Chapter 124
On New Year’s Eve, Ren Yi finished arranging the affairs of his squadron and drove to the hospital to pick up his father.ztGBPAHYBumFEYEzLiFRJuHSAxCamH
nglBinRKoPNDqEHWhen he arrived at the hospital, he informed the reception of his purpose and headed straight to the ward. Having visited numerous times, he was already quite familiar with the layout.muOTNaPynqQKJTScwmDcGTvOUHJbgU
QtlOgsdkxvyWLRjHalfway there, he accidentally bumped into someone—it was Dr. Peng, who had received him several times before.QMVcVkvnrOFobfGbJqvsZiUfOqgSrF
gxKrvPGjIxmBcCl“Captain Ren?” Dr. Peng seemed to be in a bit of a hurry. “Didn’t you say over the phone you’d arrive around four or five?”uIpvSIdgxZBxNORpauZMqXLBgULReq
AVTvqddYDaeGsaK“Oh, I wrapped up earlier than expected, so I came over sooner. I was worried about traffic later.”hXOkBkcUfiainKbDuaZRWoWSmXfaFT
RTKzHAsDWANVHCM“Why don’t you take a seat for a bit? The nurse might be cleaning up the old captain.”cyTJqLMLHBTLNYKreDVuyONDREPZmi
wdnaYpzlbnwIWDl“During the day?”wWhsVlQGaEOGYmgvHkGBxEfsUGVwdX
LGagxMDmsYsnYft“Seems so.” Dr. Peng glanced at his watch. “Just sit for a moment, and you’ll be good to go.”VFgVyQsHShHEuyWRlJJWZfOxLDfFOP
jQQKzjEWYSVrXQG“Alright, I’ll use the restroom first.”mhhEjduedJYEdXKwPhtqnvfCqBUNRE
UYRRLxLPuffnwHl“End of the hallway, turn left.”PXJZWsqCGbJgGaEGHJfmPyJGqJAAWJ
UqdQvPgiDIsLuKlAfter using the restroom, Ren Yi pushed the door open and came out.pizoepVOEeqqnuNvmWbsFJSQHMjcXk
bjZzMTYGAWExvOBAt the end of the hallway was a window overlooking the parking lot. As Ren Yi passed by the window, he casually glanced down to see if he could spot his car. However, a figure crossing the parking lot caught his attention. That back view—it looked strikingly familiar.kyGtFAwBqXgAIrxBnScDgDhtoKKTjj
MnOAgtBYGZNdkSNRen Yi paused, focusing intently. The building wasn’t tall, and with his 20/10 vision, he instantly recognized the person opening a car door below—it was Dr. Pompeii, Gong Yingxian’s psychologist.naDyhxRIgbzqvWFTRXGuYQqPHGsOOy
VhxFKTEuWAAigrPWhat was he doing here?vAgQDltJVlhflbREDlYMEBbdsFkFCw
gEYyYcxyhmrLZhuThen again, considering this hospital had Gong Yingxian as a shareholder, it wasn’t all that unusual to see Dr. Pompeii here.yfllzCvCsZlHbQmGydyrhwMtDVMXon
WoLOELDrEoDbnJjRen Yi dismissed the thought and turned towards his father’s ward.PgHXeJtTmZgcnvWuCDWwHZoSSBLYuH
eFfxQqToWnJdrIKWhen he arrived, a nurse was just stepping out.SxlWwxImHiisBmjHjFvuUjoJXhKaLX
DNOhhcIWaVeybaz“Miss, is the cleaning done?” Ren Yi asked.YEZmkqmKEyJQvqwOjlWUHLzjGGaYzV
yQqMJUinOqBBccg“All done, you can go in now.”dUBxqylJBWaCrRGKClUtqdQMKUjdKi
HTpohbUcAXogdllRen Yi pushed the door open and entered.nWrXANMZfSjHyCgGYCZftqZirUptGw
KNTOxnpmHcIrtPKRen Xiangrong was sitting in a chair by the window, basking in the sunlight. Hearing the noise, he turned his head and, slightly surprised, said, “What are you doing here?”xUJFMROBalZfJxvxHeSCfWYqRVcScR
