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

Chapter 147 A Collection of Wrong Examples from Families of People with Depression

After his wife came in, Li Minglu involuntarily bent over, slumped his back, and curled up slightly.

[She's a bit defensive, but much better than when she first came for consultation.]

At least the dock didn't lower its head; its eyes were on Wang Sui.

[It's not just a simple listening posture; the body language indicates readiness to engage in communication.]

Nan Zhuren was about to turn her gaze away.

But involuntarily, he glanced at Li Minglu again.

Wait a minute... is this just pure defense...?

Or is it... also a form of regression?

Li Minglu and his wife were standing very close together.

He was much taller than Wang Sui, even when sitting down.

But at this moment, his body was curled up, and his shoulders were even slightly shorter than his wife's by about half a fist.

Nan Zhuren suppressed her thoughts and turned to look at Wang Sui again.

……

According to Li Minglu, he and his wife did not discuss many things that involved deeper levels of understanding.

This is uncommon in marital relationships, yet it is also common.

It's quite counterintuitive that some topics are actually not brought up in the family.

Some couples know less about each other than couples from their student days.

These will cause a lot of trouble and even create hidden dangers.

At this moment, Li Minglu was, in a sense, injured by the "hidden dangers" caused by this situation.

Nan Zhuren looked at Wang Sui and continued the conversation about psychological counseling that Wang Sui had just mentioned.

"You just said that you had a conversation with your Mr. Li's former counselor?"

"Correct."

Li Minglu felt a moment of physical tension.

Nan Zhuren glanced at him and continued to Wang Sui, "Have you discussed Mr. Li's specific situation?"

“Of course I will ask. But the counselor on the other end said it was confidential, that even family members couldn’t tell me. She just gave me some instructions to prevent something…” Wang Sui glanced at Li Minglu, “…precautions for self-harm and suicide, saying that these were the only exceptions to the confidentiality.”

Li Minglu's body relaxed slightly.

Nan Zhuren continued, "Didn't you ask any further questions?"

Wang Sui was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Nan Zhuren to keep pressing this issue.

Then he stammered, "Actually, there are some things that family members can't know. How can they take good care of their husbands if they don't know them?"

"The doctor told me some things, but I couldn't understand them..."

Li Minglu suddenly stirred: "Didn't you say before that those doctors didn't tell you anything?"

This was the first thing Li Minglu said after Wang Sui came in.

"Oh dear, I didn't understand, so it's the same as not saying anything at all!"

Facing her husband, Wang Sui suddenly raised her voice, as if she were talking to an ignorant child.

Once Li Minglu's voice was drowned out, he seemed to lose his composure and became timid and submissive.

“I don’t understand what the doctor was saying,” Wang Sui said. “I don’t understand how things could suddenly turn out like this!”

After her husband said something, Wang Sui seemed to have a switch flipped, and her whole body changed.

[The nostrils flare, the limbs open, the expression freezes, and the speech speed increases.]

[Showing aggression? Why did it change so quickly?]

"Lu Zi, why are you so hung up on this kind of issue?" Wang Sui called her husband by his nickname, but her tone was aggressive.

“You don’t say a word all day, and no matter how I try to cheer you up, it’s no use. Now, in the consultation room, in front of Teacher Nan, you’re getting so agitated over such a small thing?”

Nan Zhuren pursed his lips. Why was he excited?

“I’m not excited, you are…” Li Minglu finally said.

"Am I excited?!" Wang Sui retorted immediately.

Li Minglu fell silent. Wang Sui turned to Nan Zhuren and said, "Teacher Nan, look at the way he talks. He doesn't seem like someone with depression at all."

……

Nan Zhuren frowned.

It seems worse than he anticipated, yet also somewhat better.

Wang Sui then ignored her husband and, as if she had become interested in talking, turned to face Nan Zhuren: "Since Teacher Nan is speaking to both of us today, I'll also share some things I haven't said before."

“After Lu Zi got this illness, I have had a very difficult time – I really don’t understand why he is depressed.”

"He's depressed, it's like he's telling his friends how badly I treated him, otherwise, how could anyone suddenly become depressed, right?"

"Teacher, tell me, why do people get depressed?"

Wang Sui couldn't help but raise her voice, and Nan Zhuren leaned back slightly, letting her waist rest against the back of the sofa.

I thought about it.

Nan Zhuren chose to change the subject and asked, "Mr. Li mentioned before that you would take him out to meet your friends. Is that because you care about what your friends think?"

"Yes, I have to take him to explain to my friends, I have to prove it—and, um, and also, don't all the books say that when you're in a bad mood, going out to play or seeing your friends will make you feel better!"

The first half of the sentence came out off the cuff, but the second half sounded rushed and rushed, as if it had been hastily put together.

Nan Zhuren paused for a moment: "Did you often share your lives with your friends before?"

Without hesitation, Wang Sui answered, "Yes."

"often?"

"often."

What do your friends think of your lives?

"Well, let's leave it at that."

[Their mood changed very quickly.]

The fact that it could affect her emotions so quickly indicates that this is something very important to her.

[Chin slightly raised... Hmm, quite similar to Teacher Hu's usual posture.]

Wang Sui wanted to convey an air of nonchalance... no, she didn't convey that at all.

Although she said "That's fine," her face was beaming with smiles.

How did you describe it to them?

Wang Sui waved her hand: "It's just a normal life. But maybe because my husband is an artist, which is a relatively rare profession, everyone is making a fuss about it. I told them that my husband doesn't need to go out and can earn money from home, and I don't need to work either. I can just stay home and take care of my husband and the kids. We have machines for washing clothes and stuff, and we order takeout or eat out for meals..."

"This kind of life might feel new to them."

[The tone rises, and the body is fully open.]

This is a gesture often seen in speakers, and its purpose is...to demonstrate!

“And you seem quite pleased about it,” Nan Zhuren said directly.

"Hi, I'm alright, I'm fine."

Nan Zhuren glanced at Li Minglu, then turned her gaze back to Wang Sui.

"You often hang out with your friends, and they give you a lot of positive feedback about your life."

Nan Zhuren gave a [repeated] answer, and Wang Sui did not deny it; her expression was one of complete agreement.

How did Mr. Li react during this process? Was he happy?

Wang Sui's expression froze for a moment.

Li Minglu raised his body slightly.

This shows that he was very excited that Nam Joo-in asked the question, and he was also very concerned about how his wife would answer.