Still Frame Chapter 58
byChapter 58: Pain Like Flowing Water (2)
The next day, Zhang Liuxin came downstairs and saw Zhang Qiannan already dressed and waiting on the sofa. Zhang Jiming and Ren Shuyun had long since left for the company, and the breakfast on the table hadn’t been touched.
He looked at Zhang Qiannan’s rigidly straight back, thinking that the other person was actually nervous. This Zhang Qiannan, who had grown up mingling in the world of fame and fortune, was nervous about attending an event where Wen Jin would be present.
A ripple stirred in Zhang Liuxin’s heart. He calmly sat down at the table, served himself a bowl of porridge, and began to eat.
Zhang Qiannan heard his movement, turned to look at him, appearing somewhat wary. After two seconds of silence, he said, “You certainly have an appetite.”
“This plaque unveiling ceremony has nothing to do with me. Why wouldn’t I have an appetite?”
Zhang Liuxin still hadn’t slept well last night. When he looked in the mirror just now, he noticed a patch of dark shadow under his eyes, though thankfully it wasn’t too obvious. However, today’s protagonists were Wen Jin and Zhang Qiannan, so no one would notice him anyway. He didn’t worry about it too much.
Zhang Qiannan adjusted his collar and stood up. The butler kindly said, “Nannan, eat something. What will you do if you’re standing for the whole morning?”
Zhang Qiannan looked at Zhang Liuxin, who had already finished a bowl of porridge and a pumpkin pastry at the dining table. He pointed at Zhang Liuxin’s mouth with a hint of disdain, telling him to wipe the grease clean.
Whenever Zhang Qiannan was nervous, he would deliberately pick faults with everyone, making everyone uncomfortable, with Zhang Liuxin being the most frequent target.
However, Zhang Liuxin didn’t want to argue with the current Zhang Qiannan. He tore off a piece of paper and casually wiped his mouth, which barely had any grease on it.
Zhang Qiannan still didn’t eat much, but the butler packed some fruit for him in an insulated container, worried he would get hungry later.
The drive from the Zhang family home to Intercontinental University wasn’t long, but the elevated highway was congested due to the morning rush hour. Zhang Qiannan kept switching screens on his phone to check messages, irritably tapping the keyboard, while Zhang Liuxin leaned against the window, closing his eyes for a nap.
After a while, they finally passed the congested section of the road. Zhang Qiannan let out a breath and tossed his phone aside.
“Hey, Zhang Liuxin.”
Zhang Liuxin was woken up by him and felt a surge of irritation. He gave a faint “Hmm.”
Zhang Qiannan was dissatisfied. “Don’t sleep. Look at me.”
Zhang Liuxin felt sick just looking at him, but he still straightened up and reluctantly looked over. “What is it now?”
Hearing the impatience in his voice, Zhang Qiannan’s mood improved. He always fed off Zhang Liuxin’s negative emotions. He flashed a smile and said, “When you see Wen Jin later, if he asks you about me, don’t talk nonsense.”
Zhang Liuxin didn’t know what Zhang Qiannan was thinking. Wen Jin didn’t seem like the type to actively ask about Zhang Qiannan, nor did he seem like someone who would seek out Zhang Liuxin. However, the other person was probably just trying to show off his perfect fiancé. Zhang Liuxin nodded perfunctorily.
“Zhang Liuxin, what do you think of Wen Jin?”
Zhang Qiannan asked this casually, but it made Zhang Liuxin feel a little wary. Perhaps it was the momentary change in his expression that Zhang Qiannan caught. Before Zhang Liuxin could speak, he added on his own: “No matter what you think of him, don’t harbor any inappropriate thoughts. How could Wen Jin possibly fancy someone like you? Don’t forget your place.”
Zhang Liuxin’s face instantly turned pale. Something in his heart collapsed with a crash. He subconsciously looked at the driver in front. In the rearview mirror, the driver’s expression was as placid as ever.
What was Zhang Qiannan saying? Could it be that those feelings weren’t mistaken? Did Zhang Qiannan really… know about his feelings for Wen Jin?
He slowly turned his head and saw his younger brother, who shared half his blood, wearing a gentle, handsome smile that looked terrifying to him. The pumpkin pastry he had eaten that morning churned in his stomach along with the porridge, making him nauseous. He almost thought he was going to vomit. He instinctively bent over, curling himself up, while his other hand secretly gripped the underside of the seat, forcing himself to stay conscious.