ZjZgfBNppkIrvBe“It’s New Year’s Eve. I’m here to take you to the squadron to celebrate.” Ren Yi smiled bitterly to himself. They’d spoken on the phone just yesterday, and now his father had already forgotten.oFajCBZAndJdGuiXzMPKkeiyEPzsil
OcVxMfvhBxTnHgz“Oh, it’s New Year’s? How is it already New Year’s? These years go by so fast.”mcAGIgikkvocIhrDxAmTZjSAydwLdJ
ekaFjGcFxajulMp“A lot of the soldiers’ families are visiting this year. It’s really lively.” Ren Yi began packing his father’s belongings.jIJAhzCQDaUFTIRgcsSsjyqloGSquz
bzGINhqqSIvXLSR“New Year’s… Where’s your mom? Off buying groceries?”JASqAvhSijPZMKIbPjUZDjTwFkEcbp
hzavVjCdhlOVbBh“…Yeah.”QRSkYOZuPOdvGJvrssdggeqMPtjqqp
atrTdFLzipVNWkuRen Yi packed up his father’s things and pushed the wheelchair out of the ward.qtjcPxyOKYKxuKXYAUTVUVAFoxVufA
lzgeUFNYtkKYpHoDr. Peng quickly approached with two male orderlies in tow. “Captain Ren, let us take care of this. We’ll get the old captain into the car.”dkmIXRiRCjHBoRnXhQEEuqgoJmrUfm
hDEGLcMkmQpkGqx“Thank you. You’ve worked hard during this time.” Ren Yi shook hands with Dr. Peng. Leaving his father here had truly been a source of reassurance and peace of mind.BxyNSPvmnLRikPajOLQRdeaNtqlqEM
aayyWjZCJOomBlX“It’s our duty. Have a great New Year. Feel free to come back anytime after the holidays—there’s always someone here.”clglCkIgwmeWgFljoygUDKYPMYpYcX
VamCQcLnDPIgePE“Will do. Happy New Year.”VmkfeALRPzmAPhHHYckbZmpXnTHhPO
aLJZLbZyHpGQgem“Happy New Year.”fMpoJirnciXhfvOlXGAeutTBLDvxFG
sMoSLMKNkwnavFLOn the way back, Ren Xiangrong remained silent, staring out the window.APNYPLqUzkLkbbisKesYLfueXdbrxl
dpACjzaqWxThVhsWhen his father’s condition flared up, he could exhibit all kinds of behaviors—hysterical, jubilant, melancholic, or like now, reserved and quiet. Ren Yi was already used to it. With a lighthearted tone, he asked, “Old Ren, how’s life been lately?”mMYOxhwRikoSwbPEkpEurLqLAZdWHE
BEmqMqWogBwkhkoRen Xiangrong didn’t respond.fFMITEtTbAbfksgAfBKhaAsUGotiHO
xzPxZsEhBzsUydp“You’ve been in the hospital these past few months; the food’s been pretty good, right? Look at you, all fair and plump. I, on the other hand, can’t do it. No matter how good the cafeteria food is, eating it every day gets old.”hYdzyLcluXaPNfExMheWpcisaSYKRi
UGhgVNEBhlyTGQGRen Xiangrong turned his face toward him and asked seriously, “What kind of dumplings is your mom making today?”mbAboVfbQyeprWpZFLlLjdlhbwbwvs
jHinooHqsPPrgBD“Definitely chive and cabbage fillings. You don’t like chives, and I don’t like cabbage, so this year we might throw in some mantis shrimp.”gVWdzjgQYeNNVAbpgkqTFhSNgMjDEQ
mYcJsNUMRQfLXod“Mantis shrimp? What’s that?”ubJENiwrvMiKrmMJAvaCukNheEJega
AOCNjpXGBhmSggb“Uh, shrimp.”CZPOYMeOmqyMFSuNwxvKjCEsfvHEIc
nwVcCGvbOfyflzA“Oh, then we need to find Sister Wu. No, her son Xiao Wu. It’s not easy for a widow and her child to make a living. Now that she’s sick, we should regularly take care of her business.”QSguDZyqWxMqvCRcuRsAbPGBsSfNGb
