"….. The hope, the fear, the jealous care,
The exalted portion of the pain
And power of love I cannot share,
But wear the chain."
After reading out this verse, the boy in front of him closed the book and glanced at the man standing silently next to him. After getting a nod from that man, he turned and left and didn't look back at the other person in the cold and dark room.
Qi Yuyang had never read any of the poems Xue Qing read but when he recalled this memory, he suddenly remembered that this was Byron's poem and it was one of his masterpieces left before his passing.
Qi Yuyang opened his eyes. The surroundings had returned to the original warm and bright space.
Cheng Ran was sitting quietly next to him. When he saw that he had woken, he raised his head, "How much did you remember this time?"
Qi Yuyang remained lying in the chair, looking up at the ceiling. He replied in a low voice, "On the fifth day, Xue Qing read to me a selection of poems from time to time. It felt like he had been reading it for a long time but in fact he only read two."
"That's very normal. With all the other sensory organs sealed off and only touch and hearing still working, the minds perception of time can change."
Qi Yuyang sat up and rubbed the inner corners of his brows. After a long time, he raised his head and looked at Cheng Ran, "Why is the memory so clear?"
Qi Yuyang could accurately remember the events from that time and could even clearly remember Xue Qing's and Xue Xingfan's expressions. After six years, even if those memories were sealed, those memories from that time should have faded somewhat.
Cheng Ran lowered his head to record something and replied without raising his head, "Because it was too painful." So you couldn't forget it.
It was also because it was too painful that it worked so well on Qi Yuyang.
Qi Yuyang didn't speak anymore. He stood up and wanted to leave. Cheng Ran closed his notebook with a snap and stood up as well, "Wait, I want to ask you a question."
Qi Yuyang stopped and silently looked at Cheng Ran.
Chi Zhao thought Qi Yuyang was still slowly recovering and had only remembered the small bits and pieces of his past, not yet connecting the dots, but Qi Yuyang had in fact already recalled almost everything. In the original plot, Cheng Ran fumbled around for a long time before realising that he was hypnotised. This time, Qi Yuyang was the one who took the initiative to approach Cheng Ran and inform the other party that he was kidnapped by Xue Xingfan. Knowing Xue Xingfan, Cheng Ran could immediately tell what kind of method he had likely used.
As a doctor, Cheng Ran must help keep Qi Yuyang's circumstances confidential and he also cannot interfere with Qi Yuyang's decisions so until now, he didn't say anything that couldn't be said, and he also didn't overstep his boundaries. This was his first time asking a question about Xue Qing.
"The reason you don't want to take revenge on Xue Qing…." Cheng Ran asked slowly while looking into Qi Yuyang's eyes, trying to dig out the thoughts hidden under his calm exterior, "Does Xue Qing know about it?"
Yet again, it was a sharp question. Every time Cheng Ran asked a question, it would sharply pinpoint the key issue.
Since requesting treatment again, Qi Yuyang had always been very calm. Every time he recalled a painful memory, he only felt a little uncomfortable and even despite this, he would force himself to get used to it and would not leave this place to return to Xue Qing's side before that.
It was clear from the information provided by Qi Yuyang that he was the victim and Xue Qing was the hidden perpetrator. The victim however was the one here suffering. Even if the hypnosis had been removed and he was no longer dependent on Xue Qing, he still didn't want to hurt Xue Qing and even continued to care for him.
Those who didn't know would express emotionally, "It's love." Cheng Ran however wasn't that easy to deceive.
Having been a psychiatrist for many years and with his experience dealing with various cases and patients, Cheng Ran had learnt not to believe what he saw or heard. The things that can drive people crazy and make someone ill mentally was far more complicated than it may appear on the surface.
Please read this from kk translates
The office became quieter than it was before, to the point that it was almost complete silence. After a few seconds, Qi Yuyang moved. He slowly approached Cheng Ran until there was about two and a half metres between the two of them, "You just have to know that my feelings for him has never changed. That is enough."
