Who would study psychology unless they had some issues?!
Chapter 24 - 24 24 Numbness Please Follow

24: Chapter 24 Numbness (Please Follow) 24: Chapter 24 Numbness (Please Follow) The cobalt blue alarm clock rang, its monotonous metallic clattering making Chen Ting open her eyes instantly.

“Ring-ring—”

She saw the gray-blue striped ceiling above her, and felt the soft gray cotton quilt at her side.

The entire room was wrapped in a cold color tone, which did not invite any nostalgia.

It made whoever lived here jump into study or work as soon as they woke up.

At least Chen Ting had been conditioned into such a reflex.

But today, after turning off the alarm clock, Chen Ting couldn’t resist burying her head back into the pillow, her tousled shoulder-length hair spreading out beautifully like water ripples.

“No nightmares last night…” she muttered to herself.

She slept really well.

She turned over, stuck her nose into the pillow, and took a deep breath.

The pillow, freshly sun-dried, transferred its warmth unreservedly into her body.

Very comfortable.

“I didn’t expect psychological consultation to be really effective…” Chen Ting felt her whole body had become much lighter.

Before, she had indeed been troubled by something.

Perhaps she got used to it, or maybe her own knowledge reserve was insufficient, preventing her from truly diagnosing the problem herself.

But the instinctual response of her body led Chen Ting to make a choice: she chose to pretend to have [depression].

To protect herself in this way.

She was indeed a very smart girl, relying on symptoms she found online to disguise herself.

Along with some things that might not be disguised, she actually got the diagnosis she wanted in the hospital.

After that, with the diagnosis of [depression], she started moving between various consultation centers, never being discovered.

Until last week.

“That consultant teacher was really amazing…

and now that I think about it, he’s quite handsome…”

Thinking about this, Chen Ting couldn’t help but wiggle on the bed like a worm, letting out pleasant laughter.

She just turned eighteen, but she hadn’t shown such a girlish demeanor for a long time.

This demeanor had been taken away at some point, and only now did it return.

To be honest, at first, when Nan Zhubin exposed her disguise, Chen Ting was genuinely startled.

In that instant, she was truly, physically “numbed,” with her mind going completely blank.

But afterward, Nan Zhubin’s comfort calmed Chen Ting down.

Like a lone warrior who had been battling an unseen enemy for a long time, and now finally, a second person appeared, patting her on the shoulder and saying, “From now on, we’ll fight together.”

Chen Ting had a rare good sleep.

—Knock, knock, knock.

It was her mom.

“Tingting.” Sure enough, her familiar voice rang out immediately, “Why aren’t you up yet?”

Very punctual.

Chen Ting usually got up on time, but because she lingered in bed a bit today, her mom’s voice was precisely on time.

But today, her mom had one more thing to say: “Tingting, there’s a surprise today!”

Whose surprise?

Her mom’s?

It definitely wasn’t hers, anyway.

Get up, wash up, sit at the breakfast table.

Dad was using a tablet, checking the company’s stocks, while Mom was setting up breakfast.

Given their family’s financial situation, Mom being able to insist on making breakfast personally every morning was quite an impressive feat;

And considering Dad’s busyness, being able to show up at home for breakfast with the family every morning was no easy task either.

But it hadn’t always been like this.

When did this “harmonious and happy” family atmosphere start?

Oh right, it was since her [depression] diagnosis.

As the only idle person, Chen Ting sat quietly at the table, waiting for breakfast.

While busy, Chen’s mom couldn’t help but admonish:

“The previous doctor and consultant both said, Tingting’s illness needs more rest.

But I think now that Tingting has started to improve…

Tingting, you feel like you’ve started to improve since switching to this new consultant, right?”

Chen’s mom’s eyes fixed on Chen Ting; it didn’t seem like a question, more like a rhetorical one.

“Yes.”

“Since you’re improving, we should start fighting this illness little by little.

Things like fatigue can be overcome; if we overcome this fatigue, we’re one step closer to overcoming the illness too, right?”

“…Yes.”

Chen Ting paused, then suddenly said, “But the new consultant said, in my current situation, I need to take it step by step.

He will guide me to gradually change my lifestyle until I return to how I was…”

This was indeed the wording guided by Nan Zhubin for Chen Ting to deal with her parents.

Chen’s mom paused: “You child, what the teacher said makes sense, but does he know you better than Mom?”

“You can’t fully trust what the teacher says; we still have to adjust according to our own lives.

Before, it was always Mom taking care of your illness, and haven’t you been fine this whole time?

Now, you’re almost better, aren’t you?

Dad, don’t you agree?”

Chen’s dad, sitting on one side, paused his actions; it was unclear whether there were more stocks or more dining table conversation in his head.

After thinking it over, he said, “Listen to Mom more.”

Chen Ting deflated and, as always, lowered her head: “Okay…”

Chen’s mom showed a satisfied smile, and the sumptuous food on the table began to look more appetizing, as if it had become much more delicious.

Dad resumed watching stocks, and Chen Ting mechanically started eating.

Mom, as usual, began chatting with Chen Ting, trying to guide her child with her own efforts.

“Kids these days are really having a hard time with studies.” Chen’s mom comforted, “Like Tingting, even ended up with this illness.”

“…I’m fine.” Chen Ting didn’t want to say this but needed to say it.

Sure enough, after hearing this, Chen’s mom showed a satisfied and emotional smile.

“Tingting is still sensible, but Mom knows you’re having a hard time.

Fortunately, you’ve passed the college entrance exam and got into such a good school, Jiangdu University.”

“Let’s work hard and cure this illness quickly, then go to college.

College is much more interesting than high school!”

When she said this, Chen’s mom showed a mysterious and proud smile.

Chen Ting didn’t notice, she kept her head down, just repeating as if trained:

“…Okay.”

After breakfast, Dad went to work, and Mom started tidying up.

Chen Ting was about to go back to her room when suddenly she heard the doorbell ring.

She didn’t think much of it.

Although Chen Ting was now faking depression and needed to rest at home, she could still handle small tasks like answering the door.

She wasn’t mentally prepared; after all, they lived in a high-security upscale community, and she was in her cozy home.

After the last consultation, she felt a sense of relief, slowly lowering her defenses in daily life.

Everything happened unexpectedly.

The door opened, revealing a face.

Suddenly, Chen Ting felt her hand on the door handle lose sensation.

This numbness spread from her palm to her arm, up to her shoulders, gathering in her chest, then branching out, with part rushing to her head and part flowing to her hips and legs.

Until her whole body started to lose feeling.

At this moment, her mother’s voice joyfully rang out from behind:

“Tingting, do you remember Teacher Wang?”

That voice was very proud: “When you were preparing for the independent admission test, fortunately, Teacher Wang came to tutor you.

Although you’re now in college, you can’t study your major while staying at home.

I thought since Teacher Wang is also in your field, we might as well invite Teacher Wang to our home.”

She heard her mother sigh: “Also, Teacher Wang really likes you.

A young professor like him rarely does home tutoring.”

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