4. This doctor is not serious at all.

5.

The waiter handed over the menu, and after saying “thank you,” Wei Nanlin opened the menu and pushed it towards my side.

“Take a look and see what you like. Order whatever you want, my treat.”

“That’s really not necessary, it’s better if we split the bill.”

Wei Nanlin: “How about this then, I treat you to dinner, and you treat me to a movie.”

I chuckled and snapped my fingers, “OK!”

Actually, before getting to know Wei Nanlin, I had a brief romantic encounter once. It was with a distant cousin of a friend’s colleague named Xiao Zhang. He worked at a private company and did part-time work as a gaming streamer.

Xiao Zhang was really into online games, and he spent most of his free time playing them.

I can understand that to some extent – after all, how many guys don’t play games? I thought I could spare some time to play games with him.

Xiao Zhang spent a fair amount of money on buying equipment, and he was the leader of a guild. He often posted messages in the public chat, selling announcements for 100 yuan a pop. What kind of financial situation would allow someone to be so lavish?

Gaming was just a way for me to pass the time. Seeing him spend money like that made me feel a bit uncomfortable, but I also knew I shouldn’t judge someone else’s lifestyle based on my own financial situation. Maybe that money didn’t mean much to him.

At least it wasn’t my money he was spending.

After chatting with him for a month and finding him quite humorous and witty, I agreed to his invitation.

Xiao Zhang picked a high-end restaurant, the kind where even a small drink would start at sixty or seventy yuan. I didn’t know that when I walked in, only realizing the situation after opening the menu.

My monthly salary was a bit over six thousand yuan. After accounting for phone bills, transportation, food expenses, and various other fixed costs, I was left with about half. I adopted a frugal attitude, ordering two relatively cheaper dishes. He had a huge appetite and ordered eight dishes in one go.

My heart was bleeding.

Here’s the thing: usually, when I go out with colleagues or friends, we split the bill. There’s an understanding among us, and we’re mindful when ordering.

The food was so expensive, and it felt really embarrassing to let Xiao Zhang pay for it all by himself.

So, when it came time to pay the bill, I suggested splitting it evenly.

My dad often says that taking a loss can be a blessing.

However, he boldly said, “I’m a bit tight on funds lately. This time, you treat, and next time when we go out, I’ll be the host.”

It was truly an eye-opener for me.

6.

I just couldn’t understand why he knew in advance that he didn’t have money yet insisted on going to such a high-end restaurant and ordering such expensive dishes.

Did my money come from thin air or something?

He has money to buy equipment but not for a meal? Why not just have a meal in the game?

Of course, I didn’t voice these thoughts.

That meal cost me all the pocket money I had saved for a long time, and it meant that I had to delay buying a new notebook.

As soon as I got home, I regretted it. Why did I have to pay so much for him? I could have paid for my half and left! Who cares whether he stayed to mop the floor or do the dishes!

That’s how people are; only when you calm down do you think of more satisfying ways to resolve the situation. Unfortunately, there’s no way to go back in time.

After being hit by life’s blows again and again, I finally grasped some truths and learned to judge people. If our values don’t align, no matter how enjoyable our conversations on WeChat are, it’s not suitable for us to live together.

Xiao Zhang later mentioned wanting to take me to an internet café and teach me how to play games, but I had completely lost interest. I rejected him and blocked him directly. Cutting the ties cleanly is the only way to avoid unnecessary trouble.

In comparison, what Wei Nanlin said and some of the small details made me feel at ease. At the very least, he’s cultured and capable of handling life.

7.

When ordering food, Wei Nanlin mentioned that it’s not advisable to eat too much for dinner. We ordered two main courses, two side dishes, a soup, and a small portion of vegetable and fruit salad.

It was about 100 yuan per person, not particularly expensive.

As we waited for the dishes, an awkward atmosphere began to spread.

“Oh, by the way, which hospital do you work at?” I asked.

“South City Hospital.”

This hospital is quite close to our company. It’s reputed to be an expensive private hospital where the registration and consultation fees alone can be several hundred yuan. The patients there are usually wealthy individuals.

Wei Nanlin confirmed this.

“Compared to public hospitals, it’s a bit more expensive, but the quality of service is definitely different. Wealthier people might be busier and not have time to wait in line for registration. They might choose our hospital for more detailed consultations. In public hospitals, outpatient consultations usually last about five to ten minutes, but we have fewer restrictions here.”

“You get what you pay for,” I summed up.

Wei Nanlin smiled, “You can interpret it that way.”

Curious, I asked, “Which department are you in and what do you specialize in?”

“The Department of Psychological Counseling.”

“Wow!” I clapped excitedly, “So you’re a psychologist! What a cool profession!”

I enjoy watching American TV shows, and in many crime dramas, forensic psychologists can deduce whether someone is lying based on subtle changes in their facial expressions.

Especially cool and flashy.

In my mind, Wei Nanlin’s image gradually grew more radiant and magnificent.

Dr. Wei smiled as he explained, “It’s not that exaggerated. Generally, we start by using a set of test questions to determine whether the person seeking consultation has any psychological issues, and then we provide some psychological guidance. Patients aren’t criminals; we approach them in a relatively relaxed state, trying to understand their emotions.”

“Oh, I see. So what kind of patients do you usually deal with?”

“Many different types,” Wei Nanlin counted on his fingers, “depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, neurasthenia, anxiety disorders, and more…”

“But if you say most of your clients are wealthy people, why would they have worries? They’re so well-off!”

Wei Nanlin thought for a moment, “Let me explain it this way: you can imagine love, friendship, family, and work as four coins. If you were to toss them, what’s the likelihood that all four will come up heads?”

With this explanation, I suddenly understood.

“Also, humans are highly associative beings. We automatically generate all sorts of thoughts about things that haven’t even happened yet. Sometimes, even before something occurs, our minds jump to the worst possible outcome. The simplest example is when you enter a haunted house, your brain starts to go wild, fearing a mummy might suddenly jump out or a zombie might rise from a coffin. These imaginings bring immediate consequences—fear. In reality, it’s the same; complex imaginings can cause headaches, anxiety, and in severe cases, lead to depression.”

In one’s life, every day is like tossing a coin; something doesn’t go well today, and something else doesn’t go well tomorrow. Unexpected changes can make people more sensitive and anxious. No one can control the emotions of those around them, nor can they accurately predict what tomorrow will be like.

The harder something is to obtain, the more afraid of losing it one becomes, and subsequently, more worries arise.

The poor have their worries, and the wealthy have their concerns. 

In essence, it all boils down to one word—desire.

Wei Nanlin smiled and said, “So, the exclusive knowledge class for today ends here. I’m glad to see such dedicated participation from our early period student. After class, remember to review the material, as I’ll be conducting random checks next time.”

I clasped my fist, “Thank you, Teacher Wei, for your enlightening teaching. It’s been truly eye-opening and enlightening.”

Wei Nanlin added quickly, “If you ever have any questions or concerns that you can’t figure out, feel free to consult me.” Then he swiftly added, “It’s free of charge.”

Suddenly, I felt like I had saved a large sum of money!

“Do you ever feel a bit depressed from constantly interacting with patients who have depression?”

Wei Nanlin looked serious, “Actually, we have a dedicated conference room. Half an hour before the end of each workday, a psychiatric specialist comes to provide support for us. Each person has to cry their heart out and let it all out before they can go home.”

I was shocked, “Really? It’s hard for me to imagine what you’d look like when crying!”

“False,” Wei Nanlin said, “you’re so easily fooled.”

“…”

Ma!

This doctor is not serious at all!