After ten-thirty, people gradually began to arrive at the bar.
The swaying, dazzling lights and rhythm painted an atmosphere of bewildering enchantment. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ NoᴠᴇFɪre.nᴇt
In the exchange of drinks, some people's gazes began to change.
The effect of alcohol makes people gradually lose control of themselves, becoming slaves to their senses.
People cannot control their blood sugar, dopamine, and neurotransmitters' changes. At this moment, people are controlled by their desires and emotions.
People indulge themselves, further succumbing and enjoying under the stimulation of psychoactive substances.
"Tomorrow is the weekend. You should take a break. Why don't you just enjoy the nightlife here at my place tonight? No need to hurry home."
Yang Haotian brought over two more bottles of wine.
"Doctors don't have fixed rest times. Apart from scheduled shifts, I have to be on call."
Shen Jingqi was clear about his working hours.
Tomorrow is indeed a weekend, no need to go to the hospital, and next Monday, Lin Shuwang will be discharged. The necessary procedures were already prepared.
But Li Baiyu is still in the hospital. When necessary, he must go.
Besides that, Shen Jingqi could do his own things.
Shen Jingqi said nothing, just smiled and raised his cup.
Except for that so-called "Awakening" called [New Appearance], the rest of the drinks had a distinct alcohol intensity.
Shen Jingqi drank very little, just sipping lightly.
He had no particular interest in smoking or drinking, purely indifferent.
His neurotransmitters seemed immune to such substances.
However, he repeatedly reminded himself not to drink too much.
Everything in the world, once it reaches a certain level, sees quantity change lead to quality change.
He was unsure if, after reaching a certain point, he would cease to be himself.
Licking cotton candy could unconsciously lift one's spirits.
The S-R stimulus-response chain has already been preliminarily established.
After the passage of time and frequent practice, it will form an S-O-R reflection.
The regulars at the bar might be similar.
Shen Jingqi glanced at a man not far away.
His gaze eagerly anticipated the glass in the waiter's hand.
Once a drink passed through his facial passage, his face flushed, eyes brightened, and the information ticker over his head leaped energetically.
Thus, the desire for alcohol would grow stronger and stronger.
Shen Jingqi thought of Liang Hong, that woman addicted to alcohol, whose mind and spirit were strangled by it, visibly declining.
Yang Haotian wouldn't persuade Shen Jingqi to drink.
He drank even less himself.
Shen Jingqi found Yang Haotian quite strange.
On the info ticker over his head, there was something like [Mental Cleanliness].
Yang Haotian had never been in a relationship. He kept a dog at home, liked vegetarian food, and disliked any meat scent.
"Look at those people, living with indulgence, a glass of bewitching wine revealing their true nature."
"These pleasure seekers, coming here so late, are either looking for a thrill or trying to relieve their troubles. Some can linger here all night, leaving only at dawn."
"There are also those who order just one drink, drinking very little, with clear intentions, usually either finding a man or a woman."
Yang Haotian whispered softly in Shen Jingqi's ear.
By midnight, the place was already full.
Most were young people.
Many women had dressed up, and the men were wearing well-selected attire.
The air was filled with various perfume scents.
Combined with alcohol molecules, they blended and converged in the air.
With the stimulation of alcohol, music, and air, some people started to move, interact, and tease each other.
The information ticker over their heads was also filled with excitement and passion.
Shen Jingqi scanned the crowd.
In his view, a mass of information tickers writhed, with dazed eyes and fiery lips hanging below them.
Two men started a fight.
The waiter stepped forward to inquire. The cause was that both men were interested in the same woman.
The woman appeared cautious.
She wore heavy, exaggerated makeup, her face was ghastly pale, and her eyes heavily shadowed.
Although it was deep winter outside, she only wore thin stockings on her lower half. A very short skirt hugged her body.
The info ticker over her head flashed:
[High School Graduate, Model, Orphan, Nihilistic].
She coldly watched the two men fight over her, twisting together.
The woman beside her looked quite careful.
Under Yang Haotian's handling, the two men soon calmed down, apologized, and left the bar.
The woman continued drinking, her gaze aimless, but without noticeable drunkenness.
"This woman comes here often."
Yang Haotian wiped his hands.
"She must have some trauma; she just wears a facade, but inside she's truly empty. Don't underestimate such people. They might seem naive and helpless, but she's already left here with at least three men. But she keeps coming back, still looking lost and hollow. What's she looking for? Not men, not sex, not pleasure. In her eyes, there's not even the drunkard's frenzy or glee."
Shen Jingqi thought again of Liang Hong.
That patient described the Wine God with eyes full of frenzy.
Yet the woman in the bar had no expression.
"I think I should open a psychology consulting place next door and have them come and chat."
Yang Haotian raised his gaze.
"Oh yes, when will you be available now? The psychological counseling institute my classmate and I have is now operational."
Yang Haotian had invited Shen Jingqi mainly for this reason.
A few months back, Yang Haotian's classmate opened a psychological counseling center near Shen University, where he worked as a consultant and co-partner. At the time, he was recruiting psychologists, and knowing Shen Jingqi was a psychiatrist, invited him to join as a part-time counselor, asking if he was interested.
"We would just place you in our consultant framework for publicity; it would be a sort of endorsement for us. Some people, seeing a doctor from Shen University Third Hospital with us, would be more willing to come. Regarding your time, if it's convenient to match with a client, we'll schedule you, how does that sound?"
Yang Haotian was quite expectant at the time.
"I'm aware of the treatment and salary at your hospital. Here, an hour's consultation fee can rival half a week's salary."
It's common for psychiatrists at hospitals to work part-time at psychology centers.
Shen Jingqi knew that many of his seniors and brothers were doing private consultations, some at universities, others at institutions, etc.
Back then, Shen Jingqi also considered accumulating some experience.
Unexpectedly, Yang Haotian's psychological studio started so quickly.
"I'm afraid I don't have fixed free time now."
Starting next week, my time belongs to Li Baiyu.