Chapter 30: An Embrace from Behind

Zhou Qingyan’s mother passed away two weeks later. Gu Yao was at the hospital at the time and participated in the emergency efforts.

She had actually lived much longer than the doctors had originally predicted. She did not suffer much physical pain, and her mood was peaceful before she departed. Gu Yao had known about her circumstances and felt a deep sense of pity for this strong yet ill-fated woman. While she did not believe in an afterlife, she sincerely hoped that the woman had truly moved on to a parallel world, one free from the coercion of a heartless man, where she could live life on her own terms.

As for his mother’s passing, Zhou Qingyan remained remarkably calm. When the doctors were performing emergency resuscitation, he did not even come in to see her one last time; instead, he stood in the corridor, ignoring all advice, and smoked in silence.

When Gu Yao walked out and saw him, he was hidden in a dark corner untouched by the sunlight. The smoke obscured his features, leaving only his slender hands visible, so pale that the blue veins beneath the skin were clearly discernable.

Having witnessed countless partings between life and death, Gu Yao knew well that for some family members, grief is silent. It manifests as a lack of outward sorrow; in fact, their demeanor is often so normal that it feels almost heartless. But such individuals often harbor pain that is more persistent and intense than others, sometimes to the point of being unable to move on for a lifetime, requiring timely psychological intervention. Because their inner emotions are so overwhelming, they choose self-deception, even fantasizing that their loved one is still there, merely gone for a moment. When that illusion finally shatters, their entire mental world collapses.

At this point, Gu Yao no longer felt any anger toward Zhou Qingyan. Although he had done terrible things in the past, it was all behind them now. To someone in an unstable mental state, those actions were perhaps merely a test of the world and of love. Having experienced the separation from his mother at a young age, the cruel abuse by his older brother, and the indifference of his father, Zhou Qingyan’s understanding of love was rooted in skepticism. There was no love between his parents, none between his siblings, and none between relatives or friends—only exploitation, hatred, and deception.

He had lived in a loveless world, which was why he had been so astonished when he saw Gu Yao and Su Yu willing to sacrifice themselves for one another. It had piqued his intense curiosity, leading to his subsequent probing. For Gu Yao, that experience had provided great insight, helping her realize one thing: for many, love is precious and not easily obtained. Since she had already found someone whose heart beat in rhythm with her own, why not cherish it? So-called celibacy and lingering mental burdens could be overcome with effort; missing the person one truly loves is the only lifelong regret.

Though everyone at the hospital was usually busy, they would still gather to gossip during their downtime. One day, after surgery, several doctors and nurses huddled together to chat. Gu Yao did not usually participate in such things, but since she was idle, she listened in.

The conversation began with Director Zhang and Qin Qing. Since they had been dismissed, neither had been doing well. Director Zhang had divorced his wife, and because he was the one who had cheated, he felt guilty and left most of his assets to his wife and children, moving out to rent a place on his own. He had assumed finding another job would be easy, but his medical skills were mediocre; he had only succeeded at Mingxi because he knew how to flatter the dean. Once he left, no hospital wanted him. Now, he had to borrow money to open a small clinic, barely scraping by, a far cry from his former glory.

As for Qin Qing, Cen Xi leaned in and smiled, saying, "I’ve heard news about her. My mother is friends with one of her relatives, and they’ve been talking about it lately. It seems Qin Qing has lost her mind; she’s not mentally stable."

"How could a perfectly fine person go crazy? You must be joking," a male doctor remarked, disbelieving.

When Qin Qing was at the hospital, she had been popular with many men, mostly because she was pretty, soft-spoken, and liked to act coy, satisfying the chauvinistic tendencies of many.

"Forget it, Dr. Zhou, stop covering for her. Are you still thinking about her?" someone teased.

The male doctor fell silent. Cen Xi continued, "I don’t mean she’s truly insane. It’s just rumors, so there’s definitely some exaggeration, but the gist is likely true. I heard she doesn’t even look for work anymore. She stays home all day, just putting on makeup and buying clothes, maxing out several credit cards. When her parents found out, they went to her place to scold her, and she threw a tantrum, screaming that a very wealthy man had fallen for her and would come to pick her up soon, so she had to be dressed beautifully. But that’s impossible—no one has ever come for her. If that’s not delusion, what is? Her parents didn't know what else to do, so they took her home to keep an eye on her. I heard they even booked an appointment with a psychiatrist."

