, I’ll remind you when the time is up.”

“…Alright.”

The visitor nodded.

Then.

[Pupil dilation, achieving fixation.]

[Clenched teeth, lips pulled tight into a line, throat swallowing motion.]

[Deep breath in and held breath.]

[Other facial muscles stiffen.]

Nan Zhubin observed the visitor’s expressions, speculating about the reasons for these occurrences in his heart.

These expressions and physical changes might feel uncomfortable to the visitor subjectively, but it’s good news for the consultation.

Nan Zhihao suddenly frowned, lowered his head, forcefully blinked twice, and assumed a thoughtful posture: “Then I’ll talk about ‘quarreling with someone but not winning, and thinking about it afterward.'”

Hmm?

These expressions and reactions are not so good.

Nan Zhubin slightly frowned but said nothing more.

Let the visitor continue to elaborate.

“The first thing… I hold a position in our Graduate Students’ Union, as a student union cadre. A few days ago, I argued with another titular superior.”

Nan Zhubin caught onto a keyword: “Titular superior?”

The visitor explained: “Like a temporary event manager or project leader, responsible for assigning work or reviewing things, but on equal level with me.”

Nan Zhubin nodded to show understanding, asking: “How did you argue?”

“It’s because of a recent major event. He assigned tasks to everyone but himself. When we asked him, he said he had to mediate and oversee the whole picture.”

“But a week before the event, he suddenly added tasks for everyone, saying something…” The visitor made a thoughtful expression here, “‘Tasks are assigned, everyone actively push them, if problems arise, you’re responsible for the consequences.'”

The visitor furrowed his brow deeply.

Nan Zhubin asked: “You felt very bad about this remark?”

The visitor nodded: “Of course, he’s the leader, overall responsible, but isn’t what he said tantamount to shirking responsibility? Claiming to oversee the whole picture, in reality, just patching up the teacher’s requests.”

“And I usually interact with this person, he has no abilities exceeding mine in the job, it’s like he’s never encountered work at all.”

“A person without ability or sense of responsibility now wants to lead me in work, constantly adding pressure, I don’t agree, hence our argument.”

“But… reflecting on it now, I feel quite regretful.”

This story’s narration is somewhat useful; through the visitor’s behavior in the story, one can infer the visitor’s personal characteristics.

But what the story reveals are things Nan Zhubin had already discerned.

Thus, Nan Zhubin is more invested in the interpretation of this story between the two.

The consultant asked: “Why regret?”

The visitor furrowed his brow: “Just feel there’s a better way to handle things, a more appropriate way that benefits everyone.”

“In the end, arguing with this guy publicly, it’s like we’re on the same level. To avoid making things worse, I even backed off—making myself seem less than him, as if I’m fussing without reason.”

Nan Zhubin felt he grasped a bit of something: “You say you stepped back initially?”

“Yes, because at first I just wanted to offer a suggestion, to tell him it wasn’t right.” The visitor furrowed his brow, “But then that person seemed triggered and started yelling publicly, drawing everyone’s attention.”

Nan Zhubin observed the visitor’s expression, noticing something off.

He first gave an emotional reflection: “You feel uncomfortable.”

The visitor nodded: “Uncomfortable.”

Nan Zhubin then made a summary with explanation: “In your recent speech, seems like there are two elements, one is ‘arguing with a titular superior,’ another is ‘arguing publicly and drawing attention.'”

Finally asking: “Which of these makes you more uncomfortable?”

The visitor got stunned.

“Both, I guess…”

Nan Zhubin pursued: “Which one makes you more uncomfortable?”

The visitor’s gaze solidified for a moment, suddenly shivering as if stroked all over by needles.

“…Both, about the same.”

He answered like this.

Nan Zhubin looked at the other’s expression.

This kind of answer from the visitor could imply two possibilities—one is concealment; the other has already engaged in this behavior many times today.

But there are no signs of deceit on the other’s face at this moment.

Thus the other possibility—subjective feelings have deviated.

This is common. After all, feelings aren’t objective, measurable, or comparable.

Hence a different standard is needed to gauge it. Fortunately, this “standard” aligns with the information Nan Zhubin wants to know next.

“You said you constantly recall this matter; surely there are visuals in your memory.”

“Are those memory visuals related to the person you argued with—namely the ‘titular superior,’ more;”

“Or are they related more to the setting of your argument—the ‘many people watching you argue’?”

The visitor thought momentarily.

Then answered after a while: “Should be the latter, the ‘many people watching us argue’ scene, that makes me more uncomfortable.”