"No, no need."
Shiller's answer took Lionel by surprise, he hesitated for a moment, then explained as if he had just understood, "I thought others need to leave the room for this."
"This is just a simple examination and not formal therapy, hence you can wait here."
Thus, Shiller sat opposite Lex, conducting a preliminary check. The process was straightforward, primarily asking some basic questions, like name, height, weight, age, etc., and simple single-digit addition and subtraction, and graphic description.
Lionel sat by, watching the entire time. Lex, with his hands on his knees, mechanically answered Shiller's questions. He asked why not, he made no unnecessary movements, and he responded to Shiller's queries.
"This is somewhat strange..." Shiller looked at the paper he was using to record the information, then looked up at Lionel, asking, "Are you sure the earlier diagnosis was autism?"
The smile on Lionel's face faded slightly. He seemed hesitant, glanced at Lex several times, then said, "Yes, that's what the earlier doctors told me..."
Shiller furrowed his brow, falling silent, and the atmosphere in the room became tense. However, after a few seconds, Shiller muttered to himself, "It's probably atypical autism."
"So what's going on? Professor, did the previous doctors misdiagnose him?"
"No, not exactly." Shiller scribbled on the paper, then said, "I don't know if the earlier doctors explained to you, but the autism spectrum disorder encompasses many types. The type of autism where communication is compromised, typically falls within typical autism."
"But there's also atypical autism, and those patients present a range of symptoms that cannot be generalized. It seems that your son's condition is somewhat complex..."
"I'm sorry, Professor." Lionel interrupted Shiller, he glanced at Lex, then said, "Is he autistic? Could it be that..."
Shiller looked at him somewhat puzzled, then asked with a hint of confusion, "Mr. Lionel, why do you seem a bit..."
In that moment, Lionel realized he was losing his composure. Just as he was about to adjust his expression, Shiller, seemingly having an epiphany, said, "Oh, I get it now..."
Lionel's fingertips trembled slightly, Lex's somewhat numb expression also displayed some minor changes. At that moment, Shiller suddenly said,
"I've seen many parents like this, thinking their children aren't sick. They don't trust doctors, don't trust teachers, they wouldn't even trust their own family members."
"They see the diagnosis as just nonsense. In their eyes, their children are no different from others."
Shiller walked over, patted Lionel on the shoulder, and said, "I can understand how you feel. No father wants his child to be sick."
"But Mr. Lionel, avoidance is not the solution. Although my diagnosis might somewhat differ from that of the previous doctors, there is no doubt that there are aspects of your son Lex Luther's mental state that deviates from the norm."
"As of now, the most likely diagnosis remains autism spectrum disorder. However, we'll need a more detailed examination to establish the specific sub-category."
In that moment, Lionel's rigid expression softened somewhat. He sighed, wiped the corner of his eyes with his finger, then with a sorrowful expression said, "Indeed, I too wish that Lex were a normal child, maybe even a bit of a playboy like little Wayne."
Shiller noticed that when he heard the name Wayne, Lex's numb expression shown a slight change.
Withdrawing his gaze, Shiller nodded at Lionel and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Luthor, everything will get better. Your son will return to normal, I guarantee."
Lionel asked hesitantly, "Can it really..."
"Remember what I said earlier? I can even swap a person's personality into someone else's body. Autism does require long-term treatment, however..."
Shiller revealed a smile, looking into Lionel's eyes, he said, "As I mentioned before, there's always a faster way, isn't there?"
Shiller saw a glimmer of gloom flash in Lionel's eyes but quickly return to a smile.
Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted from the corridor outside. It seemed that someone was rushing over. Shiller and Lionel turned simultaneously, but Lex, as if he hadn't heard a thing, remained seated, looking numb.
"Bang!" A waiter forced the door open. Lionel frowned, asking, "What's going on? What are you doing?"
"Mr. Luther! You better get down quickly! Officer Benjamin requests you to get down!"
"What's happening? Why are you panicking?" Lionel looked dissatisfied, chastising the waiter with a frown.
"Someone died! ...Someone died again!"
Shiller, too, furrowed his brow. Lionel stepped forward and asked, "Who died?"
"I … I don't know, but it seems like a produce distributor, named ..." The waiter struggled to get the words out, Lionel, looking impatient, waved his hand dismissively and said, "Take Lex back to his room. Let's go check on this."
As he walked away with Shiller, he said, "Produce distributor? Could very well be Old Parker, he's the largest produce distributor on the East Coast, hence he was invited to the banquet tonight…"
Lionel said while deeply frowning: "Damn it, Mayor White's death is still unresolved, how is there another death? Is there some curse on this damn manor?"
When Shiller and Lionel arrived downstairs, they saw a body lying in the middle of the banquet hall. Lionel walked up and spoke with Benjamin. Shiller stood at the foot of the stairs, not showing any interest in approaching the scene.
Benjamin glanced at Shiller. Shortly, he walked over, locked eyes with Shiller and said, "I heard that you were involved in solving numerous famous criminal cases."
"Yes, are you looking to hire me?"
Benjamin deeply furrowed his brow but before he could answer, Shiller turned around and said, "But I don't intend to accept. I'm going to bed."
"Wait!" Benjamin called Shiller back, who was heading up the stairs. He said, "Two murders in quick succession, this might be related to the serial killer in Metropolis. Aren't you often involved in such cases?"
Shiller paused halfway up the stairs, then turned around, looking into Benjamin's eyes, he said, "You're mistaken, I only participate in university defenses. I don't care for kindergarten show-and-tells."
Benjamin kept his gaze on Shiller. Shiller turned back around, gripping the banister as he ascended the stairs, leaving behind a final statement,
"If the Metropolis serial killer is of this caliber, my defense proposal would suggest —— delay graduation."