Chapter 441: Chapter 434: Two Visitors Alike Yet Unlike
The consultant with the surname Huang turned his neck awkwardly, as if he had been sneakily approached by a killer in a horror film.
He looked towards the source of the voice.
In the distance, Nan Zhubin had already turned his gaze towards them, eyes bursting with a ravenous light.
Not a word, brother, can you hear everything we say?!
What level of hearing do you possess?
The two people gossiping just now were stunned.
“Let’s take this consultation.” Nan Zhubin’s eyes sparkled, yet his expression split into an ironically bland look.
He turned to his assistant: “After all, according to procedure, our earliest possible consultation appointment is tomorrow or even the day after, isn’t it? Now we have some free time.”
“Prepare to start, collect visitor materials, I’ll check for an available consultation room.”
Looking at Nan Zhubin’s back, Mo Kai was somewhat dazed.
He glanced at the assistant with the surname Huang beside him and asked, “Does this happen often?”
The assistant swallowed: “Not often, but every now and then. After all, we deal with visitors, their behavior can be slightly… unpredictable.”
“No, no, I’m not talking about these sudden visitor arrivals, it’s…”
Mo Kai gestured to himself, then pointed in Nan Zhubin’s direction: “Is that situation normal?”
The assistant blinked: “The only similar situation I can think of is the second time.”
“When was the first time?”
The assistant showed a sympathetic expression and also pointed to Nan Zhubin’s workstation: “Yesterday.”
…
Nan Zhubin sat in the consultation room, feeling rather good.
Compared to Beidu and Jiangdu, the consultation resources are indeed richer here.
He only started today and was assigned an assistant, under normal procedures, the earliest consultation would realistically be tomorrow afternoon or even the day after.
However, he received one right after getting off the plane yesterday, and another after arriving at the company today.
In this regard, Liu Jiahang is quite a good person.
Mo Kai is also a lucky charm, if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have learned about this so quickly.
Nan Zhubin took a deep breath, trying to calm his mind.
Whatever, there’s only one consultation today, might as well get back to peak state.
——[Emotion Rebalancing]
Just as Nan Zhubin’s gaze softened, the door of the consultation room was knocked upon.
“Knock Knock Knock——”
Enter.
As footsteps echoed, Nan Zhubin observed the visitor before him.
First impression——
A trace of yesterday’s visitor named “Nan Zhihao” lingered.
In a sense, their pre-consultation behavior was similar—the visitor’s “I must have a consultation today” attitude was almost obstinate.
How similar, would depend on the client’s consultation performance.
“Hello.” Nan Zhubin greeted first.
“…Hello.”
Nan Zhubin continued to observe.
The visitor was female, looked in her thirties, no makeup, dark circles, her skin was dim, but not coarse.
A simple ponytail, gray short-sleeve with black draping long pants, thick glasses.
Her attire didn’t scream “a problem” like Nan Zhihao.
At most, it suggested a long work shift—or perhaps, prolonged torment from something else—fatigue.
Nan Zhubin took a breath; dealing with older visitors poses many barriers to establishing consultative relations.
Yet after a glance, the visitor quickly diverted her view, beginning to survey the consultation room.
[Quick diversion of gaze, no pupil dilation.]
[Legs straight, arms stiff.]
[Is… it tension?]
This feeling reminded Nan Zhubin of others, but not Nan Zhihao, rather—Lu Jia? Teacher Xiao Zhao?
No, sensory-wise, it felt stronger than both.
Given the visitor’s age, it shouldn’t be.
“Please sit.” Having rapidly recorded the first impression of the visitor, he pointed to the chair to probe as she remained still.
“Oh… thank you.”
The visitor avoided the double sofa, briskly settling into the single sofa sideways to Nan Zhubin. Back straight, legs gently crossed, hands gathered at the abdomen, proper posture.
[Lip press, throat swallow.]
[Deep breath, frown.]
[Wants to say something, but restrains.]
Nan Zhubin waited three breaths, still no opening from the visitor.
Thus began to guide.
“May I get acquainted first? Feel free to call me Teacher Nan.”
“Hello, Teacher Nan.” As she spoke, the visitor briefly met Nan Zhubin’s eyes, “Teacher Nan, you look so young yet you’re already a psychological consultant.”
“Today… has also been rushed; I’ve probably caused some inconvenience to you, Teacher Nan, haven’t I? I’m truly sorry…”
Quite polite.
Despite the visitor resembling Nan Zhihao slightly, her specific situation was not yet clear so Nan Zhubin opted for a universally friendly communication approach for now.
He provided a [Positive Attention]: “No, no, we’re happy you could come. It shows you have some confusion that urgently needs settling, and you’re actively trying to overcome it.”
The visitor smiled, took a deep breath, then gently exhaled.
“My name is Lin Xi, I’m also a teacher.”
She paused here.
Nan Zhubin followed suit: “Teacher Lin.”
The visitor smiled again, and said: “Coming here today was mainly because, um, I felt awful last night, hardly slept at all. I kept pondering over many things, very distressing matters.”
“I held out until morning, feeling unbearable, thus seeking… psychological consultation.”
The visitor swallowed: “And the rush is due to uncertainty of when else I’d have time, hence came directly.”
Excellent, ample information from the outset.
Reflecting momentarily, Nan Zhubin decided to set aside “what keeps you up pondering at night.” This essential topic could be explored once the consultative relationship was slightly established.
Perhaps start by probing the visitor’s daily life for more exposure.
“You only have ‘now’ to come for psychological consultation.” Nan Zhubin [repeated] the visitor’s phrasing, “Is it because your teaching schedule is packed?”
The visitor shook her head, “No, I’m a university lecturer in humanities, not too busy usually.”
“But I seldom have time… primarily because of my mother, I live with her, I don’t want her to know about my psychological consultation.”
“That’s why I felt horrible all night, held out till morning… because we sleep together, didn’t want her to realize I was feeling bad.”
Nan Zhubin subtly raised an eyebrow.
Even more information.