Chapter 1112 - 829: Pie Chart Technique (2)

However, the underlying logic on the dimension of "responsibility" is the same for both.

"Do you remember what we need to do?" Nan Zhubin asked.

Jie Nianzhou nodded, "The [responsibility] pie chart."

Again, Nan Zhubin reached out to sketch a circle in the air.

"So the main focus this time is actually on the division of [responsibility]. And dividing [responsibility] aims to combat the feeling of loss of control, relieve our stress, and in turn alleviate the anxiety generated by stress, as well as the obsessive symptoms triggered by anxiety."

The fundamental goal remains unchanged.

Nan Zhubin explained:

"In your historical stress sources, the [responsibility pie chart] is used to discuss the question of ’who’s at fault’—this is a moral attribution type of pie chart meant to transform your subjective self-blame into an objective distribution chart."

"Whereas in present stress, the responsibility pie chart is used to delineate the question of ’who’s in control’—this is a control circle type of pie chart meant to clearly divide the ambiguous stress."

Nan Zhubin said, "You can understand it as, the latter helps you clarify—is it because ’the workload is too heavy’ that you feel stressed, or ’because the teacher has given you too many tasks’ that you feel stressed."

"That’s different."

Jie Nianzhou seemed pensive.

Nan Zhubin continued, "In the core of your current pathology, there is a part that is overly sensitive to ’uncertainty’—you need to constantly confirm to gain a sense of security."

For example, Jie Nianzhou’s current behavior of recording audio and repeatedly checking chat logs are pathologically extended behaviors from this sensitivity.

When a person is tormented by uncertainty, the most draining aspect isn’t the task itself, but the mental wear caused by the fuzzy sense of this uncertainty.

The control circle pie chart slices through this fuzziness.

"Let’s first make a [responsibility pie chart] for your first stress source," Nan Zhubin said, "I remember assigning homework last time, did you complete it?"

Jie Nianzhou nodded, "Yes."

Nan Zhubin also nodded, "How does it feel?"

"You told me to try it myself first. I couldn’t sleep that night, so I drew it," Jie Nianzhou completed the task rather quickly, "But after drawing it I felt... it’s still the same, so I just put it in the drawer."

Completing the pie chart is one aspect, interpreting it is another.

The latter is the work that Nan Zhubin needs to accomplish today.

"Can you take it out now? Or do you need to draw a new one?" Nan Zhubin asked.

Jie Nianzhou hesitated for a moment, "I... have a picture on my phone. I took a photo after drawing it, thinking I could show it to you next time."

"Okay, then check your album."

From the phone came the rustling sound of browsing. About ten seconds later, Jie Nianzhou directly sent the image over.

Nan Zhubin clicked open, enlarged it a bit.

It was a hand-drawn circle, divided into five sections with a pen. Beside each section, words were annotated. The approximate proportions are as follows:

The largest section, labeled [Mentor], occupied nearly half of the circle;

The second section labeled [School’s supervision and transition loopholes], accounted for about a quarter;

The third section labeled [Certain people’s acquiescence], occupied a moderate portion;

The remaining sections were [Luck], and the section labeled [Me] at the very edge, narrow enough to almost slip out of the circle.

Nan Zhubin glanced at it for two seconds, said, "You drew the proportions very accurately. What do you think?"

Objectively, the exact proportion of each responsibility factor is hard to say; but the most crucial part is on point, so Nan Zhubin followed up with [Support].

From this pie chart, Jie Nianzhou also knows that he actually bears little responsibility in the former mentor’s incident.

Jie Nianzhou did not immediately respond. He stared at his own chart for a while.

"...I think the proportion is indeed correct, but I don’t quite believe it."

"Don’t believe what?" Nan Zhubin quickly asked.

"Don’t believe I really only occupy so little," Jie Nianzhou said, "because—from a feeling perspective, it seems like I occupy a lot more."

The so-called "feeling" is the most harmful.

Nan Zhubin didn’t directly comment, nodded, "Okay. Then let’s do it again today. You redraw it according to the proportions, or adjust the parts you feel can be adjusted—and then let’s compare with last week’s chart to see if anything has changed."

As he spoke, he took a blank notebook and a ballpoint pen that had been prepared in advance, and showed the action to the camera.

"Watch how I draw."

Nan Zhubin turned to a new page, sketched a circle on it.

"I first write the title—[Regarding the Responsibility Division in the Former Mentor’s Job-Hopping Incident]."

This was something Jie Nianzhou hadn’t done in his personal assignment. After completing it, Nan Zhubin gestured for Jie Nianzhou to mimic his actions.

Jie Nianzhou looked around, being in a small laboratory, naturally had pens and paper. He quickly followed Nan Zhubin, drew a circle, and wrote the title.

"Then we’ll draw out our part. How much responsibility do you think you bear in this matter?"

Jie Nianzhou was silent for a long time. Then he said, "...less than five percent."

Nan Zhubin didn’t judge right or wrong but continued to ask, "So for the remaining ninety-five percent, who do you think they belong to?"

Jie Nianzhou’s gaze slightly drifted from the screen, becoming unfocused, seemingly examining another chart in his mind.

"The mentor’s part, accounted for forty percent...maybe a bit more. The school’s responsibility, about twenty-five percent or so. His colleagues...that’s the school in the Port District, fifteen percent. The remaining fifteen percent...is luck and such."

Nan Zhubin drew out the corresponding sections on the circle, having Jie Nianzhou also divide them on his chart.

After drawing, Nan Zhubin raised the paper up, and wanted to compare with Jie Nianzhou to make sure it was correct.

Then, Nan Zhubin pointed at the pie chart he had drawn, "Look here. Your section, here."

He pointed at the edge of that sector—so narrow it was barely noticeable.

Jie Nianzhou’s gaze fell on the small sector, pausing for two seconds.

"...Mm."

"Now that you look at this chart, how do you feel?"

"...Still the same as last week. The proportion is right." This answer was very objective.

"But in terms of feeling...I always feel my section should be larger."

Jie Nianzhou watched the pie chart Nan Zhubin displayed on the screen and then lowered his head to look at the pie chart he drew, closer.

In his eyes, that small edge of the sector seemed to be constantly expanding.

"Do you feel your section should be larger?" Nan Zhubin repeated Jie Nianzhou’s words.

"Yes."

"How much larger?"

Jie Nianzhou thought for a moment, "...half, nearly half the pie chart, maybe even more."

"Half, maybe even more." Nan Zhubin repeated once.

He put down the paper, leaned his body slightly forward.

"Then let’s make a distinction now. Looking at this chart—you labeled this sector [Me]. Tell me, in the incident of the former mentor’s job-hopping, what did ’I’—that’s Jie Nianzhou, specifically do?"

Jie Nianzhou blinked, "I...organized data."

"Before the mentor left, I helped him organize all the research data and materials."

"Anything else?" Nan Zhubin continued to ask.

"No more."

"Then [Mentor]? You just said his section was more than forty percent. What did he do?"

"He decided to leave. He contacted the school in the Port District. He took away the materials."

"[School]?"

"It didn’t supervise well."

"[Certain people’s acquiescence]...what does this section include?"