Chapter 58: After Going Abroad

In front of Chen Qianqing was a mirror.

The person in the mirror smiled at him, waved, and moved their lips as if speaking. The figure was handsome, dressed in white sleepwear, with slightly long, disheveled hair cascading over their shoulders.

A voice, distant at first, grew closer. It was soft, ethereal, and gentle, like the song of an angel from a fairytale. Everything seemed serene until Chen Qianqing reached out with his fingers to touch the cold surface of the mirror.

The moment his fingertips touched the mirror, the smooth, bright surface began to crack piece by piece. Thick, metallic-smelling blood oozed from the fissures.

The figure in the mirror continued to smile radiantly at Chen Qianqing. Their skin split apart inch by inch, yet their eyes shone like stars. They said to Chen Qianqing, “My death is the best revenge I can have on you.”

Chen Qianqing woke up from the nightmare.

It was 3 a.m. precisely. Lu Zhengfei was sleeping soundly beside him, his eyes closed in peaceful rest.

Chen Qianqing wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and stared at the clock in the dim light, letting out a soft sigh.

Some things, though not openly expressed, had become mental burdens.

Since returning to school, Chen Qianqing hadn’t had a single restful night. Tonight was no exception. He draped his arm over his eyes, his face reflecting a mix of weariness and confusion.

When dawn broke, Lu Zhengfei realized Chen Qianqing hadn’t slept through the night again.

He knew Chen Qianqing had trouble sleeping, but he hadn’t realized it had reached the point where sleepless nights were routine.

Two days earlier, on Xu Shaoren’s recommendation, Lu Zhengfei had found a professional psychological treatment facility abroad. Their flight was scheduled for this afternoon.

Lu Zhengfei asked, “Qianqing, you didn’t sleep again?”

Chen Qianqing’s pale face bore heavy dark circles. He replied, “Mm, I had a nightmare.”

Lu Zhengfei pressed further, “What did you dream about?”

Chen Qianqing said flatly, “I dreamt of Chen Qianqing. He said he hated me.” He spoke these words with a detached and cold demeanor, revealing a secret he had intended to keep forever.

Lu Zhengfei’s reaction was strange. He didn’t ask why Chen Qianqing would say such a thing but instead consoled him, “No one hates you, Qianqing. Your flight is this afternoon. Why don’t you try to get some rest now?”

Chen Qianqing sat up and shook his head.

Seeing this, Lu Zhengfei didn’t push further. Instead, he stepped out briefly and returned with a cup of warm milk, which he handed to Chen Qianqing. “Drink this. It’s warm.”

Chen Qianqing accepted the milk and drank it slowly.

Most people can’t endure the torment of insomnia. Lying in bed, utterly exhausted, only to have fragmented images and piercing sounds keep them awake—it drives one to madness. A day or two may pass, but over time, even the strongest person would break. Chen Qianqing wasn’t made of iron. He had already pushed himself to his limits.

Sleeping only a few minutes each day, plagued by nightmares even in that short span, his mental state had deteriorated rapidly. Lu Zhengfei, distressed by what he saw, had secretly added sleeping pills to the milk on Xu Shaoren’s advice.

Chen Qianqing refused to take sleeping pills on his own. To him, the suffering he endured felt deserved. Back when Chen Qianqing had depression, he had likely endured similar pain.

But while Chen Qianqing wouldn’t help himself, Lu Zhengfei couldn’t bear to watch him suffer. He observed as Chen Qianqing finished the milk, then slowly closed his eyes, his breathing evening out.

It had been a long time since Lu Zhengfei had seen such a peaceful expression on Chen Qianqing’s face.

Recently, Chen Qianqing seemed to have grown prickly, his words and demeanor exuding an untouchable arrogance and coldness. Even when looking at Lu Zhengfei, his gaze carried a complexity that wasn’t there before.

At first, Lu Zhengfei thought Chen Qianqing had moved on. Later, he realized that not only had Chen Qianqing not come to terms with things, but his condition had worsened. Moreover, he adamantly refused to see a doctor.

Lu Zhengfei gently placed his fingers on Chen Qianqing’s forehead, then let them slide down, tracing over his colorless lips, slender neck, and slightly protruding Adam’s apple, before resting his palm lightly on Chen Qianqing’s chest.

The rhythmic beating of his heart was proof that this fragile, exhausted person was still alive. Lu Zhengfei stared at him with an almost obsessive tenderness, leaned down, and placed a feather-light kiss on Chen Qianqing’s lips.

Chen Qianqing remained motionless, looking like the cursed sleeping beauty from a fairytale.

Without crossing any boundaries, Lu Zhengfei stopped after a light kiss. He then got up, retrieved his laptop from the study, and sat in a chair by Chen Qianqing’s bedside to handle his mountain of work.

Despite falling asleep with the help of sleeping pills, Chen Qianqing was still trapped in a dream. He felt himself lying on a large bed, his entire body aching, especially around his eyes, the pain so intense it made his head spin.

A woman’s voice echoed—familiar, yet he couldn’t immediately recall who it belonged to. She said, “What’s the point of treatment? Isn’t Lu Zhengfei just hoping his little darling will go blind so he can’t run away? As if I don’t know what he’s done.”

