There was one thing Zi Congheng (Chu Yuan) didn't mention.
After witnessing his father's head explode, his headache flared up again.
It was excruciating.
His head felt like it was splitting open.
It was like this most of the time.
Fortunately, his expression remained impassive.
Even when in pain, it wasn't noticeable.
He wrote a letter to Mianmian.
It was because he sensed something different about her.
She seemed to have a long life ahead of her.
It was as if he could see people's lifespans.
Some people were exceptionally bright, like a ball of light.
Others were as dim as a burnt-out candle.
Some flickered between brightness and darkness.
He didn't like looking at people, didn't like seeing chaotic things.
He thought Mianmian could take good care of his turtle.
He wasn't emotionally depressed; he was in genuine physical pain.
His head hurt.
Every moment.
There was a spot that always ached.
He didn't like to smile or talk, because even opening his mouth might cause pain.
He truly wanted to hand over the little turtle and then end his own life.
His life had been brief and painful, even bewildering and seemingly pointless.
When he was born, his mother had already left this world.
His father was confined, a long and hopeless existence with no end in sight.
But still.
He had no regrets now.
His father had tried his best for him.
At least he hadn't truly lived in a cage, like a mouse without freedom.
He had seen mountains and white clouds, great rivers and many people.
After leaving the Jiang Family as a child, he had always stayed by his father's side.
Living together.
Father and son, relying on each other for survival for a long time.
He had earnestly accompanied his father.
It was enough.
The moment his father passed away, looking back, it wasn't actually that painful, because he had been there by his side.
But now.
The head that leaned close, gently nuzzling his arm.
His arm trembled slightly.
He raised his hand and patted her head.
Her family all liked to pat her head.
Because when they did, she would bristle, like a small animal with its fur standing on end, very cute.
She used to be self-conscious about having thin hair.
Now, she had a full head of dark hair, fine and dense, with wispy bangs. Her hair was very lush.
Even up close, you could see the fine, transparent down on her face.
Goodbye.
She was truly beautiful.
People are drawn to beautiful things and people because they please the eye and lift the spirits.
She was just like that.
Only her temperament was slightly different.
She was more lively and active than most people.
Perhaps it was because her parents loved her so much, she lived quite freely.
Mr. Jiang was said to be very indulgent with her.
Mr. Gong had mentioned that because someone said her fate was strange, Mr. Jiang had gone and turned that person's life upside down, completely cutting off the livelihood of that entire group of people.
Because he wanted her to go to school, he even established a new girls' school.
Actually, the root of establishing girls' schools lay in money.
If girls could go to school, it meant that a family would have a girl who couldn't work and would need money invested in her education.
This was something ordinary people couldn't afford.
Even for families who could afford it, it was difficult to change their mindset.
This was a long-term transformation.
It might take hundreds of years to achieve.
But he had managed to do it.
Without considering the far-reaching implications, he improved public security, allowed those who wanted to earn money to do so, and those who wanted to farm to have land.
For his daughter's simple desire to go to school, he accomplished what countless others couldn't.
Mr. Gong often praised Jiang Er in front of his father.
Whenever he got excited about it, he would slap his thigh.
Sometimes he was there too.
Thinking back on it now.
He felt that girl must be the happiest.
She lived so freely and uninhibitedly, without illness. Who knows how her personality might be now, if it had changed?
Some people, when given unlimited goodness, develop terrible personalities.
Because they become insatiable.
Greed takes over.
Human nature is inherently evil.
Goodbye.
At his father's grave.
She wore all white.
Jiang Er and his strong wife were there too.
Jiang Er flickered between brightness and darkness, while his wife was steady, bright, and gentle, like a luminous star, stable and warm, not dazzling even up close.
Jiang Feng was like a black flame.
Somewhat similar to him.
Some people are surrounded by light, but with an extremely high temperature, burning themselves as well.
Mianmian was also bright, translucent, as if surrounded by flowing water.
She ran back and forth, like a constant star enveloped in flowing water.
When she came near, his headache seemed to ease a bit.
Now.
Even the flickering Jiang Er was trying to comfort him.
He told him.
Live well each day, and day by day, it adds up to a good life.
It turns out that even people with illnesses, when surrounded by loved ones, can slowly recover.
His head still hurt, actually.
If possible.
Lying down was most comfortable.
With his head supported, he wouldn't feel the pain constantly.
But at this moment, he ignored the headache.
He looked intently at Jiang Er.
Jiang Er's light was steady.
He glanced at Mianmian.
Mianmian still sparkled brilliantly, like a warm star, still surrounded by water.
Perhaps all these lights didn't exist, were just imagination.
Maybe it was because his headache was so severe.
He had personified people.
Turned them into light.
Some people recognize others through facial features, details, accessories, clothes.
But he recognized people through changes in light and shadow.
It wasn't that you happened to leave just as I opened the door.
It's just that my world was dark and dim.
Only when you appeared did I dare to step out.
He was in the abyss.
Waiting for salvation or to fall deeper into the abyss.
