"Matches the boy's symptoms? He also likes to visit haunted houses?" Dr. Gao had successfully piqued Chen Ge's curiosity.
"Long-term listlessness and low spirits, occasional violent mood swings, a preference for being alone in dark places—it's the only way he feels safe. As for whether he likes visiting haunted houses, I'm not entirely sure." Dr. Gao stepped to the side, revealing a young man standing behind him. "Men Nan. He fell ill three weeks ago. He's my student."
The person behind Dr. Gao was barely in his twenties, on the thin side, his face tight and drawn. His cheekbones jutted prominently, his eye sockets were sunken, and even standing under the sunlight, fine beads of sweat oozed from his forehead.
He seemed to be in a constant state of tension, head slightly lowered, refusing to meet anyone's gaze.
"Surnamed Men?" Chen Ge tried greeting him. "Hello."
The young man behaved very oddly. He kept his head down but rolled his eyes upward, darting a quick glance at Chen Ge before murmuring back: "Hello."
After studying the young man for a while, Chen Ge pulled Dr. Gao to the side. "Wait—why did you bring this person to my haunted house? You're planning to let him go through as a visitor? If something happens, I can't take responsibility for that."
"Men Nan is an outgoing, confident child—one of the students I admire most. He has a talent in personality psychology that even surprises me."
"Personality psychology?"
"A branch of psychology. To put it simply, it's the study of the unique behavioral patterns of an individual."
"Oh." Chen Ge nodded, though in truth he still didn't understand.
"He fell ill suddenly three weeks ago, with no warning signs whatsoever. Psychological disorders usually have a trigger—most often related to family or living environment. But Men Nan has been living alone, and his living environment, the people he interacts with, and the things he encounters have never changed. That's what puzzled me."
"After multiple rounds of psychological counseling and therapy, his condition not only failed to improve—it deteriorated rapidly." Dr. Gao kept his voice low; what followed was clearly meant for Men Nan not to hear. "This boy rarely lost his temper before, but recently his emotions have been extremely unstable. He even got into a physical fight with his roommate because the animal patterns on a curtain were asymmetrical. He flipped over tables and chairs in the cafeteria because he couldn't count the sesame seeds on a flatbread. He splashed soup on a complete stranger because of—"
"The reasons for these outbursts are incredibly specific."
"When a person is being tormented, even the tiniest trigger can set off all their emotions. Men Nan's behavior made me realize just how much pain he's in right now."
"But why are you coming to me?" Chen Ge looked between Dr. Gao and Men Nan. The special visitor hinted at by the black phone had to be one of these two.
"Wang Xin's condition has improved significantly. The illness that was previously uncontrollable finally began to improve from the day she met you." Dr. Gao smiled. "I'm not a rigid man. Whatever method is used—as long as it can heal the patient and save a life, it's a good method. I know the suffering they're enduring, so I'm humbly asking if you could do me a favor."
"Go ahead." Chen Ge didn't refuse.
"Could you try the same method you used to treat Wang Xin on Men Nan? After all, judging from the current situation, the symptoms that Men Nan, Wang Xin, and the little boy we discussed before all exhibit are remarkably similar."
After hearing Dr. Gao's words, Chen Ge hesitated. He hadn't expected Dr. Gao to come to him for this reason. Presumably, yesterday's treatment of Wang Xin had made a strong impression on this seasoned psychologist, which was why he was making this request.
But the truth of the matter was known only to Chen Ge himself. He had been able to resolve Wang Xin's inner turmoil because the pen spirit had revealed Wang Xin's past to him, and on top of that, the pen spirit had taken the initiative to step forward—which was why the treatment worked in one stroke. This kind of method couldn't be replicated. It was one of a kind.
"Is it difficult?" Dr. Gao could see Chen Ge wavering. "If it's too much trouble, forget it. I came here just to try. It's just that this boy has exceptional talent, and relying on pharmaceutical treatment will cause significant side effects to his mind and body. I'm worried it'll ruin his future."
"It is a bit difficult, but it's not entirely impossible. If you want my help, at the very least let me ask him some basic questions first." Chen Ge didn't flat-out refuse. One of Dr. Gao and Men Nan was a special visitor, and every special visitor represented a hidden "fortune" that had to be seized.
"I'll thank you on behalf of the boy first," Dr. Gao said, a smile appearing on his face, and called Men Nan over. "Men Nan, tell him about the things that cause you pain."
The young man kept his head down. No matter who he spoke to, his head stayed lowered—as though something were pressing down on the top of his skull.
When the young man remained silent, Dr. Gao let out a soft sigh and spoke on his behalf. "Three weeks ago, this boy came to me and said he suspected he had depression. We're professionals ourselves, and after a full afternoon of assessment, we found that his symptoms were different from ordinary depression—it was more than just excessive fatigue and anxiety. I didn't pay too much attention at the time, but later Men Nan's condition grew increasingly severe. He would often go an entire day without saying a single word, and the slightest little thing would send him into a hysterical argument or fight, as if he were venting something. I analyzed it for a long time before arriving at a conclusion he refuses to admit—he's afraid inside. Deeply, terribly afraid!"
"I suspected he had a phobia, but when I investigated his living environment, I couldn't find any cause that might have triggered one. Finally, under my repeated questioning, this boy finally told me the truth." Dr. Gao looked at Men Nan with a pained expression. "Starting three weeks ago, he's been having the same dream every single night."
At the mention of dreams, Men Nan flinched visibly. This was clearly the thing he least wanted to recall.
"What did he dream about?" Chen Ge had already imagined many horrifying scenarios, but Dr. Gao's answer still exceeded his expectations.
"He dreamed he was washing his hair."
"Washing his hair?" Chen Ge was speechless, not knowing what to say.
"The rest—I'll let him tell you himself." Dr. Gao placed his hand on Men Nan's shoulder, gently rubbing it to signal him to relax.
After a long wait, Men Nan finally spoke. "It's the same dream every time. It keeps getting clearer. I'll be able to see who that person is soon."
His voice was hoarse, as if his throat had been scorched by fire.
"See who clearly? There's another person in your dream?"
"Yes. He always stands beside me, watching me wash my hair. It's terrifying—as though the moment I close my eyes, he'll rush over and strangle me to death."