Although Jiang Hao's performance and words were moving, they might not have been enough to make a normal woman—especially one who was extremely wary of him—open her heart and embrace a man, much less a vicious criminal.
The reason Jiang Hao had asked Harley for a hug was to test one thing: whether she had a mental illness.
While reading Harley Quinn's profile, he had found someone suggesting that she might also suffer from a psychological disorder called "pathological codependency syndrome." The defining trait of this condition was "making other people's happiness one's own responsibility."
People with this condition experienced normal emotions such as pity, pain, anger, and sadness with unusual intensity. As a result, they were often trapped in states of anxiety, irrationality, and emotional instability.
Such people felt that they had a mission. They believed they should make those around them happy, and if they failed to do so, they felt like they were not good enough.
Of course, in many cases, this mentality was directed only at certain people.
Through the tiny experiment of a hug, Jiang Hao had already determined that Harley Quinn probably really did have this psychological issue. It seemed the rumor that "everyone in Arkham Asylum, from the doctors to the patients, is sick" was true.
Jiang Hao stood up, his expression becoming exceptionally calm as he shed his earlier vulnerability. Harley froze, even feeling somewhat at a loss.
"All right, let's end it here for today," Jiang Hao said coldly.
For some reason, Harley felt an emptiness in her heart. She forced out a smile. "Then I'll have a guard take you back. We can talk again next time."
Jiang Hao did not look at her. His icy expression did not change in the slightest.
One of a scumbag's greatest tools for