He Ruilin turned to look at He Ruixing and laughed gloomily. “You wish Ruize and I were dead so you can have the family fortune all to yourself, am I right?”
“You’re still trying to start something in the family at this time? Don’t you know how to reflect on your own actions?” He Wenhuai did not want to get angry again, but he could not help himself when he heard her words.
He smacked onto the table and the ceiling seemed to tremble along. He stared at her as he panted. “You were the one who started this, you should be the one who ends this.”
He Wenhuai had decided.
“Why?” He Ruilin did not want to admit defeat. She had always been thinking for the family. Her plans were not successful but that did not mean that she should have a death sentence.
“Dad, did you acknowledge me back then because I was Zong Jinghao’s man? Now that you have realized that I’m no longer useful, you’ve decided to burn this bridge?”
He Wenhuai’s expression changed when she said his thoughts. “How could you think you were ever useful?”
He hesitated back then when He Ruize said that she was the long-lost daughter of He family. After all, she had been raised out of the family, and he did not feel anything for her.
In rich families, the wealth was portioned out.
Only after he realized that she had been with Zong Jinghao and Zong Jinghao seemed to like her, did he willingly acknowledge her and publicized her status.
Who knew that not only did she not contribute to the family, but she had also brought disasters to them.
Although He Ruize barely contributed at home, he had never brought troubles to the family.
Now, he was creating havocs along her side, and causing the whole He family to fall into misfortune.
“You know it well!” All He Ruilin felt was her heart breaking into pieces, and it no longer could be fixed. “When I came back to He family, I thought I finally had a family. I thought I finally had someone to protect me, but I didn’t feel any warmth from the family. When I am useful, you’re nice to me. When I’m not, I’m discarded away like a disposable chess piece. What do you think I am? Am I made of steel? Do you think I’ll never feel pain?”
Was the world of the rich only filled with heartless people who only saw the pros and cons?
“Do you think I don’t want to help the family?” She questioned them.
“Yes, I’m not skillful enough. I’m why the family is in quicksand right now. but— do you not feel a hint of hesitation when you’re letting me go?”
“I’m not letting you die. Your crimes are not enough for the death sentence. You just need to confess your actions. Why are you wasting your breath here?” He Ruixing sneered, “You said it yourself that I wanted to become the one with power at home. Take me out of the equation and ask yourselves, which one of you had ever done something good for the family? It’s just me taking care of our parents and the company.”
“It sounds great when you’re the one saying—”
“Stop it!” He Ruize cut off He Ruilin’s words. He walked in front of He Wenhuai and kneeled down.
He looked at his father and mother. With his hands on the floor, he bowed and knocked his head on the floor. He did not rise up as he said, “Mom, dad, this was all my fault. I’ll bear the responsibility alone.”
The entire living room fell into a silence.
Xia Zhenyu wiped the tears on her face and reached out to hold her son. She sobbed, “Don’t get down on your knees. You shouldn’t kneel so easily.”
They had grown up.
“You’re my parents, why shouldn’t I kneel to you? You gave birth to me but I have never been filial. Instead, I have brought disasters to the family. It’s my fault.” He Ruize did not get up. “You let me stay abroad and do everything I liked. You supported me financially, and I know that’s how you were loving me. I have disappointed you.”
He looked up at He Ruilin. “As for my sister, I am guilty. I was the one who had lost her. She had suffered. I’ll bear responsibility for her mistakes.”
“Are you sure?” Before He Wenhuai spoke, He Ruixing had impatiently said, “You’re going to bear responsibility? Would Zong Jinghao accept it?”
“Ruixing won’t need to worry about that.” He Ruize did not know whether He Ruixing was keen on taking the family wealth all to himself, but he was still the eldest in the siblings and he was indeed capable.
He did not want to compete with him.
He looked at He Ruixing. “No matter what happened, Lin is still our younger sister. We came from the same womb and blood is thicker than water. Don’t be too stern with her. We can all see with our eyes the things you have done for the family. No one is going to compete with you.”
“No need for a gushing speech.” He Ruize turned his head. “You should bear the consequences of what you’ve done. I don’t need you to remind me about our little sister. As long as she acts like one, I will take care of her.”
“I don’t need your care.” He Ruilin kept her head high even when she was in deep trouble.
He Wenhuai closed his eyes. It was as if he had grown decades older in one night. He looked at his younger son who kneeled by his feet. “This is not something you can bear by yourself—”
“I have a plan for me to take responsibility alone.” He Ruize had already thought of a plan.
All he needed was He Wenhuai’s approval.
No matter how angry he was, he was still his son. He felt heartbroken by letting him go.
“Is this karma?” He Wenhuai pounded on his chest.
Xia Zhenyu wiped her tears away and rubbed her husband’s back. “Take care of your health. It’s all my fault. I did not give birth to a good son.”
The atmosphere at home was heavy.
In the end, He Wenhuai agreed with his plan. This had to be resolved, and someone had to take responsibility.
He was still worried. He asked He Ruize, “Do you really have a plan?”
“Yes.” He Ruize pursed his lips. Xia Zhenyu pulled him up. “Stand up.”
This time, He Ruize let her help him stand.
“Ruize.” He Ruilin knew that He Ruize genuinely treated her well. She started regretting forcing him in setting Lin Xinyan up and making him lose all opportunities to ever have her. “I’m sorry.”
“No need for apologies. We’re a family.” He Ruize did not regret his actions. Lin Xinyan had never loved him.
She would never have accepted him.
His actions then might not be able to win her heart, but he would have been able to win her body.
It was better than nothing.
He turned to go upstairs.
He Wenhuai was tired.
“You’re all dismissed.”
At the villa.
Not long after Lin Xinyan was carried away, Lin Ruixi had woken up. She looked everywhere for her mother but she could not find her. She saw Zong Jinghao’s shirt on the couch and remembered what Aunt Yu had told her. Aunt Yu had told her that Zong Jinghao’s room was upstairs. She gave up looking for Lin Xinyan and ran upstairs to knock on his door.
She stood outside the door and looked into the room. It seemed like there was someone on the bed. “Dad, can I sleep with you tonight?”
Zong Jinghao did not answer her.
Her eyes reddened more and her tears were swirling in her eyes though they never fell. She looked miserable.
He looked behind him to see Lin Xinyan sticking her head out of the blanket. She looked at him with begging eyes, hoping that he could say yes to her daughter.
Zong Jinghao had no choice but to say yes. He was afraid that if he rejected her, Lin Xinyan would reject him in return.
He would bear with it for tonight!
He carried Lin Ruixi up in his arms. “I’ll hug you while you sleep tonight.”
And so, the romantic night that Zong Jinghao had hoped for turned into a family night.
They have had their marriage registration for seven years. They were lawful husband and wife, yet he had never touched his lawful wife.
I’m the most miserable husband in this world, he thought.
Lin Xinyan woke up early. She did not want Zhuang Zijin to realize that she had been sleeping upstairs.
She was preparing breakfast in the kitchen when she recalled her initiation to kiss Zong Jinghao last night. Her ears heated up and she regretted it terribly.
How could she have kissed him willingly?
“Impulse is the devil; impulse is the devil. You were too impulsive. You can’t just sell yourself because you want someone to love your daughter.”
“What are you mumbling to yourself about?”
Lin Xinyan jumped in surprise when she heard a sudden voice behind her. She turned around quickly.
