The Psychologist Episode 4 Recap
> The Psychologist Recap
He Dun met with You Na’s parents, who recounted You Na’s first abnormal behavior: stealing several bags of potato chips from a supermarket, which led to her being taken to the police station. This incident, despite their family’s comfortable financial situation, suggested You Na was seeking their attention. He Dun encouraged the parents to recall if any significant conversations had been overheard by their daughter that day.
You Na's mother then remembered an argument she had with her husband that morning about divorce, believing You Na had already left for school. During that argument, she insisted that neither of them would move out before Na’s college entrance exam. He Dun’s analysis revealed that You Na had likely woken up late, overheard this argument, and seen her father packing a suitcase to leave, despite his claim of a business trip to Beijing.
You Na’s father later confessed to He Dun that he had repeatedly tried to use business trips as an excuse to live apart, but his "separation plans" were always thwarted when You Na would unexpectedly get hurt or fall ill, preventing his departure. He had naively believed that by hiding their marital issues, You Na would be spared from harm. He Dun explained that children are acutely aware of fundamental changes in their parents’ intimacy, even without explicit communication.
You Na's actions were driven by a powerful motivation to preserve her family’s unity. To delve deeper, He Dun led You Na’s parents through a "match test," asking them to identify the causes of their five most intense arguments in the past two years and who was involved.
Both parents initially cited arguments related to You Na, such as her decision to study science or arts, her skipping school for a singing contest, her desire for a smartphone, her grandmother secretly buying her a smartphone, and her ambition to study broadcasting and hosting. He Dun then asked them to repeat the test, but this time choosing which of those incidents caused "them" the most profound sadness or hurt.
Both parents ultimately selected incidents related to each other, not You Na. He Dun highlighted that their marital intimacy had significant problems, and their inability to resolve these issues had, intentionally or unintentionally, drawn You Na into their conflicts. This left You Na uncertain of her self-worth and led her to believe that her own problems were the only way to bring her parents together. Overwhelmed by this realization, You Na’s mother broke down in tears, expressing deep guilt.
He Dun then concluded the session by instructing them to light five red matches in sequence. After the consultation, He Dun visited her former professor in a garden. She made tea for the professor and discussed the couple’s case, describing it as a classic "pursuer-distancer pattern" where the wife was demanding and aggressive, and the husband evasive.
However, He Dun noted that both parents now recognized their problematic dynamics, which would naturally lead to the dismantling of You Na's defense mechanisms. The professor praised He Dun's effective approach, and He Dun, pleased, left with some vegetables from the garden. Meanwhile, Lili had brought Qian Kaiyi to He Dun’s studio to help with the renovations.
She delegated tasks to him, noting the extensive list of specialized rooms He Dun had outlined in her manuscript, such as a music relaxation room, release room, psychological assessment room, sandbox room, and group activity room. Lili then departed, leaving Qian Kaiyi to organize the numerous models. Upon returning to her newly renovated studio, He Dun was deeply moved. She embraced Lili, expressing heartfelt gratitude and even jokingly offering to marry her.
Lili, noticing Qian Kaiyi's presence, playfully suggested that He Dun could consider marrying Qian Kaiyi instead. He Dun quickly pulled away, and Lili promptly left. Qian Kaiyi then complained about He Dun not thanking him, to which she responded that Lili had done most of the work, and he was merely an assistant.
He Dun, however, acknowledged that she disliked owing favors and asked Qian Kaiyi to explain his radio program proposal again, though she made it clear she was not yet committing. Qian Kaiyi enthusiastically pitched "Nighttime Talk Show," an old but impactful program that he believed, with a professional psychological expert, could offer much-needed guidance to confused city dwellers in the current fast-paced world.
He Dun expressed her willingness to consider the role, stating that her main concern was not whether it was a "sunrise industry," but rather how much professional assistance she could genuinely offer in an unfamiliar field. He Dun then had a conversation with You Na, who apologized for earlier deceptions. He Dun reassured her, acknowledging the immense pressure she had faced.
When You Na asked if her parents would reconcile, He Dun honestly replied that she did not know, offering an analogy of transplanting vegetable seedlings to explain how adversity can lead to stronger growth, and emphasizing that You Na was not alone. She also explained that You Na’s father had been helping Zhe’s family because Zhe’s father had previously provided crucial support to You Na’s family when You Na’s father was laid off.
Inspired by this newfound understanding, You Na went to help Zhe’s busy mother at her barbecue stall, even attracting new customers. A classmate later delivered a gift from You Na to Zhe, signifying a mending of their relationship. Later, He Dun called Qian Kaiyi to officially accept his offer, stating she had decided to make the program a success with him. Shortly after, Ye Jiahui moved into the apartment next door to He Dun’s studio.
He met He Dun, whom he recognized from the bar incident, and expressed that he had been searching for her after she left her previous workplace. He offered to help her unpack, which she politely declined. Ye Jiahui mentioned his past work at a Suicide Intervention Center and his ongoing medication, then suggested He Dun recommend a psychologist for him in City H.
When He Dun offered her own services, he quickly refused, stating that a psychological counselor and a client cannot have a romantic relationship, clearly hinting at his interest in her. That same night, Qian Kaiyi arrived at He Dun’s apartment with the contract for the radio show, only to find Ye Jiahui still there. A visibly jealous Qian Kaiyi immediately started arguing with Ye Jiahui, making sarcastic comments. He Dun, annoyed, defended Ye Jiahui.
Qian Kaiyi accused He Dun of being jealous, which she denied, then questioned his own late-night presence. Qian Kaiyi retorted that he was there on "business" and presented He Dun with the contract, setting a meeting for them to sign it the next morning. As he left, wearing sunglasses at night, He Dun mused that he was probably afraid of being hit, prompting her friend to comment that He Dun and Qian Kaiyi sounded like a bickering couple.