kqxQrPlupbvdtnDRen Yi froze. When his father’s condition acted up, his memories jumped around unpredictably—thinking he was still in school was common. However, there was one specific year his father’s mind never revisited: nineteen years ago.pyLOVTLLwkKGSraKJbwWDaKqwkGJbY
guCXMURNUgfUFeQThat year was the most harrowing of his father’s life. In the span of a single day, he lost four comrades and was buried under rubble for eight days and seven nights, barely surviving. Perhaps due to some self-preservation mechanism, his father’s memory avoided that year entirely.vbYCFxUldMsnVTkfBtMDYuiwkxpxQv
TFeTmNRdfgjaSHSBut what he just mentioned—those were events from nineteen years ago.qqVPZaoyQDbRZZfMeMUCkWaCDAXteR
TQqMtepXbfjhpfnSister Wu was a small vendor at a market back then, selling dried seafood. Xiao Wu was her son, one of Ren Yi’s childhood playmates. Nineteen years ago, Sister Wu suddenly fell ill and was hospitalized. Xiao Wu, who was still in middle school, dropped out to take over the stall. Ren Yi wouldn’t normally remember other people’s affairs so vividly, but that year had also been his family’s most trying time, with far too many unforgettable events.SipTHoCneYWdSwatmmiKEHlJosLByy
wiGWfFsJccXmCFORen Yi glanced at his father. “Dad, how’s your leg doing?”BQRNEvCWvGHUaiBmZdLNCghQLwqFZn
SefExMHIUeaDdADDuring the Bao Sheng Chemical Plant explosion, his father had injured his leg, which laid the foundation for his mobility issues in old age. Ren Yi wanted to figure out whether his father’s memory was before or after the explosion. That memory was a brutal one. His father could recount it calmly when lucid, but if it still felt recent in his father’s mind, it could heavily impact his emotions.HPSpmCjAuCBUVsfxXVUtvpnCDBuESX
WFgHOycmHYumrGZ“Ah, it’ll never be like it was before.”MrbbBuLHoqlXmQTbJzaZJsLqodRAnf
zSxWVtRDLIKdfAYRen Yi felt a pang in his chest, instantly becoming cautious. “It’ll get better; the doctors all said it would.”nhFvMShTfOEmYGFDRJgXqWAsynrlxQ
tCTFJrIXlFbJRMY“It won’t.” Ren Xiangrong said sadly, “Some wounds don’t heal. Just like when people die—they don’t come back.”CGUGIoRVvQVYpcMwEQanLhltVuHZSo
vghVhwexfFcTedFSeeing the sorrow on his father’s face made Ren Yi feel awful too.zyHxHyyBbtNhLILIEiIRvCxCiWgVyv
lYzdZEvzTLDXZVPRecently, he had felt an urge to confide in someone, and the only person who could truly understand him and was closest to him was his father. But he had refrained. He didn’t want to worry his dad or make him relive the pain of losing his comrades.DMflKFuztzHAbDmqvUfXphkoXaxAoj
VKlHoZiGQmBNjCjAnd yet, his father had still gone back to that year.gxLWHZcHSVSrqdySbHbZczAAZyLSLO
fRmHlStxIzgcmLoAs traffic began to build up ahead, Ren Yi rummaged through his father’s bag and pulled out an eye mask. “Dad, recline the seat and take a nap.”EoSTXfgTtqfXVTfEqZFiTrBDNsVTMS
RvLYUQBySCZTKyTUsually, sleeping would reset his father’s mood.jKuPgpgUxHWiqbeQSlInoOepkEsaiP
fEGaMdnVUyOWHbwRen Xiangrong seemed genuinely tired, reclined the seat, and put on the eye mask. Soon, he was asleep.yDENBdaAMVxCiWIMbVZzSjBatSBcBk
