Chapter 25
Of course, the Zhan family went out together.
But the fact is, Zhan's father didn't want to go, saying that Miaomiao was just in the hospital and it was not a big deal, and he still had to keep the small supermarket open. In the end, facing Zhan Mu's angry expression and Zhan Ma's tearful eyes, he still got on the high-speed train.
Zhan's mother added a policeman's TT and looked at the photo of her daughter sent on the phone screen. Her eyes were red and her face was full of heavy grief. Zhan Mu, on the other hand, remained silent, his heart sinking as he watched his father's reaction.
Zhan Miao was on the sixth floor of the dormitory building of Anzhou University. The specific reason why she jumped from the building is still under investigation. Fortunately, she is not dead and is currently lying in the intensive care unit.
Are the Zhan family bad to their children? Of course they are. But Zhan Mu is more keenly aware that this kindness is of course conditional, and even based on social ethics.
"Dad, Mom, what if Miaomiao becomes disabled or becomes a vegetable?" Zhan Mu suddenly asked with a cold face, his expression indescribably cold and indifferent.
Zhan's mother was startled, and she looked up suddenly. Seeing his complicated expression, she said in a trembling voice, "Why don't you react at all? Your sister has suffered so much, and you're just here to make sarcastic remarks?!"
Zhan Mu was speechless, thinking, would it help if I cried like you?
"Oh, you don't know him yet. He has been like this since he was a child. Our family owes him." Zhan's father said with a bitter face, looking impatient and accustomed to it.
"I'm just stating the facts objectively and asking questions." Zhan Mu frowned and said, "Why do you always fail to grasp the key points of the matter and instead like to blame me?"
Zhan's mother yelled, "I really think you're cold-blooded! Your sister is still lying in the hospital, and you curse her to be disabled and become a vegetable. Yes, I also know that you two have had a bad relationship since childhood..."
"How did I curse her?!" Zhan Mu got angry.
"It's a waste of time to talk to him about so many claws. Do you think he will listen?" Zhan's father snorted, and his old face, which was weathered by society, looked even more haggard and tired.
"I just asked a question..." Zhan Mu rolled his eyes angrily, then shut up, took out his cell phone and remained silent.
Lu Chao popped up and said: I just realized that your communication with your parents is totally ineffective.
"Yes, yes, you are all right." Zhan Mu pursed his lips without even raising his head.
I typed to Lu Chao:
Got it? They've always treated me like an idiot. I have no say in this family. If I speak up, they just shut me up. What's the use of my words?
Zhan Mu looked away from the high-speed train window, recalling every detail of his past with his parents. That's right, being kind to others is polite, but when he gets home, he loves to be the father and the mother, the boss—especially his mother, who creates a clear class divide in the family.
Her underwear was not allowed to be hung out to dry with the couple's, the air conditioner was not allowed to be used too often, and the walls of her room were not allowed to be soiled by her.
Zhan Mu even remembered it clearly: Zhan Miao went home and used her mother's skincare products. Her mother said, "Why are you using my stuff?" Since then, Zhan Miao has never used anything from her mother again.
Zhan Mu saw it all, and over time, he came to understand and realize that his parents were the one and only husband and wife, and that both Miaomiao and himself were just accidents of genetic collision.
The fruit of love? Don't be ridiculous, Dad loves Mom, what does that have to do with the child he gave birth to? Oh no, Zhan Mu wasn't actually mocking family love or anything like that. It's just that he's seen truly loving families through the internet, and he knows what they mean. He just feels that some things don't need to be said explicitly.
Zhan Mu sneered, stood up and said he was going to the toilet, but in fact he was lying and strolled to the connection between the high-speed rail cars to look at the scenery outside the window.
Lush green trees rustled endlessly, and Zhan Mu felt inexplicably sad. Thinking of Miaomiao's illness, he felt even more lonely and helpless. He said with difficulty, "Sometimes I really feel like my sister and I were picked up. Yes, we both have our own separate rooms and are well fed and warmly dressed, but we both hate going home. I don't know why, it just bothers me."
Lu Chao could not empathize because he was born into a loving family whose financial strength was far stronger than Zhan Mu's. It would not even be an exaggeration to say that their family was a Tianlong family.
But unfortunately, the real-life Lu Chao is dead, his family members are missing, and his situation is even an unsolvable problem...
"Oh, you can think of it that way." Lu Chao whispered, "You are completely different from your parents. You can live a completely different life from them. Of course, you still have to pretend in front of them. They are your parents after all. Although your values and worldviews may be different, it is still very heartwarming to get together and chat occasionally."
"I really want money..." Zhan Mu sighed, "On the one hand, I hate asking for money from them, and on the other hand, I'm tired of being criticized by everyone because of financial constraints."
Lu Chao laughed, looking thoughtful yet extremely melancholy: "Yes, money can bring people confidence and dignity."
But Lu Chao couldn't put it into words. His situation, his circumstances, and even his troubles could not be solved by money.
Lu Chao has never lacked money since he was a child, and now he has become a digital life. It can be said that he has even achieved immortality, immortality, and aging, and has fully realized the basic needs of human beings. However, after this, he feels that life is meaningless.
