Old Master Zhang shouted at Zhang Zhentian without holding back: "Why are you panicking? You’ve made so dizzy! At least let sit for a mont and stop my head from spinning before I wake up!"
Zhang Zhentian realized he might have a point, so he replied in an overly solicitous tone: "Alright, fine, Dad, take your ti to recover. I’ll pour you a glass of water."
"That’s more like it!" Old Master Zhang was exactly the sa as always, enjoying the feeling of being served by his son.
Zhang Zhentian strode quickly to the kettle, taking three steps in two. In record ti, he poured a glass of water and brought it over.
Old Master Zhang took the glass of water Zhang Zhentian handed him and imdiately drank a mouthful. He regretted it instantly. His tongue was burned so badly he felt blisters forming. Raising his head, he glared at Zhang Zhentian and roared, "What are you doing? Are you trying to burn alive?!"
Apologetically, Zhang Zhentian said, "Sorry, Dad, I forgot to tell you – the water was just boiled, I didn’t add cold water before pouring it."
Old Master Zhang was furious. He stood up, ready to head upstairs, but Zhang Zhentian grabbed him by the arm.
"Dad, you haven’t told yet—about Xia Jing that day..."
Before Zhang Zhentian could finish his sentence, Old Master Zhang interrupted him.
"Don’t bother! You need help from , yet you’ve treated like this? Even if you didn’t need anything, I’m still the father who gave you life and raised you. Burning with hot water, is this what a son should do?" He turned away and walked off.
Zhang Zhentian watched the back of Old Master Zhang disappearing into the distance and shouted after him: "Dad, can’t you be a little more understanding? I’m Xia Jing’s boyfriend, and now that she’s gone abroad and I can’t contact her, shouldn’t I be worried as her boyfriend?"
Hearing Zhang Zhentian’s words only fanned Old Master Zhang’s anger more.
Old Master Zhang turned back and chastised him furiously: "You’re her boyfriend and can’t contact her, so of course you should be worried. But I’ve brought you up all these years, and now you’ve burned with hot water because of her. How is this the behavior of a son?"
Zhang Zhentian was rendered speechless by Old Master Zhang’s response. Seeing his son lost for words, Old Master Zhang continued, "You’d defy your father for a woman; you’d do anything for her—I can understand this, because I’m your father. But your actions today truly disappoint . You’ve been so out of it that you forgot boiling water is scalding hot? Do I even matter to you anymore as your father?"
Tears began to glisten in Old Master Zhang’s eyes as he spoke. Seeing his father in such despair, Zhang Zhentian noticed for the first ti that his father’s hair had started to turn gray. He realized how little he had cared for him.
Old Master Zhang turned and headed upstairs. Zhang Zhentian wanted to say sothing, but the words caught in his throat as he watched his father’s retreating figure. His heart was heavy with guilt. He felt that he had let his father down after all he had done for him.
Old Master Zhang returned to his bedroom with a sigh, reflecting on everything from the day Zhang Zhentian t Xia Jing to the day she left. He thought to himself: "Have I been too harsh? Is this how Zhentian ca to treat like this—because I shouldn’t have been so tough on Xia Jing? Is everything happening now my just desserts? Ah, Xia Jing, Xia Jing, do you think I made a mistake? Should I not have kept your secret? Should I have told Zhentian where you are?"
Alone in his bedroom, Old Master Zhang rambled to himself, unsure what the right thing was anymore. Deep down, he had started to accept Xia Jing as his daughter-in-law. He didn’t want to lose her. He used to think Xia Jing was unworthy of his son, but after everything, he’d begun to see things differently. Now he felt it wasn’t Xia Jing who was unworthy of his son, but his son who was unworthy of Xia Jing.
Lost in thought, Old Master Zhang felt sleep creeping up on him. He glanced at his watch and murmured to himself, "No wonder I feel sleepy—it’s past midnight. Ah, that’s enough thinking. Ti to sleep."
As soon as he lay down, he fell asleep, snoring lightly.
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