After sitting at the Xu family home for a while, Ms. Fang got ready to leave. She and Tang Guangbo had moved into the residence arranged for them by the state. Before she left, she said to Xu Huo:
"Your Uncle Tang is great to talk to. You should drop by and chat with him when you have time."
Xu Huo agreed, and the very next day, he went to Tang Guangbo's office.
The office was simply and tastefully decorated, but the display cabinets along the walls and the desk were piled with little items in boxes. Tang Guangbo was cleaning. When he saw Xu Huo, he put down his towel and wiped his hands as he said, "Move some of the things on the desk and have a seat."
Xu Huo didn't go near the desk. Instead, he sat on the sofa nearby.
When Tang Guangbo came out, he was carrying a cup of tea and a cup of coffee. He handed Xu Huo the tea. "Your mother told me you don't like coffee."
"I'm not used to it." Xu Huo took the cup and set it down, then asked, "Do you smoke?"
Tang Guangbo pointed to the sign on the wall behind him. "No smoking here."
Xu Huo placed the pack of cigarettes he'd taken out on the table. "Why is your office such a mess?"
"I only just got settled in. It's normal for things to be a little messy." Tang Guangbo paused, then said, "But the way someone moves and arranges objects can also tell you about their psychological state."
As he spoke, he adjusted his glasses and smiled. "I invited you to sit at my desk, but you didn't accept. That means, subconsciously, you don't want to have this conversation with me."
"No," Xu Huo