Who would study psychology unless they had some issues?!

In a daze, Nan Zhihao felt as if there was a string in his heart that, after being repeatedly bent, finally—

snapped.

"—Ah!!"

Accompanied by a nearly hysterical roar, Nan Zhihao hurled his cellphone to the ground.

The moment the phone screen hit the floor, it shattered into a snowflake-like pattern, the colorful digital distortion splintering the call display showing [Mom].

"—Ah ah!!"

It was as if something suppressed to the extreme in his chest was about to explode, yet without any target, Nan Zhihao blindly and fiercely swept everything in front of him.

Cups, the table lamp, books, the computer, storage boxes, everything was tossed to the floor, making a heart-wrenching crash. Next, his gaze locked on the wardrobe beside him, and without much thought, he swung his fist—

"Bang," the whole bed frame attached to the wardrobe shook, leaving a conspicuous dent in the thin metal, and Nan Zhihao's fist now showed visible bruising and redness.

"Bang, bang, bang, bang—"

"Ah—ah ah—ah ah ah!!"

Nan Zhihao no longer had any communication with the person on the other end of the line, only emitting the most primal roars and swinging the most primal movements, his mind an emotional torrent, cleansing even the pain from his senses.

These hysterical sounds were transmitted to the other side through the phone's earpiece, and as if scared, there was no response for quite a while.

When Nan Zhihao's mind, which was a blank slate, finally began to show color, and his body finally stopped, panting heavily.

Only then did the earpiece intermittently deliver a phrase: "Let's not talk for now, you handle it yourself."

Then hung up the call.

Nan Zhihao's body trembled, almost instinctively seizing a chair, raising it above his head about to smash it down on the phone.

This violent movement caused the pendant around his neck to swing, a thumb-sized hourglass grazing his face lightly as if giving a slap.

This made Nan Zhihao's actions freeze.

As if conditioned reflex, he began to take deep breaths, his chest heaving violently.

After a few deep breaths, the redness on his face gradually faded, and then he started unconsciously stroking the chair he was holding.

He heard himself mumble: "The green chair, made of a plastic back and metal frame, the backrest feels neither cold nor hot, no odor, relatively soft material..."

After the first lesson of the [grounding technique], in recent consultations, Nan Zhubin did not delve too deeply into Nan Zhihao's issues but continued to reinforce Nan Zhihao's proficiency in the [grounding technique] and upgraded it.

The beginner grounding technique, in simple practical terms, involves performing a [grounding action], then using the [5-4-3-2-1 technique] to find sensory stimuli in the surrounding environment, achieving the effect of "grounding" the spirit.

And after many lessons, Nan Zhihao has learned a more advanced [grounding technique]—[object connection establishment].

Compared to the beginner [grounding technique] which prompts a sequential search for various sensory stimuli in the surrounding environment, [object connection establishment] requires the individual to meticulously explore all kinds of information about an object.

For example, when touching an "apple," it includes "red," "round," "cool to touch," "slightly weighty," "with a sweet or sour aroma."

Through a detailed deciphering of a tangible object within reach, one pulls their attention out of chaos and back to the present reality.

Compared to the beginner [grounding technique], this [object connection establishment] takes effect faster, is simpler to operate, and is applicable in more situations.

Nan Zhihao slowly placed down the chair in his hands, stared at it for a while, and then, as if driven by an invisible force, leaned in to take a bite: "Very hard texture, no taste..."

Also, after this action, a glimmer of clarity as if awakening from a dream finally flickered in his eyes.

Pain in his teeth, fists, and shoulders swept over him, various forms and degrees of stinging, while Nan Zhihao's eyes held only confusion.

In an exhausted posture, he sat on the chair, blankly looking at the messy dormitory, for a moment seemingly not knowing what to do next.

Suddenly, his phone vibrated again.

Bzzz—

A new message came through.

[Dad: Young man, when are you coming home for a break?]

[Dad: Mom just cried, sometimes she can't express herself clearly, and her temper is quite impatient. You're a graduate student, and a former soldier, sometimes explain things to her a few more times, don't rush, avoid getting stuck in a rut.]

[Dad: Family issues are meant to be discussed, after all, she is your mom.]

[Dad: No matter how you understand mom's concern, it is genuine, we only wish for your happiness.]

Nan Zhihao's hand holding the phone slightly trembled, the broken skin on the back of his hand sending a mild stinging sensation.

In a haze, his eyes grew more bewildered, his breathing even more weary.

Immediately after, another message notification popped up on his phone.

[Teacher Cai, the counselor: Volunteers meet first in the small room next to [Qinsi Hall], boys go to Gate 6's security office to move mineral water and other supplies.]

[Teacher Cai, the counselor: Those who have arrived press 1.]

Nan Zhihao's eyes suddenly regained focus.

Without time to tidy up the mess at his feet, he ran to the sink to rinse his hands with cold water, stuffed the phone into his sunscreen jacket pocket, and was about to rush out.

But the moment his face touched the air outside the dormitory building, his body abruptly paused. After some thought, he retraced his steps back to the dormitory, found his mask among the mess, shook off the dirt, and put it on his face.

Then he zipped up the sunscreen jacket to the top, wrapping himself up tightly again.

Only then did he let out a sigh of relief, stuck his hands in his pockets, shoulders hunched forward, briskly heading towards the rendezvous spot.

He soon reached his destination.

"You're here," although Nan Zhihao was wrapped up completely, the counselor who arrived at [Qinsi Hall] first recognized him at a glance.

"Sign in first." The counselor pointed to a piece of paper on the table, then to the back door, "You'll guard the back door today. Once the meeting starts, close the door so people won't be coming and going."

This was a great task for Nan Zhihao, as the back door was a spot where not many people could see, the most cornered position, away from everyone's view; plus, the air conditioning was there, allowing Nan Zhihao, wrapped up, to stand in the breeze.

In a blur, before long, Nan Zhihao saw a procession led by a school teacher entering, supposedly to give a lecture, from the court... Huh?

Looking at Nan Zhu Bin within the group, Nan Zhihao blinked.