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墨書 Inktalez
The pen glided lightly across the paper as Feng Changxiang sketched out the personality traits of Mulin Shen in the simplest language: flamboyant, rebellious, obsessive, and willful.
All the rich second-generation heirs share these common traits, yet the problems arising from them are varied and numerous.
After a moment of contemplation, he glanced at Mu Qingchen and casually added two more descriptors: lazy and dependent.
With a father like this, it was hard to be diligent; it was impossible not to rely on him.
It seemed that these descriptors were still insufficient to accurately portray Mu Qingchen, this peculiar son. Dr. Feng thought for a moment and added: psychologically underdeveloped, lacking self-experience.
He used the traits he had outlined to reverse-engineer Mulin Shen's upbringing: loss of love, a single-parent household, a father preoccupied with business who had found new love—these should be the roots of his rebellion, obsession, and individuality. The loneliness and sense of dependence within him always drove him to engage in alternative behaviors to attract attention from those around him.
Contrary to his expectations, however, he did not garner the attention he sought. Instead, he found a sense of existence through behaviors that defied constraints. Ironically, this overly concerned father provided him with ample resources that allowed him to indulge his whims freely.
Feng Changxiang set down his pen. When he looked up, Mu Qingchen was gazing at him expectantly, nervously saying, “Dr. Feng, Old Wu introduced me to you; please give me some advice. He’s driving me crazy.”
“Your son Mulin Shen has been back in the country for almost half a year now. What have you been doing? I mean, for your son,” Dr. Feng asked curiously without directly offering advice.
“It’s hard even to meet him. I regret it so much now; I really shouldn’t have sent him abroad,” Old Mu said gloomily. He explained that after spending several years in different countries, the father and son were like strangers except for their titles; the only remaining bond was one thing.
This thing came out of Dr. Feng’s mouth: “Money.”
It was a statement of certainty, and Mu Qingchen nodded in agreement: “Yes, he does nothing but spend money. He changes clothes three times a day and shops more frequently than women do—collecting antiques, phones, watches, handbags; he could fill half a truck with what he buys. Otherwise, he’s either at bars or chasing girls; changing girlfriends is almost as frequent as changing clothes… I just find it strange that while others return from studying abroad with knowledge, he comes back with nothing but problems.”
“Have you ever tried limiting him financially?” Dr. Feng asked.
"Once he gets control, he finds a way to manage things himself. Either he takes my car out to pawn it or borrows money under my name. Sooner or later, someone will come knocking at my door, and I can't afford to lose face with that person," Mu Qingchen said, almost in tears.
He explained that since returning less than half a year ago, he had gotten to know almost all the small loan and usury lenders in the city because his son had borrowed money from them. If the son borrowed money, the father had to pay it back. It was only natural; with a business as large as his, those creditors would be eager to lend him money, and it was impossible to keep everything under control.
Feng Changxiang smiled lightly and tentatively asked, "I heard from Old Wu that you've seen other psychologists? Did it help?"
"I did," Mu Qingchen replied without holding back. "I consulted three different ones. The first was from East China Medical University; I only saw him once. My son scared him off so badly that he developed a psychological barrier against seeing us again. Apparently, the doctor is gay, and my unfortunate son figured that out right away... The second one was even worse than the first; within two days, my son had lured him into a nightclub. That doctor ended up having family issues... And the third one... sigh..." Old Mu sighed deeply, looking troubled as he shook his head and slapped his thigh.
"Oh? This sounds interesting. What happened?" Dr. Feng asked curiously. It was one thing not to be able to treat a problem, but quite another to have one created out of thin air.
Old Mu lowered his voice and said, "The third one was a woman. I don't know who seduced whom, but they ended up consulting on a bed... This rascal! Of all the women he could choose from, he picks a divorced woman."
Seeing this father speak as if he had committed some unspeakable act himself, his face flushed with embarrassment.
Dr. Feng chuckled lightly, quickly covering up the absurdity of both the son's mischief and the father's helplessness. At that moment, they both seemed utterly ridiculous. He casually marked down notes without weighing their importance; for this troubled father had successfully raised a delinquent into an all-around troublemaker.
So what was the solution?
Mu Qingchen looked at Dr. Feng with the discerning eye of a businessman and felt that this psychologist was different from those so-called experts who just rambled on about jargon he didn't understand. Eventually, they would be like his delinquent son—just wanting money!
He secretly believed that this person must possess real skills. At the very least, he could offer some sound advice. With this thought in mind, he quietly reached into his pocket and pulled out a pre-written check from his long wallet. Carefully standing up, he placed it in front of the doctor. This action startled Feng Changxiang out of his contemplation, and what he saw next made him smile involuntarily. He chuckled as he held it up and said, "If this amount of money could solve your problems, then they wouldn't be so severe."
"Then... how much do you need?" Old Mu felt a chill run down his spine; the typical merchant's mindset made him wary of sudden price hikes.
"Money is the root of the problem but not the solution," Feng Changxiang said thoughtfully. "Or rather, you could say that the root of the problem does not lie with your son."
"Then does it lie with me?" Mu Qingchen asked in confusion.
