Victor was at a loss for words and looked to Shiller for help. He said in a low voice, "Perhaps that's why he didn't choose to blow up my lab. Anyway, we have to solve this..."
Then he turned to Chick and said, "There's still a long time before the Christmas dance, why not find another dance partner in the meantime?"
"He promised me! I'm not the one at fault! Why should I suffer this humiliation?!" Chick was very emotional, "And he... he..."
Victor was taken aback when he heard the pronoun Chick used, and then sighed, "He found a girl?"
Chick didn't answer, but his expression was a telling sign. Victor felt a throbbing headache, and he sat on the sofa, downing a cup of black coffee in two gulps. Mrs. Edison finally realized this was a topic not suitable for her ears, so she left using coffee brewing as an excuse.
"I'm more curious about how you tried to hang yourself," Shiller looked at Chick's neck, which didn't have any marks. It must have been that he hadn't hung himself when he was rescued.
"There's a beam above the Cryogenic Lab," Victor said, "Physics labs never seal the ceiling because there are many pipes that need to go through the top, sealing it would affect inspections, so he was able to hang the rope up."
"Did he tie a knot?"
"What?"
"After throwing the rope up, did he tie a knot at the bottom?"
"I don't remember," Victor said, "The scene was chaotic, everyone was busy getting him down, no one was really looking at the rope. Is there an issue?"
"No, it just shows that it was his first suicide attempt, he didn't have any experience," Shiller said, "Trying to hang yourself using a long, round rope over a beam is a bit difficult because the rope will roll. During the struggle in a near-death state, the movements can be so intense that one might fall because of the rolling rope. Either use a flat ribbon or once you throw it, loop it again on top, tying a knot to secure it..."
Victor looked speechless, and he looked at Shiller saying, "Are you giving him pointers?"
"This proves that he probably acted on impulse and doesn't have severe depression or some other disorder."
Victor looked over at Chick. Chick was sitting there, lost in thought. Victor still tried to resolve the issue, saying, "How about I invite your dance partner over..."
"No!!!" Chick screamed, "Why do you always try to push the blame onto him?! If it wasn't for you..."
"So that's it," Shiller said, "You think he stood you up because Victor scolded you, causing you embarrassment?"
Victor was even more speechless and said, "Who breaks up with someone just because the professor scolded you a few times?"
"Nora definitely wouldn't," Shiller said, lifting his coffee cup, "That's why you two could end up together."
"Don't speak yet," Victor couldn't take it, he looked at Chick and said, "Did he say to you that he broke up with you because you got scolded?"
"He said I'm always careless, that's what he meant, I'm very sure..."
"Are you sure it wasn't because you forgot about a scheduled rehearsal?"
"I didn't forget!"
"Your mom wouldn't let you go," Shiller added, "You chose to listen to your mom, lost your dance partner, but felt wronged and decided to blame the professor."
Victor pushed his hair back, wiped his face once, and said, "What do you plan to do? What exactly do I have to do so you won't throw that rope over a beam?"
"You need to apologize to me!" Chick said, "You shouldn't have reprimanded me like that in public..."
"I can't," Victor said, "I can't apologize when you indeed made a mistake because that would seem like I'm endorsing your actions. In reality, not cutting the power to the motors is extremely dangerous. If I did, it would bring greater risk to others."
"But you shouldn't have scolded me in public! There were so many people in the lab then, and none of them liked me. You made me lose face completely; I can't even interact with them anymore!"
"I can apologize to you in private," Victor said, "I indeed didn't pay attention to the occasion at the time, but I was really angry, that set of scrapped equipment was worth $70,000..."
"Chick," Shiller called him, "Though it seems a bit heartless, I still have to remind you that whether you take this matter to the principal or to Brainiac, you will have to bear the financial loss, and I don't think you can afford the money. Perhaps you should reconsider whether it's worth getting into this situation with the school and the professor over your dance partner."
"Why isn't it worth it?! You've ruined me! I can't hold my head up in school from now on, and it's all your fault! I wanted to get along with them, but it's impossible. It's all because of you..."
Victor pressed his temples hard, looked at him, and said, "Just tell me what you want? I can agree to anything except for apologizing in public."
"Nothing will work. If you don't apologize to me, I will definitely die in your lab, or in your office, there's always a time when no one's there! Or I'll leap off from the classroom..."
Shiller sighed and said, "I think you need to calm down. How about I let Mrs. Edison stay with you?"
Before Chick could say anything else, Shiller pulled Victor away. Victor let out a silent roar. Shiller patted his shoulder and said, "Look on the bright side, he's just very immature, but at least he's willing to communicate instead of blowing up the school quietly."
