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

Chapter 567 Good, good, good! There's always someone better!

Nan Zhuren's eyes narrowed.

Is this feeling... veering back to its old ways?
The atmosphere has become ambiguous again?

The visitor said, "Because...because I used to be a very insecure person. I felt that she was my best friend, my confidante; but I didn't know what my place was in her heart. After all, someone as outstanding as her probably has many good friends around her?"

"But now I know."

The visitor took a deep breath: "She's usually such an outstanding and radiant person, I never imagined she had this side to her. And you know what, teacher, when she was talking about her family situation, she seemed... broken! Although she wasn't as radiant, she seemed even more attractive to me!"

Your eyes are sparkling right now, girl.

The visitor stared intently at Nan Zhuren, as if he were a little dragon with golden eyes.

However, with each breath she took, her eyes gradually dimmed, until they returned to normal.

Seeing the other person's lips move slightly, as if they wanted to say something but couldn't, Nan Zhuren understood that the visitor's statement was over.

Next came what the other party called "the problem that needs help with," but it seems that the visitor is somewhat embarrassed to talk about their problem.

Instead of asking "What's wrong with you?" directly, Nan Zhuren used a slightly softer approach.

"It sounds like what you just said was mostly positive for you. But in the end, it still created some points that bothered you?"

Someone gave them a push, and the visitor nodded quickly.

The visitor said, "Yes, teacher... Although what my best friend said made me feel good, I also have some thoughts that are troubling me."

Nan Zhuren looked at the visitor and gave him positive attention in a physical sense through his eyes.

"Well, first of all... teacher, as I just mentioned... I haven't had a boyfriend for the past few years... so I feel like my feelings for her are... uncertain..."

The visitor didn't finish what he was saying.

However, Nan Zhuren basically said everything.

"Then, my best friend has also been single for many years, and I'm wondering... could she be like me? But I'm not sure..."

The visitor's eyes lit up again, shining like flashlights on Nan Zhuren: "So, teacher, could you help me analyze what's going on with my best friend?"

Oh, seeking affirmation, I'm trying to gain strength from the counselor.

Nan Zhuren's expression remained unchanged as she changed the subject: "You just said 'firstly,' are there any other questions?"

The visitor didn't dwell on the first question: "Yes, and also... this idea of ​​mine only came to me after my best friend told me what she was thinking. But in this situation, when I have a new idea, I feel... like I'm taking advantage of her vulnerability? Like I'm using her sincerity..."

Yes, a feeling of being anxious and uncertain.

This is fairly normal... if we don't consider the context in which the problem arose.

"And then, there's another question..."

At this point, the visitor glanced at Nan Zhuren again: "That's right, I've been hesitating, hesitating whether or not to tell her some things. But as the hesitation has dragged on, I feel... my thoughts have changed a bit."

"Because... she used to be very impressive, even to the point that I admired her a little. But after she talked to me about life, I felt that she wasn't so impressive anymore, and... I didn't admire her as much."

The visitor's logic was a little confused, but Nan Zhuren could still understand the meaning behind it.

"So even now, I don't know what my own thoughts really are. I always feel like there are many different ideas that have emerged from different directions..."

The visitor looked at Nan Zhuren expectantly: "Teacher, I'd like to ask you what you think?"

Nan Zhuren suddenly pulled out the psychological test report that the interviewee had initially handed over.

After taking a closer look, he rubbed his temples.

……

With a "click," Nan Zhuren returned to his workstation and let out a slight sigh of relief.

This consultation was quite mentally taxing, but Nan Zhuren doesn't intend to respond directly with "emotional readjustment".

Overall, this level of exertion is still within his tolerance. Continuing to work in his current state is, in a sense, also a way to hone his skills as a consultant.

After a while, when Mo Kai returned from talking with the visitor, Nan Zhuren waved to his assistant.

"Did you renew your subscription?"

“No.” Mo Kai shook his head.

“Okay.” Nan Zhuren nodded to indicate that he understood. “Don’t follow her too closely. If she is interested in renewing her subscription, don’t recommend a long subscription plan to her.”

The implication is that this visitor does not belong to the type who needs long-term counseling.

Mo Kai was already used to Nan Zhuren's attitude of having money but not really wanting to earn it.

Anyway, Mo Kai himself isn't the type who particularly wants to make money; on the contrary, it's this kind of sales approach tailored to different clients that gives him a real sense of satisfaction working in a specific field and a genuine feeling of being a "psychological counseling assistant".

“Okay, senior brother.” Mo Kai glanced at today’s schedule. “After this visit, there are two more visits today… and the next visitor will be here soon.”

Nan Zhuren picked up the water glass in front of him and took a sip: "I understand."

……

The brief consultation break passed by in a flash.

Nan Zhuren quickly returned to the consultation room.

dong dong dong-

"Enter."

The door opened, and a petite figure entered.

The visitor was female and looked quite young, like a high school student.

However, women's appearances are very deceptive. Considering nutritional issues or a naturally youthful appearance, their actual age may vary by five, six, or even more than ten years.

Nan Zhuren decided to play it safe and wait until the conversation to gather more information about the other party's specific age.

"Hello, please sit down."

The visitor sat on the single sofa opposite Nan Zhuren, curled up slightly, looked up at Nan Zhuren, and then looked down.

Then look up again, then look down again.

Nan Zhuren maintained his appropriately friendly professional smile: "What's your name?"

The visitor gave their name, followed by basic information: a sophomore in college. "Teacher," the visitor said, taking a deep breath, as if making a decision.

"I'd like to consult about...relationship issues."

Emotional counseling is a problem with a huge difference between the upper and lower limits.

