Who would study psychology unless they had some issues?!
Chapter 53 - 53 53 Chen Ting's Second Consultation

53: Chapter 53 Chen Ting’s Second Consultation 53: Chapter 53 Chen Ting’s Second Consultation Lu Jia opened today’s schedule and confirmed today’s visitors.

As a receptionist, her work could be considered the most regular and the easiest at the Yan Nuo Center.

Although she arrives earlier than everyone else, when it really comes down to it, the “slacking off” time in her workdays surpasses that of the consultants.

At least the consultants need several hours of intense mental exertion.

Of course, for such a job, the salary is naturally not high.

But Lu Jia doesn’t care.

She is the kind of employee who doesn’t care about the pay.

Her family is wealthier than the company’s boss—namely, Howard.

This is why a medium-sized studio like Yan Nuo, can hire someone with Lu Jia’s level of good looks and figure as a receptionist for such a low salary.

And when someone doesn’t care about money, naturally, they care about something else.

At Yan Nuo Psychological Consultation Center, there are things Lu Jia cares about.

Working at the consultation center, on one hand, satisfies personal curiosity:

Watching vibrant, shiny, vivid people reveal the deepest, most curious parts of themselves hidden in daily life, right where she works.

For a girl like Lu Jia, who has had less social experience due to her affluent background, this could excite her to a shiver.

On the other hand, the sense of accomplishment from psychological consultation is also remarkably high.

Watching people originally covered in shadows, emitting a murky, dark aura, reemerge into the sunlight after a period of transformation, with their eyes shining again.

For a girl like Lu Jia, who has had less social experience due to her affluent background, this sense of accomplishment could exhilarate her to a level beyond shivering.

Even though Lu Jia is just a receptionist, how could a receptionist not be considered an important, indispensable part of the entire consultation work?

In comparison, pastimes like buying bags, clothes, jewelry, a small car, or a pony are just too low-level.

Of course, not every help-seeking visitor can satisfy Lu Jia.

Some visitors, like those who did bad things, or want to do them but can’t make up their minds and come seeking psychological comfort, Lu Jia despises.

She hopes they don’t renew, and come only once.

Lu Jia doesn’t want to show them a second smile or pour a second cup of tea for them.

But today, there is an important visitor.

“Let me see…

Chen Ting, it’s a nine o’clock consultation.”

She commented, “Very early.”

Having confirmed the time, Lu Jia meticulously wrote this name on the schedule with an exceptionally beautiful font.

Then she took a small mirror out of her bag and began touching up her makeup.

Every dab of lip tint seemed to be filled with a sense of mission.

The consultation center soon had visitors arriving, and Lu Jia, wealthier than Howard by an unknown amount, showed an impeccable smile, even if for various reasons, they rarely responded with the same smile.

Lu Jia guided the visitors to their seats, offering tea to ensure they could receive the consultation in the most comfortable state.

After an hour, she finally saw the anticipated figure appear at the door.

“Hello.”

“Welcome to Yan Nuo Consultation Center!”

…

Nan Zhubin observed today’s Chen Ting and silently compared her with the Chen Ting he saw last time.

She had become much more “fragile.”

The last time he saw Chen Ting, she was like a little pangolin, who had finally found a way to grow her protective escales and immediately curled up.

Even though she was nervous, she had enough confidence to wrap around her anxiety.

Even though this layer of armor blocked not only harm but also others’ care and help, it could carve out a safe world for Chen Ting, giving her room to breathe.

But today’s Chen Ting was only panic-stricken.

She was like a flustered little beast, with only tender, scale-stripped skin exposed to even a slight cool breeze could make her shiver.

Last time, to help Chen Ting, Nan Zhubin needed to apply some force to break through her armor to some extent.

This time, that wasn’t possible.

Nan Zhubin was cautious internally, yet his language and actions were open and dignified, seemingly unchanged from the last time.

[She didn’t choose the long sofa but opted for the single sofa that enveloped her entire back and side.]

[Immediately upon sitting down, she crossed her legs and hugged her arms.]

[Strong defensive posture.]

Nan Zhubin thought, he needed to first offer Chen Ting the necessary [Support] and [Positive Attention].

“I heard movement outside just now; did you come here by yourself today?”

“Yes.”

“Last time it seemed like your mom brought you here.”

“Yes.”

“Have you always come with your mom for consultations before?”

“…Yes.”

“No matter how things are otherwise, today, the fact you came for a ‘solo consultation’ is quite a breakthrough.”

Chen Ting was wearing a pair of deep brown corduroy pants, and on her upper body, a black down jacket with the zipper pulled all the way to the top, and the last button properly fastened.

She shrugged, this movement causing the collar to cover her mouth, leaving only most of her nose and eyes visible outside.

Her voice also sounded muffled because of this.

“You messaged me yesterday, I saw it and came.

My mom doesn’t know yet.”

“Do you think it’s better if she doesn’t know?”

“…Yes.”

“Have you done things like this before, things your mom isn’t supposed to know about?”

“…Never.”

Chen Ting grasped her down jacket as if a bit uneasy.

Nan Zhubin started guiding the topic: “It’s been a long time since our last consultation, do you remember my final assessment of you?”

“I remember.”

Chen Ting paused, recalling in a flat tone, “You said that I had experienced a traumatic event, which caused some…

impact.”

“If we continue doing consultations, then…”

She paused for a moment.

Nan Zhubin waited for two or three seconds and picked up the thread of conversation: “Then we need to try to explore the traumatic event, to face and deconstruct it, thus alleviating its impact on you.”

Chen Ting remained silent, pressing her arms tighter against herself.

This entered a state of [silence].

Moreover, it was [Avoidance Silence], a sign that the client is resisting the consultation content.

This also indicates that the consultant’s topic touches on a key point of the consultation.

Successfully managing silence during consultation can yield breakthrough progress.

But if not handled well, it can have the opposite effect.

Nan Zhubin was confident.

He pointed to the equipment next to him; today, he intentionally chose a special consultation room.

“No worries, we can avoid ‘talking about’ this topic for now.”

“Today, we’ll try a new consultation method.”

Nan Zhubin smiled and asked, “Have you heard of the [sand box game]?”