Qi Yuyang looked very dangerous right now and his eyes carried real threat. Cheng Ran instinctively wanted to escape. The feeling his eyes gave him made him feel very uncomfortable. As Cheng Ran subconsciously frowned, he heard Qi Yuyang continue, "Doctor Cheng, remember your place and please protect my privacy. Don't let a single word leak out. Anything that can make Xue Qing leave me....."
Qi Yuyang's expression darkened further and he uttered every word with emphasis, "I won't let you off."
After saying that, Qi Yuyang turned and left. Cheng Ran didn't want to cause trouble but there were some things he had to say. He opened his mouth and finally shouted in the direction of the door, "There are some things you can't hide for a lifetime."
Qi Yuyang had his hand on the doorknob. His pause was so short, it was undetectable to most people. Soon after that, he turned the knob and walked out.
After he left, Cheng Ran threw the notebook onto his desk and fell back into his chair.
It probably would've been better not accepting this deal in the first place. Look at the situation now. He was probably already out of luck. Although Qi Yuyang had warned him earlier that he wouldn't let him off if he dared to leak anything out, Cheng Ran felt that with Qi Yuyang's suspicious character, he would likely be driven out of the city or even this country before he could say anything.
…..What should he do now?
When Qi Yuyang drove home, Chi Zhao was in the middle of calculating his current assets.
Sitting on the edge of the small table in the guest room, he held a small green notebook filled with numbers.
After a long time, Chi Zhao was puzzled, "Why is it that I get a different number every time I add it up?"
[Did you really get into a prestigious university with your own efforts?]
Hearing the systems suspicious tone, Chi Zhao was angry, "Of course I did! I was a very good student and got first in math during the mock exam!"
"It's just....." Chi Zhao silently looked back at the numbers in the notebook, "I haven't used it in a while, and it has become unfamiliar."
When he added it all up again, Chi Zhao successfully returned with a different result.
....
In the end, Chi Zhao could only resort to using a calculator.
Seeing Chi Zhao sorting his assets into different categories, the system couldn't help but ask.
[What are you doing?]
"Can't you tell?"
Chi Zhao answered very naturally, "Planning my funeral." (KKnotes: Actually more along the lines of planning what happens after his death)
System: "...."
Xue Qing was a celebrity but when he really calculated his assets, Chi Zhao realised that he didn't actually have much money because most had already been spent by him. The remaining deposit left was less than three million.
There rest were all things like sports cars, houses, yachts and small joint ventures with others and the likes. Chi Zhao was going to sell the things that could be sold and as for those that couldn't be sold…..he will also try and sell them off.
This was something Chi Zhao had also done before but at that time Chi Zhao's identity wasn't that of a rich person, so it was all sorted in just two days. Recalling the past, the system realised something.
[You're going to give the money to Qi Yuyang again?]
Chi Zhao's eyes widened, "Why should I?!"
System: "…."
Chi Zhao spoke with reason, "These are all Xue Qing's property. It was obtained by his and my hard work. Why should I leave it all for Qi Yuyang? He has a large company and doesn't lack that money. The money should be used where it can be useful."
[...Where?]
Chi Zhao thought for a while, "I don't know. When I have time, I'll look around and find a less shady charity foundation and just donate it."
[Since you know that most charity foundations are a little shady, why donate it to them?]
Chi Zhao closed his notebook and shrugged, "Whenever humans are involved, it will always be shady. It can't be avoided. At the very least, some of the money donated would fall into the hands of those in need. Even if only a dollar was used to help others, it's worth it."
The system sighed. The host really is a good person.
But why did it feel despaired inside?
.....
It was now late autumn and one must wear a coat when going out. Chi Zhao took out a coat and picked up his car keys.
[Where are you going?]
Chi Zhao replied as he walked out, "I contacted an agency yesterday to sell the house. I'm giving him the key to the house today."
Xue Qing only had one real estate under his name and it was his old house. That house was a very ordinary residential building but because it was located in a rather good location, the price of it was a bit more expensive. Although the facilities in this area aren't that good and it is also quite old, most people looking to buy would probably not live there themselves and would just use it as an investment.
With the city being so prosperous, there was also a possibility of the building here being bought over by developers and demolished.
