32

"At 32, he survived the ring, he endured four days in the ICU, but he couldn't withstand the world's malice towards good people."

I'm not in Hong Kong.

These past few days, my time has been spent following the news outside the ICU. 3 AM, 5 AM, 7 AM—his family hasn't slept, and neither have I. Thousands of kilometers away, there's nothing I can do but look at the phone, waiting for good news that will never come.

He endured four days.

With intubation all over his body, organ failure, the nurses said he had a strong will; he fell low many times but pulled himself back up. I know why he had to endure it—he's the kind of person who, if knocked down in the ring, will get back up within ten seconds; if he vomits during training, he'll wipe his mouth and continue; if he promises someone something, he'll do it to the death.

He endured four days, perhaps waiting for his family to arrive, perhaps wanting to have one more friend to say something, perhaps… just refusing to admit defeat.

But he didn't know that on Tuesday, he sent me a text message on WhatsApp. I saw it early in the morning; it read: "Hey, when are you coming back? When you get back, we'll do something together. I'll find someone to invest. Waiting for you, hurry back."

After reading it, I smiled and replied with a single word: "Okay."

I never imagined that that "okay" would be my final response to him. That text message is still on my phone. I don't dare open it again, but I'll never delete it.

Thirty-two years old. A successful beauty consultant. He was a key figure in many chambers of commerce, active in charity and public welfare activities, and had helped countless people in need.

That night, he was simply attending a private event. Then, he was attacked by gangsters.

I wasn't there, but I know one thing: no matter how chaotic the event was, it's not a justification for violence.

In the past few days, online comments have included: some say, "If he could go to such places, he should have expected this," some say, "A normal person wouldn't go," and some say, "Maybe he himself has problems."

I want to ask you:

If your son, your friend, someone you know—a young man active in charity who has helped countless people—simply attended a chamber of commerce event and was inexplicably beaten to the point of being in the ICU, ultimately dying, would you accept that some people say "he deserved to die"?

Would you accept it?

I wouldn't.

Because the person I knew wasn't a "problematic" person. He's a good person. Upright, kind, responsible, and loyal.

I've trained with him in boxing. I've seen him get beaten up at the gym, get up, and help his opponent back. A person who's willing to give their all in training will only be more serious and responsible in life. He's loyal to his friends, considerate to his customers, and filial to his family. At thirty-two, he's achieved success through his own hard work, without stealing, robbing, or cheating.

You say he's a fraud? You say he's tough?

Do you even know him? Have you ever had a cup of tea with him? Have you ever trained with him for a day? Have you ever seen how he treats people?

If you know nothing, please keep quiet.

The details of this matter will be left to the police to investigate. I believe the Hong Kong Police will handle this fairly, and I urge anyone with information to come forward.

I wrote this to say three things fairly:

First, he wasn't a bad person. He was the most upright, understanding, and loyal friend I've ever known, and a respected figure in the business community and charitable circles.

Second, violence is violence. Going to bars, events, or going out at night are not reasons to be beaten.

Third, don't speak coldly and indifferently to someone who has passed away, a mother who lost her son, or a group of friends who cried uncontrollably.

I couldn't be there for him in his final moments.

But in writing this, I'm saying one last thing to him:

My dear friend, you made it to the fourth day, that's amazing. That's all for now.

I will keep this message from you. I will always remember what you wrote.

You are above, looking down.