Chapter 8: The Breakdown of Chen Wenxi

In a high-end residential complex in Zhongshan Prefecture, Mother Chen walked into a room carrying a meal, only to emerge again shortly after.

Father Chen, who was sitting on the sofa smoking, looked up at the movement, his expression filled with sorrow. "Is Xixi still refusing to eat?"

Mother Chen shook her head helplessly, returned the bowl to the kitchen, and walked over to sit beside Father Chen. On the table in front of them sat a family portrait.

In the photo, the couple sat in the front, Father Chen holding a cute little boy on his lap, with a young, well-matched couple standing behind them.

Mother Chen picked up the photo, her wrinkled hands caressing the little boy as tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. "Hanghang..."

"Keep your voice down. If the child hears you, she’ll be even more upset," Father Chen whispered, scolding her.

Ever since their little grandson passed away in an accident, their daughter, Chen Wenxi, had kept herself locked in her room, barely eating or speaking to anyone.

They were heartbroken over the loss of their grandson too, but they had to hide their grief; otherwise, their daughter would only suffer more.

The departed are gone, but the living must continue to live well.

Their daughter was still young, and her future held infinite possibilities.

Mother Chen nodded, choking back her sobs.

The soundproofing in the apartment was excellent. Lying in her room, Chen Wenxi couldn't hear the commotion outside. The room was so quiet—so quiet that she thought this was all a dream, and that once she woke up, she would see her child again.

"Ding-ling, ding-ling... Mommy, I'm home! Please open the door for baby Hanghang..."

In the midst of the silence, a lively child's voice accompanied by a pleasant chime drifted in from outside the door. Chen Wenxi rose from the bed almost instinctively, rushing to open the door. "Hanghang is back! My Hanghang is back..."

"I told you to change this doorbell! Why haven't you changed it yet?"

Hearing the chime, Mother Chen complained while rushing to the door. The child had set that ringtone himself, and every time her daughter heard it, she would have a mental breakdown.

"I don't know how! I'll find a locksmith to come down and change it," Father Chen said, hurrying toward the door while keeping an eye on his daughter's room.

In his heart, he was cursing the person outside who had pressed the doorbell. Hadn't he told everyone? Just knock when you come to the house; don't press the doorbell.

These people, really.

Before the doorbell could ring a second time, Father Chen threw the door open as fast as he could. "Who is it! Why are you pressing the doorbell!"

The moment Father Chen finished speaking, Chen Wenxi walked out quickly. Her thin frame was hidden under loose clothing, and her haggard face was filled with anxiety. "Hanghang, my Hanghang is back..."

When she saw who was standing at the door, the faint glimmer in her eyes instantly extinguished, replaced by surging hatred. "You murderer! Give me back my son!"

"Xixi!"

Mother Chen hurriedly grabbed the agitated Chen Wenxi. "Xixi, calm down."

"Give me back my son! Ahhh! I want my Hanghang, ahhh..."

Mother Chen wept. "Xixi..."

Father Chen looked at the somewhat disheveled Xu Yunfei and sighed. "Why are you here?"

Seeing his ex-wife like this, Xu Yunfei felt terrible and hurriedly explained, "Dad, Mom, Xixi, I brought Hanghang back!"

"Mommy, I'm back!" Xu Zihang ran in small steps toward Chen Wenxi, hugging her leg and crying, calling for his mother.

Chen Wenxi couldn't see him; she only glared fiercely at Xu Yunfei. "Where is my Hanghang? Give me back my Hanghang!"

Xu Yunfei pointed in front of her. "Hanghang is right in front of you."

Chen Wenxi looked down, but she saw nothing.

Father Chen and Mother Chen exchanged a look, filled with grief and helplessness. Their former son-in-law had gone mad too.

"You're lying to me! You're lying to me!" Chen Wenxi struggled violently, waving her hands in the air to strike at Xu Yunfei.

"Old man, come help..."

Mother Chen was losing her grip, and Father Chen rushed over to hold Chen Wenxi.

"If you hold this, you'll be able to see him!"

Xu Yunfei hurriedly shoved a yellow talisman into Chen Wenxi's hand, his face accidentally getting scratched deeply by her fingernails.

"I don't want your rotten—"

"Mommy..."

Chen Wenxi froze as if a pause button had been pressed. She looked down in disbelief.

"Wuu wuu wuu... Mommy... don't be like this, Hanghang is so scared..."

Xu Zihang hugged her, crying.

"Hanghang?!" Chen Wenxi frantically brushed back her messy hair, crouched down, and forced a smile.

"Hanghang, don't be afraid. Mommy is here. Don't be afraid..."

As she spoke, she reached out to hug the child, but her arms closed on empty air.

Chen Wenxi froze, staring at the child inches away as tears streamed down her face. Her heart felt as if it were being sliced by a knife. "Hanghang, why can't Mommy hold you..."

"Mommy, Hanghang is already dead. Hanghang is a ghost now, you can't hold me."

"Xixi, who are you talking to? Don't scare your father and me."

Seeing their daughter talking to thin air, Father Chen and Mother Chen felt their scalps tingle.

Could their daughter have been driven insane by the trauma of the child's death?

Xu Yunfei closed the door and explained to the elderly couple, "Xixi is talking to Hanghang. She's holding a talisman, so she can see him."

He felt a pang of regret; he should have bought more talismans from the master. Now that he had run out, he couldn't see the child anymore.

Father Chen and Mother Chen: "???"

Holding a talisman lets you see a deceased child?

Xu Yunfei explained what happened at the hospital in a few brief sentences.

After hearing it, Father Chen and Mother Chen's first reaction was

"Then why didn't you buy more talismans?!"

At least let them see their grandson too!

Xu Yunfei said sheepishly, "I was too excited to see Hanghang, I didn't think of it at the time..."

Father Chen and Mother Chen: "..."

They wanted to curse.

...

After leaving the Rong residence, Rong Leying found a cheap hotel near the hospital to stay in. She quickly showered, changed into clean clothes, and then went to a small restaurant to pack two meals before heading to the hospital.

Old Master Rong was in a double-occupancy room. The bed next to him was occupied by a woman in her fifties named Wu, who had been admitted during the time Rong Leying was away from the hospital due to an accidental injury.

Seeing Rong Leying busy taking care of Old Master Rong all by herself, Auntie Wu said with envy, "Sir, your granddaughter is truly filial."

Old Master Rong said proudly, "That's right, my granddaughter is the very best."

Hearing the old man praise her, Rong Leying wore a happy and satisfied smile.

"Your granddaughter is so good. I don't even know where my own son and daughter are," Auntie Wu sighed. "Neither of my two sons is married; it's worrying me to death."

Old Master Rong comforted her, "Young people these days marry late. Don't worry."

"That may be true, but I still want to hold a grandchild sooner..." Auntie Wu opened the floodgates and began complaining to Old Master Rong about her two sons.

Old Master Rong was a man who loved to chat, and the two of them were soon deep in conversation.

Rong Leying sat on the side listening to them, watching the IV drip while searching for apartments on various rental apps.

It was only the beginning of August, and school hadn't started yet. She needed to find a cheap, short-term rental to get through this period.