Chi Zhao drove over to the agency, passed the key through the car window and quickly closed it again. The agent already knew that the owner was a celebrity and had signed a confidentiality agreement online so he quickly received the key and asked, "Then I will put your place up for sale now?"
Chi Zhao thought for a while. Thinking that buyers wouldn't come that quickly, he nodded, "Okay. I'm going there to pack up now. After an hour or two, you can take pictures."
"Okay."
After driving to the house, Chi Zhao got out of his car and looked up.
In fact, in the original owner's memory, he didn't live in this place. At that time, his family was quite rich and they lived in a three-story bungalow but something happened and the money was gone and the house was sold. He and his dad eventually moved to a small house less than 100 square metres in size.
When he opened the door, he only saw some old furniture inside. There was no hint of life whatsoever.
After strolling around, he couldn't find a single picture of Xue Xingfan. On his way out, Chi Zhao paused. He noticed some markings on the side of the door panel.
Please read this from kk translates
Those were traces of Xue Qing's growth.
All of them were black markings apart from two red ones. There were labels next to them. It was clear that they were an adults writing. Perhaps it was written by Xue Xingfan.
"Mum 162, Dad 179."
In the end, Xue Qing's height didn't exceed that of his fathers, and he remained just one or two centimetres shorter than his father.
.....
Chi Zhao was silent for a moment. He called out to the system, "System, I'm a little sentimental."
The system wiped its emotional analysis library and expressed the same thoughts.
[Yes, me too.]
"We don't even know where Xue Xingfan died. Xue Qing lived his whole life not knowing that his father had already died, and he didn't even manage to see him one last time."
Chi Zhao sighed and asked, "By the way, where is Xue Qing's mother buried?"
In any case, he didn't have anything else to do. Chi Zhao wandered around this small community and then went to the address provided by the system. It was a quiet and bleak cemetery. Chi Zhao walked for a long time before he found Xue Qing's mother's tombstone in the depths of the cemetery.
Chi Zhao couldn't put into words what he was feeling right now. He wasn't their son, so it was pointless coming here, but he felt that it was better to come and show his face to fulfil the last of Xue Qing's filial piety before he goes to jail and waits for his death.
There were a lot of yellow leaves gathered by the tombstone. Chi Zhao cleaned the places near the tombstone with his hands and then took off his coat, spread it on the ground and sat down.
It was around one o'clock in the afternoon, the hottest time of the day, so it wasn't that cold without his coat. Chi Zhao looked up and stared at the picture of a smiling woman on the tombstone. Xue Qing really resembled her, they were almost replicas of each other.
She looked like a very gentle person.
If the mother was still alive, all the tragedy probably would not have happened.
Chi Zhao bent down and continued to clean the tombstone for Xia Lan. No one had been here for many years and the cemetery staff also didn't clean this place at all, so it was filthy. Chi Zhao even found nearby a packaging bag for crispy noodles.
After he picked up the trash, Chi Zhao blinked a few times and was taken aback for a moment. He then stretched his hand and reached into the gap between the tombstone and the base.
With some effort, Chi Zhao managed to pull out a small red piece of paper. He stared at it for a long time before calling the system out in disbelief, "....Why do I feel that this is real money?"
There were black burnt marks around the edges of this piece of paper and it was clear that it had been burnt. This was a cemetery so it was normal for someone to burn paper money but this....this clearly didn't look like paper money?!
The system scanned it and also started to mumble to itself: From the texture, it indeed looks different from the paper money manufacturers typically used.
Chi Zhao stood there with a frown for a long time before finally taking out a hundred dollar note from his wallet. He compared it for a while and was shocked, "It really is real money! If you touch it, you can even feel the braille pattern!"
System: "...…." Do you think I have hands?!
Now one human and one system are both in deep thought. Could someone be so stupid...to actually burn real money as paper money?
As they were still thinking it over, the system suddenly cried out.
[Hurry, hurry, hurry! Qi Yuyang is here! Abort mission!]
Chi Zhao: "..."
What do you mean abort mission?
Despite saying that, Chi Zhao quickly stuffed the small burnt corner of a bill into his pocket.