My Sister Is Acting Strange - Chapter 77 - Solution

Doctor Wu had previously advised that under no circumstances should his sister be made aware of her past sleepwalking incidents, as it could lead to severe consequences.

That particular remark from his sister had indeed made Tang Huaijin break out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, her expression showed no signs of distress, allowing him to breathe a little easier.

After bidding his sister goodnight, Tang Huaijin returned to his bedroom, though his mind was still restless, filled with unease.

When in doubt, consult Doctor Bai. Despite her somewhat abrasive personality, she was at least reliable.

With this thought, Tang Huaijin dialed Doctor Bai’s number.

After a few rings, the call was answered, and Doctor Bai’s voice, tinged with a hint of amusement, came through:

“How’s the progress?”

Tang Huaijin was accustomed to her amused tone and paid it no mind, replying softly, “Encountered some issues.”

“Oh?” Doctor Bai chuckled lightly, intrigued. “Tell me about it.”

“Following your advice, my sister has gradually stopped keeping a deliberate distance from me, which was good initially.” At this point, Tang Huaijin paused before continuing, “But whenever we’re in front of others, she becomes anxious, fearing that our relationship might be discovered.”

“How anxious?”

“She tends to avoid me, deliberately distancing herself. Previously, she was comfortable holding my hand in public, but now she lets go. Tonight, she even asked me if something was wrong with her, which startled me. Although it seemed like a casual question, I’m worried it might lead to problems.”

“Hmm…” Doctor Bai responded thoughtfully, pondering for a moment before saying, “The issue does seem quite serious. It indicates that she wasn’t as self-conscious before, but now she is.”

“That’s exactly what she said,” Tang Huaijin sighed, admitting, “Honestly, I don’t quite understand.”

“It’s different for you; you’re a guy, and your sister is a woman,” Doctor Bai chuckled softly. “Moreover, you’re younger than her. Your sister has to consider not only her own situation but also your future, bearing many responsibilities. Naturally, her psychological pressure is significant. Coupled with her previous condition, which, although termed sleepwalking, is akin to dissociative identity disorder, she indeed has psychological issues.”

“Haven’t you noticed? Although your sister has recovered, her thoughts are more intricate and sensitive than those of an average person. Her current state is quite conflicted. On one hand, she lacks a sense of security, fearing your departure, which has led her dependency to evolve into affection, hence her desire to be with you.”

“But on the other hand, at her core, she’s quite traditional. She sees herself as the elder sister and feels that being with a non-biological brother betrays her parents’ expectations and fails her duties as a sister. Thus, she harbors guilt and remorse, leading to her self-consciousness and fear of others discovering your relationship.”

Tang Huaijin furrowed his brows in confusion, asking, “Guilt?”

“Of course. Do you think the two of you are normal?” Doctor Bai seemed to have stumbled upon something amusing, her tone carrying a hint of excitement. “In a typical sibling relationship, would a sister develop psychological issues because her brother found a girlfriend? Or would a brother choose to be with his sister?”

“…What do you mean?” Tang Huaijin couldn’t grasp what she was getting at. Hadn’t she been supportive before?

Sensing Tang Huaijin’s displeasure, Doctor Bai reined in her excitement a bit, cleared her throat, and chuckled, “I don’t mean anything by it. I’m not saying I don’t support you two.”

“I’m just saying, who decides what’s normal and what’s not? Do we need others to judge us?” As she spoke, Doctor Bai’s voice grew slightly more animated.

“Ahem…” Tang Huaijin interrupted her before she could launch into her usual spiel about freedom, asking, “Doctor Bai, what should I do now?”

Doctor Bai shook her head. “There’s no perfect solution. It’s your sister’s inherent nature. Even if you were the older brother, you might not handle it any better.”

“I don’t mind waiting, but I’m worried about my sister,” Tang Huaijin sighed. “She’s not the type to express her feelings. I’m concerned that if these negative emotions build up inside her, they’ll eventually explode.”

“Hmm… You have a point. Let me think.”

After pondering for a while, Doctor Bai asked, “So the goal now is to alleviate your sister’s guilt, to make her less anxious.”

Tang Huaijin was puzzled. “What do you mean?”

“I’m considering this: right now, you’re both young. It’s still somewhat normal to be inseparable without dating or marriage. But your sister is already feeling guilty,” Doctor Bai said softly. “If you both reach the age for marriage and are still inseparable, won’t your sister be even more afraid? This issue is bound to surface.”

Thinking it over, Tang Huaijin furrowed his brow, worried. “So what should we do?”

“You need to find a reason that makes your sister feel less guilty. At least until she gets over this hurdle, you need to ensure it doesn’t affect your daily lives. Otherwise, every time you two go out together, it’ll pile up negative energy in her heart, and that’s not good.”

“A reason to feel less guilty…” Tang Huaijin sighed, feeling a headache coming on. “Stop being cryptic, Doctor Bai. Just spell it out for me.” He had always prided himself on his intelligence, but compared to this enigmatic woman, he felt his brainpower was woefully inadequate.

“You could find a partner,” Doctor Bai suggested with a laugh.

“…Are you serious? Doctor Bai, find a partner? What about my sister?” Tang Huaijin asked, struggling to contain his frustration.

“Ah, you’re quite impatient, aren’t you? I wasn’t finished yet,” Doctor Bai teased, noticing the shift in Tang Huaijin’s mood. “Why not find someone to pretend to be your girlfriend or your sister’s boyfriend? It could help you both cover up.”

The suggestion was so outlandish that Tang Huaijin was left speechless. “Don’t joke with me. Where am I supposed to find someone like that? Unless you want to help us?” His last remark was purely retaliatory.

“Don’t even think about it,” Doctor Bai chuckled, refusing with a light-hearted tone. “Surely you and your sister have friends who aren’t interested in dating either? Even if they don’t agree to help, you could hire someone. It’s not about actually dating; it’s just a nominal boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. The idea is to give your sister a psychological hint that you have a girlfriend, even if she knows it’s fake.”

“In simpler terms, it’s about tricking her subconscious, easing her guilt and anxiety, so she won’t feel so uneasy.”

“And there’s another benefit. You can gradually reduce the time you spend with your sister, triggering her possessiveness over you, helping her get past her internal barrier.”

Tang Huaijin was stunned, hardly believing what he heard. “Will this really work? It seems too risky. What if my sister disagrees? Could it upset her?”

“Don’t doubt my expertise.”

“As for the risk, yes, it’s there,” Doctor Bai admitted, slightly annoyed. “Choose the right moment to discuss it with her, manage it carefully, and use her possessiveness to gradually outweigh her guilt. It can’t be done all at once.”

“Whether you use it or not is up to you. I’m just offering what I believe is the best advice as your psychologist. The benefits outweigh the risks, as long as you handle it properly, it could be a lasting solution.” Doctor Bai emphasized the word “both,” causing Tang Huaijin to twitch slightly.

“I’ll think about it,” Tang Huaijin murmured, feeling conflicted.

“That’s fine. Contact me if you have any questions,” Doctor Bai maintained her calm demeanor.