A few days ago, after a deep conversation, the two elderly people paid special attention to Lin Beichen's every move.
And in the last few days, except during mealtime, he has locked himself in his room without making any noise, such abnormal behavior has attracted the couple's attention, and they closely monitored the movements inside the room.
Just now.
Lin Xiangdong was reading the newspaper in the living room when he heard the electric baton fall to the ground from Lin Beichen's room, followed by the heavy sound of him collapsing onto the bed.
This scared him, causing him to immediately put down the newspaper and run to the door to knock and inquire.
At that moment, Lin Beichen was still in that peculiar state of feeling and wasn't sensitive to external perception, so he didn't respond.
After multiple inquiries yielded no result, he opened the door and rushed into the bedroom.
Upon entering the room, he saw the scene before him.
On the floor lay various sizes of electric batons, the largest one right by the bed, and on the bed lay his son, his body slightly trembling, in a demoralized mental state.
"Son, son, are you alright?"
Lin Xiangdong didn't dare to move Lin Beichen haphazardly, lightly patting his shoulder, seeing his breathing was steady and his eyes gradually opening, the anxiety in his heart eased somewhat, he asked: "Son, what's going on, did you electrocute yourself with the electric baton? Why are you doing this? This won't improve your grades!"
He thought it was due to the approaching day of the high school exam score release, causing his son's increasing stress, leading him to such self-harm behavior!
Lin Beichen's head was buzzing; his consciousness wasn't completely muddled, but still in a daze, his thoughts remained on the recent pondering.
Listening to the continuous inquiries by his ear, he blurting out his thoughts vaguely: "I don't know what high-voltage electricity feels like?"
Lin Xiangdong: ???
What did he just hear???
High-voltage electricity???
This brat still wants to try high-voltage electricity???
...
Lin Xiangdong broke out in a cold sweat, hastily advising: "Son, calm down, you have to stay calm, don't do anything foolish that you and your parents will regret, life is still long, life isn't just about schooling..."
"Old Lin, what's going on here?!"
At this time, Zheng Xia appeared at the bedroom door, with a bewildered look at the scene inside the bedroom.
Lin Xiangdong spared no detail, sharing everything he had just seen and heard.
"Hiss——!"
After listening, Zheng Xia drew in a cold breath, immediately started rummaging through Lin Beichen's bedroom, gathering all the lighters and electric batons he bought, and began arranging to take Lin Beichen to the hospital for a mental checkup.
By this time, Lin Beichen had already sobered up from his dizzy state caused by the electric shock, he certainly wouldn't follow his mother to the hospital for a checkup, he wasn't ill, why go to the hospital? To pretend to be confused with the doctor? There's no need for that!
"Mom, believe me, I'm really fine, no need to go to the hospital!"
"Son, let's go and check."
"Really no need, don't you believe your son?"
"..."
Zheng Xia sensed that her son's consecutive refusals might get him agitated if she pressed too hard, thus she dropped the idea of taking him to the hospital.
But...
She didn't give up on getting him checked for a second!
Soon, she asked a renowned psychiatrist from the city to use his free time after work to come over and make a preliminary diagnosis for her son.
To ensure Lin Beichen wouldn't feel resistant, the specialist came in casual clothes, Zheng Xia didn't reveal the expert's identity, pretending he was an old friend, arranging for them to meet.
Specialist: "Chenchen, I heard from your mother that you didn't perform well in the high school exam, so you're under a lot of stress?"
"No, uncle."
Lin Beichen shook his head, smiling honestly: "I performed quite well, I can definitely go to Qingbei, so there's no pressure."
Specialist: ???
Before coming, he specifically learned about Lin Beichen's situation through Zheng Xia.
Though you worked hard in the final month before the exam, trying to go from bottom rankings to Qingbei... um...
The specialist formed a preliminary assessment, continuing the conversation like a casual chat, "Haha, you're so impressive, your mother hid it from me. But since you performed well, your mother mentioned you were at home these past few days... you wouldn't believe how much worry you caused her."
"Haha."
Lin Beichen laughed but didn't say much, unsure how to explain it; what he was doing isn't something ordinary people can comprehend?
This uncle sure asks a lot of questions!
Why did he come?
...
Despite his reincarnation, Lin Beichen wasn't good at communicating with elders, awkwardly sitting together, he stood up, "Uncle, I'll go back to my room first."
Just as Zheng Xia came out of the kitchen with washed fruits, seeing Lin Beichen returning to his bedroom, she hurriedly called out to him.
"Chen..."
"It's okay, it's okay."
The specialist stopped Zheng Xia, exchanging a look with her.
Zheng Xia understood, she didn't say anything further, sitting down with fruits beside the specialist, quietly asking, "Dr. Wang, how is Chenchen? Do you have a diagnosis?"
"Hmm."
The specialist nodded, seriously saying: "Although I only chatted briefly with Lin Beichen, I can preliminarily diagnose it as stress-induced mental disorder, with a strong sense of self-protection."
Seeing the worsening expression on Zheng Xia's face, he added, "You don't need to worry excessively, Lin Beichen doesn't exhibit aggressiveness, and his thoughts are relatively stable, which is a good sign. The main concern is his self-destructive tendencies. Given his condition, I believe once the exam results are released, he will gradually get better over time. In my view, he doesn't need special treatment, just home rest will suffice. You as parents should care for him until the results are out, but don't let him feel overwhelmingly cared for, which might add extra stress..."
While the specialist was discussing Lin Beichen's so-called "illness" with Zheng Xia.
In the bedroom.
Lin Beichen was checking recent weather conditions on his computer.
These days, he lacked equipment to continue experiencing electric shocks and everywhere he went was closely monitored by his parents, almost sticking by his side.
Of course, at this point, Lin Beichen also realized, mere electric baton shocks can no longer lead him to enlightenment.
He needed more natural lightning power!
Presently, all he could do for research was checking lightning information online, which gave him no inspiration or perception.
Just now.
He suddenly thought he could sneak out, go to a nearby mountain during a lightning storm, and re-experience lightning to see if he could revisit that initial enlightenment from witnessing lightning during a storm.
"All sunny this week!"
"Rain next Monday, but only a 30% chance, too low."
"Next Tuesday won't work either."
"Ah?"
"Next Thursday is good!"
"100% chance of rain, and it's forecasted to be a thunderstorm!"
"..."
Lin Beichen confirmed the date.
Immersed in making plans, he didn't realize...
Next Thursday isn't just a 100% thunderstorm day.
It's also the day the high school exam results are released.