RxGVqjVVoDlYJapHearing the steady rhythm of his father’s snores, Ren Yi finally let out a breath of relief. He wasn’t in a rush to get back to the squadron and drove slowly and steadily.cxKaHKQgVogwgxgkHkeYlruOCwcGAH
CHCzUWZPgcOokqtBy the time they returned to the squadron, the sky was nearly dark. A few soldiers came over to help transfer his father into a wheelchair. That’s when his father woke up, looking around the squadron with a dazed expression.kvknrmTcuoGXZcukLRaRfRngttocPy
VTqIzGIKKxlAPHN“Uncle Ren.” Qu Yangbo walked over with a smile, bending down slightly. “Was the trip tiring? Are you hungry?”mAnsTyaHkpfGTQhOalBQIqYxctmmSP
eQOWpVEcSCQZDCfRen Xiangrong looked at Qu Yangbo for a moment before exclaiming, “Ah, Xiao Qu!”aqjmVmqZJUVzBAdPcguvIGqIcMAHOm
jswGivIkorgJDqO“That’s right, it’s me,” Qu Yangbo replied with a grin.iRJRxpyatxucKBRARAMPUhZxhxAvhw
IspEasRJpQdAFsG“Haven’t seen you in a long time,” Ren Xiangrong said, smiling. “How’s your father? I heard he had surgery recently.”zLavrzsphUayKESGftorgeYiphckyI
IxFiCCgpnkgbfrI“Just a minor procedure, he’s doing well. You look great too.”qUQeWWArTJqQwGatrVruuUceAzxFrk
gWVxciQrruvkJkh“Not bad. Are you married yet?”aNdbegpBqhVqHhFUneytRuuDloIasJ
CyDjxtuGayRasIiQu Yangbo chuckled. “Ren Yi isn’t married yet, so I’m in no rush.”lmTSluzkqVXIiELvvLcMhEclOkrnXC
UFxGqniiKIJwoIS“Get lost,” Ren Yi shot back with a laugh. “Dad, don’t listen to him. This guy’s a sweet-talker. Who knows how many girlfriends he’s had.”WNjlzFpQuRcnpRmALZhUdzBSXvgwXe
wfYdIRanfUielEG“Don’t ruin my reputation, Ren Yi, I’m warning you.”wqXUvqdYFOGQosFtxwIsgWOTndNhvR
HmDfOKYsKgveMffRen Xiangrong chuckled along with them.GXqLKpXDPQpPDNtXwQdwrkrdZXcwHr
eejbfNcblEtPxibQu Yangbo helped push the wheelchair. “You really do look great. I heard from Si Huo that you’ve even gained some weight?”bYNNxvRoAwufyzoxrraagMzzRKEWlK
SACUKYgwazranNY“Yeah, I’ve gained about eight pounds. The food at the hospital is excellent.”zNMrEUfsMOabmiFUIwlAxjnyUKxYwx
AuwLyOEJkMFxiKHRen Yi laughed. “Gaining a bit is fine, as long as it’s within the healthy range. You’re in perfect shape right now.”gSBLPKtyQsuvhzIOnGjtoHDFmkCdVp
iRIMKrCiuFsFynq“Ah, but why are we at the squadron…” Ren Xiangrong muttered as he looked at the dormitory building, shaking his head regretfully. “This brain of mine gets worse by the day.”EvioDSWasmLuVwqWSGgoUjTYLehdzZ
ADALkTBcHQqfaqS“Who said that? The doctors said the treatment is effective. They even said your brain’s sharper than before.”KVpDYBqGRwgFxHojgEpwhsuspoYsJW
znivDbjleuhTdlS“Maybe. They keep making me play games and do crafts. I guess I’m getting better at them.”EKVNdszFoNkLlkkFQdHnbtXxRVyozw
SGohdBihQNQsodG“Why not gather your fellow patients for a game of mahjong?” Qu Yangbo suggested. “Mahjong’s great for hand coordination and brain activity.”XOimifJMwQxypjjHDJSUSUpykxrxPa
CbSizWSyZgqRhkJ“We do have mahjong. I’m learning how to play.”DAqfLrnZBrcJGWuKDdWgZmLynslvGf
