Chapter 26 Part 1: A Fate Worse Than Death

Qianyang returned to the balcony and, under the puzzled gazes of the crowd, walked to the wall outside Xiao Jia’s bedroom.

“Master…”

Xiao Jia’s mother called out in confusion.

 

Xiao Jia’s father took a can of beer from the fridge and slammed the door shut.

“Oh dear!

Nephew, so angry?

This young master was brought here by your godmother.

Don’t you trust your godmother?

Don’t worry, if she can’t cure Xiao Jia, she won’t charge you,” Auntie Wang said with a smile from outside the door.

“Godmother, don’t bring just anyone here in the future.”

Seeing four or five people standing outside the door, Xiao Jia’s father’s expression darkened even more.

 

Qianyang frowned.

Standing outside Xiao Jia’s bedroom wall, she bent her fingers and knocked on the wall through the soundproofing foam.

 

Yang Mao, following the requests of the stream viewers, first walked to the balcony in the same order Qianyang had, saw Little Qian Mountain in the distance, then turned back and focused the camera on the balcony door frame.

“Three-Person Family…”

Yang Mao read the four characters on the plaque.

 

– Quite heartwarming.

– So strange.

Shouldn’t a plaque like that be hung at the entrance?

– Hmm… although the decor is warm, there’s an indescribable weirdness about it.

– Now that you mention it, it is a bit odd.

– Isn’t the balcony eave a little low?

Feels like the indoor lighting isn’t very good.

 

“Indeed, the indoor lighting is fairly average,” Yang Mao said.

“Master, is there something wrong with this house?”

Xiao Jia’s mother asked nervously.

 

Xiao Jia’s father opened a can of beer and stood coldly in the kitchen hallway, watching Qianyang.

 

Qianyang said, “I need to understand the full situation first.”

 

Qianyang looked up and stared at the four walls of the living room.

 

The living room wasn’t small, but it was shaped like a square box, with two hallways running north-south, about two meters wide.

The kitchen, bedrooms, and bathroom were all inside those hallways, making the living room feel very enclosed and lacking ventilation.

 

Additionally, the balcony eave was lower than in ordinary homes, blocking some light, resulting in poor indoor lighting.

The floor was also made of soft-light tiles, which accentuated a sense of coldness and desolation.

“What time was Xiao Jia born?”

Qianyang asked.

“The seventh day of the seventh lunar month, around seven in the evening,” Xiao Jia’s mother said.

 

Qianyang continued walking, entering the hallway between the kitchen and the bathroom.

 

Since both hallways were on the sides, if the doors to the bedrooms, kitchen, and bathroom were all closed, the hallways would have almost no light.

“Excuse me,” Qianyang said, face to face with Xiao Jia’s father in the kitchen hallway.

 

The two stood on opposite sides, blocking the light sources from both ends.

 

The beer can in Xiao Jia’s father’s hand gave off cold vapor.

Qianyang could feel the chill.

“I suggest you get more sunlight.

Your emotions also affect Xiao Jia,” Qianyang reminded him.

 

Xiao Jia’s father’s fingers tightened around the beer can.

But he still stepped aside to let her pass.

 

Yang Mao followed closely, holding up his phone.

“You can’t get any sun in the house.

Go to the balcony and stay there.”

 

Xiao Jia’s father pressed his lips, as if holding back anger, then strode toward the balcony.

 

Qianyang walked into the kitchen and looked around.

“Master, is there a problem?”

Yang Mao asked quietly.

 

Qianyang’s expression was solemn. “A big problem.”

 

– Holy shit?

– The streamer didn’t seem this serious before.

– Is the problem that big?

– Is there something wrong with the house’s layout?

Although it does look a bit strange.

– With all the soundproofing foam everywhere, it feels like living in a paper house.

– AHHH shut up!

You’re making me think of those paper houses burned for the dead!

– Can any architecture students explain what’s wrong with the layout?

