Chapter 56: Everything Will Be Fine

There are many things you can never truly understand unless you experience them yourself.

Lu Zhengfei knew that Chen Qianqing would be in pain after his parents’ death, but he never imagined it would be this excruciating.

It was a despair so profound that any attempt to describe it would seem shallow. Only by living through it could one grasp its full weight.

In this lifetime, even without Lu Zhengfei’s interference, Chen Qianqing’s parents still died. They died in the same way—killed in a car accident on the highway after leaving the airport.

It felt as if the gods of fate were mocking him in their own way, telling him that he was destined to endure every torment that brought Chen Qianqing such unbearable pain.

Chen Qianqing ultimately didn’t see Liu Huamei and Chen Qingyang one last time. For the first time since arriving in this world, he tasted the bitterness of fear.

The doctor said that Chen Qingyang was already beyond saving when he was brought to the hospital, while Liu Huamei died on the operating table. Neither of them passed peacefully. Chen Qingyang’s head was almost severed, and Liu Huamei fared no better.

The driver responsible for the accident also died on the spot, and the cause of the crash was both absurd and tragic. The driver had been talking on the phone and smoking on the highway, steering with his wrist resting on the wheel. When something unexpected happened, he failed to react in time, rear-ending the car carrying Liu Huamei and Chen Qingyang.

The ridiculous cause of the accident brought devastating results that were anything but laughable.

Chen Qianqing felt completely hollowed out. This sensation, he realized, was the same one he’d experienced in his previous life when the real Chen Qianqing had died. That blank state of mind, where nothing anyone said made sense, left him utterly exhausted.

Lu Zhengfei silently observed Chen Qianqing’s reaction. He knew that any words of comfort would be meaningless right now, so he simply held Chen Qianqing, letting him lean into his embrace.

Two grown men leaning on each other like this felt somewhat awkward.

The news of Chen Qingyang’s death quickly reached his sisters. That same evening, Chen Qingyun and Chen Qingyu arrived.

Chen Qianqing didn’t take in a word of what they said. Instead, he and Lu Zhengfei sat silently in the hospital corridor until almost three in the morning. Finally, Lu Zhengfei helped him find a hotel near the hospital to stay for the night.

Chen Qianqing quietly took a shower. With his hair still damp, he sat silently by the bed.

Lu Zhengfei, worried about him, kept glancing in his direction even while showering. Thankfully, Chen Qianqing remained unresponsive but calm until Lu Zhengfei finished and came out of the bathroom.

Sitting down beside Chen Qianqing, Lu Zhengfei put his arm around his shoulders.

After a long pause, Chen Qianqing finally spoke. “Give me a cigarette.”

Lu Zhengfei took one out of his pocket and handed it to him.

Chen Qianqing put it in his mouth, lit it with a lighter, and took a deep drag. “Lu Zhengfei, I’m scared,” he said.

Lu Zhengfei froze. He had almost never heard Chen Qianqing admit weakness like this. “Qianqing, I’m here,” he said.

Chen Qianqing exhaled a cloud of smoke, his expression indifferent as he looked at Lu Zhengfei. “Do you know what I’m scared of?”

“What are you scared of?” Lu Zhengfei asked.

Chen Qianqing laughed bitterly. “I’m scared of knowing something and being powerless to change it.” Like Liu Huamei and Chen Qingyang’s deaths, like Chen Qianqing’s suffering, like the fate awaiting them both.

Looking at Chen Qianqing’s pale face and indifferent expression, Lu Zhengfei felt an ache in his heart. Tightening his arms around him, he said, “Chen Qianqing, I love you. I want to protect you from everything.”

But Chen Qianqing merely shook his head slowly. In the end, he said nothing more. He stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray, lay down on the bed, and prepared to sleep.

Lu Zhengfei desperately wanted to do something for Chen Qianqing, but he realized how little he could actually do.

Chen Qianqing didn’t sleep the entire night. Every time he closed his eyes, fragmented images and sounds would flood his mind. They felt so vivid, as if they were right before his eyes and ringing in his ears.

Lu Zhengfei didn’t sleep either. He held Chen Qianqing in his arms, trying to warm this person who seemed so cold that he was almost curling in on himself.

Early the next morning, the first thing Chen Qianqing said upon waking was, “Lu Zhengfei, when you’re free, take me to see a psychologist.”

He couldn’t hold on anymore.

Lu Zhengfei should have felt happy about this, but instead, he couldn’t find any joy in the moment. So, in the end, he said nothing and simply nodded.

No matter how heartbroken they were, the things that needed to be done still had to be done.

After breakfast, Lu Zhengfei and Chen Qianqing went to the hospital. Lu Zhengfei contacted a funeral service provider to start arranging the burial for Liu Huamei and Chen Qingyang.

That afternoon, Chen Qianqing went to a nearby cemetery and selected a plot to bury Liu Huamei and Chen Qingyang together.

Since Liu Huamei and Chen Qingyang had died in an accident rather than of old age, the local customs dictated that the funeral couldn’t be grand. Lu Zhengfei consulted a specialist to pick an appropriate date and prepared to have their bodies cremated.

During this time, Chen Qingyang’s sisters came to visit again and handed Chen Qianqing three red envelopes.

Outwardly, Chen Qingyu offered condolences, but her words carried a hidden question about how much compensation Chen Qianqing might receive. Chen Qianqing acted as if he didn’t understand her meaning, remaining silent and woodenly unresponsive.

