Eldritch Horror Theatre

”Mr. Consultant!”

The dinner was already halfway through, but thanks to Fu Qian’s maneuvering, anticipation had instantly peaked once more.

Madam Sissi proved quite considerate; she didn’t keep the group waiting long, quickly tracking down the address.

Still arriving alone, she called out to Fu Qian with a beaming smile. Her gaze then swept across the table, elegantly greeting everyone one by one.

”Sorry for the intrusion!”

She didn’t seem the least bit uncomfortable that this wasn’t a private meeting.

Though she wore the same plain clothes as before, the worsening of her symptoms had left Madam Sissi in excellent spirits. Her every glance was strikingly vibrant, giving her a mesmerizing, surreal beauty.

Tan Ying, having already met her once, handled it well. The others—even someone as worldly as Young Master Qin—momentarily lost their casual banter, greeting her with stiff formality.

Is this the shattered filter you get from sacrificing your brain?

Fu Qian watched from the sidelines, clicking his tongue in marvel.As far as he was concerned, everyone present possessed decent psychological fortitude. No matter how exquisite a person’s appearance, achieving this kind of shock-and-awe effect was incredibly difficult.

Not to mention, purely in terms of looks, Tan Ying and her friend weren’t the slightest bit inferior.

But combined with the contrasting persona of an absolute lunatic, the effect was overwhelmingly striking.

”Sorry we started without you. What would you like to eat, Sister Sissi? I’ll have them get it ready.”

After the round of greetings, Tan Ying was the first to speak.

”I’m the one who should be apologizing for rushing over so late.”

Madam Sissi waved her hand with a smile.

”As for food, does Mr. Consultant have any recommendations?”

As expected of someone burdened with inheriting billions in family wealth. She effortlessly radiated a commanding aura, even leaving the choice of food to her consultant.

”You can ask my dining consultant for tonight.”

Unfortunately, she clearly didn’t understand the concept of subcontracting. Fu Qian pointed at Tan Ying without batting an eye.

I...

The urge to complain only flared in Tan Ying’s chest for a moment before she sighed inwardly, resigning herself to her fate as she considered the menu.

”Thanks for the trouble.”

Her smile flawless, Madam Sissi took a seat with practiced ease.

”What were you all chatting about just now?”

”The art of painting, psychological age, and a few topics related to you,” Fu Qian rattled off effortlessly after a brief pause.

Is it really okay for you to be this blunt...?

While the rest of the group was left speechless, Madam Sissi stared blankly for a moment.

Under the somewhat awkward gazes of her audience, she didn’t show a hint of the displeasure they had expected.

”Out of those three topics, it seems the only one I’m somewhat well-versed in is the first.”

And her follow-up statement was rather thought-provoking.

”After all, while I might lack talent, I have seen quite a lot of it.”

...

Given how unusually approachable Madam Sissi was, the atmosphere quickly relaxed again.

It was obvious that her previous self-assessment had been exceedingly modest.

Although she didn’t speak much, her occasional remarks made it clear that her knowledge of the arts was quite extensive.

Tan Ying, who had initially only been entertaining her out of politeness, began to feel like they were genuinely hitting it off the longer they talked.

”She seems pretty normal!”

While the group discussed what they had taken away from today’s art exhibition, Young Master Qin turned his head and mouthed the words to Fu Qian.

”I’m flattered.”

Fu Qian mouthed back in the exact same manner, his face entirely expressionless.

...

Familiar with his style, Qin Mingze only needed half a second to realize this guy had taken the assessment as praise for his psychological counseling.

Sighing in helpless admiration, he suddenly remembered something. He snapped his fingers and whispered.

”Remember Xu Meng?”

”Of course.”

Fu Qian recalled a certain big shot’s naked sprint beneath the setting sun.

”According to a reliable source, he’s probably gone to keep his son company.”

Perhaps because Madam Sissi was nearby, Young Master Qin’s phrasing was remarkably subtle, entirely avoiding any words related to going ’crazy.’

”That fast!”

Fu Qian was genuinely a bit surprised.

How long had it been? He had assumed that even with deep-rooted inner demons, it would take at least a little time to ferment.

What do you mean, ”that fast”? Did you prepare a schedule for him or something?

Naturally, his reaction left Young Master Qin equally shocked.

Last time, this guy hadn’t seemed too surprised by Xu Meng streaking in the streets. Could it be...

”Professional psychological counseling.”

Fu Qian spoke in a tone that clearly said, ’I know what you’re thinking,’ nodding as he pointed at himself.

”I could tell at a glance that if left untreated, it will only worsen for President Xu.”

”Unfortunately, all things in this world are ruled by fate. President Xu’s obsession was hard to dispel. Now, passing it down as a family tradition can be considered an alternative form of karmic fulfillment.”

What the hell kind of family tradition is that? If anything, yours is working in reverse...

Young Master Qin stared at Fu Qian for a long moment before finally shaking his head in silence.

He wasn’t surprised that this guy was completely fearless in the face of potential retaliation.

But now that the man had straight-up gone crazy and the threat was eliminated, he still didn’t show the slightest hint of relief. It seemed he truly hadn’t considered President Xu a threat at all.

Of course, even with Fu Qian acting so weirdly, Qin Mingze never once considered that he actually had anything to do with the misfortune of the Xu father and son.

He was a psychological counselor, not a sorcerer. You had to believe in science.

”What are you two chatting about?”

Madam Sissi, who had been having a delightful conversation with Tan Ying and the others, casually turned her head to ask.

”Just that misfortunes never come singly for a pitiful father and son.”

Young Master Qin let out a sigh and gave a brief summary of the tragic events that had befallen President Xu.

Aside from Tan Ying, who barely reacted and looked like she already knew, it was clearly the first time the others were hearing about these latest developments, leaving them sighing in lament.

”Did you do it?”

Madam Sissi, looking particularly thoughtful, stared directly at Fu Qian and asked.

Huh?

The question left Young Master Qin completely shell-shocked.

He had just described the Xu father and son’s misfortune from an entirely independent, third-party perspective, without mixing in any personal bias. Little Qian’s name hadn’t even come up during the entire explanation.

How could she reach such a firm conclusion?

”Yeah.”

Unfortunately, an even bigger shock was waiting for him: Fu Qian merely grunted in affirmation.

”I originally had no intention of stooping to their level, but unfortunately, they insisted on seeking their own doom.”

”Heh... haha...”

While the whole table sat in shock, Madam Sissi first stared blankly before she started laughing, the sound growing louder until she was openly roaring with laughter.

”The legendary domineering persona is interesting indeed. So, how exactly did you reduce them to that state?”

”Simple. First, I used a Heavenly Light Manifestation to cleanse the chest full of hostility in one of them. Then, I refused to save the other when he came seeking revenge, leaving him to sink into The Abyss of double negation.”

With a sharp gaze and a deep voice, Fu Qian downed the tea in his cup in one gulp, exuding the aura of someone strategizing within the command tent with his every word.

”A true man should act as such!”

Madam Sissi had listened intently from the side, finally unable to help but applaud in praise, looking as if she wished she could have witnessed it with her own eyes.

Could these two have met in a support group for fellow patients...?

Meanwhile, faced with this sudden shift in tone, the same thought flashed uniformly through the minds of the other four dumbfounded people.