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

Chapter 25 Numbness (Please continue reading)
The bright blue alarm clock rang, its monotonous metallic clanging startling Chen Ting awake.

"Jingle Bell--"

The first thing you see is a roof with gray-blue stripes, and to the side is a soft gray cotton quilt.

The entire room was enveloped in a cool color scheme, which wouldn't make anyone want to linger. Instead, it made anyone waking up immediately want to immerse themselves in studying or working.

At least Chen Ting has been trained to develop this conditioned reflex.

But today, after turning off the alarm clock, Chen Ting couldn't help but bury her head back into the pillow, her messy, shoulder-length hair spreading out beautifully like ripples on water.

“I didn’t have any nightmares last night…” she murmured to herself.

I slept so well.

She turned over, put her nose under the pillow and took a deep breath. The pillow core, which had just been dried in the sun, delivered a warm feeling into her body without reservation.

Very comfortable.

"I didn't expect that psychological counseling would actually be effective..." Chen Ting felt much lighter.

Before that, she had indeed been troubled by something.

Perhaps she was used to it, or perhaps she lacked sufficient knowledge, which prevented her from truly diagnosing the problem herself.

However, her body's instincts led Chen Ting to make a choice: she chose to fake depression.

This is how they protect themselves.

She is indeed a very clever girl. By using symptoms found online to fake her condition, along with some things that might not actually be faked, she actually got the diagnosis she wanted at the hospital.

Afterward, she took the diagnosis of depression and began going from one counseling center to another, and was never caught.

Until last week.

"That consultant was really amazing... Thinking back on it now, he was also quite handsome..."

As Chen Ting thought about it, she couldn't help but wriggle around on the bed like an earthworm, letting out a pleasant laugh.

She has only just come of age, but it has been a long time since she has shown this girlish demeanor. This demeanor was taken away at some point and has only returned now.

To be honest, Chen Ting was quite startled when Nan Zhuren first exposed her disguise.

At that moment, she was truly "numb" in a physical sense, and even her mind went blank.

However, Nan Zhuren's subsequent words of comfort calmed Chen Ting down.

Like a soldier who has been fighting alone against an enemy unseen by others for a long time, finally a second person appears, pats him on the shoulder and says, "From now on, we'll fight together."

Chen Ting finally got a good night's sleep, something she hadn't done in a long time.

——Boom boom boom.

It's mom.

"Tingting." The familiar voice rang out immediately, "Why aren't you up yet?"

Very punctual.

Chen Ting usually gets up on time, but because she lingered in bed a little longer today, her mother's voice rang out right on time.

But today, Mom added, "Tingting, there's a surprise for you today!"

Whose surprise is it? Mom's? It certainly isn't mine.

I got up, washed up, and sat down at the breakfast table.

Dad is browsing the company's stock on his tablet, while Mom is setting breakfast on the table.

Given their family's financial situation, it's quite remarkable that the mother is still able to make breakfast herself every morning.

Given how busy Dad is, it's not easy for him to be home on time every morning to have breakfast with the family.

But it hasn't always been like this.

When did this harmonious family atmosphere begin?

Oh right, it started after I was "diagnosed" with depression.

Chen Ting, the only one with nothing to do, sat quietly at the table waiting for breakfast. While busy with her work, her mother couldn't help but give her some instructions:

“The doctors and counselors before all said that Tingting needed to rest more for her condition. But I feel that Tingting has started to get better now… Tingting, do you feel that you've started to get better after changing to this new counselor?”

Chen Ma stared at Chen Ting; it wasn't a question, but a rhetorical question.

"Have."

"Since there's improvement, we should start fighting the illness little by little. Things like fatigue can be overcome. If we overcome the fatigue, we'll overcome the illness a little bit along with it, right?"

"……Correct."

Chen Ting paused, then suddenly added, "But my new counselor told me that I need to take it one step at a time. He will guide me to gradually change my lifestyle until I return to my original state..."

This was indeed the line that Nan Zhuren instructed Chen Ting to use to deal with her parents.

Chen's mother paused for a moment, then said, "My child, what that teacher said makes sense, but even if he knows a lot about this disease, can he understand you better than your mother?"

“We can’t completely trust what the teacher says. We still need to adjust our lives accordingly. Your mother has always taken care of you when you were sick, and you’ve gotten better after all this time, and now you’re almost fully recovered, right, honey?”

Sitting to the side, Mr. Chen stopped what he was doing. He couldn't tell whether his mind was preoccupied with stocks or the conversation at the dinner table. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Listen to your mother more."

Chen Ting deflated and lowered her head as usual: "Okay..."

Chen Ma smiled with satisfaction, and the sumptuous dishes on the table seemed to take on a beautiful sheen, making them appear even more delicious.

Dad started looking at stocks again, and Chen Ting began mechanically putting food into her mouth.

The mother started chatting with Chen Ting as usual, trying her best to comfort her child.

“Kids these days are really studying too hard,” Chen’s mother comforted her. “Even Tingting has gotten this disease.”

"...I'm fine." Chen Ting didn't want to say this, but she needed to.

Sure enough, Chen Ma smiled with satisfaction and emotion after hearing this.

“Tingting is still sensible, but Mom knows you're upset. Fortunately, you've already passed the college entrance exam and got into such a good university as Jiangdu University.”

"Let's work hard to cure this illness as soon as possible, and then go to university. University is so different from high school; it's much more interesting!"

As she said this, a mysterious and smug smile appeared on Chen Ma's face.

Chen Ting didn't notice; she kept her head down and was simply repeating the words as if she had been trained:

"……it is good."

After breakfast, Mr. Chen went to the company, and Mrs. Chen started packing.

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

She didn't think much about it.

Although Chen Ting is currently faking depression and resting at home, she can still do small things like opening the door.

She was even less prepared, after all, they lived in a high-end community with minimal security, and she was in her cozy home.

After the last consultation, she felt relieved, so she gradually let down her guard in her daily life.

Everything happened so suddenly.

The door opened, revealing a face.

Suddenly, Chen Ting felt her hand, which was gripping the doorknob, go numb.

This numbness extends from the palm to the arm, spreads to the shoulder, gathers in the chest, and finally splits, with some rushing to the head and some flowing to the buttocks and legs.

Until the whole body begins to lose sensation.

Just then, Mom's joyful voice rang out from behind:

"Tingting, do you still remember Teacher Wang?"

The voice was very smug: "When you took the independent admission exam, it was fortunate that Teacher Wang came to tutor you. Although you are now in college, you can't study your major courses at home. I thought Teacher Wang is in your major, so why don't we invite Teacher Wang to our house?"

She heard her mother sigh, "It's because Professor Wang really likes you. A young professor like him, how often do you come to someone's home to tutor?"

(End of this chapter)