So why did Zhang Qiannan insist on bringing him along? Was it to make him see clearly and sever the improper delusions in his heart?
Zhang Liuxin had an epiphany at that moment. Zhang Qiannan didn’t just dislike him; Zhang Qiannan must truly hate him.
“I don’t have…” any thoughts.
Before he could finish, he heard the driver in front suddenly shout, “Watch out!”
Zhang Liuxin hadn’t even reacted when he felt a sudden, immense force grab his neck. This was followed by a dizzying spin, and the screeching sound of tearing metal almost shattered his eardrums. He was thrown violently in the seat, his forehead slamming hard against the adjacent car window. In an instant, a flash of crimson exploded before his eyes.
The world in front of him completely inverted. As the pain in his head intensified, his vision grew darker and darker. An endless black tide surged toward him. The blood flowing from his forehead blurred his remaining sight. His nasal cavity and throat were filled with the taste of blood. Excruciating pain immediately shot up from his left leg, leaving his mind blank. He wanted to struggle, but his leg was pinned tightly in the deformed carriage. Moving even slightly caused his body to convulse with pain. Tinnitus drowned out the external sounds. Just before his vision completely vanished, he saw Zhang Qiannan slump like a broken puppet, streams of fresh blood gushing from his body. Only cold despair remained in his mind—he might die here with Zhang Qiannan.
Then, he completely lost consciousness.
When he was little, his mother always spoke to him gently, but Zhang Liuxin could sense that she always carried a cloud of black mist that never dispersed—a profound sadness.
He asked his mother why she wasn’t happy, but she would only kiss him and tell him she wasn’t unhappy.
Later, when he was a little older, he realized it might be because he didn’t have a father. He had an excellent memory, but the man called “Father” only left a very faint shadow in his mind.
But he thought it didn’t matter. It didn’t matter if he didn’t have a father. He was a man, and when he grew up, he would protect his mother and make her truly happy.
Until a group of strangers appeared, and the shadow of the father in his memory finally solidified. However, the look in that man’s eyes instinctively frightened him. He quickly realized his father didn’t like him, so he desperately wanted to stay by his mother’s side.
“Mom—Mom!”
But his mother was so far away. He could never reach her.
“You’re awake.”
Some faint, indistinct sounds reached his ears. His blurred consciousness gradually returned. He struggled to open his eyes, but after a while, they drooped powerlessly. After repeating this several times, everything before him gradually became clear. Immediately, his head and left leg felt like they had been crushed, and countless places all over his body were aching. He trembled painfully, wanting to say something, but his throat was so dry. He managed to utter some meaningless syllables with difficulty.
“Don’t move yet. I’m going to check you now.” A nurse’s voice came from very close by. Then, he felt something soft and cool cover his lips, preventing them from cracking further.
“Mr. Zhang, you’re awake. After examination, your left leg muscles and common peroneal nerve have varying degrees of damage, along with a minor fracture. Your head suffered a severe impact, resulting in a mild concussion. However, your vital signs are stable now. Please rest well.”
Zhang Liuxin could hear the doctor speaking to him, but his head was throbbing, and he couldn’t distinguish the meaning of the words. He could only nod weakly.
“Car accident…”
He used all his strength to utter those two words. The doctor tucked the blanket around him and said, “Yes, you were involved in a serious car accident two days ago.”
The doctor then instructed the nurse beside him: “The patient needs rest now. Pay close attention to any subsequent headaches or vomiting. Also, the chest contusion requires monitoring of breathing changes to prevent pulmonary infection.”
The ward fell silent again. Zhang Liuxin’s energy was completely depleted. His vision became inverted and blurry once more, and he sank back into endless darkness.
When he woke up again, Zhang Liuxin heard a slightly hoarse male voice say, “You’re awake. How do you feel?”
He felt the male voice was familiar but couldn’t recall who it belonged to. It wasn’t until the bed was cranked up that he saw the man beside him. After a moment of thought, he spoke his name: “Levi.”
The man who had helped him tie his necktie at the birthday banquet, Zhang Jiming’s capable subordinate.
“Not bad. Your head wasn’t knocked silly,” Levi chuckled, sitting down by his bedside.
It was pitch black outside. Zhang Liuxin didn’t know what day it was. Levi told him it was the third day since the accident.
