Chapter 450: Chapter 424 Feelings of Empathy (Thanks to MlmpaLAo for his donation and updates)

Liu Linlin was deeply shocked by Xiao Qian’s words, which went far beyond the comprehension any child her age should have. What shocked her even more was that Xiao Qian’s eyes reddened instantly after she finished speaking.

What happened to the child?

Xiao Qian reached out, hugged Liu Linlin, and suddenly burst into tears.

“I’m sorry, teacher, I was wrong. I take back what I said. I shouldn’t have spoken like that.”

In Liu Linlin’s eyes, Xiao Qian was a child with a leadership personality, exceptionally precocious, wise, with a leader’s demeanor, magnanimous, very rare character traits. Such a child is supposed to have remarkable emotional intelligence and self-control. How could she suddenly burst into tears while talking?

Moreover, it wasn’t a quiet cry. Her tears were like broken beads, pattering down, soaking Professor Liu’s shoulder.

“What happened, girl?”

“I feel that my words were too cruel just now. Teacher, I understand your pain, it hurts me too…”

No matter how high her emotional quotient is, or how big of a ‘boss’ she is, the only thing they shared in that embrace were two mothers who had lost their children. Xiao Qian’s tears were for the teacher’s pain, and for her own.

If we were to rank levels of pain in the world, that of a mother who has lost a child would be the most excruciating.

“Stop crying silly girl, it’s okay, it’s all in the past.” Professor Liu was heartbroken by her crying.

It’s precisely because Xiao Qian is an overly calm and controlled child that her unruly tears are even more moving. Professor Liu’s eyes moistened too, touched by her tears. He felt the depth of truth in this moment.

“I know we should not live in the past, but who doesn’t want to move towards the future. However, those pains linger in the heart, and the people we love just left like that. Teacher, I don’t know how to console you, but I can understand your pain…”

Xiao Qian cried helplessly, and her tears fell one by one in Professor Liu’s heart. Holding Xiao Qian, she softly patted her shoulder, but her uncontrollable tears ran rampant…

After arguing theoretically, Xiao Qian suddenly had a complete emotional breakdown. She should’ve found a breakthrough to reassure Professor Liu, but in the end, Xiao Qian couldn’t take it anymore and wept in the teacher’s arms.

This bout of crying was so utterly unrestrained. She cried not only for the teacher but for every mother in the world who had lost their baby.

Isn’t it said that time is the best healer?

But no matter how much time has passed, some wounds just won’t heal. Although the pain from the wound might lessen over time, it doesn’t disappear. It just stays right there, not hurting as long as you don’t touch it, but once touched, it’s an unbearable, heart-wrenching pain.

Be it the loss of a child, or a child missing, this kind of pain is lodged deep within the heart with no place to go.

If Xiao Qian hadn’t experienced the same, perhaps she could comfort her teacher calmly, just like treating others, convincing her teacher not to be sad, and try to relieve her pain.

But she couldn’t do it. As soon as she started speaking, she felt the heart-wrenching pain sweep over her, feeling empathetically painful.

Professor Liu was influenced by Xiao Qian’s sudden crying. Like a mother, she hugged Xiao Qian, gently patting her, trying to comfort her, but found herself crying even more heartbreakingly.

After her eldest son Liu Shuang passed away, she went to retrieve his body. Many people stopped her from seeing her son’s body, only allowing her to see his face, because the scene was too horrifying. Even after forensic restore, it could not be completely mended. But she endured the grief and looked anyway.

Then she passed out. She exhausted all her knowledge, hoping her emotions could be calmed. She worked as usual every day as if her son was still with her. But there seemed to be an invisible gap in her heart that she just could not fill.

Xiao Qian’s heartfelt expression right now uncovered the veil that Professor Liu had placed over her heart, allowing her to face the wound directly, and giving her long-suppressed emotions a vent.

Actually, these tears should have been shed long ago in the presence of someone who truly understands her. Being alone, even if you cry, you can’t feel the sensation of crying, and crying seems pointless.

There will not be a second person who would understand Professor Liu like Xiao Qian does, because their experiences are so similar. Except Xiao Qian still has a chance to start over, and at Professor Liu’s age, the only choice left is to face it.

“Teacher, I’m really heartbroken. I don’t know how to comfort you, nor do I know how to help you get through this. I feel I’m also stuck in it. When I’m quiet, I can’t help but ask myself, ‘Why her?’ She’s so young, and I love her so much, how could she just leave…”

Xiao Qian cried without any logic, but Professor Liu understood.

When people lose the ones they love, everyone’s first reaction is, ‘Why is it him/her?’

With so many people in the world, why does the God of Death have to take the one we love most? Suddenly, a living person is no more. Especially when the old bury the young, it’s just unbearable.

However, no matter how much we resist, cruel life won’t stop. Separation by death, loves and hates are enacted every day, but everyone hopes only the good things happen to them and bad things stay away.

Xiao Qian seemed incoherent, but she deeply touched Professor Liu.

She patted Xiao Qian while shedding sad tears, “Exactly, when he left, I thought the same as you, I am still thinking that way till today. He was so young, how could he just leave? It would have been better if it was me, nearing 50, that died. If only life could be traded equally, that would be great…”

“But some things really can’t be controlled. I’m in this field of study, and better than anyone else I know life is irreversible. But when I was immersed in it, I couldn’t escape. I understand your feelings, teacher. I regret, I am in pain, I can’t forgive myself. I feel our child’s departure is because of our negligence.”

“Yes, I even selfishly thought, ‘Why would this happen to my son? Why not someone else?’ He was so young, there are so many things he hasn’t experienced yet, how could he just leave? How could he just leave…”

These questions, no one can answer. Perhaps the only painkiller is their embracing tears, understanding emotions, mutually comforting feelings.

The tears silently flowed, with no one to answer their questions.

From a professional standpoint, both Xiao Qian and Professor Liu have reached the peak in their field. The two of them have saved thousands of people, but even these two top-notch psychologists can’t relieve their own heartache.

They may have high academic qualifications and unique careers, but they too can’t escape the cycle of birth and death.

At this moment, there were no top psychologists, no high academic qualifications, just two heartbroken women.