Who would study psychology unless they had some issues?!

The defense lawyer presented a heap of unfounded conjectures, hypotheses without evidence.

They are not admissible in court.

However, these inadmissible statements have a purpose—to dilute the credibility of Nan Zhubin's evidence.

Because, in a sense, there indeed exists a problem with the credibility of Nan Zhubin's counseling records; and after the numerous examples given by the defense lawyer, this credibility would further decrease.

It's an unavoidable issue, after all, the materials provided by Nan Zhubin are indeed limited.

Therefore, encountering the relentless pursuit by the defense lawyer was an anticipated event.

Lawyer Zhan, sitting next to the young man with a watch, immediately reacted.

Although there was minor friction between Lawyer Zhan and Nan Zhubin, in court, their overarching objectives remained aligned.

Lawyer Zhan loudly objected: "Objection! Your Honor, what the opposition presents are mere speculative doubts, without providing any concrete evidence."

The judge nodded: "Objection sustained, will the defense please present evidence to corroborate the inquiry."

The defense lawyer did not speak, seemingly because there was no evidence, thus suppressed by the judge's demand…

—No, that's not right.

Nan Zhubin narrowed his eyes, observing the defense lawyer's demeanor.

[Torso and neck leaning forward intensely, jaw tightened.]

[Gaze sharply focused, pressing lips, restraining from speaking?]

[This is not merely a [satisfaction] with achieving the purpose, but a… [restraint] from a strong desire to attack himself?]

The intelligence derived from the micro-expression interpretation instinctively made Nan Zhubin feel something was off.

The defense lawyer in front of him, although not speaking in response to the judge's demand for evidence, did not seem like someone who held no cards in hand.

Instead, it felt like a spider spreading its web, its fangs not devoid of venom, with the current restraint merely waiting for the critical moment when the prey falls.

Then to deliver a deadly strike.

Nan Zhubin instinctively pondered a response strategy.

But the next second, the judge spoke: "Does the witness have anything else to say?"

Nan Zhubin withheld the words he wanted to express.

This is a trial; this place has its rules and procedures.

Unnecessary actions or words at this moment might instead disrupt the court proceedings.

After a moment of contemplation, Nan Zhubin could only attempt to refute from his professional perspective against the defense lawyer's earlier statement: "The opposition lawyer questioned why the victim sought Psychological Consultation three months later, but the stress response post-trauma is time lagged."

Nan Zhubin's voice was steady and solemn: "An individual undergoes multiple stages of self-defense reactions after experiencing trauma, which is a normal phase in attempting to digest negative emotions; initially, the victim might be in shock, numbness, or suppressing emotions."

"It's only after failing at self-regulation that the abnormal stress response post-trauma appears—this interim period can last weeks, even months."

This was the answer to the defense lawyer's first query.

Next was the second: "Before the victim was subjected to the defendant's fraudulent mental destruction, none of the symptoms present in the consultation dialogue appeared."

However, upon hearing this sentence, the defense lawyer's eyes twinkled brightly.

Like finally seeing prey enter the trap, revealing venomous fangs.

"When you elucidated the psychological trauma suffered by the victim, Nan Zhihao, you emphasized... 'abnormal stress'." The defense lawyer glanced at the documents in his hand, "Which ultimately led to [social anxiety disorder], correct?"

Nan Zhubin narrowed his eyes slightly and nodded: "Yes."

The defense lawyer seemed only to want this answer, then turned to the judge: "Within the evidence submitted by the prosecution, there's communication between my defendant and the victim that illustrates my client indeed impersonated personnel from the Military Personnel Department, former document handlers handling veteran affairs, to screen veteran information."

The prosecutor's expression gradually changed. Although not knowing what the defense lawyer would say next, this beginning was already very ominous.

Clearly intending to counterattack using the evidence provided by the plaintiff.

Sure enough, in the next second, the defense lawyer exposed a confident demeanor: "Within my defendant's chat records with the victim Nan Zhihao's comrade, there are multiple mentions targeting Nan Zhihao's social aspects."

He glanced over the materials at hand, as if already prepared, all the originals organized onto one sheet.

"For example—'I have little contact with Nan Zhihao; we were never that close initially, and he seems just average with everyone.'"

"'Maybe it's because he has a relatively higher education, usually doesn't hang out with us.'"

"'He is quite proactive in doing things, but privately he keeps to himself.'"

"'When everyone is out having fun, he's either studying for an exam or doing his own thing.'"

The defense lawyer read through, his voice loud enough to cover the entire courtroom.

The veterans sitting in the plaintiff's section looked at each other, never imagining the casual complaints they voiced in carelessness would now become the opponent's weapon against them.

"These conversation materials fully demonstrate that the victim Nan Zhihao inherently has a personality type that is 'not sociable,' or even a 'social impediment' type!" The defense lawyer exclaimed.

Nan Zhubin knitted his brows: "Preferring solitude, introversion, and limited social interaction in specific environments are normal personality preferences or adaptation modes, far from meeting the diagnostic criteria for [Social Anxiety Disorder], the core feature being significant and persistent fear or anxiety in social situations, accompanied by avoidance behavior, leading to functional impairment or significant distress. Let alone [social phobia]..."

The defense lawyer pressed the advantage: "What if what he exhibited was just superficial? Psychological issues are so prevalent nowadays; many only realize they have such issues after being diagnosed? At least the evidence we provide can prove—there are 'problems' in the victim's social domain."

His fangs discharged venom: "It also allows questioning of your claim that the 'psychological trauma of the victim, Nan Zhihao, was caused by my client'!"

The waters were thoroughly muddied.

Nan Zhubin lowered his gaze.

The content provided by the defense lawyer indeed lacked professionalism, and he could counter thoroughly.

However, these arguments, against the limited evidence provided by Nan Zhubin, proved incredibly potent.

Does Nan Zhihao truly have a clear psychological trauma?

Were these traumas indeed caused by the fraud?

Furthermore—does the fraud team not bear primary responsibility for Nan Zhihao's psychological trauma? Were they merely catalytic?

If any of these doubts exist, the sentencing outcome would significantly differ.

...

The photographer seated in the audience watched Nan Zhubin deliver further professional explanations, clash a few rounds with the defense lawyer, and then step down.

Nan Zhubin's segment concluded here.

Next up was Bai Qinghua, appearing as an expert witness to confirm through fraud recordings and chat records that in the fraud process, there existed an intentional "mental destruction" by the fraud gang.

Although the judge remained expressionless, the cameraman glanced at the reporter beside him and hesitated: "Was that witness just now at a disadvantage during this segment?"

The reporter, seemingly having observed many trials, had some experience, and sighed upon hearing: "It seems so; the defense lawyer's evidence and argument were indeed strong."

"Although this Psychological Consultant appears very professional, the evidence he submitted was too scanty."

The cameraman also sighed: "A pity."

They, being somewhat seasoned, the other audience might not have been so unbiased.

For a moment, comments like "this young person isn't quite capable, is he?", "looks good but is useless", "you can't force everything onto the plaintiff" arose.

The rustling noises compelled the judge to bang the gavel twice, reiterating court order, which finally settled things down.

However, the cameraman and reporter didn't notice, behind them sat a man wrapped up tightly at some unknown time.

At that moment, he was clenching his fists tightly.