Chapter 26 Need Independence

Chapter 26: Independence

Only a bedside lamp was on, its warm yellow glow enveloping the figure on the bed.

Lu Lin's brows were tightly furrowed, his eyelashes trembling from time to time. Even under medication and deep asleep, those nightmares still haunted him.

Shen Qingci watched, a tumult of emotions in his heart.

In his twenty-seven years, very few things had ever truly troubled him.

Even when his eldest brother broke his leg and locked him in a room, leaving him with a permanent limp, he hadn't been troubled.

Because the Shen family had always been like this—survival of the fittest. He understood deeply that emotions solved nothing; only a firm hand and a clear head were the only path.

Thus, he rarely made mistakes and never allowed unnecessary emotional fluctuations to affect his judgment.

But in dealing with Lu Lin, he seemed to have made a complete mess of things.

If, on that rainy night years ago, he hadn't stopped the car, hadn't rescued that battered child, hadn't brought him home...

None of what followed would have happened.

Lu Lin wouldn't have had a mental breakdown because of him, wouldn't have been admitted to a psychiatric hospital, wouldn't have self-harmed, wouldn't have become what he is now.

For the first time, Shen Qingci felt regret.

Regret for bringing Lu Lin home.

Regret for keeping him by his side for eight years.

Regret for dying too early, before seeing him truly stand on his own.

But more than regret, there was confusion.

He didn't understand why Lu Lin had shattered so completely because of his death.

Shen Qingci was, after all, just a passerby in Lu Lin's life.

An eight-year guardianship relationship—not too long, not too short.

He had fulfilled his duties as a guardian, providing for Lu Lin's basic needs, his education, and a measure of care.

But that was all.

He believed his investment in Lu Lin was far from deep enough to make the other lose his mind over him.

Why?

Shen Qingci gently lifted Lu Lin's hand, carefully placed it back under the covers, and neatly tucked the edges.

Shen Qingci stood up, his hand gripping his cane.

He stood by the bedside, looking down at Lu Lin. For the first time, complex emotions surfaced in his cool gaze.

Familial affection?

Shen Qingci frowned.

He had never received familial affection since childhood.

What did family bonds matter in a powerful clan?

The Shen family's approach to raising heirs was borderline cruel.

From birth, children received a rigorous education. At three, they began learning multiple languages and business knowledge. By six, they accompanied elders to various business settings. At ten, they had to independently complete investment projects.

Shen Qingci remembered he had a cat when he was five; he had liked it very much.

But his father said pets were a distraction, and had someone take the cat away.

He had been very sad at the time, but he only allowed himself to grieve for one day.

When he was six, his leg was broken, and everyone looked on, indifferent.

At his eighteenth birthday, the family gave him startup funds, and then he left the Shen family for good.

For nearly ten years, he never returned.

It was cold, yet fair.

Familial affection was merely a relationship based on blood and duty.

It should have boundaries, rules, and wouldn't crumble just because someone was gone.

So Lu Lin's reaction was something he couldn't comprehend.

Shen Qingci turned and left the room, cane in hand.

He stood at the doorway for a few seconds, listening to the faint, suppressed murmurs from within, before finally walking off.

Returning to his own bedroom, Shen Qingci left the lights off.

He walked to the window and looked out at the quiet night.

The neighborhood was quiet, with only the occasional sound of a car in the distance.

Moonlight spilled into the garden, where irises swayed gently in the night breeze.

Shen Qingci leaned against the window frame, going over everything that had happened tonight in his mind.

The image of Lu Lin curled up in the corner.

The hollow look in his eyes.

The red-rimmed eyes.

And that choked-up "Brother, have you come to pick me up?"

Shen Qingci closed his eyes.

To be honest, he'd always felt that in this world, you shouldn't grieve over anyone leaving.

When his parents passed away, he felt little.

When friends left, he thought it was natural.

Even when he himself died for ten years, upon waking, he took it in stride and began planning a new life.

Parting was merely a required course.

It's a lesson everyone must learn.

Why hasn't Lu Lin learned?

Did no one teach him?

If that's the case, it's not too late to teach him now.

Shen Qingci opened his eyes, his gaze regaining its usual composure.

Since he intended to make up for those two lost years, he needed to teach him the most important lesson:

How to face loss.

