"That is a real student ID."
Li Baiyu said solemnly.
In the second semester of her junior year, Cong Nanxue received a text message saying she had won a prize.
The Student Union and Shen University Dining held a "Shen University Spring Festival" event during the New Year to provide some warmth and companionship to students staying on campus.
Li Baiyu and Cong Nanxue participated together. After taking photos, they joined the online event. All they had to do was leave their student ID and phone number to enter the lottery.
As a result, Cong Nanxue won the first prize.
Li Baiyu accompanied Cong Nanxue to the Student Union to claim the prize and witnessed Cong Nanxue filling in her student ID. After verifying and confirming, they collected the prize.
The prize was a Shen University dining gift box containing dozens of exquisite pastries.
Li Baiyu watched all this unfold with extreme anxiety, unable to calm her mind.
Afterward, Li Baiyu began to investigate.
She learned from the advisor that Cong Nanxue did have a student ID in the class, but the advisor had never met Cong Nanxue.
"She texted the advisor saying she wasn't physically fit for dorm life and needed to live off-campus, to which the advisor agreed."
The advisor also mentioned that each year, there are always some "unique" students in the school. Since the university focuses on nurturing students, they consider the student's special circumstances with understanding and care.
Shen Jingqi nodded.
This explained why the dormitory administrator had no information on Cong Nanxue.
University life is relatively free, and Shen University is known for its liberal culture. Advisors rarely meet students, and attendance is not taken in class.
Li Baiyu liked the quiet, often sitting with Cong Nanxue in the sparsely populated front row.
Recalling the times they attended lectures together, Li Baiyu felt deeply moved.
"By the way, to add, Cong Nanxue was also able to log into Shen University's portal and checked her grades when results were out. But this was after I talked with the advisor."
"How were her exam results?"
"Before I realized she was an illusion, every exam until the second semester of sophomore year, she came with me, so I naturally assumed she took the exams."
"In reality?"
"The advisor said Cong Nanxue, due to health reasons, did not take any exams during the first year and the first semester of the second year. But in the second semester of the sophomore year, she took online exams, monitored online by two teachers from a classroom next to the exam hall. Cong Nanxue completed the scores for two academic years in one go, and all her grades were above A. After that, she always took online exams."
"Was there a recording of the proctoring? Or perhaps, can you find the two teachers who proctored the exam and ask about it?"
Li Baiyu nodded slightly, "I'll see after I get discharged from the hospital."
Shen Jingqi summarized:
"Currently, there are two pieces of evidence suggesting Cong Nanxue is an illusion, but there is also some information supporting her existence."
Li Baiyu continued:
"Overall, Cong Nanxue has an entire world here with me. She has a student ID, an identity card, a phone number, email, exam results, and so on."
"Did she graduate with you?"
"Yes, she graduated and has both a graduation certificate and a degree certificate."
"Where did she go after graduating?"
"After graduation, she stayed in Beijing. She knows where I live and will come to find me. I met her today near Shen University. I assumed the cat would go to that house, so I went there first. I lived with the cat in that house for five years and only moved to this villa last year. After moving to the current place, I also took the cat to the previous house. However, that house is now vacant and I haven't dealt with it yet."
"One more question, can you see her at any time?"
Shen Jingqi thought about the [Multiple Personalities] entry on top of Li Baiyu's head, suspecting that Cong Nanxue might be one of Li Baiyu's personalities.
"No, her appearances are beyond my control and don't affect me. I also don't know when she will appear."
"Is there any pattern or specific scenarios to her main appearances?"
"During school, she appeared almost exclusively in the dormitory. I could see her as long as I was there. If she went out, it was almost always with me. After I bought a house near the university in senior year, she started to come out and find me after the second semester, occasionally appearing around that house."
"Now, I'm even worried she might appear in the villa. So, to avoid the illusion, I've decided to stay in the hospital for a week to observe."
Shen Jingqi nodded, beginning to understand some of Li Baiyu's motives.
Seeing the somewhat confused look in Li Baiyu's eyes, Shen Jingqi thought for a while:
"Another way to determine if it's an illusion is through touch."
"Have you ever had physical contact with Cong Nanxue? If you can feel her physical form, then it suggests she might really exist. If you can't, then it's an illusion.
"No."
Li Baiyu shook her head:
"In fact, I don't like being touched. I have a sensitive impression about being touched. So, in reality, I've almost never had physical contact with others."
"Not even a handshake?"
As a rising star in the business world, Li Baiyu should meet many people, and handshakes would be a necessity of etiquette.
"Very rarely, unless it's absolutely necessary."
"My parents are also aware of this."
Li Baiyu's body suddenly curled slightly, her hands subconsciously tightening.
A very subtle reaction that Shen Jingqi caught.
Sensitivity to touch.
If not an innate trait or something akin to schizoid characteristics, it might often relate to some trauma.
Regarding personality types, Shen Jingqi generally refrained from setting strict labels, instead describing certain traits or states.
"Regarding Cong Nanxue, you might try some physical contact next time, to assess her physical presence, and let me know later."
Shen Jingqi considered, "Let's make an assumption, please note, it's merely hypothetical, not real. If Cong Nanxue is right next to you, could you touch her?"
"I can't do it." Li Baiyu shook her head, showing an expression resembling fear.
"Alright, please relax, don't be afraid." Shen Jingqi realized that Li Baiyu's avoidance and sensitivity to physical contact were beyond her expectations:
"Some people fear specific things or types of things. In such cases, desensitization therapy might help. We can try this method later, to help you desensitize. If it works, you can try touching again. What do you think?"
"I suppose I can try, but can we do it later? I'm not ready to face it right now."
Li Baiyu was somewhat resistant.
"Okay, we can explore your sensitivity to touch history first, understand some of your experiences, would that be okay?"
Li Baiyu nodded.
Taking a look at the time, nearly an hour had passed.
The night had already fallen outside.
"We'll end here for today; let's continue exploring next time."
Shen Jingqi shifted her sitting position.
Li Baiyu's expression relaxed and reverted to how she looked when Shen Jingqi first saw her.
"You're getting off work, right? Remember to take good care of the cat tonight."
Shen Jingqi nodded, "Don't worry."
Fortunately, Li Baiyu treated her cat differently.
"I've noticed you're open with your cat. You seem natural when holding the cat."
"Except for the cat."
Li Baiyu's expression softened as she mentioned the cat.
"Tuantuan is a gift from heaven."
In the second semester of her junior year, Li Baiyu found it under a ginkgo tree on campus.
It was a small silver cat with big eyes, glancing around.
Upon seeing Li Baiyu, the kitten meowed twice.
As Li Baiyu continued walking, the kitten actively followed her.
When the kitten's paw touched Li Baiyu's leg, she realized she felt no discomfort.
So, Li Baiyu adopted the kitten and named it Tuantuan.
And she has been caring for it for six years now.
Li Baiyu started her business venture in her junior year; with funds, she began investing in properties early in her senior year.
The first property she bought was near Shen University, and whenever she had time, she'd take the cat for a walk around the campus, especially under that ginkgo tree.
After graduating a year early with her PhD, Li Baiyu frequently took the cat back to the ginkgo tree for a visit.
One person and one cat, leaving traces and memories in different seasons.