"Did that 'Teacher Yang' accuse me of taking someone else's case without permission?"
Nan Zhubin wasn't startled or surprised; instead, he lowered his head and started pondering.
This "just as I expected" reaction made Weng Pinting raise an eyebrow again.
Subsequently, Nan Zhubin began to tell his version of the story.
This time, it was Weng Pinting's face that showed an "as expected" expression.
"Transferring cases privately among yourselves is absolutely not allowed by the company. Even if you take on this client and make it a case, a violation is still a violation," Weng Pinting set the tone straight off.
Nan Zhubin did not argue; he just continued to look at Weng Pinting, expressionless.
"But the company rules are for the boss to consider, and it's up to him how to handle you all," Weng Pinting turned the corner in her speech, "Yang Xudao, without understanding your depths, transferred a case of suspected depression to you because of personal problems, which on a larger scale is a violation of the ethical standards of a psychological consultant."
For Weng Pinting, who is professionally trained, this was even more intolerable.
No one would have expected Nan Zhubin to really take on this client. Had things gone as Bald Yang predicted, the situation might have developed like this:
In the best-case scenario, Nan Zhubin's consultation is neither good nor bad, so the client gets transferred again, and the newly established center loses a case—this is the best scenario.
But what if Nan Zhubin's skills were quite clumsy, and the client happened to be in a dangerous period of depression?
The consequences would be unimaginable.
Weng Pinting's gaze flickered: "Mr. Nan, do you have evidence for what you just said?"
...
Yan Nuo Psychological Consultation Center, office area.
The consultants and assistants were handling their tasks in an orderly manner like a group of worker ants long assigned to their roles.
They forced themselves to stay at their workstations with their professional—or not particularly professional but somewhat managed—expressions and emotions.
Yet the crisscrossed glances all coincidentally directed towards one direction.
——The boss's office at the center.
"Have a seat."
Howard gestured upward with his palm towards the two chairs in front of the desk.
Nan Zhubin sat down, looking calm.
He glanced at Bald Yang, who had also taken a seat, and saw that although there were no obvious expressions on his face, the many details were enough to tell Nan Zhubin of the storm brewing in his heart.
The two of them sat facing Howard, with a long office desk between them.
Weng Pinting slowly settled on the sofa against the wall, taking a position that could take all three of them in, and she did not intend to speak.
Finally, Nan Zhubin looked at Howard. One could tell that as the boss of the consultation center, Howard also had some skills in expression management.
Of course, only a little, because Howard's mouth corners kept twitching.
"Did you open an account?" Nan Zhubin suddenly asked.
This time, Howard finally couldn't maintain his expression and directly showed his delight: "Opened, Chen Ting's mom directly bought a package for 12 consultations. Mr. Nan, you're indeed a professional; you managed the first case so steadily..."
Bald Yang's expression management also went offline along with Howard's, although their changes were not in the same direction.
"But you see," Howard, still in his joyful expression with raised corners of his mouth, had his eyes sinking down as he continued, "Mr. Nan, such behavior is not encouraged in our Yan Nuo."
Bald Yang immediately changed his expression again and hurriedly added, "Exactly!"
Bald Yang seemed to find support: "Our consultation center is just starting, and at times like this, we really need to set rules. Although my schooling was not in psychology, I've been in this industry for a dozen years or so, and I know that taking clients without permission can cause trouble!"
Howard looked at Bald Yang, then at Nan Zhubin: "That's true."
Bald Yang spoke more fluently: "We were lucky this time because it was handled well, but what if it went wrong? Even a master can't claim they can handle every client well, especially when it comes to depression."
Howard looked at Yang Xudao: "That's true."
Bald Yang emphasized: "Depression! If..."
Nan Zhubin suddenly interrupted: "It's not depression. I have a new diagnostic result."
Yang Xudao was abruptly interrupted, leaving him emotionally disconnected.
He took a breath: "That's not important now; the important thing is your behavior, Mr. Nan!"
Howard looked around, waved his hands: "Alright, alright, Teacher Yang, don't get agitated, sit down first and let's talk."
The boss of the consultation had actually long drafted in his mind.
"Indeed, Mr. Nan, you didn't act correctly in this matter." The boss first set the tone, "But fortunately, you managed to handle the case in the end, so it's more or less without risk."
"Of course, an apology can't be missed."
Howard turned to Bald Yang: "Old Yang, as a senior, you should also be happy for us having another consultant who can independently handle cases. Let's have Mr. Nan apologize to you this time, and in the future, let him share some cases with you, how about it?"
Bald Yang blinked his eyes.
He originally felt a bit guilty, and now he took the opportunity to go along, saying, "I'll listen to the boss."
Howard was pleased and turned to Nan Zhubin: "Mr. Nan, what do you say?"
...
Nan Zhubin watched Howard, who didn't handle this matter in a way that surprised him, and everyone seemed to wish to let this matter pass.
He didn't immediately respond, but instead looked steadily at Howard.
After a moment, he suddenly spoke:
"Boss, did you initially plan to scold us with a stern face, but then couldn't hold back because of what I said, so you switched to another way of talking?"
Hmm?
Whether Howard had held back before was hard to say, but now he really couldn't.
We're discussing reconciliation and your mind is still stuck on my change of expressions?
How did you manage to take on this client, was it not through professional knowledge, but rather mysteriously synchronized brainwaves?
Howard now couldn't keep a stern face nor continue his fake smile.
Nan Zhubin ignored Howard's reaction and directly turned to Bald Yang, saying:
"I didn't steal your client; this client was transferred to me by you. Of course, now I'm not trying to pursue your act of framing me; I'm curious about the intention behind your actions."
Bald Yang's expression slightly crumbled. He actually wanted more than anyone else for this matter to end quickly, but apparently, the young man didn't quite understand maintaining office relationships.
"Mr. Nan, you're being quite unreasonable with this persistence..."
Nan Zhubin continued as if talking to himself:
"You want to teach me a lesson, even have me get fired. Why is that?"
"Could it be that you saw a threat in me and felt I might affect your performance in the future?"
The next second he denied himself: "No, that's not it."
As he spoke, Nan Zhubin stared intently at Bald Yang, making this seasoned consultant feel inexplicably uneasy.
Bald Yang forced a smile: "Of course, I've been in the industry for over ten years..."
"Then it must be because of Lu Jia—hmm, this time I got it right."
Bald Yang's breathing suddenly stopped.
Howard had originally raised his hand to interrupt Nan Zhubin, but now he sat back, his gaze started examining Bald Yang.