Who would study psychology unless they had some issues?!

"My mom makes really delicious food. Teacher Nan, when you go home, I’ll invite you for a meal!"

"..." Nan Zhubin was silent for a moment.

"Alright." He nodded.

Xia Tian’s lips curled up slightly, then she buried her head into the bowl as if the dishes really made the traveler feel the taste of home and captured all her attention.

The sound of spoons and chopsticks clashing continued for a while, followed by the sound of communal spoons and chopsticks clinking.

Nan Zhubin glanced again in the direction where Mo Kai left, took a sip of tea, and asked Xia Tian, "How is your coursework lately? It’s the second week, you should have started classes, right?"

"It’s really packed." Xia Tian frowned slightly, showing a troubled expression, "In the first year of our research, we almost have to finish all the compulsory courses and earn all the credits. In the second year, we have to start the thesis proposal and internship."

"If I wasn’t so pressed for time, I would have wanted to visit your university, Teacher Nan."

Nan Zhubin nodded, "Sure, let me know when you’re available."

Xia Tian’s eyes sparkled, "But mainly it’s about when you are free, Teacher Nan? Aren’t you working in the hospital now?"

"Mental Health Center," Nan Zhubin corrected, "mainly doing consultations, but... it’s relatively easy to adjust my schedule."

They exchanged updates occasionally.

"Even though I’ve said it before, I have to say it again—you’re amazing, Teacher Nan." Xia Tian rested her chin on one hand, tilted her head slightly, "You just started school and were immediately invited by the professional Jingwei to help out!"

"The influence factors are still more on the teachers’ side," Nan Zhubin pursed his lips, showing modesty.

For the daily life at the Mental Health Center, Xia Tian had a rough understanding beforehand, but she still curiously inquired from Zhubin.

Nan Zhubin patiently explained to the girl some unknown details and the routine that he had previously mentioned vaguely.

"Recently, I’ve been seeing some visitors in the wards, I have to go into the wards to consult with them," Nan Zhubin said, "Do you know what the first thing the supervising teacher warned us before entering the wards?"

Xia Tian blinked, very cooperative, "What was it?"

"It’s not to wear slippers to work, and girls shouldn’t wear high heels."

After hearing this answer, Xia Tian frowned and thought for a while, "Is it because it doesn’t look good for the patients’ families to see, or is it because in a place like Jingwei, it should be a bit more formal?"

Nan Zhubin slowly shook his head.

Looking at Xia Tian’s eyes, ensuring the girl wasn’t eating, Nan Zhubin said plainly and slowly, "Because wearing slippers or high heels—you can’t run fast."

Xia Tian immediately giggled, but then covered her mouth, seemingly thinking it was a bit impolite.

She praised again in an exclamatory tone, "The work inside is really tough, not easy at all."

Nan Zhubin tugged at the corners of his mouth.

He glanced again in the direction where Mo Kai left, feeling that the junior had been gone for quite a while.

...

Mo Kai canceled the alarm he had set.

He was hiding in the bookstore opposite the restaurant, from where he could just see the window seat where Nan Zhubin and the others were sitting.

Suddenly, his phone really vibrated.

Mo Kai answered the phone, "Hello? Senior sister... yes, yes."

"Yes, having a meal. Me? I just had something to call about, so I don’t know what the seniors are talking about."

"I have something to take care of at home now, so I plan to leave first... yes, it’s a family matter, didn’t expect it to be so sudden."

"Ah, taking photos? It’s inconvenient..."

...

Although there were plenty of topics between him and Xia Tian, it felt endless; but suddenly, a question popped into Nan Zhubin’s mind.

After thinking about it, Nan Zhubin’s expression became a little more serious than before, "Xia Tian."

"There are some issues that are inconvenient to discuss over the phone, I want to consult you now."

Xia Tian’s expression changed following Nan Zhubin’s, "Mm-hmm."

"The first situation," Nan Zhubin organized his words, "there was a doctoral advisor at our university. The background is roughly—he had substantial qualifications, lots of projects at hand, and many students."

"Last year, he said he wanted to go to the Port District for further studies, claiming it was a short-term academic exchange. The school didn’t see any issues and approved it."

This was Jie Nianzhou’s first mentor.

After hearing so much gossip these days, Nan Zhubin’s understanding of the matter became clearer.

Nan Zhubin said, "When he left, he left all his students in Beidu without taking anyone on his trips. The students didn’t think much at the time, figured he would return after a few weeks of exchange."

"And then?" Xia Tian played along very well.

"And then he stopped responding," Nan Zhubin said. "He didn’t block them, didn’t delete them, just stopped replying. Didn’t answer calls, didn’t read emails, didn’t reply on WhatsApp. Finally, the school took the initiative to investigate and found out that he hadn’t gone for any exchange or further studies at all, but had directly taken a position at a university in the Port District."

Xia Tian’s eyebrows twitched.

Nan Zhubin added, "He took with him a large amount of data. Not only the years of experimental data from his research group but also data from joint projects with other teachers. Some projects were established at the school level, involving funds and personnel beyond his sole authority to decide."

Xia Tian listened quietly throughout.

Nan Zhubin added, "This advisor hasn’t completed any resignation formalities. His position is still at this school, while he has started overseeing new students in the Port District."

Xia Tian took a sip of tea, "Did the school call the police?"

"They did." Nan Zhubin replied, "But he’s already left the country. The police said there are procedural issues with cross-regional pursuit, and the Port District is outside this jurisdiction. In the end, nothing came of it."

Xia Tian nodded, initially offering no comment but asked, "What about the remaining students?"

"They were left without an advisor."

He also picked up his teacup, took a sip, put it down, and continued, "PhDs are not like masters. If a master’s student changes advisors, they might still catch up by starting afresh, but it’s tougher with PhDs. First-year PhD students might still manage—changing direction, changing the topic, rebuilding the foundation, with a year or so they could catch up. But the second and third-year students..."

Nan Zhubin shook his head.

Nan Zhubin observed Xia Tian digest this part of the information.

"The second situation," Nan Zhubin continued, "involves another advisor. Her internal reputation at the school is good—in fact, she’s quite popular."

Xia Tian listened silently.

"But within her research group, it’s a different story," Nan Zhubin said, "She took in those doctoral students abandoned by the advisor who went to the Port District. These students started working for her. A lot of work."

Nan Zhubin frowned slightly, "These PhDs, having changed directions, are already dealing with a heavy load of starting from scratch in terms of learning and workload. Yet this advisor has them writing her project proposals, organizing her data, typing her materials—all related to her academic output."

"In such circumstances, these students, abandoned by the first advisor and pressured by the second, begun to frequently experience psychological problems."

Nan Zhubin emphasized, "It even threatened their life and health."

"I wanted to ask if there are any legal provisions... for accountability or prevention, in short, some way to secure compensation for these students to a certain extent."

"Or, backtracking a bit, just improving their situation?"

Nan Zhubin finished speaking and looked at Xia Tian.

Xia Tian picked up the water pot, topped off Nan Zhubin’s teacup, and thought for a while.

"Teacher Nan."

"Let me summarize the situations you’ve provided," she said, "so you can confirm whether I’ve understood them correctly—"

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