Chapter 459: Nan Zhubin Is a Consultant, So He Has to Keep Smiling
After listening to Nan Zhubin's question.
The visitor quickly explained: "The so-called harassment wasn't me constantly bothering the girl, but after I said a few words to her, I ignored her. She got vengeful or maybe just had a bruised ego. Her pride was hurt, so she said I harassed her."
The logic is still quite messy, and there are very few story details in this part.
Without waiting for Nan Zhubin to ask again, the visitor continued on his own:
"The first time Zhen Xiang scolded me about harassing the girl, his tone was very unpleasant. I can't remember the specifics, I only remember him saying, 'Whatever words they're using, they're saying you harassed them; to put it bluntly, they just don't like you...'."
"As if he's the only one who understands this reasoning!" The visitor spoke as if it were all so vivid.
"Before scolding me, he even kicked my bin and finally said, 'Don't talk to me about reason, I'm just bad-tempered, if you want to play with me, I can take my time with you.' The visitor gritted his teeth, "Actually, wasn't he just trying to expose my shortcomings? He must have thought I was pestering girls all the time to speak with such confidence."
The visitor's pouting lips trembled slightly: "But I think he was too arbitrary. He didn't even get the facts right. I never continued to pester a girl after she showed she didn't like me, I just said a few words."
"Even if it was harassment, she was just a bit annoyed. But in Zhen Xiang's eyes, it's as if it's some heinous crime. Actually, Zhen Xiang isn't even part of our club; the club's issues have nothing to do with him. He only heard about it from Yang Shihua."
The visitor folded his arms, his gaze briefly breaking away from Nan Zhubin's, falling into a contemplative stare.
Meanwhile, Nan Zhubin leaned back into the sofa, relaxing.
"I remember back then, Yang Shihua called me, and immediately asked if I had spoken to Lan Xinran, then asked which other girls I had talked with. So I seriously suspected Lan Xinran was one of them. Whether she orchestrated it or not, she's involved!"
Nan Zhubin's neck tilted slightly forward, showing interest in a piece of information from the visitor's words.
The consultant repeated: "'Lan Xinran'?"
A new name emerged.
Speaking of which, among the recent visitors, this one in front of him has mentioned the most names in his narrative.
The visitor nodded: "A girl from our club. In my memory, our interactions didn't exceed three brief normal exchanges. They surely didn't reach the level of harassment."
"Even if it was harassment, she was just a bit annoyed. But in Zhen Xiang's eyes, it's as if it were some heinous crime. Actually, Zhen Xiang isn't even part of our club. The club's issues have nothing to do with him; he just heard it from Yang Shihua!"
Wait a minute, is time looping again? Haven't I heard this before somewhere?
The visitor continued: "I remember back then, Yang Shihua called me, attacking with questions if I had spoken to Lan Xinran and then asked which other girls I talked to. So I seriously suspect Lan Xinran being among them. No matter if she orchestrated it or not, she's implicated!"
"The girls I know are better looking than Lan Xinran. I talked to them frequently; they never said I harassed them. Lan Xinran is ugly. How could talking to her a few times be considered harassment? What about those prettier girls?"
The visitor spoke faster and faster, his face slowly reddening, like a red pufferfish.
He looked at Nan Zhubin, seemingly wanting to confirm something.
"During my years of struggling with depression, I thought most about what exactly I said to Lan Xinran. I tried everything to retrieve the chat records but couldn't, racking my brain to remember because our interaction wasn't much. I can only recall one or two sentences, yet it became her bragging capital."
It's unclear if he's speaking to the Nan Zhubin before him or to someone else, or maybe not speaking to anyone and merely presenting an example.
The visitor declared emphatically: "If one day I could retrieve my chat records with Lan Xinran and they exceed ten lines, I'll admit I was wrong."
Nan Zhubin did not make any comment.
"Zhen Xiang forced me to apologize to her, but actually, the one who really owes Lan Xinran is Zhen Xiang. He owes Lan Xinran a thank you. If it weren't for Lan Xinran, I could crush Zhen Xiang completely; he wouldn't be able to scold me using the harassment issue."
"He also owes Lan Xinran an apology. If he didn't scold me, I wouldn't hate Lan Xinran like this, wouldn't seek revenge on her. Although Zhen Xiang reported me for scolding her, Lan Xinran doesn't owe him a thank you because Zhen Xiang is just using her to retaliate against me, not genuinely sympathizing with her."
Nan Zhubin, who was initially relaxed, tensed slightly and began to sit up straighter.
The content of this passage is starting to reveal something different.
"Revenge?"
Yet there is still no pause for Nan Zhubin to interject.
"Lan Xinran often flaunts in the club chat. I've seen it a few times."
"This woman has a full face, a bloated figure. Her mind can't think of anything else but romance. She downloaded many social apps and likes to show off her chat records in the group. In the group, nine out of ten times she either self-deprecatingly jokes about her unattractive looks or claims some guy is interested in her."
"Basically, she feels inferior about her appearance, which is why she boasts."
The visitor said then suddenly took out a phone.
"Teacher, look, this is from Yang Shihua's memoir about Lan Xinran. It's not hard to see she's a love-crazed brain!"
Nan Zhubin's gaze was unfocused. He reached out to gently move the phone, which was only half a fist away from his nose, aside.
He wanted to say something.
But still didn't get a chance to speak.
The visitor continued on his own: "Later, Lan Xinran met a plain-looking boyfriend through social software. She almost brags about him in the group and on QQ space every day; it's gotten to the point of annoyance."
"To her, a boyfriend isn't for a relationship, but to show off. I know some pretty girls with very handsome boyfriends. They never show off, or do so occasionally. They are all more understated and have more substance than Lan Xinran."
The visitor's face returned to normal a bit, but soon flushed red again.
"And also, also, teacher, you should know I'm not as unpopular with girls as Zhen Xiang claims. The partners I've been with have all been quite attractive. My first girlfriend was from Yuezhou, my second was a graduate student from Shanghai Normal University. If Zhen Xiang wants to mock my capability under the guise of morality, then he's too stupid. His and his girlfriend's combined IQ might not even reach a fraction of a normal person's. Zhen Xiang's girlfriend also failed her higher mathematics retake before graduation, like peas in a pod!"
"There was a time I often thought, if it wasn't for Yang Shihua exaggerating the incident, if Zhen Xiang hadn't used it to scold me, would I still hate Lan Xinran so much."
"I can't come up with a definite answer, since I can't truly empathize. I think probably not. Without them, I'd at most think she's vain."
The visitor concluded: "So you need to know the ones who truly wronged her are Zhen Xiang and Yang Shihua!"
It seemed he finally finished speaking.
As the last part of his speech was delivered swiftly and densely, the visitor began to breathe heavily at this moment.
Nan Zhubin thought for a moment and asked: "You've said a lot, but one question of mine still hasn't been answered—what issue do you want to solve?"
The visitor steadied his breath, swallowed, and said: "I want you, teacher, to help me figure out what issues Yang Shihua, Zhen Xiang, and Lan Xinran have? Why are they treating me this way?"
"This question leaves me unable to let go."
"And then, after being tormented with depression for so long, I need some justice. I want to re-add them as friends to face them, but they all ignore me. Even the people in the former club ignore me."
The visitor looked into Nan Zhubin's eyes: "Teacher, do you think there's a way to solve these problems?"
Nan Zhubin pulled the corners of his mouth, making himself smile.