Even hybrid monsters have their day

"Let's sit down and talk," the headmaster said, gesturing for everyone to sit on the sofa.

Because Geng Miaowan said she was Peng Yuxian's assistant, she sat down next to him without hesitation before he could speak, and gave him a flattering smile when he gave her a disapproving look.

In the office, four fashionably dressed people sat together with one completely retro-style person, creating a somewhat eerie scene.

Peng Yuxian didn't have time to pay attention to her. He looked at Lu Fangtong and Jiang Lan and said, "I have already learned about Lu Shuaishuai's basic situation. I just have a few more questions to ask. I hope you can tell me the details you know so that I can analyze Lu Shuaishuai's situation and then carry out the corresponding diagnosis and treatment."

Jiang Lan suddenly stood up from the sofa and said sternly, "You're the one who's sick! Who said our handsome guy is sick? Our handsome guy is great!"

Peng Yuxian was suddenly subjected to a torrent of abuse. He was used to speaking like that and for a moment forgot that the park manager, Jiang Lan, was very sensitive about people talking about his son's illness. He quickly apologized, saying, "I'm sorry, I misspoke."

Lu Fangtong sat there and tugged at her hand, saying in a slightly displeased tone, "What are you doing? Sit down."

Although he didn't think his child was sick, he seemed very abnormal now.

Peng Yuxian is a well-known psychologist in the city. After observing the child's behavior, he felt that the child might have some psychological problems. He contacted Peng Yuxian many times, wanting to have the child undergo a thorough evaluation, but Peng Yuxian refused each time. However, seeing his child's condition deteriorating day by day, he had no other choice but to agree to accept Peng Yuxian's treatment.

"He said our handsome guy is sick, but our handsome guy isn't sick at all!" Jiang Lan became somewhat hysterical, her young face showing a crazed expression. She was completely unlike the gentle and composed woman she had been a few years ago. Finally, Lu Fangtong stood up and helped her back onto the sofa.

"I'm sorry, she was just too worried about the baby," Lu Fangtong said apologetically.

"It's okay, I understand." Peng Yuxian took out paper and pen and said, "Now I'm going to ask my questions."

Seeing Lu Fangtong nod, he asked, "Do you know who Xiaoming is?"

Lu Fangtong nodded, then shook his head. He hesitated for a moment and said, "Shuai Shuai said that Xiao Ming is his good friend, and they play together every day, but we have never seen him before, and we don't even call Xiao Ming 'classmate' in kindergarten."

"When did he start exhibiting these strange behaviors?"

“About two years ago,” Lu Fangtong thought for a moment and said, “We had just moved here not long ago. One day, our child suddenly told us that he had met Xiaoming, who lived next door, and that he really liked playing with him. We thought he had made a new friend, so we didn’t pay much attention. Later, when we found out that something was wrong with him, we found out that there was no child named Xiaoming next door at all.”

"So what do he usually do with Xiaoming?"

“Every time he plays with toys, he says he wants to play with Xiaoming. At mealtimes, he specifically asks us to set out a chair and a set of chopsticks, saying it's for Xiaoming to eat. Sometimes he sits there talking to himself, and when we ask him why, he says he's talking to Xiaoming. And…”

When Lu Fangtong said this, his face was filled with pain. His once bright, sensible, and well-behaved child had become like this; it was truly unacceptable to him. Jiang Lan, on the other hand, had no particular expression, but her eyes revealed helplessness and confusion.

Peng Yuxian listened to his words with suspicion, and wrote and drew on the paper very seriously. "So, this Xiaoming... he has always lived around your son? No, it should be said that your son has always felt that Xiaoming has been living around him?"

Lu Fangtong paused for a moment, then nodded. "He was behaving normally at first, but it got more and more outrageous later on. Now, he basically doesn't talk to us at home, he only plays with Xiaoming. As soon as we say anything about Xiaoming, he immediately throws a tantrum, throws things, and breaks things. Once he even hit Ah Lan on the head with a toy, breaking her head."

"Has there been any change in his behavior at kindergarten?" Peng Yuxian turned to ask the principal.

The principal thought for a moment and replied, "I remember when he first came, I handled his transfer procedures. He was a very sensible and polite child, and he quickly became friends with the other children in his new class, adapting very well. But now, he basically doesn't play with the other children anymore. Every day when he comes to kindergarten, he just sits there watching others play, and he often squats alone in the middle of the playground. I don't know why. Every time the teachers ask him why, he doesn't answer."

Peng Yuxian listened and nodded slightly. After the principal finished speaking, he looked at the information he had compiled and said to Lu Fangtong, "Based on what you have said, I think Lu Shuaishuai may be suffering from delusional disorder. However, people with delusional disorder usually don't have such a strong sense of identification, so his situation is quite special. If you agree, I would like to find some time to talk to the child and see if we can find out the cause and how to deal with it."

This time he chose his words very carefully.

Lu Fangtong thought for a long time before saying, "It's okay to get in touch with him, but I hope you can try your best not to let the child find out your purpose. I don't want him to feel that he is different from others."

"Of course, I will definitely pay attention."

Lu Fangtong and Jiang Lan left quickly. To avoid attracting attention, Peng Yuxian only asked which classroom Lu Shuaishuai was in before heading there himself. Geng Miaowan followed behind him, of course. Peng Yuxian had begun to ignore this persistent pest.

"So you're a psychologist?" In her mind, psychologists should all have gentle smiles, soft voices, and warm, spring-like personalities.

Peng Yuxian gave him a cold look and went on his own.

Geng Miaowan pursed her lips. Was this man, whose face changed so quickly, really a psychologist? Didn't he know that having two completely different personalities, one in public and one in private, was also a kind of illness?

Soon, the two arrived outside the classroom. Through the public viewing window, they saw the children being led out by their teacher; it was activity time. (To be continued.)