How to face temporary separations, how to face the finality of death, how to face those inevitable, unchangeable partings in life.

Perhaps this is what Lu Lin truly needs.

He needed Lu Lin to learn to be independent.

To learn not to need him anymore.

Shen Qingci turned and walked back to the bedside, picked up his phone, and texted Lin Wei.

Shen Qingci: Get me in touch with the best psychologist, one skilled in treating PTSD and dependent personality disorder.

Lin Wei replied quickly.

Lin Wei: Okay, Mr. Shen. When should I schedule the appointment?

Shen Qingci: At the earliest opportunity. Also, compile a copy of Lu Lin's medical records and treatment history from the past ten years for me.

Lin Wei: ...This might require Mr. Lu's consent.

Shen Qingci: I'll talk to him.

Once he'd sent the message, Shen Qingci put down his phone and looked out the window again.

The moonlight was bright, shining on his face, outlining a profile so calm it bordered on coldness.

He had made up his mind.

Over these two years, what he needed to do wasn't just to make up for lost time, but to correct course.

He wanted to heal Lu Lin's psychological trauma, to free him from his pathological dependence on himself, to teach him that even if Shen Qingci left again one day, Lu Lin could still live well.

Shen Qingci got into bed and closed his eyes.

Yet, his mind uncontrollably replayed the image of Lu Lin gripping his hand, those reddened eyes filled with the fear of being abandoned.

Shen Qingci turned over, forcing himself not to think about it.

He needed to be rational.

To be calm.

For Lu Lin to grow up, he had to do this.

---

The next day, Shen Qingci was awake by six.

After washing up and going downstairs, Lu Lin was already sitting in the dining room.

Seeing him come down, Lu Lin immediately stood up, his eyes lighting up briefly before dimming again, and said cautiously, "Good morning, brother."

Shen Qingci gave him a glance and sat down opposite him.

"Morning."

Lu Lin had made breakfast again.

There was an extra glass of milk compared to the usual breakfast. Shen Qingci looked at the glass of milk, paused briefly, then without much hesitation, picked it up and took a sip.

Lu Lin watched his face and said softly, "Brother, about last night... I'm sorry."

Shen Qingci looked up at him. "Why apologize?"

Lu Lin lowered his head and whispered, "For worrying you, and making you rush to the hospital in the middle of the night..."

Shen Qingci put down the cup and said calmly, "It's fine."

After a pause, he added, "If you feel unwell in the future, you need to say so immediately."

Lu Lin nodded. "Understood."

They ate the rest of breakfast in silence.

Shen Qingci put down his utensils, looked at Lu Lin, and spoke. "Lu Lin, there's something I need to discuss with you."

Lu Lin immediately straightened up. "What is it?"

"I've scheduled a psychologist for you," Shen Qingci said calmly. "Your condition last night requires professional treatment."

Lu Lin's expression froze.

He looked at Shen Qingci, his lips moving as if to say something, but in the end, he just nodded.

"...Okay."

"Also," Shen Qingci continued, "starting today, you need to learn to handle your emotions independently. You can't wait for others to solve every problem you encounter."

Lu Lin's eyes reddened again.

But he bit his lip, not letting the tears fall, and just said softly,

"I understand."

Seeing him like this, Shen Qingci felt inexplicably irritated.

"Also, regarding company matters, you need to learn to handle them yourself. You can't lose emotional control over minor issues, and even more so..."

He paused, but still said it:

"You can't let matters concerning me affect your judgment."

Lu Lin looked at Shen Qingci for a long time, then slowly lowered his head.

"...Okay."

Shen Qingci stood up, leaning on his cane, ready to leave.

He walked a few steps, then stopped and looked back at Lu Lin, who hadn't moved from his spot:

"I might be back late tonight. Don't wait for me for dinner, and from now on, you don't need to prepare breakfast for me either. What you should do now is start pulling back from my life and learn to live independently."

Lu Lin nodded without saying a word.

Shen Qingci turned and left.

Outside, the sun was shining brightly.

But thinking of Lu Lin's earlier expression, looking like the whole world had turned its back on him, felt like a weight on his chest.

He could sense Lu Lin's deep sadness, but it was all for Lu Lin's own good.