As Cheng Yi spoke, tears fell from her eyes.
Cheng Che did not know what to say. To him, his family was the Mu family. The Yin family and his biological grandmother felt like family that were forced upon him. He did not know how to face them, and he also could not empathize with them.
Jiahui, who was more suitable to talk at this moment due to her status as a bystander, asked carefully, “Then, have you been in S City over the years? I think you know more about the Yin family’s situation than we do…”
Cheng Yi scoffed. “Back then, Yin De hurt me too deeply. I couldn’t return to this sad place. With Jiang Jin’s help, I left the country. All these years, I’ve been doing well abroad. Perhaps, heaven saw how lonely I was and took pity on me. Without a family to go back to, my business took off quickly. I worked hard and amassed more and more wealth. In the beginning, I used work to stave off the pain in my heart. However, later, the more money I made, the emptier my heart became.”
“Jiang Jin has also helped me with my business. Apart from that, for so many years, she would share all of Cheng Che’s achievements with me. I have also secretly returned to see Cheng Che several times. I watched him receive awards during competitions, I watched him graduate, and I watched as his business grew bit by bit. I’ve not missed a single step he had taken.”
“Last year, I fell sick. Jiang Jin wanted Cheng Che to see me and get to know me, but I refused. I felt that Cheng Che’s life had nothing to do with me, and I wasn’t qualified to be a part of his life. It was fine to let him continue treating me as though I died. As long as I know he’s doing well, it’s enough for me. I felt that there was no need for him to know me. I’m not worthy,” Cheng Yi said. Her tone was indifferent as she spoke about herself, clearly blaming herself and feeling sorry and guilty toward her grandson.
Cheng Che’s heart was slightly moved.
Jiahui reached out and placed her hand on the back of Cheng Yi’s hand. Then, she said softly, “Grandma, blood is thicker than water in this case. Cheng Che won’t blame you.”
Then, Jiahu looked at Cheng Che, and Cheng Che nodded slightly.
Tears welled up in Cheng Yi’s eyes again. She covered her face as she wept and said, “What right do I have? How am I worthy?”
Jiahui reached out to hug Cheng Yi and said, “Grandma, don’t think like that. No one blames you.”
After a moment, Cheng Yi brought a piece of tissue out and wiped her tears. She sniffed before she said, “In my entire life, the person I’m most grateful to is Jiang Jin. She raised Cheng Che very well so I’m really, really lucky.”
Cheng Yi was still clearly overwhelmed by her emotions.
Cheng Che handed the bottle of water to Cheng Yi again before he asked quietly, “So, you were also aware at that time when Grandma planned to let me return to the Yin family? You didn’t stop her.”
Cheng Yi’s eyes were red as she looked at Cheng Che timidly and nodded.
“Why?” Cheng Che asked quietly.
Cheng Yi blew her nose before she said, filled with hatred, “You’re the eldest son and the eldest grandson of the Yin family! The Yin family is yours, to begin with! As long as you return, you’ll have the right to inherit! The Yin family relied on my Cheng family’s help and my dowry to make a fortune. Everything should be yours!” Then, her voice softened as she continued to say, “Most importantly, Jiang Jin told me that you were always looked down upon because you had no family. For that reason, she wanted to give you the choice of returning to the Yin family. Of course, it’d be up to you to decide if you wanted to or not. After listening to her, I agreed. However, I really didn’t expect Yin De and Yin Bin to be so heartless and refused to acknowledge you! At that time, I was furious. I told Jiang Jin that I was going to return to the Yin family to settle scores with them, but she stopped me. She said that you planned to let the matter go and had no wish of returning to the Yin family. She said you’d only acknowledge the Mu family as your family in the future. When I heard that, I really felt so distressed for you. I felt as though my heart broke. I really hated the Yin family to death. It was from that time that I began to set my sight on them.”