"If it weren't for that, do you think I'd bother with him?!" Victor irritably ran his hands through his hair, "Brainiac told me that in the future there'll be more normal people in the coming years. Is this what normal people are like? I'd rather have the madmen back! At least they don't make irrational arguments!"
"Some individuals among the normal people are like this," Shiller said, "They can't accurately control their emotions, they become reckless in the heat of the moment, and once they get stuck in a dead end, they can't come out."
"So what now? I can't let him really die in my lab, or in the classroom, and especially not in the office!"
"Brainiac will keep an eye on him. Otherwise, how would someone rescue him before he even managed to hang up?" Shiller said.
Victor sighed deeply. Shiller raised his hand and glanced at his watch. It wasn't lunchtime yet. He looked at Victor and asked, "Are you going to practice dancing with Nora?"
"She still has classes," Victor said. "After class, she has to pick up Billy because of the bad weather; elementary school only has half-day classes. They should be having lunch at home."
"Then to the library for prep?"
Victor forced a nod and said, "Let's go. I have a contract document I need to review carefully."
"I'll go back to the office to get some books. See you at the library later."
Shiller returned to his office and took out some basic psychology books and some reference materials. He rummaged through a pile of papers; he had an expansion class in the evening that required teaching some cutting-edge industry knowledge, and he needed to use his papers as references.
Just as he was searching through useful papers, there was a knock on the office door. Without looking up, Shiller said, "Come in."
Jenna walked in, smiled at Shiller, and said, "Good morning, Professor. I'm here to request leave; I'm afraid I can't attend tonight's expansion class because Amanda has something for me."
"How much does the Federation Shield pay you?" Shiller asked.
"Two thousand US Dollars a week. But that's not important; the important thing is they are very generous with points. If I can't have a whole Naples pizza with triple cheese and cream truffle soup by Friday's end, life would be meaningless."
Shiller smiled helplessly and then said, "Go ahead. But can I ask what she needs from you?"
"I'm not too sure, but last night, Bruce Wayne went to the Federation Shield headquarters. I saw him."
"I guess it's something related to the Justice League," Shiller said, and then, as if he thought of something, he asked, "Have you heard about what's happening in the cryogenic physics department?"
Jenna paused, holding onto the door: "I know a bit."
"A bit?"
"Milo's new dance partner is my roommate," Jenna said. "Her ex-boyfriend is that guy who attempted suicide, Chick. Pelota said Chick was always very unreliable and stood up Milo several times."
"That's it?"
"I only know Pelota isn't lying. I haven't seen the other two," Jenna shook her head and said, "With Brainiac around, no one could successfully commit suicide, right?"
"Chick was very agitated."
"You saw him?"
"Because he intends to pin everything on Professor Fries."
"Oh? What kind of thing," Jenna said, "How could personal disputes be blamed on the professor?"
"Victor reprimanded him in person for not turning off the power supply."
"It's a wonder they're not making him pay."
"Isn't that true?"
The two walked out together and then parted at the staircase. Jenna paused for a moment and then said, "I always feel that anything that brings the Justice League and Federation Shield together can't be small. If anything happens, I'll have Brainiac message you, Professor."
"No problem. Hopefully, there won't be any major issues."
Shiller arrived at the library and quickly found Victor by the window: "Why are you sitting here?"
"What's the matter?"
"Didn't you say that changes in the weather and light affect your work? You usually sit inside."
"I really don't think I can concentrate on work. I keep asking Brainiac about the beams in the lab every ten minutes."
"You're too anxious." Shiller poured him a cup of hot water, then said, "Brainiac doesn't acknowledge suicide as an individual's freedom. If he indeed has several intense episodes, Brainiac might take compulsory measures, including hospitalizing him."
"In my view, he's just temporarily emotionally unstable, affected by hormones. It takes some time to calm the mood swings caused by hormonal changes. Once he cools down, he'll be fine."
"The question is, how long will it take for him to calm down? I can't live in constant worry like this, can I?"
"That probably won't be until after the Christmas dance." Shiller blew on the hot water and looked at the fog on the glass beside him. The snow plow passed by the library entrance, and a new thin layer of snow quickly covered the cleared asphalt road.
Victor leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling in a daze. It was a while before he finally snapped out of it. He buried his head and started reading materials, but it had a clear sense of avoidance.
"If this matter isn't resolved soon, the hanging techniques you've taught him might just come in handy," Victor sighed.
Shiller sighed lightly and said, "I'll find a way."