In the end, it was Chen Qingyun who couldn’t stand it anymore. She glared at Chen Qingyu several times and dragged her away.

As they left the hospital, Chen Qingyu complained to Chen Qingyun with a pout. “Sis, it’s not like I asked on purpose. Brother’s gone, but Qianqing is still alive! I’m just looking out for him.”

Chen Qingyun spat on the ground and sneered. “Looking out for him? Don’t call me ‘sis.’ Wasn’t the help Qingyang gave you enough while he was alive? Now he’s gone, and you’re already eyeing his blood money?”

Chen Qingyu retorted, “What do you mean, ‘eyeing’? Qianqing’s still just a kid! If the compensation isn’t settled and they cremate the bodies, what if the driver’s family refuses to pay?”

Chen Qingyun snapped, “So what? Do you want Qingyang to wait for the money before being laid to rest? Chen Qingyu, I didn’t realize you could be this vile.”

Chen Qingyu coldly laughed. “What’s that supposed to mean? Let me tell you something, don’t act all righteous with me—”

The two sisters were arguing loudly at the hospital entrance when Lu Zhengfei happened to arrive. Over the past few days, Chen Qingyu had come to recognize Lu Zhengfei and quickly stopped quarreling. Smiling awkwardly, she greeted him, “Oh, Xiao Lu, here to visit Qianqing?”

Lu Zhengfei gave her a cold glance. “I suggest you stop stirring up trouble.”

Chen Qingyu bristled. “What kind of attitude is that? I’m Qianqing’s aunt! What gives you, an outsider, the right to tell me that?”

Ignoring her, Lu Zhengfei said, “Did you know your daughter’s having another abortion?”

Chen Qingyu froze.

Lu Zhengfei added, “I heard she’s over three months along this time, and it’s a boy.”

Chen Qingyu’s face turned livid. Speechless, she spat on the ground and stormed off.

Chen Qingyun’s expression wasn’t much better. She muttered a brief greeting to Lu Zhengfei before leaving as well.

Lu Zhengfei walked into the hospital with a blank expression. He hadn’t been keeping track of what Chen Xiaohui had been up to; his earlier comment was entirely fabricated. He hadn’t expected Chen Qingyu’s insecurities about her daughter to shut her down so quickly.

Deep down, Lu Zhengfei was a petty person. Although he often had to act magnanimous in front of Chen Qianqing, he was far from someone who would repay an offense with kindness.

When he entered the hospital room, he saw Chen Qianqing sitting in a chair, staring off into space.

Liu Huamei had brothers, but they lived far away and wouldn’t be able to arrive for a few days. Once Chen Qingyu and Chen Qingyun left, the house felt desolate and eerily quiet. The mournful funeral music playing in the background only amplified the somber atmosphere.

Lu Zhengfei said, “Qianqing, the schedule is set. The funeral will be the day after tomorrow, and the burial in another ten or so days.”

Chen Qianqing replied, “Thank you.”

Lu Zhengfei added, “Qianqing… if you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s okay to cry.” From the moment Chen Qianqing had received the news of Liu Huamei and Chen Qingyang’s deaths, not a single tear had fallen. Yet, even without tears, his pale face and weary demeanor revealed how much pain he was enduring.

Chen Qianqing cast a cold glance at Lu Zhengfei before responding even more icily, “I’m not Chen Qianqing. Why should I cry?”

Lu Zhengfei froze, completely dumbfounded.

Chen Qianqing didn’t bother explaining what he meant. He simply stood up, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and walked outside.

Ever since catching Chen Qianqing engaging in troubling behavior in front of the mirror, Lu Zhengfei had realized something wasn’t right with his mental state. Hearing this remark now felt like a sudden moment of clarity.

Xu Shaoren’s theory about dissociative identity disorder seemed perfectly validated.

After Lu Zhengfei had broken Chen Qianqing’s leg that one time, it was as if Chen Qianqing had become a different person. He couldn’t play piano anymore, and his once sharp demeanor softened significantly. So… was it all the result of a split personality?

Thinking about the cold and disdainful look Chen Qianqing had given him just now, Lu Zhengfei felt a strange, suffocating tightness in his chest.

While Chen Qianqing was outside smoking, Lu Zhengfei sent a message to Xu Shaoren, briefly describing the situation.

Xu Shaoren replied almost instantly with just one line: “Get a professional diagnosis. If there’s an issue, treat it early.”

Lu Zhengfei gritted his teeth. Although Chen Qianqing had agreed to go abroad for treatment, there simply wasn’t time right now. But at least, there was one piece of good news—Chen Qianqing currently showed no signs of self-harm.

According to Xu Shaoren: “As long as he doesn’t have suicidal tendencies, everything else can be managed.”

After finishing his cigarette, Chen Qianqing came back inside and sat down in the chair again, remaining silent.

Lu Zhengfei mulled over what to say for a long time but ultimately blurted out, “What do you feel like eating tonight?”

Chen Qianqing gave him a wordless, blank look.

Lu Zhengfei: “…” Okay, he knew the question was terrible, but surely it was better than saying nothing at all, right?

Surprisingly, Chen Qianqing actually answered. “Congee,” he said.

Lu Zhengfei let out a relieved “Alright.” The heavy weight pressing on his heart lightened ever so slightly.

He thought to himself, as long as Chen Qianqing kept trying to live, one day he would surely step out of the darkness. Wouldn’t he?