Who would study psychology unless they had some issues?! Chapter 852 697: Shi Chuxin's Cover (2)

He disassembled the parts of the amplifier in order from the outside to the inside: first removing the covers on both sides, then the sliding rods and brush blocks, followed by the drive rods and bevel gears, and finally taking out the dual-axis motor and circuit components.

Each piece was carefully placed on the floor by him, sorted ticulously: plastic components on the left, tal parts in the middle, and circuit elents on the right.

Even tiny springs and screws were piled separately, not mixed together.

When it ca to the circuit elents, Chen Lizhou encountered a problem—several thin wires were tangled together, and he couldn't figure out their corresponding interfaces.

Rather than forcibly pulling them apart, Chen Lizhou reopened his computer browser to search for the circuit diagram and disassembly manual of the amplifier.

The information on the web was scarce, and he had to flip through several pages before finding a teardown video shared by an enthusiast.

So, Chen Lizhou began to attentively study the video, slowing down the speed, watching key parts even fra by fra. Only after confirming the connections of the wires did he try to gently separate the tangled wires with his fingernail, carefully removing the circuit components and placing them in their respective positions.

Outside the window, the sky had turned completely dark, shifting from evening to late night.

The clock in the living room ticked away.

Chen Lizhou was oblivious to it, seeming unable to feel the passage of ti, his consciousness fully imrsed in the chanical disassembly, wholly focused on handling the parts in his hands.

He neither drank water nor took a break; there was no fluctuation in his gaze, only a near-stubborn intensity.

It was an extre concentration.

Chen Lizhou felt a sense of—reality.

He felt as if he was re-experiencing the world again.

The slight chill conveyed through his fingertips, the faint roughness from tal thread friction, and the subtle plastic and oil scent in the air.

Made him feel as though his senses were finally reawakened.

Chen Lizhou's gaze grew more focused, the upward curve of his lips becoming more pronounced.

Suddenly—

"Dad?"

Everything disappeared.

Chen Lizhou abruptly lifted his head, seeing his daughter at the study's doorway.

His eyes were slightly unfocused, taking a few seconds to gather his attention on her.

The little girl seed to want to enter the study, but the cards, books, and various fragnts scattered on the ground left her uncertain on where to step, separating herself from her father.

She stood at the door, clutching her stuffed animal timidly: "Dad, what are you doing?"

"Yanyan..." Chen Lizhou opened his mouth, arranging his words, "Can't sleep? Wait for a bit, Dad..."

"I just woke up, ca out to use the bathroom," his daughter replied to Chen Lizhou.

Just woke up?

Chen Lizhou blinked, glancing at the ti on his computer display.

—1:32.

He had been in the study for such a long ti, yet he wasn't aware of it.

"Dad, why aren't you sleeping?"

His daughter knew Chen Lizhou had a very regular routine; aside from major projects requiring overti, or days involving business trips or social engagents, he would generally go to bed before midnight.

This schedule had never changed, not even after the family experienced a loss.

"Dad's tidying up things."

While speaking, Chen Lizhou suddenly noticed his voice was a bit hoarse; attempting to stand up, he felt an unexpected sense of blockage in his body.

"Dad's sorting out... Mom's things, did I wake you? I'll be done soon."

"Okay, you get so sleep too, Dad." His daughter gave one last cautious glance into the study before turning to leave, "Good night, Dad."

Watching his daughter's silhouette disappear from view, Chen Lizhou lowered his head once more, realizing he couldn't seem to return to that previously imrsed state.

anwhile, waves of dizziness began to envelop his mind.

But the task at hand still held a peculiar allure for him.

"What's done today stays done," he murmured to himself.

He then ticulously disassembled the amplifier and took a cloth to wipe each part down, arranging them categorically and neatly on the desk. They were so orderly that you could almost photograph them for a manual.

Ti slipped by once again.

Tomorrow was a workday; he should have rested by now.

However, all of a sudden, Chen Lizhou felt a bit hungry.

So he carefully navigated around the scattered cards, books, and disassembled fragnts, reaching the kitchen fridge. After so deliberation, he picked a pack of frozen dumplings, a small handful of greens, so spring onions, and two eggs.

He prepared himself a late-night snack.

Throughout the process, he made an effort to control the noise, ensuring he didn't wake his daughter.

Once he finished eating slowly, he returned to his bedroom, took a shower, and changed into fresh clothes.

Upon checking his phone again, the ti was now [2:58].

He lay down on his bed, closing his eyes, and soon his breathing settled smoothly.

-----------------

Ti rewound to the present.

"Do you know what happened with Chen Lizhou? Why hasn't he shown up for work yet?"

The HR director asked Shi Chuxin irritably, "He hasn't taken leave today, right? Is he late? Or is it absence without leave?"

Employee attendance is part of the Human Resources departnt's responsibilities too.

Though as a director, there was no longer a need for personal involvent in such trivial matters. However, if they were to be strict, the HR director could definitely make a note of this for Chen Lizhou.

Shi Chuxin, just coming out from a conversation with Nan Zhubin in the EAP office, had her head slightly lowered, seemingly pondering sothing else.

She had initially gone to find Chen Lizhou upon the request of the person in front of her, only to seek out Nan Zhubin hastily after discovering he wasn't at the company.

After a brief mont of distraction, Shi Chuxin quickly smiled: "Sis, I just checked, Chen Lizhou has so cooperation with the newly arrived project team and went to handle their tasks this morning."

"New project team?" The HR director looked puzzled, conjuring up images of two distinct individuals, "What sort of cooperation could their sales departnt have with those newcors?"

"Sis, the Employee Assistance Program touches a little on every departnt. I'm aware of this, would I lie to you?"

Shi Chuxin flashed an innocent smile: "How about this, you go on with discussing things with the other departnt heads, I'll handle reporting to Director Chen, how about it?"

This statent caught the HR director off guard; then she raised an eyebrow.

"You?"

In the workplace, every word carries more than just its surface aning, especially when offering to take on tasks.

Shi Chuxin nodded: "Sis, lately, haven't you been bothered by... that issue? I feel for you."

With that, she took a seat next to the HR director, as if making a firm decision: "I've been wondering how I could help ease your burden. Just as well, the tasks over in the sales departnt are always the toughest. Recently, given my relationship with my junior colleague, I've grown sowhat familiar with Director Chen, so I thought—why not let handle it?"

"You?"

The HR director raised her eyebrow once more, her tone shifting from the first ti.

"." This ti Shi Chuxin's response was concise.

The two maintained their smiles, locking eyes for a brief mont.

Gradually, the HR director's smile broadened, as though diffused: "That would be great. You know, we've all been handling the unpopular tasks here, and even my experienced team mbers try to dodge them. You're a recent addition and eager, so let's—leave it to you then."

Like she had prepared beforehand, the HR director picked up a folder from her desk and handed it to Shi Chuxin. Her bright red nail polish glead strikingly.

"Don't worry, Sis, I'll make sure it's done beautifully for you."

Clutching the folder, Shi Chuxin took a deep breath.

Then exhaled heavily.

Reflecting on the conclusion she had just drawn from her talk with Nan Zhubin, she couldn't help but mutter to herself.

"I hope Teacher Bai and Dahui haven't misplaced their trust… For soone so insistent on confidentiality, surely they're just as cautious regarding suicide evaluations, right?"