Chapter 2267: 2190 Histrionic Personality

"That's how it is, Zheng Lao Ban." Lawyer Ge led Zheng Renrang into the restaurant while explaining, "I just took on a case of damaging public facilities, defending the criminal suspect."

"They've already damaged public facilities—what's there to defend?" Su Yun said directly from the side.

"As a matter of fact, that's right." Lawyer Ge said: "Generally, such cases are just a formality; they're the kind you're sure to lose."

"And then?" Zheng Ren listened attentively.

He had some understanding of Lawyer Ge—this person is extremely shrewd, and it's truly hard to get him to act without profit.

Su Yun was even more direct, chuckling and blowing a breath, his black hair fluttering on his forehead: "Lawyer Ge, lay it out—what exactly is this, and how does it involve you? If you don't tell the truth, we won't have peace of mind either."

With just that sentence, switching between "you" and "your honor," combined with Su Yun's tone, everyone could hear his meaning—the boss is busy; if you don't speak frankly, don't blame us for not being courteous.

Lawyer Ge wasn't in a hurry either; he arrived early and had reserved a private room.

After ushering Zheng Lao Ban and his party in and settling them, he said: "Zheng Lao Ban, Doctor Su, to be frank, my law firm has a certain proportion of legal aid cases each year."

Zheng Ren stared intently at Lawyer Ge's eyes.

"Normally, I never take on such a sure‑to‑lose case. It's a matter of win‑loss ratio—losing too much naturally affects those who come to me." Lawyer Ge chuckled.

That statement was more down‑to‑earth.

"The lawyer I consulted today said that upon meeting, the client hadn't even spoken two sentences before losing emotional control and starting to slap himself. I later obtained the surveillance footage under the firm's name and watched it carefully. I suspect the client has a mental disorder; otherwise I can't explain his loss of control."

"Thinking of that, you think of Zheng Lao Ban, right?" Lawyer Ge said with a smile, "We're not talking about the client clearing his name, but if I could win this lawsuit, it would do some good for my reputation."

"Is that really it?" Zheng Ren still didn't believe it.

"There are indeed great benefits." Lawyer Ge laughed: "Zheng Lao Ban, it seems the impression I left when we first met wasn't very good."

"Do you know the suspect?"

"I don't know him; it's pure legal aid." Lawyer Ge said, "Nearly 100% of these cases we lose each year. If we could win once, it would be a huge deal. My firm has enough strength, but we're always lacking something. To move up, we always need some special cases to shine."

"You're really that sure your client has a mental disorder?" Su Yun laughed.

"Doctor Su, I'm just doubtful—if Zheng Lao Ban and you say there's nothing wrong, then I won't bother. Anyway, it's a sure‑to‑lose case; one more or less won't matter."

"What did the suspect damage?"

"The billboard at the bus stop, smashed with a stone, which startled a few nearby people. Also a shard of glass cut a passerby, but it was nothing serious." Lawyer Ge said, "These facts are already confirmed."

"Has your client undergone any examinations?" Zheng Ren asked.

"His behavior was abnormal, so the junior lawyer under me raised an objection. He just went to a psychiatric hospital for a full series of tests, and everything came back normal." Lawyer Ge said.

Saying that, Lawyer Ge pulled out his phone and sent several reports to Zheng Ren.

Brain CT, EEG, and ECG all showed no abnormalities.

"He was given sedatives, but he had another episode in the psychiatric hospital." Seeing Zheng Ren looking at the reports, Lawyer Ge continued to explain the situation.

"Could it be fear, feigned? Or perhaps excessive mental pressure caused the loss of control back then?" Lin Yuan asked.

"Does he have family?" Chang Yue asked.

"He's a migrant worker; his hometown is in the mountains, so we can't reach him right away." Lawyer Ge answered each question in turn, "Otherwise he wouldn't have sought legal aid. The suspect lost emotional control, and afterward I also considered that he might have histrionic personality disorder, but I always feel something's off."

"But I can't pinpoint exactly what's wrong." Lawyer Ge chuckled, "That just reminds me of Zheng Lao Ban."

"Any other tests?" Zheng Ren asked.

Brain CT, EEG, and ECG showed nothing abnormal; Zheng Ren had confirmed that.

"There are a few more routine checks." Lawyer Ge said, "They should be fine too."

He then immediately sent all the materials to Zheng Lao Ban.

A quick glance showed the physical exam: temperature 36.7 °C, heart rate 72/min, respiration 18/min, blood pressure 130/80 mmHg.

Mental exam: consciousness clear, cooperative, thought normal, answers relevant, emotions normal, memory and calculation normal, orientation intact, insight normal; cranial nerve and heart‑lung auscultation etc. were normal.

Liver and kidney functions showed no obvious abnormalities.

It's said they're currently doing a dynamic EEG and a 24‑hour Holter ECG.

Everything looks fine; judging by the psychiatric hospital's records, a mental disorder diagnosis simply can't be made.

Zheng Ren did have a few suspicions, but the evidence is lacking; at the very least he needs to see the patient.

"Let's eat first; after we finish, we'll go take a look at the patient." Zheng Ren put away his phone and said calmly.

"Thanks for the trouble, Zheng Lao Ban." Lawyer Ge repeatedly expressed gratitude.

"How did your client slap himself—was he crying while doing it, or laughing?" Su Yun asked.

"Cut it out." Zheng Ren said sternly.

"This is a crucial behavioral check, you don't know shit." Su Yun said scornfully.

"Now in Di Du, probably only Su Yun would dare say Zheng Lao Ban doesn't know shit."

"I have this morning's recording; Doctor Su, if you don't mind the hassle, could you take a look?" Lawyer Ge didn't mind, saying it with a smile.

"Have a look." Su Yun became interested.

Lawyer Ge opened his laptop, pulled up the video file, and turned it toward Zheng Ren and Su Yun.

Lin Yuan was far away, so she immediately stood up, walked behind Zheng Lao Ban, and craned her neck to look.

On the screen, a roughly forty‑year‑old, down‑on‑his‑luck middle‑aged man sat in a chair, slapping himself with his hand.

There was no sound, but the slap of palm on cheek seemed to echo in everyone's ears.

"Yah." Xie Yiren, sitting nearby, jumped at the sight of the video.

"It's fine." Zheng Ren held Yi Ren's hand, gave it a gentle squeeze, then turned the screen to another angle, moving it out of her view.

"Kind of weird." Su Yun said.

"Slapping oneself is definitely weird." Lin Yuan added, "Histrionic personality disorder, also called attention‑seeking personality disorder, is characterized by exaggerated words and deeds to draw attention, and by immature personality as its main traits."

"Who did you inherit your habit of avoiding the important and focusing on the trivial from?" Su Yun retorted directly.