In a dream.
There was nothingness all around.
The young man sat on the ground, not paying attention to his surroundings.
The thoughts in his heart were amplified infinitely.
He couldn't die, his mother would be sad.
If he lived, he would hurt his family.
What should he do? What should he do?
Fang Jiachen! What are you doing, you brat!
The sudden voice made Fang Jiachen tremble.
Not because someone was scolding him, but because the voice was so familiar.
It was the voice he had recalled countless times in the past few days.
Dad!
Fang Jiachen turned his head abruptly.
As he saw the familiar figure, tears had already escaped on their own.
Dad, is it really you?
His voice trembled, and the tears he thought had long dried up streamed down.
He had wondered if his father didn't want to see him anymore because he was too much of a scoundrel.
Otherwise, why hadn't he ever dreamed of his father since he left?
I'm sorry, I'm sorry Dad, I shouldn't have argued with you that day.
I was a scoundrel, you were right, I'm hopeless and a failure.
I shouldn't have argued with you, Dad, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
Fang Jiachen wanted to get closer, but dared not.
He stood rooted to the spot, clutching his hair.
All the regrets of the past few days poured out.
If he hadn't been disobedient and pursued a relationship, he wouldn't have angered his father.
They wouldn't have argued, and the subsequent events wouldn't have happened.
For days, he had repented again and again, knowing that this repentance would never reach his father.
He stood there, crying like a three-year-old child who had made a mistake.
Nervous, helpless, and insecure.
This familiar, towering figure before him was his sky.
With this figure present, he dared to be so reckless and uninhibited.
And just a short while ago, he had personally shattered this sky.
Dad, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, can you come back?
Silly boy! Look up!
The middle-aged man standing not far away shouted, his eyes also red.
Look clearly, I am your father! It's natural for a father to protect his son!
My son is not a failure! They are just not fortunate enough!
That morning, he received a call.
The caller claimed to be his son's girlfriend's mother, asking him to tell his son to stop pestering her daughter, as they were going abroad.
The arrogant tone was almost saying his son wasn't good enough for her daughter.
Although he had always disapproved of children dating early, but!
How could an outsider comment on his son's worth!
He had told her then and there that his son was in the top ten of his grade and good-looking, so why would his son be pestering her daughter!
Perhaps her daughter saw how excellent his son was and wanted to reserve him in advance!
The middle-aged man clenched his fists and said everything he usually kept to himself.
Later, he thought that the current outcome was partly due to their father-son communication.
If they had both spoken properly, perhaps things wouldn't have escalated to that point.
As he walked on the Yellow Springs Road, he thought that he couldn't just leave like this.
Otherwise, that boy would surely blame himself for the rest of his life.
It was fine if he died, but those who were alive had to live well.
Fang Jiachen slowly raised his head, looking at his father in disbelief.
This was the first time his father had praised him since he was ten years old.
Later, after starting junior high school, the communication between father and son became less and less.
Sometimes, a few words would lead to an argument.
He always felt that his father didn't understand him and looked down on him, so he often acted contrary to his father's wishes.
He opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.
So, his father had always thought this way?
I, I
What "you"? Work harder and live up to your name!
The middle-aged man's lips twitched. My Fang family has no cowards!
Fang Jiachen's breathing quickened. Yes!
He would not be a failure!
There would be no cowards in the Fang family!
Don't let me hear your mother crying at my grave again! Otherwise, I'll spank your butt! Do you hear me!?
I hear you!!
Good, good.
The middle-aged man said "good" three times in a row, a satisfied smile on his honest face.
He reached out his rough hand and stroked his son's head.
Just like a few years ago, when their father-son relationship wasn't so strained.
This is my son.
In the dark room.
The young man woke up from his sleep.
After opening his eyes, his first action was to look around.
Then, he felt a sense of loss.
Was it a dream?
He wiped his face, his hands wet.
Suddenly, he thought of something, got out of bed, and proactively opened his bedroom door.
The harsh light fell on his face. He instinctively shielded his eyes with his hand, squinting at the ground.
A stool was placed at the doorstep, with a meal on it, sealed with plastic wrap.
Judging by the steam, it should still be warm.
He walked out of the room and found the familiar figure in the living room.
Mom.
His voice, which hadn't been used for a long time, was a little hoarse.
The woman in the living room was startled and turned around in disbelief.
After seeing the woman's face clearly, Fang Jiachen was also stunned.
The woman had worked hard for most of her life, and her skin was already rough. After experiencing so much recently,
Her face had become even more haggard, and her white hair seemed to have increased.
Seeing her son, the woman showed a smile. "Chenchen, you're up? Are you hungry? I'll heat up your food."
Saying that, she was about to get up.
Mom.
Fang Jiachen called out to her, his voice choked. "I'm sorry."
At this moment, he suddenly understood his father's intention in visiting his dream.
This home of three had lost a pillar.
If he also fell, this home would truly collapse.
In the past, his father had held up this sky; from now on, it was his turn.
And now, the person he should apologize to the most
was the one who had raised him for over a decade.
You, I this
The woman's tears immediately fell. "What's there to be sorry about? We're family."
She nervously wiped her hands on her apron and said, "I'll go get you some food."
Fang Jiachen pulled at the corner of his mouth. "Mom, the food isn't cold. I'll do it myself."
He walked to the bedroom door, brought the food to the dining table.
Since he hadn't eaten much recently, the dishes were made to be easily digestible.
While he ate, the woman watched him nervously and carefully, with a hint of relief.
After finishing his meal, he washed the dishes himself.
The woman stood by and watched.
"Mom, where did my name come from?" Fang Jiachen asked after washing the dishes.
"Why do you suddenly ask about that?"
The woman nervously wiped her hands on her apron. "You know, your dad and I aren't very educated.
Your dad spent over a month flipping through dictionaries and finally chose the name Jiachen.
He said, my son deserves the character 'Jia' (嘉), and he should be like every clear morning, bringing a new day, so he named you Jiachen."
Jiachen, Jiachen.
'Jia' (嘉) means good and praiseworthy.
Fang Jiachen murmured, "Because I bring a new day?"
He was their hope?
Or was he their everything?
Could he live up to this name, to his parents' expectations?
No, it wasn't about "could he."
Perhaps his existence, for his parents, was hope itself.
Hope for life, hope for the future.
"Look clearly, I am your father! It's natural for a father to protect his son!"
"Work harder and live up to your name!"
Fang Jiachen looked at his hands, recalling his father's words.
Tears blurred his vision.
So, his life had meaning.
It wasn't to bring pain to anyone, was it?