Qin He had worked in a funeral home for a long time and had seen all sorts of deceased people.
However, the one before her could be described as particularly tragic.
Wilson seemed utterly devastated. He sat alone in a corner, his hand dug into his hair as if trying to rip off his entire scalp.
"We, my wife and I, have always treated people kindly. Why would something like this happen?"
"My son, my son—"
Qin He peeked and then closed the sheet.
There was a noise at the door, and Amy's sobs could be heard. She had cried herself hoarse, and despite the efforts of several nurses to stop her, she broke in.
"Let me see my son, my Pason—"
The son of Duke Morton Wilson was named Pason Wilson.
Nineteen years old, lying here.
Qin He helped Amy, wanting her to return to her room to rest.
But Amy shook her head violently and struggled to reach the stretcher.
Qin He understood why Amy had fainted after just one glance.
Any mother in the world would collapse upon seeing her son severed in two, his flesh and blood mangled.
Young Wilson must have been thrown from the car, then dragged for a long distance, his entire face almost ground away.
One of his arms was also "missing."
Amy, in her grief, paid no attention to who was in front of her.
Anyone who blocked her from seeing her son had to move aside.
Qin He had some skill, but her body was cumbersome due to her pregnancy.
A mother who had lost her son possessed infinite strength.
Qin He was almost pushed over by Amy.
Wilson stumbled to his feet, ran from the corner, and stood in front of the stretcher.
"Amy, Amy, you should go back first."
Amy's tears flowed incessantly, her voice hoarse and weak from crying, "I want to see my son, I want to see my son."
Wilson nodded repeatedly, "I will let you see him."
People must eventually face the brutal and unfeeling reality.
Qin He and Gu Qichen stayed at the hospital until the afternoon. Wilson and Amy's emotions had finally calmed down a little, and only a little.
No one dared to mention Pason's name in front of Amy.
On the hospital bed, Amy sat and murmured, "Pason is gone, he doesn't want his mommy anymore."
Qin He felt a prickle in her nose.
Wilson got up and looked at Qin He and Gu Qichen standing in the room.
"Today, thank you very much for your help. Something has come up at home, so let's discuss the cooperation another day."
Qin He clenched her fists and looked at Amy on the bed, "I'm worried about Madam—"
Wilson spoke sincerely, looking at Qin He's belly with immense tenderness.
"You are pregnant. I heard that in your country, China, there is a custom that pregnant women should not attend such events."
As the three were talking, a foreigner ran in through the door. This person was Wilson's assistant.
He spoke to Wilson in English.
Qin He understood. Given Pason's current condition, even if he were transported back to Country Y, it would be best to prepare his remains.
The assistant went to Qingcheng Funeral Home to find an embalmer, but after seeing the photos of Pason's final state, the embalmers all declared themselves incapable.
Qin He clenched her fists tightly.
Amy, hearing the assistant's words, covered her face and began to cry.
"Why can't I even see him one last time?"
Embalmers, to consider the feelings of the living and the dignity of the deceased.
Qin He clenched her hands again, "Mr. Wilson, if you trust me, I would like to be Pason's embalmer."
Silence fell in the room. Wilson turned to look at Qin He, his eyes filled with confusion, and then anger.
"Miss Qin, I appreciate your offer, but my son is not a toy. I need to hire the most professional—"
Qin He pursed her lips, "Mr. Wilson, you've misunderstood me. I graduated with a degree in Forensic Science from Qingcheng University, and I am also a professional embalmer."
"I believe Pason would prefer someone he knows to prepare his final appearance."
Wilson froze, and Amy also looked up at Qin He.
Qin He's expression was grave, "There is no one more professional than me as an embalmer in Qingcheng. I just want Amy to see her son one last time, and for Pason to depart in peace."
Amy on the bed sobbed.
Wilson's assistant was taken aback. He spoke in English, essentially saying that he had indeed heard at the funeral home that the most professional embalmer was a Miss Qin, who was currently on leave.
Qin He pursed her lips. She had been "forced" on leave by the funeral home, but that was not important.
Wilson finally agreed.
Gu Qichen's expression turned grim, "Qin He, have you really decided?"
His gaze swept over her pregnant belly, his eyes filled with deep concern and worry.
"It's fine," Qin He reassured Gu Qichen.
She didn't care about customs. It was just that she was pregnant, and Pason's condition was too tragic.
This preparation of his remains would likely take a whole day and night.
With Wilson's consent, Qin He took Pason to the funeral home.
Only when she placed Pason on the table did she begin to examine him closely.
An arm needed to be reconstructed.
The bent parts needed to be straightened, and the missing flesh and skin had to be replenished.
The most troublesome part was the face.
Pason's face was entirely "lost."
Qin He asked Wilson for a photograph of Pason.
She asked everyone to leave, leaving only herself and Pason in the embalming room.
Qin He used a mold to cast a replacement arm for Wilson, placing it aside to set.
Wearing a mask and gloves, she leaned forward slightly and began to meticulously repair the salvageable parts of Pason's body, piece by piece.
After completing the delicate repairs, Qin He was completely absorbed. The morning had passed.
She was very tired. When she emerged from the embalming room, she saw several people waiting silently on the bench outside.
Gu Qichen saw Qin He emerge and immediately walked up to her, "How are you feeling? Can you manage?"
"I can manage, I'm just a bit tired from standing. I'll get a high stool to take inside later."
Gu Qichen's face was grim as he glanced at the time.
"You must eat lunch before you continue working."
Qin He quietly glanced at Wilson and Amy sitting nearby. She understood their urgent feelings.
"No need, I don't have much of an appetite right now."
Qin He drank half a bottle of water and turned back into the embalming room.
It was midnight, and Gu Qichen's face had turned completely dark.
He even had the impulse to rush in, forcibly pull Qin He out, take her home, and put her to bed!
And feed her something before she rested!
Wilson noticed Gu Qichen's displeased expression. By this time, his emotions had calmed considerably.
Qin He, as a pregnant woman, had voluntarily taken on this task.
Wilson was deeply grateful and could understand Gu Qichen's feelings, "Mr. Gu, thank you for agreeing to let Miss Qin help us."
Gu Qichen's eyes were fixed on the door of the embalming room, his voice cold.
"I'm not helping you. I just, can't do anything about her."
As he spoke the last words, the coldness faded, leaving a sense of helplessness.
It was midnight at the funeral home, and there were not many people around.
The three sat in the corridor, faintly hearing various sounds from inside.
Qin He had been working non-stop.
Amy had tried several times to look at her son through the window, but the window had old-fashioned latches, and the curtains were inside.
Sounds could escape, but the view was completely blocked.
Suddenly, a remarkably gentle voice came from within.
"Pason, I'm going to turn you over now."
Qin He looked at Pason, whose body was now mostly repaired, and spoke gently.
It was an attitude of respect for a person.
Amy's tears immediately began to stream down her face, her heart filled with gratitude for Qin He.