– First-year architecture major here.

All I can say is a normal layout should have north-south ventilation and good lighting for the living room.

I don’t know about the balcony, but the eave should never be that low under normal circumstances.

– If this is the standard layout for the complex, I can only say the engineer isn’t as good as I am.

 

After examining the layout, Qianyang returned to the living room.

“Ma’am, I can basically confirm that Xiao Jia has no physical or psychological problems.

He has most likely lost a part of his soul.”

 

Xiao Jia’s mother was stunned.

“Lost… lost his soul?”

“Yes.”

Qianyang pressed her lips and nodded.

“His episodes when he wakes up are a sign of an unstable soul.

Falling asleep quickly after an episode and refusing to speak are both due to missing mental faculties and lack of spirit.

Aside from externally caused mental damage, such as a blow to the head or severe trauma, everything else points to a lost soul.”

 

Xiao Jia’s mother straightened up anxiously.

“Xiao Jia wasn’t injured or traumatized.

He suddenly became like this…”

 

Qianyang nodded.

“Although some people are born with incomplete souls, Xiao Jia was like any ordinary child three years ago, which means he lost his soul.”

 

Xiao Jia’s mother immediately stood up, walked over to Qianyang, and grabbed her hand.

“Master, please help me.

Please cure Xiao Jia.

No matter how much money you want, I can give it to you!”

 

Xiao Jia’s father stood on the balcony, a flash of anger on his face.

“Haven’t you performed enough yet?!”

“How much money do you want?

I’ll give it to you.

Right now, immediately, please leave my house!”

 

Xiao Jia’s father’s sudden outburst drew everyone’s attention.

 

Yang Mao frowned.

“Sir, we’re just trying to help.”

“Help me?

Isn’t that what they always say?

And what happened?

After all kinds of pointless trouble, is the child any better?”

 

Xiao Jia’s father pointed at the people outside the door.

“Have you seen enough jokes?

Are you happy?

I have a sick child, a child who screams for no reason, a child who can’t speak…

Are you satisfied?!”

“Godmother, bringing all these people to watch our misfortune—are you happy?”

 

Auntie Wang’s face darkened.

“What kind of talk is that?

Aren’t I trying to cure Xiao Jia?

How can you mistake my good intentions for ill will?”

“Cure Xiao Jia?

Godmother, do you even believe those words yourself?”

Xiao Jia’s father’s eyes reddened.

He hurled his beer can at the “Three-Person Family” plaque.

The splashing liquid soaked the floor tiles and the wall.

 

Xiao Jia’s mother slowly slid to the floor, covering her face as she wept silently.

 

– Sigh.

– They’ve probably been through similar situations many times.

Maybe at first they did believe, only to be given hope and then disappointed.

Isn’t that worse than killing them?

– Auntie Wang had no good intentions.

She was just kicking them when they were down, bringing others to watch the show.

– They probably won’t easily trust the streamer either.

– What parents in the world could bear such a thing?

They’re already exhausted in body and mind.

– Sob sob, this is so hard to watch.

 

Hearing these words, the people outside gradually dispersed.

Auntie Wang muttered “ungrateful” and also left.

 

After everyone had gone, only Qianyang, Yang Mao, and the weeping mother remained in the house.

“What are you still waiting for?

Aren’t you leaving?”

Xiao Jia’s father looked coldly at the two.

 

Qianyang bent down, helped Xiao Jia’s mother to the sofa, then turned to look at him.

“Have you ever considered that part of the reason Xiao Jia refuses to speak might be because of you two?”

 

Xiao Jia’s father clenched his fists, clearly at his limit.

“Losing a soul doesn’t mean he can’t speak at all.

In fact, he can perceive the emotions of those around him.”

“I don’t want to hear your nonsense!

Before I lay hands on you, I hope you can…”

“Shut up!”

Xiao Jia’s mother suddenly shouted angrily.

“What do you really want?

