Chapter 1108 - 827: Offline Consultation Goes Online_2

Jie Nianzhou’s attention was not drawn to "refund", but rather opened the topic through Nan Zhubin’s addition.

"I’m sorry, Teacher Nan, really sorry..."

His first reaction was to apologize.

Soon after, Jie Nianzhou quickly began to explain. His speech was rapid, as though he had already prepared a draft in his mind.

"...My research group suddenly added a task. I truly can’t arrange my time over here."

"I used to complete things a day in advance to free up the morning for my psychological consultation. But this time my teacher messaged me at three in the morning, which I only saw after waking up. Even if I wanted to stay up late to work, I couldn’t, and this morning I really couldn’t make it out..."

The information contained in just this sentence is quite dense.

Jie Nianzhou’s mentor is Bi Yanling. Connecting with recent events, Nan Zhubin frowned slightly.

It feels as if something is about to happen.

But currently, Nan Zhubin’s role is as a consultant, and the visitor is still more important.

Nan Zhubin’s thumb gently rubbed the edge of the phone.

In a normal psychological consultation, when the visitor wants to cancel, conforming to the visitor’s wishes is an essential principle.

However, at this moment, Jie Nianzhou is at a crucial decision-making node.

It’s not that this consultation itself is particularly important, but Jie Nianzhou had already set a fixed consultation time, which for someone with obsessive symptoms is an important measure to establish control in life. Then now, under pressure, he cancels the consultation, which likely means he will revert to his old behavioral patterns—at least there’s that risk.

Especially since his source of pressure is from his mentor.

In other words, Jie Nianzhou can cancel this consultation for reasons like going out to play, dating, or oversleeping—but definitely not due to pressure from his mentor.

But when it comes to procedures and ethics, Nan Zhubin cannot emphasize this aspect.

After thinking about it, Nan Zhubin chose a more universal approach, similar to how the confidentiality principle is reiterated at the start of each consultation. Faced with the visitor’s request to cancel, Nan Zhubin offered a plan B.

"I understand. Indeed, today’s time is quite tight." First, Nan Zhubin expressed understanding of Jie Nianzhou’s situation, alleviating the guilt he conveyed in his words.

"However, if you can’t free up the whole morning, could you manage an hour?"

Nan Zhubin said, "We can do it as an online consultation, saving you commuting time. If you have any urgent matters, you can leave anytime."

"As long as you can find a relatively enclosed environment."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

"...Online?" After a while, Jie Nianzhou repeated.

"Yes." Nan Zhubin confirmed, "You can use your phone or computer, start a video, anywhere convenient for talking."

Jie Nianzhou’s breathing rhythm changed slightly.

"I...should have access to a small lab, I can go check...I’ll just say I’m going to organize raw data...it’s fine!"

His tone was initially hesitant but then became firm.

"Never mind, go ahead and look. Anyway, there’s still time until our consultation starts." Nan Zhubin said gently.

...

Jie Nianzhou’s consultation was scheduled second in the morning.

After finishing the first consultation, Nan Zhubin glanced at his phone; Jie Nianzhou sent a message [OK to consult].

All right then.

Nan Zhubin quickly sorted himself out, found a stand.

When the consultation time arrived, he sat at the computer desk, readying his phone in position, waiting for activity from Jie Nianzhou’s side.

[Invite you to video call—]

Connected.

A week unseen, Jie Nianzhou appeared on the phone screen.

Judging from the background, it should be a small laboratory of about twenty square meters, with only three computers and some small instruments in it. On screen, Jie Nianzhou looked more exhausted than usual, his hair messier, with a tuft sticking up in front.

Nan Zhubin assessed Jie Nianzhou’s current state based on objective impressions. Maybe because when Jie Nianzhou usually came to the hospital, he would tidy up his look in advance, whereas at school, he couldn’t be bothered—it wasn’t uncommon.

But upon deeper thought, this might indicate a decline in Jie Nianzhou’s self-care level, signaling overwhelmed stress.

Considering Bi Yanling had already sent messages at three in the morning, Jie Nianzhou’s state could also be seen as attention narrowing under high pressure, with all his energy focused on handling his mentor’s tasks, leaving him no room for those self-care details he usually doesn’t need to think about.

Nan Zhubin gave a small smile to the camera: "Hello, can you hear me clearly?"

"Yes, can you hear me, Teacher Nan?"

"Very clearly." Nan Zhubin nodded, "Your video is also quite clear."

Jie Nianzhou smiled a little.

Nan Zhubin adjusted the phone stand to appear more formal: "Shall we start then?"

"Yes."

"Let’s begin with last week’s situation. Following usual practice, we’ll review our form data..." Nan Zhubin said.

Jie Nianzhou was prepared beforehand, quickly fetched his behavior assessment form, adjusting the angle in front of the phone camera, occasionally asking, "Is this okay?"

"Good, hold it at that angle for a moment," Nan Zhubin said.

Then, as he looked, he nodded slowly.

"Hmm, the data’s relatively stable, indicating we’ve maintained the state."

With task completion verified, Nan Zhubin naturally transitioned into sorting out the process: "So, in the past week, has there been any changes around you, or events that particularly caught your attention?"

Nan Zhubin had expected this answer. But he must ask with current phrasing, allowing the visitor to raise the matter.

As expected, Jie Nianzhou chuckled bitterly on the screen.

"Yes, last week our teacher...suddenly started pressuring us more. She redid our scheduling chart, demanding we station at our posts during free time, and reviewed many students’ research designs anew."

"I heard many students complaining. For instance, some amendments were clearly given by the teacher herself before, yet now she seems to have forgotten them, scolding them saying, ’Who told you to change like this,’ everyone’s grumbling..."

"Also, she had previously set a relatively lax due date, but now suddenly demands spot-checking on project progress—most students haven’t completed it. And as long as it’s incomplete, they’ll get scolded again..."

Sounds like something Bi Yanling would do.

Nan Zhubin offered a self-reflective feedback: "Sounds like your research group had a tough week."

Jie Nianzhou nodded.

"And what left the deepest impression on me, might be this morning—or perhaps last night’s occurrence?" Despite the small camera screen, Jie Nianzhou’s tense face was clearly transmitted.

"Since it happened so recently, the feeling it left is also most vivid..."

Nan Zhubin leaned slightly forward, showing engagement: "Could you elaborate?"

Jie Nianzhou nodded: "It was when I woke up this morning, habitually checking my phone, only to see the message from my teacher."

"She’d sent me a message, telling me to write a project proposal, attached with a bunch of materials. Saying I had a day to consolidate them and report simply to her this afternoon."

Nan Zhubin raised an eyebrow: "A day to consolidate them and report in the afternoon? Is it this afternoon?"

Jie Nianzhou sealed his lips: "Yes, perhaps yesterday evening might count towards this ’day’ in her mind."

Such a situation is tricky, practically a sneak attack.