Gu Yao said nothing after hearing this, but she felt a deep sadness for Qin Qing. Some people believe that as long as a girl is pretty, that is enough, not realizing that for anyone, regardless of gender, a mature mind is what matters most. Without it, beauty is useless. She had held a winning hand and played it to ruin. For a woman, having a stable job and the ability to earn an independent living is the prerequisite for a happy life, rather than hoping to find a wealthy man to provide for her.

The topic ended amidst sighs. Then, a nurse added mysteriously, "Does everyone remember that wealthy young Mr. Zhou from Hong Kong who brought his mother here for treatment a while back?"

"I remember, didn't his mother pass away a few days ago?" someone replied.

The nurse continued with a sigh, "He became a monk. He donated all his assets to a temple and had his head shaved there."

Everyone was shocked. Cen Xi stuck out her tongue, "My god, won't that temple be filthy rich now?"

"Yes, I heard they started hiring workers the very next day to renovate the temple and add more rooms," the nurse replied. She then proudly took out her phone. "A friend of mine happened to see the young Mr. Zhou after he became a monk and even managed to sneak a photo."

Everyone crowded around to look at the phone. Gu Yao glanced over and saw a tall, thin monk with his head lowered, sweeping the floor. He wore simple grey robes, and from his pale profile, one could see that his features were delicate, and the sinister air that used to surround him had vanished.

Perhaps this was his best destination. Gu Yao sighed again.

Her work had not been very busy lately. Having finally secured a few days of leisure in the year, she had intended to practice boxing, but Su Yu had to go on a business trip to the United States. She was at work on the day he left for the airport, so they only spoke over the phone and she did not see him off. After he arrived, he sent her a video call request from his hotel, and they chatted for a while through the screen. He had intended to call her every day, but due to the time difference, Gu Yao was worried about his rest and declined. After months of getting to know each other, they had finally established a relationship, and their subsequent romance had developed smoothly, though they had not yet taken that final step.

With him gone, Gu Yao’s life became much simpler: the monotonous cycle of work, home, meals, and sleep. She thought she could enjoy a few days of peace, but soon news arrived: Gu Shisheng, that brat, had run away from home.

Thinking it was likely because their mother was forcing him to study abroad, Gu Yao didn't worry much. He was old enough, and nothing serious should happen. Besides, with her brother’s intelligence, he would surely be found and dragged home within days.

However, she had underestimated him this time. The kid had pulled a trick: he borrowed an ID card from a classmate. The two had similar hairstyles and facial shapes, and it was hard to tell them apart at a glance. Moreover, he stayed in a very small, cheap motel that tended to turn a blind eye to such things, so he had managed to hide for several days undetected.

Gu Shisheng wasn't trying to cause trouble; he was truly frustrated. He didn't want to go abroad, and despite telling his mother many times, she continued to process his paperwork as if he hadn't spoken. He had always known that he never had a say in his own affairs, but he had never realized it so clearly before. He was already nineteen. Due to frequent piano competitions, he had been held back a grade and switched schools; having finally settled into a new environment and made several friends, he was unwilling to just leave. Even knowing his mother meant well for his future, he felt a deep sense of rebellion.

Knowing that when his mother couldn't find him, she would inevitably ask his sister, Gu Yao, he decided not to tell anyone. He stayed holed up in the motel for a few days, playing on his phone until he was bored to tears. That night, he wandered out to the bar where he used to sing.

After sitting down and having a few drinks—his tolerance was low—he felt dizzy. He rushed to the restroom to vomit, then stumbled out, paid the bill, and planned to go back to sleep.

But not long after leaving the bar, he ran into trouble. Two thugs on the side of the road were livestreaming, dancing in a ridiculous, gaudy style. Gu Shisheng glanced at their standard attire: slip-on shoes, tight pants, and thick gold chains, and he couldn't help but chuckle.

The two men looked over. "What are you laughing at?"

Gu Shisheng waved his hand, wanting to avoid trouble. "Nothing, just remembered a joke. You guys carry on, carry on."

The two had already turned off their phones. "I think you’re the joke!"

One of them grabbed his collar and dragged him into a small alley. "Come on, come with us, let’s talk about exactly what you found so funny."

They were arrogant, acting as if someone owed them money. Gu Shisheng had a stubborn streak, and he flared up immediately, pulling away. "Don't pull me! I'll go with you. What, you think I'm afraid of you?"

The three of them scuffled to a secluded spot and began to fight. Although Gu Shisheng had been drinking, he was strong and held his own against the two, throwing punch after punch, his momentum building, until one of them suddenly pulled a folding knife from his pocket and flicked it open, its blade glinting coldly.

Gu Shisheng’s drunkenness faded slightly, and he took an involuntary step back.