Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
He had never thought about what Shangguan Ning just said. He had always wanted to be the best since he was young so as to make Jing Zhongxiu satisfied and to let him know that he was excellent. He had never thought that gender would have made a difference in how he treated others.
Also, he and Jing Yiran were both boys and had been treated differently as well. He had needed to accept a really heavy load of studies and physical training whilst Jing Yiran didn’t need to do anything. He could learn whatever he wanted to or played around with whatever he wanted.
But Shangguan Ning’s words affected his thought process.
Jing Zhongxiu had never brought up Jing Yiran as the heir. He himself had always been the only one in his heart.
He finally understood why the old lady, Zhang Rong and even the old lord said that father favored him.
He once thought that Jing Zhongxiu favored Jing Yiran by indulging him, yet the reason why father was strict to him was because he favored him.
A part of Jing Yichen’s heart opened up, finally. A tiny smile hovered over his lips.
He kissed Shangguan Ning’s forehead and said softly, “Ning, you really are my lucky star.”
Shangguan Ning didn’t accept his praise. She sounded a bit concerned. “I am not your lucky star, I am a disaster. You almost lost your life because of me, you are my lucky star, instead.”
Jing Yichen smiled. “We are each other’s lucky stars, okay?”
The couple talked and laughed and spent almost a fortnight at Family Mu’s Hospital. They had nearly converted the place into their home. The chef Old Du and two servants Sister Lan and Sister Fang were all present and took care of them like they did in the routine life.
Both of them recovered within two weeks’ time, so they left the hospital and came home.
If it had not been for Jing Yichen, Shangguan Ning would not have wanted to spend so much time at the hospital. East or west, home was the best.
Shangguan Ning hadn’t taken a good shower for half a month. So she went into the bathroom straight after they arrived home. The moment she came out, Jing Yichen said in a low voice, “Ning, get changed, I will take you somewhere.”
“To where? How should I dress?”
Jing Yichen took out a long-sleeved black dress. “This one will work.”
He picked out a black suit for himself as well. He got dressed and then waited for Shangguan Ning in the living room.
Shangguan Ning changed quickly, dried her hair and then walked out of the door holding onto Jing Yichen’s arms.
Jing Yichen didn’t stop the car until they reached somewhere far.
He grabbed a bunch of white chrysanthemums with one hand and then held Shangguan Ning’s hands with the other as he said softly, “Let’s go.”
Shangguan Ning didn’t ask anything. She followed him on a small path.
The path was paved with light green cobbles, long and clean. Apparently, someone had been cleaning here. Green and tender sabinos were around, making the place look tranquil and serene.
They passed through a green meadow and the patch of neat sabinos until they came to a small graveyard.
Jing Yichen took Shangguan Ning came to a graveyard and stared at the picture on the grave as he said, “Ning, this is my mother. It is her death anniversary today.”
Shangguan Ning had guessed that Jing Yichen had brought her to visit his mother. But she didn’t expect that today was her death anniversary.
No wonder Jing Yichen chose to leave hospital today.
The woman in the picture looked exquisite and perfect. She was smiling in a gentle manner and looked beautiful. She resembled Zhao Zhao, Zhao Anan’s mother quite a lot. But Zhao Qing looked easygoing and happier.
She held Jing Yichen’s hand tightly and said, “Mom, I am Shangguan Ning, your daughter-in-law. I will take care of Jing Yichen in the future for you, please be assured.”
Having said the words, Shangguan Ning took the white chrysanthemums from Jing Yichen and placed them upon the grave.
There was a bunch of them already there.
Shangguan Ning looked at Jing Yichen and said in a low voice, “Was it father?”
Jing Yichen nodded and said. “Should be. He comes here every year.”
It seemed that he had come here earlier than him, this year.
Shangguan Ning thought that Jing Zhongxiu couldn’t have forgotten his wife. When she went to Family Jing for the first time, she had noticed that Jing Zhongxiu had no affection towards Zhang Rong, only coldness. And Zhang Rong seemed to be quite used to the attitude as well.
She had heard a little bit about the story from Jing Yichen earlier, but she didn’t know the specifics. She had never understood why Jing Zhongxiu got married to Zhang Rong and fathered a son with her if he didn’t love her.
Jing Zhongxiu favored Jing Yichen, but he didn’t ignore Jing Yiran totally. Instead, he protected Jing Yiran from getting killed by Jing Yichen’s hands.
All families had their own issues, even an extremely wealthy family like Family Jing. They had much more responsibility and pressure to bear, far more than ordinary people could ever imagine.
They stood for a while and then started to walk back.
They ran into Jing Zhongxiu halfway. He was carrying the fruits and food and walking towards the grave.
“Father!” Shangguan Ning called out to him in astonishment. She had thought that Jing Zhongxiu had left after putting down the flowers. But he didn’t.
Jing Yichen was silent. Instead, he just stood there, holding hands with Shangguan Ning.
Every year on his mother’s death date, he hated Jing Zhongxiu to the deepest degree. Had it not been for him, he would not have lost his mother at the age of 3.
But for some reason, Jing Yichen didn’t hate him that much today. Or maybe Shangguan Ning had given him warmth or maybe he gradually understood that his father might be suffering more than he did from his mother’s death.
Because Jing Zhongxiu never drank wine except for this day in the entire year. He got drunk, and was always carried back home by the Butler.
He stayed silent for a long time before he said calmly, “Dad.”
Jing Zhongxiu stiffened.
Jing Yichen had stopped calling him “Dad” after he understood the world and how his mother died. Jing Zhongxiu knew that his son hated him, but he didn’t blame him for that, because he hated himself too and could never forgive himself.
He had caused his beloved woman’s death and his son lost his mother. He hadn’t been able to face him, because he felt that he had made a huge mistake, one that was not meant to be forgiven.
He had thought that his son was not going to forgive him ever, but unexpectedly, he called out to him today.