What if!

What if!

I’m asking you, what if she can cure Xiao Jia?

Are you going to give up this chance?

Are you going to drive her away?”

“But you know those people!

They couldn’t cure Xiao Jia.

They treated him like a monster…”

“Is it they who treat Xiao Jia like a monster, or you who treat Xiao Jia like a monster?”

 

Xiao Jia’s father shuddered, his eyes suddenly reddening.

 

Xiao Jia’s mother was also crying, sobbing, “I don’t care…

I don’t care what others think, see, or say.

Even if there’s only a tiny chance, I want Xiao Jia to get better.”

 

The man collapsed in defeat, squatting on the ground, pounding his head as if to vent something.

“Ah!!!”

“Ah!!!!”

“Ah!!!!”

 

A child’s scream suddenly erupted from the bedroom.

The couple instinctively rushed into the room.

“Xiao Jia…

Xiao Jia…

Mom is here…

Mom and Dad are here…”

 

The woman held the screaming child in her arms, patting his back repeatedly to soothe him until the screams slowly subsided.

 

Qianyang and Yang Mao remained in the living room, not going in to check on Xiao Jia.

 

After a moment, Xiao Jia’s father returned to the living room.

 

He had calmed down, but his expression was filled with deep exhaustion and despair.

“…Master.”

Xiao Jia’s father’s voice was hoarse.

“I’m sorry.

Please, give it a try.

Try.”

 

– A family that was once happy, how did it come to this…

– I wonder if the lost soul can be found.

– The streamer should be able to do it, right?

– Sob sob, whatever, I’m going to tip the streamer.

 

Whether faced with his rejection, anger, or this moment of exhaustion, Qianyang’s expression remained largely unchanged.

“Let me take a look at him,” Qianyang said.

“Please.”

 

Qianyang walked to the bedroom door and found the windows tightly shut, the curtains drawn completely, not letting in a single ray of light.

 

Xiao Jia’s father explained, “He doesn’t like light.

His episodes are also more frequent during the day than at night.”

 

Qianyang hummed in acknowledgment, walked to the window, and pulled the curtain open a crack, letting enough light to barely illuminate the room.

 

Xiao Jia’s mother sat by the bed, tightly holding a boy of about seven.

 

The boy leaned against his mother, his eyes vacant, his expression numb.

 

Xiao Jia’s mother, tears in her eyes, said softly, “Master…”

“It’s alright.”

 

Qianyang walked over to them and took Xiao Jia’s right hand.

She clearly felt him flinch.

 

She placed her fingers on his pulse, feeling carefully.

“You’ve taken good care of him.

His body is very healthy, just lacking sunlight exposure.”

“Master, then he… what about him?

Can he get better?”

 

Qianyang gave a definite answer.

“Yes.”

 

Hearing this, hope ignited in Xiao Jia’s mother’s eyes.

“Master, please, you must help him!”

 

Qianyang said, “I will help him.”

 

She put down his hand and examined his sensory responses, finding that he still had a slight pupillary reaction when she came close.

“When was the last time he spoke?”

Qianyang asked.

“A year ago, we hired a master to perform an exorcism…

After that, he never spoke again,” Xiao Jia’s mother said.

 

Qianyang nodded understandingly.

“Let go of him first.”

“Okay…”

 

Xiao Jia’s mother released him.

Xiao Jia continued to sit blankly on the bed, unresponsive.

“Xiao Jia, hello.

I am Qianyang.”

Qianyang stood in front of him and greeted him solemnly.

“I’m very happy to meet you.

Can you hear my voice?”

 

The three in the room watched Xiao Jia nervously, holding their breath, afraid to disturb him.

 

But after half a minute of waiting, Xiao Jia still showed no response.

 

The light in his parents’ eyes dimmed.

 

Xiao Jia’s mother said, “At first, Xiao Jia could still respond a little to our words.

But later, no matter what we said, he had no reaction.

