Chapter 279: The Psychological Counselor

Taking care of one’s health is important. That’s what Xiao Yu’s father always said, and Xiao Yu figured his dad wouldn’t lie about it.

Burning the midnight oil and staying up all night was nothing short of self-destruction. By midday, Xiao Yu was eating lunch while glaring at his food. He missed his wife, his big bed at home, and so many things.

“Boss!” Guo Qiang burst into the small cafeteria and shouted at Xiao Yu, who was mid-bite. “We’ve got something. Come take a look.”

So much for health preservation. At this rate, Xiao Yu figured it wouldn’t be long before he developed stomach problems. Sighing, he stood up and followed Guo Qiang out of the cafeteria.

In the office, Xiao Yu stared at the computer screen.

Guo Qiang had pulled up a piece of data. It was a WeChat account’s entire chat history. The key focus was the conversation history between Jiang Xiuran, the victim, and one of his online contacts.

What about this particular contact?

It was a female netizen who happened to be a psychologist. Their chat log dated back to 29 days prior.

WeChat Conversation:

Jiang Xiuran: Hello, is this Dr. Jiang? I’m Jiang Xiuran, the person who came to your clinic this morning.

Dr. Jiang: Hello, yes. This is Jiang Xin.

Jiang Xiuran: I’m so sorry to disturb you, but I’m really struggling right now.

Dr. Jiang: Relax, take it easy. Smile more. A smile might not light up the world, but it can ease the tightness in your chest. Try it, just once.

Jiang Xiuran: I can’t smile. I really can’t. I’m in so much pain. I mean, I can’t even feel pain, but I’m miserable. I… I even want to kill myself!

Dr. Jiang: Why would you want to die? If life is short, all the more reason to live it well. If you feel lonely, try falling in love. If you’re depressed, find ways to make yourself happy. If you’re really in pain, listen to some music, have a drink, and get a good night’s sleep.

Jiang Xiuran: Mm, thank you, Dr. Jiang. I’ll give it a try.

The first conversation ended there.

After reading through it, Xiao Yu furrowed his brows.

This Dr. Jiang was indeed a psychologist. But the way she tried to comfort him felt clumsy—was she a novice?

She didn’t even know how to properly guide someone.

With this level of skill, could she really have been capable of manipulating someone into their death?

There were seven more conversations in the chat log. In general, they all showed the same pattern: Dr. Jiang repeatedly tried to comfort Jiang Xiuran. It was evident that she was conscientious and patient, offering reassurance without a hint of frustration. She was meticulous and displayed genuine care.

But it hadn’t helped at all.

It probably wasn’t her, Xiao Yu thought. Still, it wasn’t a conclusion he could jump to.

Even the smallest lead couldn’t be overlooked.

Soon after, Dr. Jiang’s information was retrieved, including her workplace.

Jiang Xin, 25, native of Bencheng, intern at a private psychological counseling clinic.

A private counseling clinic?

In China, there were many such clinics aimed at addressing personal psychological issues. Essentially, they were small, privately-run mental health centers.

It was important to clarify that most people didn’t realize that psychologists and psychological counselors were two different roles, with distinct areas of focus.

Psychological counseling institutions, as long as the counselors are certified by the state and the organization holds a valid business license, are considered legitimate. However, such institutions are not qualified to treat individuals with psychological disorders. Formal treatment for psychological illnesses can only be provided by certified hospitals. That said, this does not mean that psychological counselors lack the ability to help with mental health issues. In many private psychological counseling clinics in the country, the staff often includes properly certified psychologists.

***

A business building, fifth floor. Yunwei Psychological Counseling.

When Xiao Yu saw the signboard, he smirked faintly and walked inside.

“Hello, we’re delighted to assist you.”

A girl dressed in a light pink nurse’s uniform stood behind the reception desk, smiling warmly at him.

“Hi, is Dr. Jiang Xin available?” Xiao Yu got straight to the point.

“Dr. Jiang Xin?” The girl blinked in surprise. “She’s here, but may I ask why you’re looking for Dr. Jiang Xin?”

“I’m with the police.” Taking out his badge, Xiao Yu smiled. “I have a few questions for Dr. Jiang.”

“Ah?” The girl’s eyes widened in astonishment, but she nodded. “Please wait a moment.”

She picked up the desk phone, pressed a button, and whispered a few words into it. As she spoke, her gaze kept darting toward Xiao Yu with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

Three minutes later, a young woman in a white coat walked out. Her face showed a hint of puzzlement.

When she saw Xiao Yu, her expression grew even more curious.

“Hello, is there something I can help you with?”

Xiao Yu carefully sized her up. She wasn’t particularly beautiful, but she had a quiet demeanor. She wasn’t tall, and her figure was average. However, there was an indescribable warmth about her, something that made people feel at ease and comfortable.

“Hello, I’m Xiao Yu.” Xiao Yu smiled. “I came here today to ask you a few things. Would it be convenient for you?”

“This…” Jiang Xin hesitated briefly, then nodded. “Come with me.”

The two walked into a small office. The room wasn’t large—around twenty square meters. It had a desk, two armchairs for guests, and a recliner.

“Please, have a seat,” Jiang Xin said gently, offering a smile. “Would you like something to drink?”

“No need,” Xiao Yu replied.

After sitting down, he looked her directly in the eyes. “May I ask if you know someone named Jiang Xiuran?”

“Jiang Xiuran? Oh, what happened to him?” Jiang Xin’s face showed surprise, and she responded without any hesitation. “Yes, I know him. He was a patient of mine.”

Her expression appeared normal, neither contrived nor pretentious.

Xiao Yu smiled and continued, “It’s nothing serious. I just wanted to ask, did he come to your clinic to receive treatment for psychological issues?”

“Yes,” Jiang Xin nodded. “It was about a month ago. The first time I saw him, he was received by Dr. Liu. However, we quickly realized that his problems weren’t psychological but related to his physical condition. After that, I started handling his case. I could tell he was in a lot of pain, like he was carrying some unspoken burden. But since I didn’t know the specifics of his condition, I could only suggest that he go to a hospital. He would occasionally come to me to talk about his inner struggles, and I did my best to comfort him.”

‘She’s not lying.’ Xiao Yu stared into Jiang Xin’s eyes and came to a conclusion in his mind.

Was she cleared of suspicion?

Xiao Yu thought for a moment before suddenly asking, “Dr. Jiang, what’s your opinion on perfectionists?”

“Ah?” Jiang Xin’s expression shifted slightly.

‘Huh?’ Xiao Yu’s eyes instantly lit up.

‘If you’re showing this kind of reaction, then I’m definitely intrigued.’