Chapter 252

Julian's crying and shouting echoed in the room, which was filled only with moonlight. Jenna stood quietly at the doorway, not daring to take a step forward.

She was afraid that after she walked in, she would find that this was not a nightmare, but reality.

After a long while, Jenna closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and entered the room that served as Julian's bedroom, living room, kitchen, and dining room.

She squatted down beside her brother, not stopping his crying or touching him as he seemed terrified, but said softly:

"We don't have much debt left. If you lose your current job, you can find another one; there's no need to worry...

"You have a solid foundation; surely another master would be willing to take you in...

"What Mother wanted to see was for you and me to live better, not for you to blame yourself..."

Jenna repeated these words over and over until Julian, who had collapsed, had exhausted his mental energy, his body gradually went limp, and he leaned against the wall by the window and fell asleep.

He was finally quiet.

Watching her brother's expression gradually relax, no longer so terrified and pained, Jenna let out a silent breath, and the tears in her eyes lost their dam, dripping down continuously.

After crying silently for a while, she stood up, walked to Julian's bed, picked up the quilt, and gently covered her brother, who was sleeping against the wall.

After doing all this, she dragged her feet back to the inner room, which was the bedroom that belonged to her and her mother, Elodie.

Jenna lay down, her empty eyes wide open, staring blankly at the dim ceiling reflecting a hint of moonlight.

In her mind, she recalled the words her mother had said from time to time, but she could no longer convince herself.

Perhaps, except for a very few lucky ones, darkness was the main theme of life, and light was merely an occasional embellishment.

Jenna suddenly grabbed her mother's pillow and covered her face with it, her body showing all the reactions that come with sobbing.

Why, why is it always darkness, without a single ray of light?

When will the sun rise again?

Not knowing what time it was, Jenna fell into a drowsy sleep.

She was awakened by the commotion outside.

She turned over and sat up, rubbed her swollen eyes, and hurried out of the room.

What met her eyes was Julian, who was toasting bread slices.

He was no longer in the state of collapse and mental instability from last night, busily focusing on what he was doing.

Jenna's lips moved for a few seconds, but in the end, what she said was a daily greeting:

"You woke up so early?"

Julian answered somewhat woodenly:

"I didn't have dinner yesterday, and I was woken up by hunger.

"Wait a moment, the toast will be ready soon."

Seeing her brother's state, Jenna not only didn't relax, but became even more worried.

If Julian were still in the state of mental collapse and constant crying from last night, although she would feel hurt, repressed, and desperate, she wouldn't be afraid.

She would forcibly take her brother to see Franca and ask her to find a real "psychiatrist" for treatment immediately.

But now, she wasn't sure if Julian had truly recovered or if he only appeared normal on the surface.

If some problems are not solved and are kept bottled up in the heart, they might become fatal when they erupt again!

Jenna was very afraid that just after she finished breakfast, she would see her brother jump to his death the moment she wasn't paying attention.

She observed Julian carefully for a while and felt that the hysterical collapse was indeed gone, but his spirit should not have truly returned to normal.

When Julian was making breakfast on his own, his movements were agile and quick, with no problems, but once there was verbal communication, he would present a wooden, dull, and slow-reacting state.

This made Jenna increasingly believe that her brother had suppressed those collapses and instability deep in his heart, along with his thoughts and soul.

*Sigh*... I still have to find a real "psychiatrist"... Another layer of mist rose in Jenna's eyes.

Not long after, Julian finished toasting the bread and went to a street vendor to buy a can of milk that was still relatively fresh.

While Jenna was eating breakfast without tasting it, she looked at her brother as if casually:

"I had insomnia last night and felt very repressed, so I wanted to see a psychiatrist. You seem to be the same; shall we go together?"

Julian answered after two seconds:

"I'm going to look for work."

A strong sense of sorrow surged in Jenna's heart once again.

Her brother didn't even question the matter of seeing a "psychiatrist."

People living in this neighborhood were not even willing to go to a clinic to see a doctor, let alone visit a "psychiatrist" because they weren't feeling well mentally.

Most of them didn't know that the profession of "psychiatrist" existed, nor did they feel they had any psychological problems.

Thinking that a real "psychiatrist" might require an appointment, Jenna didn't force it. She thought for a moment and said in an encouraging tone:

"I think you should choose your employer and master carefully this time. It's normal not to find work in three or five days; it might take one or two weeks, or even one or two months.

"By then, if we both have an income, maybe we can pay off the remaining debt within this year. If we rely only on me, that definitely won't work. The income of an underground singer is not stable; I don't know when I won't be liked anymore."

Jenna was doing this to lower her brother's pressure in advance, to prevent him from being stimulated and collapsing again because he couldn't find work in a short time. On the other hand, she emphasized his importance, saying that she couldn't support them alone, making him feel that he was still very useful, using responsibility to maintain his will to live and avoid him suddenly committing suicide.

