He Lang and Xue Xingzhou listened to Xue Yue muttering, exchanging a helpless glance. They could both see the amusent in each other’s eyes.
Just a mont ago, she was all frustrated and resentful, but now her whole deanor had changed. ’Won... they sure can change on a di.’
As Xue Xingzhou was heading back from Xue Yue’s place, he saw Xue Changlin from afar, squatting at his doorstep and smoking his pipe.
Seeing Xue Xingzhou approach, Xue Changlin shot to his feet.
"You’re back?"
"Yeah." Xue Xingzhou opened the door. "Co on in. Let’s talk inside."
After entering the courtyard, Xue Xingzhou parked his bicycle and went into the house.
Xue Changlin followed him in. He glanced at Xue Xingzhou, looking rather awkward.
"Um... have you eaten?"
"I have. I ate at Yue’er’s place."
Hearing that he had co from Xue Yue’s, Xue Changlin paused for a mont.
"Then you..."
Xue Xingzhou looked at Xue Changlin. "I know everything."
That one sentence made Xue Changlin’s face turn pale, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
Xue Xingzhou had no intention of blaming Xue Changlin. "Dad, no matter what, you did raise . That’s undeniable, so it’s only right that I call you Dad. I can accept it, even if you resent or you’re unhappy with . After all, like you said, you’ve already done everything you could for by raising . I just hope you can show Yue’er more love. She’s your biological daughter. She’s been missing a parent’s affection all these years. Just because she doesn’t say it doesn’t an she doesn’t need it. As for , don’t worry. Since you raised , my promise to support you in your old age still stands. And this house... I don’t want it. Once I find a new place, I’ll move out."
Xue Changlin shook his head. "Xingzhou, that’s not what I an. The house was given to you, so it’s yours. As for supporting in my old age, if you’re not willing, I won’t hold it against you."
"Then why were you waiting for so late? Was it to—?"
Xue Changlin tightened his grip on the pipe in his hand. He said in a low voice, "I ca to tell you about your parentage. But since you already know, there’s no need for to elaborate."
"Xingzhou, there are tis I’ve resented you. Your very existence is like a thorn buried deep in my heart, a constant reminder of the fact that your mother never loved . And I... I felt like a thief who had stolen sothing that belonged to another. I couldn’t bear to let it go, yet I could never truly possess it. I was jealous, I was furious, I wanted to get back at her, but she died so young. When your mother first passed away, I honestly wanted to kill you to free myself. But Yue’er depended on you, and after raising you for so many years... it’s a lie to say there were no feelings. So, all I could do was run. I couldn’t face you two."
Xue Xingzhou listened intently, his heart in turmoil.
"I’ve spent half my life in a daze, with very few monts of true happiness. Sotis I think back and feel like such a fool."
"Let it go." Xue Xingzhou looked at him.
Xue Changlin t Xue Xingzhou’s gaze, his pupils trembling.
"My mother is gone. Let the past be the past. I don’t bla you, so just let it go. Live a good life with her, and raise Xing Jun well. He’s still young. Don’t let him grow up like us, lacking a sense of security from a young age."
After a long silence, Xue Changlin slowly stood up. "Okay."
He walked out with heavy steps.
Xue Xingzhou sat alone for a long ti. For so reason, his heart was pounding. The words he had just spoken had co out of his mouth involuntarily. ’Was that the original owner?’
’This was what he went through. Did he choose to forgive, too?’
Xue Changlin returned ho. As soon as he entered the house, he saw Liu Hongxing and Xue Xingjun sitting on the kang. Dinner was on the low kang table, covered by an overturned bowl. When she saw him co in, Liu Hongxing uncovered the food.
"Co eat."
A flicker of emotion crossed Xue Changlin’s eyes as he looked at Liu Hongxing. Ever since the last ti he had nearly strangled her, Liu Hongxing had changed.
"Dad, where did you go? Why are you back so late? I’m starving to death," Xue Xingjun pouted and complained.
Xue Changlin sat down next to them. "If you’re hungry, then eat."
That night, after Xue Xingjun had fallen asleep, Xue Changlin turned to look at Liu Hongxing, who was lying with her back to him.
He watched her for a long while before finally speaking slowly. "I know you’re not asleep. What happened before... I was wrong. We’ve been living together for many years now. I’m not good at saying ’forgive ,’ but from now on, let’s just live a good life together."
Liu Hongxing was indeed not asleep. She felt that Xue Changlin was a little different tonight. Hearing his words now, she knew he was trying to apologize. She pressed her lips together.
"I’ve been with you for all these years, but I still can’t compare to your ex-wife. I just don’t get it. If you loved her so much, why did you have to get involved with ? My mother had already found a good match for . If it weren’t for you, I never would have ended up a stepmother, scorned by everyone."
Xue Changlin thought of his own foolishness from those years and sighed.
"Let’s not talk about the past. I’ll be good to you from now on. Let’s live our lives well and raise Xing Jun. As for Yue’er’s mother, just don’t bring her up anymore. I’ve let her go, too."
Liu Hongxing’s eyes shifted, a hint of surprise in them.
It wasn’t that she needed to hear him declare that he only cared for her and not his ex-wife. What she wanted was a clear change in his attitude.
Actually, Xue Changlin hadn’t been bad-looking when he was young. Liu Hongxing had been taken with him at first sight. But she was disappointed when she learned he was already married and had two children.
But then Xue Changlin sought her out. Liu Hongxing had never t Li Wan Yi before; she only knew that her health was poor and she rarely went out. Later, when she did see her—just that one ti—she felt utterly inferior. Such a beautiful and gentle person... she truly couldn’t understand why Xue Changlin would cheat on his wife and pursue her instead.
But every ti she brought up Li Wan Yi, Xue Changlin would beco terrifying. Even if Liu Hongxing tried to deceive herself, she knew that Xue Changlin cared about his ex-wife in his heart. Fortunately, Li Wan Yi died young, so there was no one to compete with her for Xue Changlin anymore. And so, she married him, just as she had wished.
But even though Li Wan Yi was gone, her two children were right under her nose. Especially Xue Yue, who was looking more and more like Li Wan Yi. Sotis, just looking at Xue Yue frightened her.
Seeing her silence, Xue Changlin added, "I an it. I won’t raise my hand to you again."
Liu Hongxing grunted in acknowledgnt. ’What else can I do but forgive him? It’s not like I can actually leave.’
That night, neither the husband nor the wife could sleep.
「Beijing City」
Wang Tianzhu was a light sleeper and was suddenly woken by the person beside him.
He sat up, turned on the bedside lamp, and looked over at Li Wanqing, who was talking in her sleep.
"Sister, don’t bla ..."
In Li Wanqing’s dream, she was back on the day the Zheng family was set to go abroad.
"Wanyi, wait for . I’ll co back for you soon. Then we’ll go abroad together and get married."
Li Wan Yi held Zheng Guofeng’s hand. "Okay, co back quickly. I’ll wait for you."
Li Wanqing stood to the side, staring blankly at Brother Zheng’s face, her eyes filled with love. But as she listened to their words, she dug her nails tightly into her palm.
"Brother Zheng."
Zheng Guofeng didn’t look at her, only kissing Li Wan Yi on the forehead. "I’m going now. Wait for ."
"Okay."
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