Nan Zhuren nodded, calming himself down.

Then the visitor abruptly changed the subject: "Teacher, well, when I was little, my family was very poor. My father was very chauvinistic, and I always felt that my mother had a very difficult life..."

Hmm? It's an emotional issue, but why start with childhood experiences?
Nan Zhuren's extensive consulting experience sparked several possibilities in his mind at that moment, causing a slight fluctuation in his emotions.

I'm not sure, let me listen again.

"Then, my dad probably caught the wave of the times and made a lot of money, like a nouveau riche. And then—he changed."

At this point, the visitor took a deep breath.

Because the issue raised was emotional, although the visitor was sitting on a single sofa with a slightly curled-up body, there was no overall feeling of "fear" or "shrinking".

Only here did he begin to speak with many irregular pauses and make many extra gestures to alleviate his discomfort.

“Maybe before, my grandparents and maternal grandparents could control him financially, but after he got money, well, he just showed his true colors. He started staying out all night often, and then he started doing what's common, like domestic violence.”

Domestic violence is definitely not "normal," girl.

Nan Zhuren kept these thoughts to herself and did not interrupt the visitor's narration.

"Later, my mother couldn't take it anymore and divorced my father. When they divorced, I was awarded to my mother."

“But when my dad got divorced, it was actually quite a dignified affair. He gave my mom a lot of money. And my mom also wanted to have her own life, so in the end she left me with my dad and let me live with him.”

The visitor concluded, "So I don't have any feelings for either of my parents."

Things are getting increasingly bad at this point. Even in divorced families, this situation is considered quite dire.

Nan Zhuren's sense of unease grew stronger.

"Then, one day my dad told me that he was getting married again."

The visitor pursed his lips: "At this moment, I actually felt some malice towards the woman my father was talking about."

The longer the setup, the more unpredictable and mysterious the ending becomes.

Nan Zhuren blinked.

Sure enough, the visitor continued, "But then, when I saw my stepmother, my whole impression of her changed... well, it all changed instantly. She was really... so beautiful."

"She's tall, smells nice, speaks softly, and dresses very fashionably. I feel like... she's the kind of person I want to be when I grow up."

"And her... figure, how should I put it, it's that kind of fleshy, voluptuous look... Teacher, you're a man, you should understand, right?"

"You're a guy, you should know what to do, right?" This question... I've been asked it many times, but this is the first time a girl has asked me this question.

Nan Zhuren kept a straight expression and leaned back slightly.

So what you call "relationship problems" is actually...

The visitor's neck, cheeks, and ears turned bright red at a visible speed: "Yeah, I never thought I was a looks-obsessed person before, but the first time I saw my stepmother, I felt... I'm not quite there anymore. I even feel like I understand my dad a little now."

"Then, she was very kind to me. When we first met, she hugged me and called me 'Little Darling'—Teacher, you should know that my mother had never hugged me like that or called me like that before."

The visitor's speech quickened: "She also brought an older brother with her, who is a very nice person. He's very kind to me and respectful to my father."

"At that moment, I suddenly hated my dad again. I was thinking—how could this bastard be so lucky? He's no good at anything, how come he was able to find such a good stepmother?!"

Nan Zhuren pursed her lips.

At the very least... your dad has pretty good taste, and your family's aesthetic sense seems to be passed down through generations.

The visitor took a deep breath and finally managed to calm himself down: "Teacher, do you think my situation is normal? I've heard that psychology has a special analysis of something called 'Oedipus complex'?"

Nan Zhuren took a deep breath to steady himself: "I'm not sure about the specifics of your relationship with your stepmother yet, but..."

“Stepmother,” the visitor suddenly interrupted.

“…Hmm?” Nan Zhuren blinked.

"She's my stepmother, not my stepmother," the visitor emphasized.

Nan Zhuren readily agreed: "Okay, I'm not entirely clear on the specifics of your situation with your stepmother, but in psychology, there is indeed a concept called the Oedipus complex... something similar."

……

The Oedipus complex refers to an early stage of an individual's psychological development—generally between the ages of 3 and 6—characterized by a strong attachment to and possessiveness towards the mother. During this stage, the father is also often viewed as a rival, leading to feelings of fear, jealousy, and even hostility.

From a macro perspective, this is an inevitable stage in everyone's life development. In order to overcome this anxiety, individuals will eventually choose to identify with their father, internalize his image, values, and morals, thereby forming a superego and getting rid of possessiveness towards their mother.

However, there are two problems:
First, as mentioned above, this situation typically occurs in childhood and needs to be overcome. Failure to overcome it can have a significant impact on future perceptions of intimate relationships.

II. The Oedipus complex, or mother fixation, is more common in males' psychological development...

The condition that girls develop is usually called the "Electra complex," a father fixation.

……

The visitor did not give Nan Zhuren the opportunity to provide the above explanation.

Upon hearing Nan Zhuren mention the "Oedipus complex," she eagerly interrupted, "It exists, doesn't it?"

"After she hugged me that day, I ran away without saying a word. After that, my stepmother and I barely spoke. Sometimes my dad would come and ask me, saying that my stepmother was very disappointed because she felt that he didn't like her."

"But actually, oh dear, actually I am..."

As the visitor was talking, his legs suddenly clamped together.

"I don't know how to get along with my stepmother, but I really like her."

“I always look forward to them going on trips together. Then at night I would hide in my stepmother's closet to sleep. I would smell her scent and be covered with her clothes…”

Nan Zhuren's pupils dilated and contracted slightly.

How could we discuss privacy so deeply during our first consultation, when we hadn't even established a strong counseling relationship?

Or perhaps... the visitor is just too repressed?
(End of this chapter)