Jenna, who had never considered these details before yesterday, was now unconsciously thinking about such problems today.

After stabilizing Julian's state repeatedly, she watched her brother go out to the factory cluster in the Botanical Garden District to look for opportunities.

After resting for a while, Jenna, still somewhat exhausted, left 17 Pasteur Street and headed toward Saint-Gilles Street, which was not far away.

She planned to walk slowly to White Coat Street, just in time for Franca to wake up, and ask her to help make an appointment with a real "psychiatrist."

When she passed an intersection in a daze, Jenna scanned with empty eyes and saw a piece of news published in a newspaper at a newsstand on the side:

"Congressman Yu Ge Artois emphasizes the need to handle the Goodwill Chemical Plant explosion accident fairly."

Jenna was attracted by those words, walked over instinctively, picked up the newspaper, and quickly browsed the news:

"... The newly elected congressman, Yu Ge Artois, believes that one cannot slander factory owners because of an accidental accident, nor can one let factory owners who have provided a large number of jobs and tax revenue to the country be unable to bear even one accident and seek bankruptcy. That would lead to a large number of closures, massive unemployment, and bring about a new round of protests and turmoil.

"Yu Ge Artois stated that he would not forget the people who were injured and died in the explosion, and would seek to establish a new public welfare fund to help factory owners bear part of the accident compensation, allowing the factories to continue to operate, and allowing those responsible for the accident to atone for their sins with more jobs and tax revenue.

"He also stated that he would propose a bill in parliament to create a better environment for entrepreneurs, which includes easier dismissal of unqualified workers and staff, and more reasonable accident compensation..."

Seeing this, Jenna's shoulders suddenly began to tremble.

She let out a laugh, laughing until her body shook, and it didn't stop for a long time.

After a while, she put down the newspaper and continued forward.

Unknowingly, Jenna walked to Saint-Gilles Street, to the Goodwill Chemical Plant, which had mostly turned into ruins.

Looking at the metal tanks that were broken to the extreme, she recalled her mother, Elodie, once again.

Every time, she would walk into the factory facing that iconic object.

A few minutes later, a face that was unfamiliar yet somewhat familiar appeared in Jenna's slightly blurred vision.

It was a woman wearing an old dress, and she said to Jenna:

"Quick, go to Market Avenue. That congressman is going to hold a consolation banquet and has invited us to attend. Maybe we can win something!"

"Consolation banquet?" Jenna asked blankly.

The woman nodded quickly:

"Yes! Wasn't your mother also injured in the explosion accident? Don't you remember? We met in the ward?

"Two quarter-hours ago, that congressman just went to the hospital, and he's going to hold a consolation banquet later!"

"Yu Ge Artois?" Jenna asked subconsciously.

"Yes, yes, yes, that's the name." The woman grabbed Jenna's arm and, with her still somewhat dazed self, rushed toward the congressman's office on Market Avenue.

More than half an hour later, the two arrived in front of the earthy-yellow four-story building.

Many people dressed in clothes that clearly belonged to the poor were queuing up for inspection to enter the hall.

Jenna was wearing that simple gray-blue dress today, her hair draped naturally without any adornment.

She stood at the back of the line and moved forward bit by bit.

Nearly a quarter-hour passed, and it was finally her turn.

A woman in a dark blue uniform checked her from her head down to her boots.

After confirming that she was not carrying any dangerous items, she was allowed to register, prove her identity, and enter the banquet hall.

…………

Golden Rooster Hotel, Room 207.

Lu Mian looked at Franca, who appeared at the doorway, and said with slight surprise:

"You're very early today too."

Franca was still dressed in a lady's shirt, light-colored breeches, and red boots, but it was a different set.

She gave a "heh" and said:

"I'm just worried, aren't I? I'm afraid that you and Jenna agreed on the surface, but turned around and went to assassinate that congressman's secretary, Ronet."

"In your heart, am I such a reckless person?" Lu Mian asked back.

"Yes." Franca answered without any hesitation.

She even wanted to add the word "most" to describe him, but remembering a "Furious Folk" she had met in a seaside town, she felt Lu Mian didn't quite qualify.

She let out a breath and said:

"Since you haven't been impulsive yet, there shouldn't be any problems with Jenna. I'm going to go see her and see if there's anything her family needs help with."

Just as Franca finished speaking, a burst of hurried footsteps came up from downstairs, heading straight for them.

Lu Mian and Franca, who were standing at the door, turned their heads to look and saw Jenna, dressed in a simple gray-blue dress with her hair disheveled, running over with an anxious expression, sobbing as she said:

"My brother, my brother is crazy! He's become a madman..."

(End of chapter)