Chapter Ten: Father's Sudden Death

  All the way without a word, when the car was approaching G City, Ma Pei suddenly thought of a question: "Weiwei, do you and Ke'er have a place to stay after arriving in G City? Is there anyone familiar there?"

  Ling Ziwei shook her head: "No, let's find a cheaper inn to stay in first, I'll go out and look for a house tomorrow."

  Ma Pei hesitated for a moment, then opened his mouth and said: "It's not very convenient to stay in the hotel. If you don't mind, you can stay at my house first. My house has many rooms, there is a place for you to live."

  Ling Ziwei hadn't spoken yet, when Zhang Sen smiled and said: "Forget it, Pei Shao. Weiwei and Mei Yu look so alike, if you take her to your house, your parents will be scared out of their wits! It's better for her to stay at my place first. My dad's memorial day is coming up soon, and my mom has gone back to our hometown to pay respects, so I'm the only one at home. It's very convenient."

  Upon hearing Zhang Sen say this, Ma Pei couldn't help but laugh: "Right, I saw Vivian get startled too, let alone my parents. Alright then, we'll stay at your place for now. How about it Vivian, is that okay with you?"

  Ling Ziwei said with embarrassment: "That's too much trouble, we'll be bothering you, and we'll feel embarrassed."

  Ke'er, however, didn't have so many thoughts and excitedly shouted: "Great, great! Zhang Sen brother, let's just live at your house then. My sister will cook a lot of delicious dishes for you, guaranteeing that you won't get tired of eating them."

  "Really? Then I'm in luck, I love to eat!"

  So it was settled.

  Zhang Sen lives in a residential area under the jurisdiction of the G City Public Security Bureau, living alone in a four-bedroom, two-hall unit. Last year, after his father's death, Zhang Sen brought his mother, who was living alone in their old home, to live with him. In a few days, it would be the anniversary of his father's death, and his mother insisted on returning to their hometown to pay her respects at his grave. No matter how much Zhang Sen tried to persuade her otherwise, she wouldn't listen, and he didn't have time to accompany her, so he had no choice but to let her go back alone.

  Four people came to Zhang Sen's home, and Zhang Sen invited them in. He asked Ma Pei to entertain the two sisters while he busied himself tidying up the guest room, wanting Ke Er to rest as soon as possible.

  Ling Ziwei held a water cup and sat stiffly on the sofa, while Ke'er didn't care and was enthusiastically exploring everywhere in her wheelchair.

  When Zhang Sen came out, Ke'er was intently looking at a photo on the high shelf: it was a man in his forties, with a well-maintained face that showed a hint of satisfaction and kindness, making the handsome and steady-looking face not so stiff and rigid. The eyebrows were somewhat similar to Zhang Sen's.

  Zhang Sen smiled and said to Ke Er, "This is my late father. He passed away last year. My mother often says that I look just like my father when he was young, so looking at his photo, you can imagine what I'll look like when I'm old."

  Ke'er, however, seemed to have not heard Zhang Sen's words at all, and stared blankly at the photo for a long time before asking softly: "So young, how did he pass away? Was it due to illness?"

  Zhang Sen's heart ached and his spirit was wounded: "No, it was an accident."

  At this time, Ma Pei and Ling Ziwei also walked over. Seeing Zhang Sen's sad look, Ma Pei sighed: "Ah Sen, it's been almost a year since the incident. You shouldn't think so much about it anymore. If even you can't get out of the shadow of your uncle's death, how will Auntie cope? You're not unaware of how hard Auntie has been working this past year."

  At this time, Ke'er piously clasped his hands together, closed his eyes slightly, and muttered to himself: "Uncle, no matter why you left unexpectedly, please rest in peace in heaven. Please bless Auntie and Zhang Sen's brother to be freed from the shadow of your departure as soon as possible, bless them to forget your unfortunate departure, only remember your goodness when you were alive, your appearance when you were alive, let them live a happy and peaceful life."

  Ma Pei couldn't help but laugh: "Goodness gracious, who prays like that? I've really gained some insight."

  Zhang Sen was also amused by Ke Er's childish language, and before he could speak, his gaze fell on Ke Er's slender white hands. His heart suddenly skipped a beat as he instantly understood what had been bothering him all along: after sitting in a wheelchair for six years, how could her hands be so delicate and tender? How could her finger joints be so small and flexible? And how could her shoulders and arms be so weak and powerless?

  Looking at Ling Ziwai standing beside her, at this moment, there was no tenderness in her eyes as she looked at Ke'er, only scrutiny and contemplation, the expression on her face was very thought-provoking.

  At this time, Ke'er had already opened his eyes and looked up at Zhang Sen. Behind his clear pupils, there was a hint of imperceptible unease and fear.

  Zhang Sen seemed to have thought of something, and his eyes flashed with a hint of insight, but he smiled as if nothing was wrong: "Yes, it's the first time I've heard someone ask the deceased to bless their loved ones to forget their departure. You're really one of a kind."

  After finishing, Ma Pei smiled bitterly and said: "Don't mention my mother, even I couldn't let go of Father's departure. The key is that Father's death was too sudden, too unexpected. A good person, no illness or disaster, just left like that, and the way he left was so strange, so bizarre, so unbelievable. Based on the education Father received and his moral standards, he would never do something that would harm others, let alone leave such a huge mystery and imagination space after his death. I just can't figure this out."

  Without waiting for others to respond, Zhang Sen turned his face towards the photo of his father and murmured deeply and painfully: "Dad, time really flies, today is already July 24th, in three days it will be a whole year since you left Mom and me. Dad, do you know how Mom and I have been doing this past year? Mom cries every day, seeing her so heartbroken, my heart feels like it's being pricked by needles, the pain comes in waves. Dad, why is that? Why can't you appear to me and tell me something? I'm your son, what can't you tell me? I don't understand, Dad, I really can't understand!"

  Ma Pei stood silently, watching as his good friend lost control again in front of his father's memorial photo. Besides feeling heartbroken, he didn't know what to say or do.

  Ling Ziwei listened to Zhang Sen's words, her face somewhat moved, looking into Zhang Sen's eyes, with a hint of sympathy and some enlightenment.

  Ke'er also listened quietly to Zhang Sen's confession, her facial expression was quite complex, with emotion, sympathy, and a hint of fear and shock.

  None of this escaped Zhang Sen's eyes, who was pretending to be out of control, and his suspicions about himself became even more certain!