Assign homework. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Upon hearing this term, the visitor concentrated.

This homework targets the issues that the visitor currently possesses but that Nan Zhubin does not have time to address in this session.

As Nan Zhubin pulled out a sheet of A4 paper from the folder, he said, "Do you still remember your response when I asked you about ’feelings’ just now?"

The visitor paused, showing an embarrassed expression, "I misunderstood that question... just like you said, Teacher, I answered with ’thoughts’ instead of ’feelings’."

But Nan Zhubin shook his head, "It’s not just that, your answer was not ordinary thoughts."

"You said you felt ’immature’ and ’stupid’; you mentioned that you ’used to laugh at people who got scammed for being so foolish, yet now you find yourself in the same situation’."

After hearing Nan Zhubin’s repetition, the visitor blinked but said nothing.

"These words are reflective, but reflection has a particular issue: when our words are directed at others, due to various concerns like etiquette, we might just stop at the surface—"

"—Yet during reflection, when evaluating ourselves, it’s easy to lose the bottom line, losing the ’measure’ of the evaluation."

Looking into the visitor’s eyes, Nan Zhubin said, "In your ’thoughts’, the phrasing was too aggressive, in other words—Zhihao, you’re being too aggressive towards yourself."

"To the point of being excessive."

A silence descended in the consultation room.

After allowing the visitor to think in silence for a moment.

Nan Zhubin spoke again, "If possible, could you now recall the most aggressive thing you said to yourself during your ’reflection’ after the incident?"

The visitor pressed their lips and, after two breaths, answered, "I think... I was too arrogant, I deserved to be cheated."

For this aggressive ’reflection’, Nan Zhubin did not offer any comment, neither nodding nor shaking his head.

Nan Zhubin simply handed the A4 paper he had just pulled out to the visitor, "Write down the latter part of that sentence, write ’Nan Zhihao deserved to be cheated’."

The visitor blinked, but without much thought or hesitation, took the paper and pen Nan Zhubin handed over and wrote it down swiftly.

Nan Zhubin continued, "Okay, next, black out the name part, leaving only ’XXX deserved to be cheated’."

The visitor complied as instructed.

Nan Zhubin proceeded, "Good, didn’t you mention before that you had a comrade who also got cheated? Now write your comrade’s name next to the blacked-out name."

—Swipe.

The visitor’s pen halted.

Nan Zhubin watched the visitor.

The visitor glanced up at Nan Zhubin.

A long period of hesitation and contemplation.

"Can’t write it?" Nan Zhubin asked after a while.

"... I can’t write it." The visitor nodded.

Nan Zhubin smiled, "Very well, then for the week until our next session, whenever you want to engage in ’reflection’ and attack yourself, I need you to write down those ’reflection’ words, then black out your name and write your comrade’s name."

"If you can’t write it down, I hope you will consider why. Next week, bring this answer back to me, okay?"

This is considered a simple [Cognitive Restructuring] process.

In written form, the visitor is made aware of their cognitive conflict, then autonomously tries to think it through.

It’s the most convenient and easiest intervention for the present where there’s not much time to deal with issues.

The visitor took a deep breath, "I understand, Teacher."

Nan Zhubin nodded, "Good, let’s summarize today’s consultation content and what you need to do after returning home."

...

Inside the consultation room, they were wrapping up this session.

Outside the door, Mo Kai took out his phone to check the time, gazing in the direction of the consultation room.

This time he didn’t stand right at the door waiting.

Ten minutes ago, Nan Zhubin had already messaged Mo Kai, indicating that the consultation would be extended appropriately and advising Mo Kai not to knock and come in halfway through.

Moreover, because this visitor was here for a second consultation, there wasn’t a need for additional payment at the moment—so, theoretically, Mo Kai as a consultation assistant didn’t have much reason to appear.

But for the sake of etiquette, after the visitor finished the consultation, the assistant must still guide the visitor to the door and see them out. Being respectful, they might also assist with pressing the elevator.

Only then is a consultation considered complete.

So Mo Kai was still attentively focusing on this consultation, waiting for it to end.

Finally, as Mo Kai eagerly anticipated—

With a "click," the consultation room door opened.

Mo Kai reflexively stood up and quickly stepped forward, only to see a familiar "face of clarity," "body of comfort," "as if reborn" expression on the visitor coming out.

Mo Kai chuckled inwardly, [In a way, psychological consultation is quite like a mental massage... wait, why does this person look so unfamiliar, who is he?]

Here, the consultation assistant felt a sense of curiosity rise, while over there, the visitor’s expression changed rapidly upon opening the door.

The visible relaxation and clarity of that face solidified at a visible speed;

The curved mouth was straightened in an instant, the eased brow furrowed suddenly, and the relaxed neck instantly tensed.

Without waiting for Mo Kai to step forward and speak, the visitor suddenly turned and went back into the consultation room.

"Sorry, Teacher, I left something here." Mo Kai heard Nan Zhubin say inside the consultation room.

Mo Kai blinked.

When the visitor came out of the consultation room again, he had already donned a mask, put on a cap, and zipped up his sun protection jacket tightly.

One look and you could tell it was hot.

But this time Mo Kai recognized who the visitor was.

"Hello, please follow this way..."

After Mo Kai led the visitor away, Nan Zhubin also rubbed his forehead and came out of the consultation room.

Eight consultations in one day, even with the [Emotion Rebalancing] adjustment, Nan Zhubin’s mind was quite chaotic now.

He exhaled deeply, poured a cup of bitter iced Americano from the tea room, sipped it while walking back to the office area.

By this point, it was almost time to get off work, the consultants had packed up, and were now chatting in pairs and threes; the assistants were either organizing data for the next day or mostly ready to leave.

In this atmosphere.

—Swipe—

As Nan Zhubin entered, the chatting voices in the office area paused.

"Teacher Nan, leaving now?" A white-bearded consultant greeted Nan Zhubin, feeling he had a better rapport with Nan Zhubin after taking one of his transferred cases, allowing for some small talk.

"Yes, almost time to finish up." Nan Zhubin replied.

"The eighth consultation, huh." The white beard added.

"Yes, the eighth."

"Hiss—"

The white-bearded consultant’s expression showed no significant change, and there was no movement, but Nan Zhubin faintly heard a sound like a 3D stereo gasp.

"Teacher Nan... how many consultations tomorrow, also eight?"

"Not decided yet, let me..."

Before they could chat further, footsteps suddenly sounded from behind.

Chonghui, who had been handling data in the school all day, stepped into the office area.

After surveying the area, Chonghui curiously said, "Huh? How come everyone’s here today, all working overtime?"