Zhang Yichen couldn’t understand. Perhaps in his parents’ eyes, all his actions were just for show. But if it were truly just for show, why did it matter so much to him? He cared so much about these things, even though there was no benefit to him, yet he still foolishly gave everything to them, always feeling it was his own mistake. As long as his parents stayed by his side, what harm could a little grievance do? But why did his mom and dad never understand his good intentions, always seeing him living happily without considering what kind of impact these things had on their son, or what psychological shadows they cast? In their hearts, he, their biological son, was never present, only their own freedom. To them, freedom surpassed any familial bond. They could forsake kinship, give up on loved ones, but they couldn’t live without their so-called freedom. Was this so-called freedom really so important to them? Important enough to abandon their dearest ones? How long would they persist in their stubbornness before they’d look back at the family they’d hurt with their actions?
In truth, Zhang Zhentian was well aware that so things, once happened, couldn’t be easily changed. He knew what kind of blow these matters would deal to both his father and son, yet he could only choose to say nothing because speaking out wasn’t beneficial at all!
It was because he refused, ti and again, to communicate with his son that things ended up this way. Sothing so simple was made so complicated. He knew so things couldn’t be lightly dismissed, yet he had long forgotten what his role as a father should entail. He had completely lost the sense of responsibility that cos with being a father.
Old Master Zhang watched as his grandson and son stood awkwardly facing each other without speaking. He, too, was anxious inside, only wanting the relationship between father and son to soften a bit. But why? Why had their relationship only grown more tense instead? He didn’t want much, rely a life of contentnt and joy. Why must everything beco so complicated? Couldn’t he even hope for a peaceful old age? With each passing blow, he felt more saddened, more beaten down. To them, he was just an old man of no consequence. Couldn’t they live with less selfishness? Did they feel no guilt in their hearts?
"Son, I’m truly sorry. If you can forgive , I’ll stay by your side for the rest of my life and never leave you again. Every decision your mom and I made was gravely mistaken—we abandoned such a great son like you. You’re so exceptional, how could we bear letting you endure so much harm and pain alone? Our selfishness and indifference led to today’s consequences—things you bore silently. We repeatedly hurt you, which felt so unfair in our hearts. We truly don’t wish to hurt you anymore, please let us stay with you and forgive , please!"
"You’ve been gone for so many years. Hasn’t there been any guilt in your heart? Don’t you feel at least a little sorry? Do you think your leaving was just as it should be, causing us suffering as if it were right? Do you believe that no matter the choice you make, we as family should always clean up the ss? Doesn’t anyone get tired? Did you ever think that we’d one day stand face to face, with nothing left to say?"
"Son, your mother and I do feel guilty and full of remorse, but we don’t know how to express it. If you need us to express everything, just tell us. We can show through our actions that we truly know our wrongs. The hurt we inflicted upon you, perhaps there’s no way to make up within our lifeti, but please believe that your mother and I are willing to use all the remaining ti to recompense for the harm caused."
"Perhaps this doesn’t an much to you, but it would ease our hearts a little. You’re right—how could we not feel guilt, enduring sleepless nights tornted by remorse? Do you know how painful that feels within? Nobody can truly understand."
"In fact, guilt can be exhausted, but with every repeated action, you cast all your guilt away. Your heart no longer feels any sha. You believe everything was just as it should be, with no errors in your actions. Yet you don’t realize the imnse harm caused to those who loved you most. Grandfather loved you so deeply, yet you abandoned him. You never regarded him as your father. You can forsake , your biological son, because you never cared for growing up. I can let that go, but Grandpa is the one who gave you life, the reason for the family’s success today, ensuring you lived without worry. Why can’t you consider how distressed this old man is inside?
As an elder, to be abandoned by your own son, to helplessly watch him leave ho, depart to distant lands, all he could do was stand by and cry in silence. Do you know how heart-wrenching that sorrow is?
Nobody is born with a heart of stone; it’s only others’ repeated hurt that leads him to an unforgiving outco in life!"
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