ksgFMxLObQgegApThe squadron was bustling with activity. While some soldiers had gone home for the holiday, many had stayed, and their families had come from far away to join in the collective celebration. As soon as they stepped into the squadron building, the aroma of food and the sound of laughter filled the air.PHzgafXvtRJmivpMSHaOKqMaWQnqya
MpcqlZUnCVFiPzxRen Yi wheeled his father into the common room, where they were warmly greeted. His father was visibly thrilled—it had been a long time since he’d felt so surrounded by affection and admiration.KNNCIGMayttZpjLresvxODFgIsWZDK
ZphCoxOfuyfYkGPDozens of people sat together for a lively New Year’s dinner, and afterward, they gathered to watch the Spring Festival Gala.eguHuzoyCZgfLlkfrSRTpXnykDCTtT
DKRAFbyZaXLpsyzBy ten o’clock, Ren Xiangrong was visibly tired. Ren Yi said, “Dad, why don’t you rest in my dorm for a while? I’ll bring you some dumplings later.”rVRrwSOpFdlpFzIyeXYYRbkKKGfwUR
HcogguskDPzEcTR“Alright,” his father agreed.HpibOxMiTNFIrBnrTCFtEzXEAuVqHG
KyvYWinqmonBlgaWith the help of a few others, they carried Ren Xiangrong to Ren Yi’s dormitory.mZujVgqMLmaDUaLkTuMBeZWYpDYtWU
LRZeNkNKRGAiJDARen Yi tucked him in and handed him a glass of water. “Drink some water first.”UrnyJSxFjDtAIkXLMcznGMhrCtzHjb
GzccAvyeyotZvIBRen Xiangrong took a sip. “It’s lively, but a bit tiring.”eRlIoWqkOzXhKUxIwwrxRXXpWXLWnT
HCWhcGARHulAREs“You probably haven’t seen so many people in a long time. Don’t worry, you can rest well. If you ever want some excitement, there will always be plenty.”IVSWMCVAOBEamIQJRjoDqRmTJTwCwh
qojtBKaqxBrdZhARen Yi massaged his father’s legs.wjMpPocvPwzSbKDoAFvBVCZNglbSlp
ptDmcSPaNIFBMyJ“Alright. Dr. Pompeii said I need to interact with people more. The more lively, the better.”xgzzpMwuaTHcexHMzErMFeNdgCZwGe
otDMxluxcKnyLIE“Dr. Peng?” Ren Yi asked casually. “Since when did Dr. Peng get a PhD?”jKbbmkgdUYasHKSrTexFWjUrdYGdUi
DhqRktMJKtckNNi“Not Peng, Pompeii. A foreign doctor, mixed-race.”RxBoFnAqRgeSWeaihwKqVKcZNsVFRb
ieGPZazcsHPmaqMRen Yi was taken aback. “Dr. Pompeii? You’ve met him?”XVQmGQqNyAlHloiMroSAXEWVifkkiB
obbIEwBdYBZlmbx“Isn’t he a doctor?”QxSMRGBHzZGqSjLJaYCjTtKIbDUjuK
afsUYswvZHiFmmc“He’s not your attending physician.” Ren Yi found it odd. The medical team Gong Yingxian had arranged for his father initially certainly didn’t include Dr. Pompeii. Alzheimer’s is a neurological condition, and a psychologist’s role in treating it would be minimal. Why was Dr. Pompeii involved in his father’s treatment? And why hadn’t he been informed?dSJQjhGjaxWvPeMNAeRYzQxPgGtaNI
ESjLUmdJByklHGl“There were several doctors. I’m confused myself,” Ren Xiangrong said. “Anyway, he’s talked to me a few times.”QoPuUvVMLxHtZjoVeNeBtsznYRsHkx
UqNNuJDgPiIwbNj“Did he talk to you today?”qpjeATZYYQVjvkxCRMIEhxmgSLKWTj
uiROcaiAGnEuXEf“Today…” Ren Xiangrong hesitated. “I don’t remember. Did he come today?”FTdilkmAOwAkDUuSfJdcCGbJxuLDbH
dAXTRmKsANUnZJv“What does he talk to you about?”SKmSWfosZTqyFtRktaRulWIEYLKRVA
MMOnPtXRSPAbBeq“He says he wants to help me recall memories that left a deep impression. He said it would help stimulate my memory and keep my neural pathways active.”ucsnVUWfoZyfOpFTXwWkplcnNHwiaN