"Exactly—it lies with you... But please don't get agitated; just listen calmly," Dr. Feng said while gesturing for Boss Mu to sit back down after nearly jumping out of his chair in shock. He pondered for a moment:
"Many factors contribute to the formation of a person's character, with several key aspects: parental influence, environmental impact, and educational effects... If you had come to me ten years ago, this wouldn't have been an issue. When a child loses a mother's love, that is the time they need care and guidance the most. It's like a stimulus; after being stimulated, they can either grow up overnight, become sensible, and learn to cherish life, or they can react negatively, becoming stubborn, extreme, and reckless. In their subconscious, they may amplify their misfortune infinitely. This psychological difference cannot be compensated for with money."
"I know that, so I have been compensating him doubly," Mu Qingchen said awkwardly.
"But you are using the wrong approach. He keeps going astray, causing trouble, and pushing boundaries. In a way, he is likely seeking your love... I can deduce that you have never hit him since childhood or have rarely scolded him?" Dr. Feng asked.
"How could I? How could I bring myself to do that?" Mu Qingchen felt a wave of sadness wash over him.
"Your indifference and protection are not love; they are indulgence. Thus, you missed the best opportunities for education and communication," Dr. Feng said. "You love your son dearly, but sometimes tough love is necessary."
With a long sigh, Old Mu lowered his head. He understood the reasoning well enough.
"...Ten years ago, you treated a minor as if he were an adult, providing him with ample money and freedom to indulge himself without addressing his psychological issues; yet ten years later, you want to treat an adult as if he were a minor—seeking a psychologist's help to teach him independence, to understand life, to cherish family... Do you think that’s possible?" Dr. Feng asked.
Indeed, what was done was done; it was too late to change anything now.
As Dr. Feng explained, "A psychologist can address psychological barriers, but your son has no barriers regarding his actions... After being nurtured by your endless wealth, he has learned to enjoy it; this is beyond what any psychologist can resolve."
"So... there’s no way out?"
Mu Qingchen lifted his head and asked despondently. He gazed at Dr. Feng and said gloomily, "Dr. Feng, I don’t ask for much; I just want him to be like an ordinary person... They say life has its ups and downs; if I were to close my eyes one day, I fear he wouldn’t even be able to hold on for three or five years."
Dr. Feng looked at him as if assessing him before softly uttering a word: "Yes!"
"Ah!?" Old Mu exclaimed in surprise, blurting out, "Tell me how much it costs; I'm willing to pay."
"No, don’t misunderstand. First, we need to address your issues. If you want him to change, you must change first," Dr. Feng replied as he handed over a stack of thin printed papers. As Mu Qingchen flipped through them, Dr. Feng reminded him: "This is an uncertain plan. Initially, I thought it was too harsh; however, after hearing you speak, I find it quite suitable... The solution is simple: this is a case of affluenza. If we find a way to take away his wealth and privilege, the symptoms will naturally disappear. Since we've missed the best opportunity for shaping his character, we can only artificially create such an environment now."
Yet Mu Qingchen seemed not to hear this; after looking at one page, he exclaimed in astonishment: "Huh? We need to use hypnosis?"
"Yes, we need to find the things that are deeply embedded in his memory, those beautiful things, and deepen those memories... I believe that human nature is inherently good; it's just that external circumstances have turned him into what he is now," Dr. Feng said, though he certainly wouldn't elaborate further.
"Huh? I can't see him if he's locked away?" Mu Qingchen exclaimed in surprise.
"You are the root of his problems. If we don't remove you, he'll continue to suffer," Dr. Feng replied.
"How can that be? He can't even cook instant noodles by himself... What if something happens? I won't even know where he is or who will take care of him!" Mu Qingchen said, his emotions flaring. After glancing at Dr. Feng's impassive expression several times, he grew a bit angry and continued, "You mean to say he's not your son? Don't you care? If you need someone to help him, I can pay for it. But if something goes wrong, who's responsible?"
As he vented his frustrations, Feng Changxiang smiled. Suddenly, Mu Qingchen sensed something was off. He begrudgingly held onto the proposal, speechless. Dr. Feng reminded him with a smile, "Well then, if you can't bring yourself to make a tough decision, how can you expect your son to suddenly repent?"
"But this... this is different. I've never heard of locking someone up! Even a tiger won't eat its own cubs. How can you expect a father to make such a decision?" Old Mu said with concern.
"Are you very concerned about restricting his freedom of movement? In my view, his developmental trajectory will eventually lead to being locked away anyway, and one day it will reach a point where money won't solve the problem," Feng Changxiang stated bluntly. With that remark, he returned the check to Old Mu, who stared at it in shock but didn't know what to say. His lips moved as if to refuse the check, but Dr. Feng smiled and said, "No need for thanks; you can leave now. I'll just pretend you were never here."
Old Mu awkwardly held the check, hesitating on both sides, unable to make a decision. It felt like facing a son who had gotten into trouble; how many fathers could truly harden their hearts and act against their own flesh and blood? He closed his eyes in pain, biting his lips until they turned pale, ultimately unable to make that decision.
Dr. Feng had no more words to say and didn't even see Old Mu off as he left. When he heard the door close, a hint of amusement and helplessness crossed his face as he tossed aside the already outdated proposal document.
This was a targeted treatment plan designed for behavioral abnormalities caused by external stimuli—a plan he had developed after summarizing much clinical experience during his time at the Mental Hospital. The effectiveness of its implementation remained unknown because families who saw the plan often ran away in fear, just like Boss Mu.
By the way, many people knew that Feng Changxiang was formerly the chief physician at Weinan Psychiatric Hospital; his previous workplace was Weinan Psychiatric Specialty Hospital!
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