He also wouldn’t leave his room for half a step.

During the day, he wouldn’t even let us open the curtains.”

 

Qianyang asked, “Aside from going to hospitals, have you taken him anywhere else outside this house?”

 

The two froze, looking at each other.

 

Xiao Jia’s father said, “…No.

Since he got sick, besides going to various doctors, we… we haven’t taken him anywhere else.”

 

Qianyang sighed almost inaudibly.

 

– Could Xiao Jia be sensing his parents’ emotions?

– Maybe he feels they don’t want him to go out, that he shouldn’t see the light…

– AHHH… no!

Doesn’t that mean Xiao Jia has been conscious all this time?

– To be fair, Xiao Jia’s condition really isn’t suitable for going out.

– Sigh, how pitiful.

 

“What did he like to do most before?”

Qianyang asked.

“He liked flying kites.

Every weekend, he would drag us to go with him…”

 

Qianyang bent down, took his right hand, brought her face close to his eyes, and said, “Xiao Jia, shall we go fly a kite together?”

 

After speaking, Qianyang quietly waited for his response.

 

After losing a soul, his reactions would be much slower than a normal person’s.

 

But they would never be completely absent, as they were now.

 

Time passed, second by second.

Finally, Qianyang felt the fingers in her palm move slightly.

 

Everyone had been watching Xiao Jia closely and immediately noticed this.

 

His parents, struggling to contain their excitement, dared not make a sound, afraid of disturbing the moment.

“Xiao Jia, do you want to go fly a kite?”

Qianyang spoke very slowly, ensuring he could hear her clearly.

 

This time, Xiao Jia’s reaction was noticeably faster.

 

His fingers curled slightly, as if trying to make a “grasping” motion, but his body was too stiff, the movement very small.

“Xiao Jia…”

Xiao Jia’s mother covered her mouth and nose, tears seeping through her fingers.

 

Xiao Jia’s father tensed his body, not daring to breathe, silently holding his wife in his arms.

 

Qianyang didn’t speak, waiting quietly.

 

After a long moment, the boy, who had been expressionless, twitched the muscles of his face slightly.

 

Qianyang gently guided him.

“Do you want to go?”

 

Xiao Jia’s lips pulled upward.

His pale lips parted slightly, silently forming a single word.

—Yes.

 

The sound was so faint it was completely inaudible, but everyone present knew that after a year, he had finally spoken.

“Wah…”

Xiao Jia’s mother clamped her hand over her mouth to keep her sobs from disturbing Xiao Jia, burying her face deep in her husband’s chest, her shoulders trembling.

 

– Sob sob, Xiao Jia can speak.

– Oh my god…

Xiao Jia could always speak.

It’s just that his parents, who had run to every hospital and tried every possible cure for him, had stopped talking to him like this.

– Oh my god!

Then all this time, alone, silent, not going out, not seeing the sun—what was he thinking about?

– Stop.

I’m going to cry.

 

Qianyang gently held his hand.

“Then shall we go fly a kite?”

 

Xiao Jia’s movements paused for a few seconds.

His vacant pupils, in the dim light, seemed to flicker for an instant.

 

Then, he slowly lowered his eyes, as if silently refusing.

 

Seeing this, Qianyang beckoned to Xiao Jia’s mother.

“Xiao Jia’s mom, come here a moment.”

“Wipe your tears,” Qianyang reminded her.

 

Xiao Jia’s mother frantically wiped away her tears and came to the bedside.

 

Qianyang said, “Talk to him.”

 

Xiao Jia’s mother gently took his hand, her voice trembling.

“Xiao Jia…

I’m Mom.”

 

Xiao Jia’s eyes were downcast, his face expressionless.

Even after a long wait, he remained like a wooden doll, showing no reaction to his mother’s words.

“Xiao Jia…”

Xiao Jia’s mother’s reddened eyes shed tears again, her voice filled with pain.

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