mBurjJiXqJWvwhPRen Yi was filled with suspicion. Dr. Pompeii didn’t seem to have any reason to be involved in his father’s treatment. Was it for research purposes? If so, the hospital should have informed him in advance. “And what do you talk about?”gXnfVtRpqxIKwHyDdwDYdUOkKZAuwZ
QJYHYilRnSgZUnlRen Xiangrong sighed. “He always asks about those two cases from nineteen years ago that were connected to the Gong family.”JCKaBDkRGphIMmWAWomZXmbJAQQYRz
ltoBtHzTGTDEGCKRen Yi’s hand froze mid-motion. Gong Yingxian had once mentioned the possibility of using memory regression techniques on his father to see if he could recall details from the fire all those years ago. Ren Yi had agreed, but only on the condition that it wouldn’t harm his father.KgRzEvAcndynVqsSBkXEdSkKACIytV
ROwsEebmTaoqtQZHowever, those weren’t pleasant memories by any stretch. If they were going to perform memory regression, they should have informed him first. After all, every previous treatment plan had been discussed with him in detail.NjcAsgyJcybEoXUxseKmpSSzwExqog
HPdLzLmgeSosobs“If you don’t like it, just refuse next time,” Ren Yi said. “I know you don’t enjoy reliving those memories. Everything you’ve managed to remember, you’ve already told me.”PtJNNBDZqzsMnjRFSkgRWMtrGJJJBV
rtyCnXYcNnCKOkx“Maybe,” Ren Xiangrong replied. “But the questions he asks always make me feel like there’s more I haven’t remembered.”ZuaURYZtHOWuUefEqwQbRsxKRseCKO
fwCMkWnCxORpVYu“Like what?”qbHcAuQMgUsUIjBRiHxwUZGwMfkAPe
nMVaZxyKXItPdkX“Like… something about masks. He even showed me a strange mask.”FtXdynvrDDDVzrDQUFKdVbklIMMtST
roQaveXUhngwPdrRen Yi stiffened. “He asked you… about masks?”xJTsMqWrYdxzGDLwxbmERojjsxIQZp
gqdGuKaayfdJnvd“Yeah. I really don’t remember anything about a mask. Did the newspapers report on that back then? How does he know about it? Anyway, I’ve had a few dreams lately, and they felt so real, like I was back at the scene of the fire.”uYbdHModYSyMqvVhuPjSZCCvYkXLzA
iFMkbTWksgukLCrRen Yi’s expression darkened further.aubhgqoDtuSFYfEhOXfYIobvCHKTCU
IWaFTRiznNoSbAFDreams. Gong Yingxian had once explained that deep hypnosis often felt like experiencing an incredibly vivid dream. After waking, the individual might frequently recall fragments of the hypnosis session, blurring the lines between memory and reality and causing confusion.tfZtsXXTjiwbwtgAWehGYsZnyjTdcP
YwDXxOsbnMHMCYFCould it be…?JwAuadgVRJRsjeFXPHlWqgsUFyUmeE
QPPOwBNtXYklLgzNo. It couldn’t be. There was no way Dr. Pompeii would conduct deep hypnosis on his father without his consent. That would be illegal. Every step of the treatment process had been communicated to him—he had signed off on every decision.gZgGxvNhSyXqNncjmUUhoamZwFjgiN
AOLzHcVSRthhabLSigned off.QipZEwoLdkbcxzdZNkglrfnIeREEZe
AVogsITwVzICtvkA chill ran through Ren Yi’s body, his face turning deathly pale.NaQsyfaEDUZbnDLkzHsOBVpiugZhrN
FcoPKquVuXbuKUIxXOLesRRCqcirnVHyiZZlsOucekgNs