When material desires are fully satisfied, spiritual emptiness will become more apparent. Day after day, Lu Chao keeps asking himself what he really wants. Such exploration is almost self-destructive and can easily lead to emptiness and nothingness.
The two of them stopped talking.
-
When they arrived at the hospital, the three members of the Zhan family waited at the hospital gate for Officer Liu who had contacted them. Officer Liu looked like a strong and tough guy, with a cigarette in his mouth, looking very ruffian and with a casual attitude.
"Zhan Mu, Zhan Miao's brother, right?" Officer Liu led the three of them to a secluded area of the hospital and said, "We'll take a brief statement from each of you later. Please cooperate."
"Okay." Zhan Mu nodded. Zhan's mother listened and whispered to Zhan's father, "What a powerful official! He doesn't even look at people when he walks or talks."
Zhan Mu pouted, particularly annoyed by people who were always sarcastic and mean. Yes, language is also an art form, and being likable is a gift, but it also requires wisdom in how we behave and talk.
Officer Liu pretended not to hear, turned around, and stood aside with Zhan Mu. He actually didn't have a pen or notebook. Zhan Mu guessed that the pen in his police uniform chest bag might be a recorder.
"What do your family members do for a living? Also, what's the family atmosphere like? Can you tell us about the financial situation?" asked Officer Liu.
"Officer, you probably want to ask Miaomiao... Uh, no, let me be frank. Our family relationship is quite delicate. On the surface, it's quite harmonious, but in reality, as my parents and my children, Miaomiao and I really feel a little distant from them."
"Appearance is close, but heart is not?" Officer Liu laughed, as if surprised by his bluntness. It was common for children to complain about their parents' mistreatment, but it was rare for someone like Zhan Mu to describe the situation so accurately.
"Yes, we are not familiar with each other." Zhan Mu said calmly, but Officer Liu keenly noticed that the corners of his mouth were turned down, very stubborn, probably still sad and regretful.
Officer Liu was suddenly curious about this young man. He looked Zhan Mu up and down. He wasn't wearing any trendy brand names, basketball shoes, or even a perm. He had a slightly parted top, a black jacket, and looked clean and fresh.
"What is your major?" asked Officer Liu.
"Sports," Zhan Mu replied. "My sister was dating a junior of mine before. She sent me a message saying there was a little friction in the dormitory, but I don't think she's that fragile. It's impossible for her to jump off the building over such a small matter."
"Yes, I think there are some doubts as well," Officer Liu said. "I've also had one-on-one conversations with your sister's roommates, and they all emphasized that Zhan Miao is a very good person and generally very normal. There's no sign of any psychological problems."
Zhan Mu exhaled heavily, his chest felt tight, as if he was angry. Obviously, Zhan Miao said in the message that it was because of that stupid rich second generation Huang Jiye’s current girlfriend!
"Officer, I'll just tell you the truth. My sister was dating a rich second-generation guy before. I don't know the specific details, but she said she pestered the guy to buy him an iPad. I don't know if he did. Anyway, after they broke up, she had conflicts with the rich second-generation guy's current girlfriend. Her roommate might have used this opportunity to...target her. I don't know, but no matter what happens, I will definitely stand by my sister."
Zhan Mu answered calmly, suppressing his raging anger.
"Their dormitory... looks like an 8-person room." Zhan Mu sneered, kicked a grass cage on the side of the road, and said, "Where there are many people, there are many troubles. This is really true."
Officer Liu narrowed his eyes and thought: Does this guy mean that his sister is being bullied?
After Zhan Mu finished speaking, Officer Liu met with his parents alone again and they talked for even longer. Zhan Mu went to the bathroom in the middle of the conversation. When he came back, he saw his mother crying hysterically on the spot, while his father was comforting her.
Officer Liu was talking on the phone to someone from a distance, standing very far away.
"It's all your fault! You've been treating this house like a hotel for so many years! You just come back, lie down and sleep. Tell me, is there anything in this house that I don't take care of? Which one of Zhan Mu and Zhan Miao have you ever taken care of?" Zhan's mother seemed to have been stimulated by something and was very emotional.
Zhan's father said angrily in a weak voice: "You are an education expert, and your daughter is running around seducing rich men just for an iPad..."
"Then why don't you buy it for her?" Zhan's mother angrily said, "There's no point in begging for money!"
"I'm so tired!" Zhan's mother's irritable and suppressed voice came: "Me too! I feel so annoyed! I'm really tired of living like this in this house!"
Today was a gloomy day, with dark clouds gathering over the sky. Zhan Mu stood at the end of the road, staring at his parents' familiar yet tiresome dispute from afar. He felt embarrassed, heartbroken, and pitiful, as if he was suffocating under the heavy weight of life.
Finally, he laughed, looking sad and paranoid, revealing a moment of his childish cowardice, and muttered to himself: "I don't want to become such a person..."
He turned around, feeling distraught but extremely sad, and walked back to the public restroom. He looked up and saw that his eyes in the mirror were red, an expression uglier than crying.
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