Another man’s voice responded, but it was faint and indistinct.

The woman laughed, “Lu Zhengfei even gave me a heads-up about it. Ha, does something like this really need his permission?”

Footsteps followed, the sound of a door opening, and the two voices faded into the distance.

Chen Qianqing’s body turned ice-cold, as if he had been thrown into a freezer. The chill silenced him, while the woman’s words echoed endlessly in his ears.

This wasn’t him… This was the real Chen Qianqing’s experience.

Chen Qianqing struggled to wake up, but his body was too heavy, beyond his control. All he could do was sink deeper into the dream.

One of the reasons Chen Qianqing feared sleep so much was the constant stream of dreams. Dreams that belonged to him and ones that didn’t would flash by like a carousel, forcing him to confront his actions with brutal clarity.

When Chen Qianqing woke up again, he found himself in a car heading to the airport.

He was sitting in the backseat with Lu Zhengfei, who held him in his arms and had draped a blanket over him.

Sensing he was awake, Lu Zhengfei asked, “Qianqing, you’re up?”

Chen Qianqing pressed his lips together and asked, “What did you put in the milk?”

Lu Zhengfei replied, “Sleeping pills… The doctor said if you keep this up, your body won’t hold out.”

Chen Qianqing lowered his head, his hair still slightly messy from sleep. He glanced at Lu Zhengfei but ultimately said nothing.

Although his dreams had been numerous and bizarre, upon waking, his tense body felt slightly more relaxed.

Lu Zhengfei took out a thermos and handed it to Chen Qianqing. “Aunt Zhao made porridge and side dishes. Eat a little.”

Chen Qianqing wasn’t hungry but knew he had to eat. He slowly took the thermos, picked up a spoon, and began eating.

The porridge was thick and creamy, cooked with soft shrimp and vegetables, paired with Aunt Zhao’s signature pickled side dishes that stimulated the appetite. Chen Qianqing ate about half before feeling full.

Lu Zhengfei encouraged him, “Qianqing, have a little more.” But Chen Qianqing shook his head.

With a sigh, Lu Zhengfei took the thermos and set it aside.

Ten minutes later, the driver pulled up at the airport. Lu Zhengfei and Chen Qianqing got out of the car.

Although the Spring Festival had ended weeks ago and it hadn’t rained recently, causing the temperature to warm up, Lu Zhengfei insisted on wrapping Chen Qianqing in an additional coat, planning to remove it once they were inside the air-conditioned terminal.

By the time they arrived at their destination, Z Country, it was early morning in A City.

Z Country was a stronghold for the Huang Yuping family, to which Lu Zhengfei’s mother belonged. Domestically, Lu Zhengfei’s father, Lu Zhongqian, was the dominant force. Their marriage had the hallmarks of a strategic business alliance. However, to their fortune, the couple deeply admired and loved each other. Since their wedding, no significant disagreements had arisen.

Z Country could be considered Huang Yuping’s home base. Lu Zhengfei felt uneasy bringing Chen Qianqing here but had no choice. Xu Shaoren had recommended a psychological treatment facility he knew well and trusted, located in Z Country.

Psychological hospitals were not like regular ones, where quality could be easily judged. Treatment for psychological issues was abstract and delicate, requiring caution. Any misstep could lead to irreparable consequences.

Lu Zhengfei recalled an incident from his teenage years: a friend of his had developed depression and was sent abroad by his parents to a supposedly excellent institution. A year later, he appeared to have recovered. But on the very day he returned home, he stabbed his father to death.

Later, an investigation revealed that the individual had suffered severe abuse during their treatment.

Lu Zhengfei was determined not to let something like that happen to Chen Qianqing. Since he couldn’t always be by Chen Qianqing’s side, he had to choose the most reliable facility to ensure the best treatment outcomes for him.

Of course, the most pressing issue now was figuring out how to keep his mother in the dark.

Fortunately, it was still the New Year period, so Huang Yuping and Lu Zhongqian were back in the country and hadn’t been monitoring him closely. Even so, Lu Zhengfei couldn’t be sure whether his parents knew what he was up to.

February in Z Country was still very cold. Before getting off the plane, Lu Zhengfei bundled Chen Qianqing up tightly. It wasn’t until they saw the car that had come to pick them up, and got inside, that he allowed Chen Qianqing to take off his thick outer coat.

Chen Qianqing said, “I’m not that fragile.”

Seizing the opportunity, Lu Zhengfei touched Chen Qianqing’s cheek and replied, “Look at you. Your face is freezing cold. Of course, you need to dress warmly.”

Chen Qianqing glared at him. The wind outside was strong, and he wasn’t wearing a mask. Anyone stepping out of the airport would have a cold face. He knew perfectly well what Lu Zhengfei was up to—just looking for an excuse to touch him.

At that moment, the driver spoke in the language of Z Country, asking, “Young Master Lu, where to?”

Lu Zhengfei responded fluently in Z Country’s language, “To the villa in the Xiaoshu Community.”