“The car accident, why…” Just mentioning those two words made his head ache. Then, his left leg began to throb, making it almost impossible to breathe. He lowered his head in discomfort.
“Drink some water.” Levi poured him half a glass of water and helped him drink it.
“On the way to Intercontinental University with Zhang Qiannan, a large truck lost control and crashed into your car. The driver died instantly. You and Zhang Qiannan managed to survive.”
“Then…” There were only the two of them in the ward. Besides their breathing, there was only the sound of medical equipment. Zhang Liuxin hesitated before asking, “What about my father and the others?”
Levi’s expression seemed to freeze for a moment, but he quickly composed himself and said calmly, “They are watching over Zhang Qiannan.”
Zhang Liuxin wasn’t too disappointed. After all, Zhang Qiannan was their child.
He didn’t expect Levi’s next sentence to leave him stunned.
“Zhang Qiannan is in a vegetative state.”
Zhang Liuxin found the news hard to process. Fragments of the accident flashed through his mind: Zhang Qiannan sitting to his left, his body slumping powerlessly toward him, endless blood gushing from him.
Zhang Liuxin didn’t know how to feel. The person who, in his memory, had been mocking him just a second ago, was now a light, airy phrase: “vegetative state.”
“Why? Zhang Qiannan would…”
Zhang Liuxin found himself unable to utter those three words. His jaw involuntarily began to tremble, and waves of blackness surged before his eyes again.
“Don’t get agitated, Zhang Liuxin, don’t get agitated. Lie flat, take a deep breath.” Levi touched his arm. Amidst the ringing in his ears, Zhang Liuxin heard the bedside monitor emit an abnormal sound.
Before long, doctors and nurses rushed in. They checked his condition as a matter of routine and finally instructed Levi not to discuss anything that could easily emotionalize the patient.
Levi sighed and quieted down.
Zhang Liuxin lay on the hospital bed, staring at the pristine white ceiling, processing everything Levi had just said.
Zhang Qiannan, vegetative state? How could this happen?
Before he could fully grasp the connection between these things, hurried footsteps sounded outside. Levi instinctively stood up, the chair scraping against the floor with a jarring sound.
The door was violently pushed open, and a woman whose face he couldn’t clearly see rushed in. Levi quickly grabbed the woman, but her sharp, hoarse voice, filled with intense hatred, still reached Zhang Liuxin’s ears.
“Why, why are you the one who woke up! Zhang Liuxin, why are you still fine! Why didn’t you die, why!”
“Madam, Madam, please calm down,” Levi said repeatedly. “Zhang Liuxin is seriously injured and can’t hear you clearly right now.”
“Seriously injured?”
Zhang Liuxin finally recognized the woman before him—hair disheveled, clothes messy, face covered in tear streaks—it was Ren Shuyun.
“What serious injury does he have? He can still open his eyes! What serious injury is that!” Ren Shuyun seemed completely hysterical, half-crying, half-laughing. “It’s my Nannan! My poor son! Why can’t my Nannan wake up? Why can’t he open his eyes…”
She hugged her arms and crouched down, starting to cry again. Her weeping sounded like a broken bellows with its throat choked, intermittent and caught in her throat. Then, she grabbed the foot of the bed and repeatedly banged her forehead against the footboard with such force that Zhang Liuxin on the bed felt the shaking.
“Madam, Madam!” Levi reached out and held the footboard. “Please be lucid. Don’t hurt yourself.”
Then, many people flooded in from outside. Zhang Jiming rushed in and helped his wife up, handing her over to the nearby nurses: “Treat her wounds. If necessary, give her a couple of tranquilizer shots.”
Once Ren Shuyun was taken away, the ward became quiet again. Zhang Liuxin looked at his father. Zhang Jiming looked terrible, unshaven, with bloodshot eyes.
Levi said, “Mr. Zhang, please go eat something and rest for a while. You haven’t closed your eyes for two days.”
Zhang Jiming’s reactions had also slowed considerably, as if he had aged more than ten years. But he didn’t move his feet until Levi walked over and supported him. He slowly started to walk out, but stopped at the doorway.
Zhang Jiming stared intently at Zhang Liuxin with his cloudy, exhausted eyes, as if the person wrapped in bandages and breathing weakly opposite him was not his flesh and blood.
He said, “Why wasn’t it you.”