In the days that followed, Guan Wenru was like a tightly wound top.
She shuttled between her restaurant, clothing store, and the hospital where her father was staying, barely touching the ground.
Thanks to He Yanzhi's connections and her own gradually accumulated social relationships, she was able to get top domestic experts to conduct a consultation for Duan's father.
However, the harshness of reality often cannot be changed by human will.
After careful examination and research, the experts privately shook their heads at Guan Wenru.
After years of suffering, Duan's father's body was already exhausted, and the functions of his organs were severely failing. Existing medical methods were powerless to save him; they could only try to alleviate his pain and prolong his life a little longer.
Guan Wenru could only keep this news to herself and instead made more meticulous arrangements for everything at the hospital, providing the best supportive treatment and medication so that Uncle Duan could have a dignified and less painful final journey.
Qin Yue and Guan Yuanxiu went to the hospital almost every day to deliver meals and keep her company, warming the Duan family father and daughter with the kindness of the older generation.
He Yanzhi also used his connections to ensure that the hospital would give him the best possible care.
But... what was bound to happen eventually did happen.
On a drizzly morning, Duan's father peacefully closed his eyes and stopped breathing forever.
He left relatively peacefully, perhaps because he had finally returned to his homeland, seen his old friends, and personally confirmed that his daughter had found a reliable place to live, so he no longer had many worries in his heart.
Duan Feifei threw herself onto her father's still-warm body, letting out a heart-wrenching cry, "Dad! Dad! Don't go! Look at me one more time! My children haven't grown up yet. Didn't you say you wanted to see them grow up...go to school...get married?! Dad! Wake up!"
Her cries were shrill and desperate, as if she were crying out her very soul.
The exhaustion of the past few days, coupled with this final heavy blow, caused her to become overly emotional. She couldn't catch her breath, her vision went black, and she fainted, collapsing limply beside the hospital bed.
Guan Wenru, who was beside her, changed her expression and hurriedly stepped forward to support her, while shouting to the door, "Doctor! Doctor! Someone come quickly!"
Guan Wenru could understand her pain; when her grandmother passed away, she was just as reluctant and heartbroken.
But...
In this world, only death leaves us powerless!
...
After a flurry of activity, Duan Feifei was placed on a nearby hospital bed. The doctor examined her and said that her fainting was caused by excessive grief and physical weakness, and that she needed to rest.
Looking at her friend's pale, tear-stained face on the hospital bed, Guan Wenru felt an overwhelming pang of heartache and sorrow.
She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.
Now is not the time for grief. Feifei has collapsed, and someone must take care of her funeral arrangements.
She first used the hospital's phone to call home.
After running around for so many days, her voice was tired, but her thoughts were clear: "Mom, Uncle Duan... just left. Feifei is so heartbroken that she fainted. Could you and Dad come to the hospital and look after Feifei for me? I'll take care of everything else."
Upon hearing this, Qin Yue on the other end of the phone sighed and readily agreed, "Okay, okay, we'll be right there! Wenru, don't overwork yourself. Whatever happens, we'll all be there together as a family."
After hanging up the phone, Guan Wenru called He Yanzhi again.
"So, Uncle Duan has passed away. Feifei needs someone here, and I need to help with the funeral arrangements."
On the other end of the phone, He Yanzhi's calm voice came through immediately, "I understand. Don't worry, I'll arrange for someone to contact the funeral home right away. I'll have my guards take care of whatever vehicles or paperwork are needed. You stay at the hospital, stay calm, and take good care of your friend and our parents."
Guan Wenru felt a warmth in her heart, and her voice choked with emotion, "Thank you."
He Yanzhi frowned slightly. "We're family, let's not talk about this. I'll finish what I'm doing and go over there as soon as possible."
With the support of her family, Guan Wenru felt as if she had found a pillar of support.
She handled the hospital's follow-up procedures properly. After her parents arrived to take care of Duan Feifei, who was still unconscious, she immediately contacted the funeral home, purchased burial clothes and an urn, and took care of all the funeral arrangements.
She was meticulous and thoughtful in her work, arranging everything to the highest standards and with the most dignity possible, both to comfort the deceased and to give the living a final solace.
...
Duan Feifei woke up after being unconscious for several hours, her eyes vacant, as if all her energy had been drained away.
With the help of Guan Wenru and Qin Yue, she managed to attend her father's funeral service.
Throughout the entire process, she was like a soulless puppet, silently shedding tears and barely able to stand.
The Guan family, including Guan Yuanxiu, Qin Yue, Guan Wenru, and Guan Hongqi who rushed back after hearing the news, as well as the triplets who were dressed in plain clothes and appeared unusually quiet and sensible, all stayed by Duan Feifei's side the whole time.
As family members, they helped her receive the few old acquaintances who came to pay their respects and handled various trivial matters.
Cremation and placement.
Everything was carried out smoothly and efficiently, thanks to the silent yet powerful support of the Guan family.
When Duan Feifei walked out of the funeral home carrying that heavy box containing her father's ashes, the sky was still overcast.
She glanced back at the cold building behind her, then at Guan Wenru, who was supporting her tightly, and at the concerned and distressed faces of the elderly couple, as well as the worried eyes of the three teenagers.
The immense grief still tore at her, but a faint sense that she was no longer alone began to quietly stir beneath the frozen lake of her heart.
She opened her mouth, her chapped lips moved a few times, and finally bowed deeply to the Guan family.
Duan Feifei's voice was so hoarse it was almost inaudible, "Thank you... thank you uncles and aunts, thank you Wenru, thank you everyone..."
With tears welling up in her eyes, Guan Wenru gripped her hand tightly. "Feifei, from now on, I'm here for you. We're family. We'll discuss things together. Always remember, you're not alone!"
Qin Yue also stepped forward and gently hugged the unfortunate child.
“Child, if there’s anything you need, just tell Auntie. You know, Auntie has always treated you like her daughter.”
Duan Feifei couldn't help but shed tears again, and glanced thoughtfully at He Yanzhi beside Guan Wenru.
I was filled with regret!
I can't help but think... if... if she had listened to Wenru's advice and married someone with a clean background who could protect her.
Wouldn't my parents have suffered less? Wouldn't they have passed away earlier?
In the face of life and death, what do her pride, her marriage, and her love matter?
It's too late to say anything now!
The rain began to fall again, fine and dense, as if the sky itself was weeping for the suffering of humanity.
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