Chapter 650: Chapter 608: The Unfilial, Destined to Be Abandoned by All! (1)
SLAP!
A loud slap resonated across Zhou Shen’s rather delicate face. As Qin Fan let go, Zhou Shen and the unopened phone both hurtled toward the ground. A dead silence fell over the area. All the students watching held their breath, their attention fixed not on Zhou Shen, but on Qin Fan, their expressions stunned. This was the first time they had ever witnessed him in such a rage. How could a matter that had nothing to do with him infuriate the normally easy-going Mr. Fan to this degree?
Behind Qin Fan, a girl covered her mouth, tears of disbelief streaming down her face. She stared, frozen, at Zhou Shen, who lay on the ground with a look of hollow shock.
"Son!" Unable to contain his emotions any longer, the old man wailed and lunged toward his son.
"I’m sorry, sir, I’m sorry! I didn’t know Zhou Shen was like this, I really didn’t know!" Suddenly, a choked sob came from behind Qin Fan. At the unexpected sound, everyone, including Qin Fan, turned to look. They saw Xiao Ru, her tear-stained face a mask of guilt and apology.
"What do you mean?" Qin Fan asked, his anger subsiding slightly as he raised an eyebrow.
"I’m Zhou Shen’s girlfriend! He’s spent a lot of money on me lately—taking me out to eat, have fun... but I had no idea about his family’s situation. I always thought his family was rich, so I never... I never... I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry!"
New to university life, Xiao Ru wasn’t yet the type to value money over people. She could have simply walked away, but instead, she stayed, sobbing out her apologies. This was a blow to her—a psychological blow. Her primary concern wasn’t that Zhou Shen had lied to her, but the shock of Qin Fan’s revelations. Knowing Zhou Shen’s family background, she was overcome with guilt.
"It’s not your fault," Qin Fan said faintly, pursing his lips and giving a slight nod.
With that, he paid the girl no more mind. He turned back to Zhou Shen, who lay motionless on the ground while his father wailed over him. Looking at Zhou Shen’s vacant, lifeless eyes, Qin Fan slowly squatted down. He gently patted the old man’s back in a silent gesture of comfort before hauling Zhou Shen to his feet once more.
His voice was no longer an impulsive roar. "Being poor isn’t a crime, and having a father who’s a sanitation worker is no disgrace. The crime is giving up on life. The disgrace is that you feel ashamed! Go on, ask them. Ask anyone here if they’d look down on you because of your family."
Saying this, Qin Fan dragged Zhou Shen toward the stunned crowd of onlookers. He looked at them, his expression serious, and asked, "Is having a father who’s a sanitation worker a disgrace?"
"My dad’s a farmer!"
"For three generations, my family has worked the black soil to survive. My dad’s never even been to the city!"
"My family runs a small business, but that’s not what matters. I never make friends based on whether they’re rich or poor. What’s important is the bond we share, not their social class!"
"Fortunes can turn on a dime. Who knows who’ll be successful in the future? Hell, Du Yuesheng started out selling fruit from a damn stall!"
"My dad does manual labor in the city, carrying loads for people. I’ve never been the least bit ashamed. I tell anyone who asks, because I’m proud to have a father who worked tirelessly to raise me and my siblings!"
"My mom’s a sanitation worker in our hometown, too. When I was in high school, I’d go help her every weekend so she could get a little well-deserved rest!"
The crowd was growing as more people were drawn in by the commotion. Influenced by the atmosphere, students began sharing their own family backgrounds one after another. As those from more humble origins spoke, their eyes grew moist. The dampness in their eyes was a testament to their gratitude and a reflection of their resolve. It was just as Qin Fan had said earlier: if you can’t be born a rich heir, then work hard to become a self-made man your parents can be proud of!
"Did you hear that? Did you hear that? DID YOU HEAR THAT?" Qin Fan’s calm voice escalated back into a roar as he yelled at Zhou Shen, whose tears had finally begun to fall. He dragged him over to Xiao Ru. "You say you’re his girlfriend. Fine. Do you look down on him for having a father who’s a sanitation worker? Be honest. It’s only human to feel that way, and no one could blame you for it."
"No, I wouldn’t care what his father does for a living, as long as it’s honest work and not some scam! But now... now I look down on *him*. I despise his character!" Xiao Ru said, wiping the tears from her face and glaring at Zhou Shen, spitting out each word with contempt.
A man who can’t even feel gratitude for the parents who suffered to raise him, who only scorns and avoids them... can a man like that offer any security? Can he?
Though young and inexperienced in the ways of the world, Xiao Ru understood this basic principle of human decency. She shook her head at Zhou Shen, her jaw clenched in disappointment. Then, under the gazes of countless eyes, she turned and walked away.
"Xiao Ru!!!" Zhou Shen, his own eyes now brimming with tears, finally snapped back to reality and cried out her name.
"Come find me when you’ve learned how to be a decent human being!" Her body tensed, but she didn’t turn back. She threw the words over her shoulder, her voice choked with sobs, and quickened her pace, disappearing from view.
"I’ve said and done what I should, and probably some things I shouldn’t have. If you have any conscience left, you’ll think about it. Remember, filial piety is the most important virtue. The unfilial are destined to lose everyone." His own impulsive emotions now in check, Qin Fan released his grip on Zhou Shen’s shirt, even taking a moment to smooth the wrinkles he’d made on his collar.
After that, he said no more. When he looked at the old man, he simply reached out and patted his trembling shoulder. Then, with countless eyes following him, he began to walk away. He had said what he could and done what he could. The rest was out of his hands.
At that moment, as Qin Fan’s figure receded into the distance, music began to play from the outdoor speakers of the small auditorium.
"I always took from you, but never said thank you.
"Only when I grew up did I understand how hard it was for you.
"Every time I left, I’d pretend to be cheerful,
"I’d smile and tell you to go home, then turn away before you saw my tears.
"How I wish I could hold your warm hand again,
"But you’re not here beside me; I can only ask the wind to wish you well.
"Oh, time, please slow down; don’t let you grow old.
"I would give everything I have to keep you young forever.
"For a father who’s been strong his whole life, what can I do for you?
"This small token of my love, please accept it."
As the music played, Zhou Shen’s mind flooded with memories, and he began to sob uncontrollably. Shame and guilt surged through him. He raised a hand and fiercely slapped himself across the face. Then, with a gut-wrenching wail, he dropped to his knees before the old man. Clutching the fabric of his father’s pants, which had been washed so many times they’d turned pale, he buried his face and cried out hysterically, "Dad, I was wrong! I was wrong! I was wrong!"
At that moment, he was utterly broken.
At that moment, all the students nearby, men and women alike, had tears streaming down their faces. A father’s love is like a mountain, boundless and deep. But after all these years, how many of them had truly been worthy of that unconditional love? This unspoken question pierced the hearts of these talented students. Everyone cried, but these were not tears of shame.
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