Who would study psychology if they didn't have some kind of problem?

In Chapter 140, in what aspects was his willpower manifested?
Nan Zhuren blinked.

Nan Zhuren asked tentatively, "It stopped... all of a sudden?"

Li Minglu thought for a moment and nodded: "Yes."

...So ruthless?

……

In the cases that Nan Zhuren has encountered and learned about, such a situation is extremely rare.

After all, drug addiction is a danger of drug intervention that's written into textbooks!

That's not just a psychological issue, it's also a physiological and medical one!

For many modern people, losing weight or simply sitting down to read a book can be incredibly difficult.

Li Minglu, who's right in front of us, just stopped taking his medication like that?

Nan Zhuren was very suspicious.

However, looking at the subtle expressions on Li Minglu's face, Nan Zhuren could tell that the other party was not lying.

This is...very interesting.

Li Minglu was not only able to withstand the overwhelming negative emotions that followed his initial use of the medication and subsequent sudden discontinuation, but he also had the willpower to resist drug addiction.

This shows that Li Minglu clearly has a very strong self-motivation that enables him to do things that ordinary people cannot.

But if that's the case, why would he remain trapped in negative emotions for years on end, even developing depression?
……

Nan Zhuren temporarily suppressed this doubt, intending to verify it little by little during subsequent consultations.

The medication history filled a gap in Nan Zhuren's previous consultation and intervention data on Li Minglu.

This is also the prelude to the formal commencement of the consultation.

Next, Li Minglu's second consultation today truly began.

"I have to say it again, I'm very glad that you came here for a second consultation."

Nan Zhuren smiled and asked, "Did you come for consultation on your own initiative, or was it at your wife's request?"

This is a test of Li Minglu's willingness to save himself.

“I came here of my own volition,” Li Minglu replied.

He lowered his head as he spoke: "My wife... often finds me troublesome. In the past, when she took me to counseling sessions, she didn't look too happy. But she seemed alright today."

This sounds like a compliment, saying that Nan Zhuren's consultation won the favor of the family.

Nan Zhuren frowned inwardly, not because of the praise, but because of the wording in Li Minglu's words.

[“She ‘took’ me to a counseling session?”]

Instead of "she and me," or "she accompanied me."

[They clearly came for counseling voluntarily, with an active intention to seek help, so why did they use such passive language?]

Nan Zhuren wrote down her doubts and continued to organize the consultation.

“During the last consultation, you talked a lot about your past feelings. In the week between the end of the last consultation and the start of today's consultation, what new feelings or events have you had in your life that you could share with me?”

After listening to the counselor's question, Li Minglu frowned and began to recall.

Nan Zhuren observed his expression as he pondered.

The discomfort was mild. Overall, the level of negative emotions was also low, below average.

This time, Nan Zhuren asked an open-ended question, rather than a closed-ended question that could only be answered with "yes" or "no".

Asking questions in this way allows you to understand what the visitor cares about from their answers—because the elements that are selected as answers in this way must be important to the visitor.

"This week, I finished another drawing. It's for a game as promotional material, and they're paying quickly; I should receive the payment next month. But I've started another one, an order I already accepted and can't turn down. I feel...very nervous, worried that I won't do a good job." This is work-related.

"Then, my daughter finished her monthly exam and got very good grades. She was very happy, and I wanted to be happy too, but... I just couldn't be. I was very disappointed in myself. I felt that if it weren't for me, my daughter would be even happier."

This is related to daily life.

"Also, my wife invited some friends to dinner and dragged me along. I... felt very uncomfortable."

Clench fists, arch back, lock back. The body is now in defensive stance.

[This means the body is re-experiencing the scene and recreating the state it was in at that time.]

"And then, nothing else happened this week," Li Minglu said.

Nan Zhuren nodded.

He thought for a moment and then chose to delve into the topic that had just caused Li Minglu the most emotional fluctuation.

"You just mentioned that you, your wife, and your friends were having dinner together and you felt uncomfortable?"

"Yes... I feel very uncomfortable."

"Did your wife decide on this dinner party?"

“Yes, she made the appointment with her friend, and she insisted that I come along.” Li Minglu pursed his lips. “I don’t like it, but she said that someone with my condition should go out more and see friends. And if her friends have any good ideas, they might be able to help me…”

Sensing Li Minglu's negative emotions, Nan Zhuren frowned in a way that suited the mood.

And he did want to frown.

Does she often take you out to meet her friends?

"often."

"How often is it? Once a week?"

Li Minglu stared blankly at the armrest of Nan Zhuren's sofa and recalled, "At first, it was two or three times a week. After we had asked each friend out once, fewer and fewer friends were willing to go out a second time. We could only ask them out once a week, or once every two weeks."

Nan Zhuren asked, "What do you do when you have a meal together?"

Li Minglu thought for a moment and said, "It's about everyone's daily life. As for my wife, she'll probably focus more on me."

"What are you talking about?"

"Based on my usual behavior, the things I do..."

Nan Zhuren keenly noticed a problem and somewhat riskily raised a question: "Will she tell you how she took care of you?"

Li Minglu paused noticeably, and subconsciously pursed his lips.

The discomfort and sense of rejection intensified, and the body became more defensive.

"Have."

“So your wife is actually talking about her own issues, not yours. Or rather, she's using you to talk about her own issues,” Nan Zhuren pointed out directly. “You seem unhappy about this?”

Li Minglu finally stopped fixating on the sofa armrest and looked up at Nan Zhuren.

His lips twitched a few times, as if he wanted to say something, but a certain consciousness stopped him from speaking.

After struggling internally for a while, he finally said, "Maybe a little... but it's actually okay."

[This is a very obvious lie.]

It can be seen even without micro-expression analysis.

Nan Zhuren felt that he had grasped the key point of the problem.

　I've finished my homework, and now I'm up late again!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)