On Tuesday, Chi Hanqing indeed did not show up for school. Zhou Fan stared at the empty seat in the front row while propping up his chin and found himself unable to concentrate. Eventually, Old Jiang lost his patience and sent him to the hallway to stand as punishment.
Standing in the corridor, Zhou Fan looked at the distant blue sky and the drifting clouds while feeling a sudden and inexplicable sense of emptiness. It was a hollow feeling. Matters he once thought were far away had suddenly been pushed before him by the torrent of fate. It was like being violently slapped awake from a sweet dream only to realize how cold and cruel reality truly was.
Chi Hanqing was going abroad. Zhou Fan wondered which country it would be and what his own future would look like. He listened to the quiet sound of pens scratching against paper from the classroom behind him and objectively assessed his situation. His family background was very good compared to ordinary people and his family relationships were beyond reproach. At least in his circles, he had never seen parents more open-minded or loving than his own.
But compared to the young master of Chihui Group, they were worlds apart. Zhou Fan was used to being idle and had never thought about working hard. For the college entrance exams, a second tier university was the absolute limit for him. In his original plan, he would find a relaxed job after graduation, earn a modest salary, spend time with his parents and sister, find a decent boyfriend, and live out his life that way.
But Chi Hanqing had charged into his life and forced him awake. He wondered what he could do to be worthy of Chi Hanqing or to make those parents accept their relationship. He thought about it seriously and concluded that it was impossible. The gap between them was like heaven and earth. He did not believe that such a chasm could be bridged just by mutual love.
This was why he felt lost. There was no way out and no direction. He was standing in a fog with no solid ground beneath his feet.
Old Jiang appeared in front of him and called his name. Zhou Fan stood up straight and looked around because he thought he had missed the bell while daydreaming, but the hallway was still empty. Old Jiang looked terrible and told him to go back to the classroom, grab his things, and follow him.
Zhou Fan did not understand the request. Old Jiang’s voice was hoarse and carried an ominous tone as he told Zhou Fan to stay calm. He explained that his parents were in a car accident. The hospital had called because they could not reach his phone, so they used the phone belonging to his parents to contact the teacher.
Zhou Fan froze. He did not know how he got back to the classroom or how he packed his bag. Those memories were wiped clean and left only a surreal void. He vaguely remembered Zhang Chifeng asking what happened, and he might have answered or perhaps he did not. He followed Old Jiang to the school parking lot.
The usually strict Old Jiang kept a hand on his back as if supporting him while leading him forward and opening the car door. Zhou Fan sat in the passenger seat without a word of thanks. He was in chaos. It felt as if every tragedy in the world had collapsed upon him at once and he could do nothing but stand there in a daze.
The scenery outside the window retreated rapidly but left no impression on him. He wondered how a car accident could happen. This morning his parents were happily packing luggage and preparing snacks for Miaomiao.
At the hospital, Zhou Fan stumbled as he got out of the car. He rubbed his knees, took a deep breath, and forced himself to stand straight. He entered the lobby and found the nurse station where he gave the names of his parents and sister. The reply was that they were in surgery.
Arriving at the operating theater, Zhou Fan expected to see his aunt and uncle, but the hallway was empty. The cold metal benches reflected a pale light that made his eyes ache. A doctor in surgical scrubs walked out and asked if they were the family. Old Jiang explained he was the teacher and asked about the parents.
The doctor turned toward Zhou Fan with heavy pity in his eyes and confirmed his name. His voice was clear and cruel as he explained that every word felt like a needle piercing the eardrums of Zhou Fan. He stated that the car collided with a heavy truck at the highway entrance and both Zhou Xian and Yu Yuting died at the scene.
Zhou Fan’s body swayed uncontrollably. Zhou Xian and Yu Yuting were his aunt and uncle. The doctor paused to let the facts sink in then continued regarding the little girl in the car. Zhou Fan looked up sharply and asked how Miaomiao was.
The doctor noted she was in emergency rescue. He explained she was in a safety seat and the plush toy she held cushioned some of the impact, but her legs suffered severe crush injuries. He added that the situation was not optimistic and she would likely need an amputation.
Zhou Fan could not believe it because his sister was only one year old and had only just learned to walk. The doctor sighed with deep helplessness and noted that saving her life was already a miracle. He promised they would do their best but told Zhou Fan to be prepared.
Zhou Fan stopped hearing the words after that. His mind was a blank void. The vivid faces and past memories shattered before him. In that cold corridor amidst the stench of disinfectant, Zhou Fan raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face. Old Jiang was startled and thought he had broken down.
But after that slap, Zhou Fan became calm. He noted he was fine and used the pain to force himself to stay alert. The doctor asked if there were any other relatives. Zhou Fan noted there were none because his grandparents passed away last year.
His parents were gone and his aunt and uncle were gone. His sister was still in the operating room. He knew he could not fall and had to remain steady because Miaomiao only had him now.
Miaomiao’s leg could not be saved. Zhou Fan took a long leave of absence from school to handle the funerals. He used to find Old Jiang annoying but after the accident the teacher helped him through every step from the death certificates to contacting the funeral parlor.
Many colleagues and friends attended the funeral. Managing a funeral was exhausting but Zhou Fan remembered very little of it. He only remembered people coming to him and telling him to stay strong.
At night, Zhou Fan knelt before the tombstone of his parents and touched his chest. He asked the photos why he did not feel any sadness. Aside from the initial shock, he had felt very little grief and had not cried once. He knew this was not normal but he did not know the reason.
After the funeral, the family of the driver who caused the accident came to the hospital. A thin and haggard woman holding a baby knelt before Zhou Fan. She did not say a word and simply bowed her head in silence. The truck driver’s family was very poor and he had been driving day and night to support his child. In the end, he earned no money and lost his life.
The night the woman left, Zhou Fan was contacted by a lawyer. The truck had accident insurance but no other coverage. He would receive 180,000 per person for a total of 720,000 in compensation.
Zhou Fan found it laughable that his family had been reduced to a number. The driver’s family also received 200,000 in insurance which the woman transferred to him. It was far less than the legal requirement but Zhou Fan had no energy to pursue more. He had to focus on Miaomiao and knew there was nothing more to get from the haggard woman.
Miaomiao was so young that her recovery would be lengthy. Zhou Fan chose the most effective but expensive treatment plan. The biggest expense was the prosthetics because she would need constant adjustments for the next decade. Each prosthetic was extremely expensive.
His parents’ savings and those of his aunt and uncle were moved into accounts under his name along with the compensation. Over a million seemed like a fortune but the doctors noted it was only just enough for long term care. The doctor also suggested that Zhou Fan remain by her side and hire professional psychological counseling.
Zhou Fan accepted it all. On his phone, Dai Lin and Zhang Chifeng had called many times but Zhou Fan had no heart to reply. He did read the messages from friends and even ex boyfriends. Some were worried while others were curious or spiteful. Zhou Fan felt nothing as he read them.
A week later, Miaomiao finally woke up. The little girl on the bed had lost a lot of weight and looked at him weakly while calling for her brother. Zhou Fan sat by the bed and was stunned for a moment before leaning in to look into her eyes. He pressed the call button.
Miaomiao asked for her parents. Zhou Fan opened his mouth but could not speak. Miaomiao seemed to already know what had happened and large tears fell from her eyes. Zhou Fan held her small hand and told her he was right there and not to be afraid.