“I don’t regret it.” Even now, Zhuang Zijin didn’t think that she was wrong. The fact that Lin Guoan was dead actually brought her some relief.
Lin Xinyan looked at Zhuang Zijin for a long time before finding her voice again. “Have you ever thought that this is against the law? Have you ever thought about me?”
“Yes, I have.” At the time, Zhuang Zijin thought that she would continue to help Lin Xinyan take care of her children if she did not get caught. But if she were caught, she would be punished by law and could no longer help to do so. “You’ll be doing fine even without me. I think Zong Jinghao is pretty good. After all, you gave birth to his kids. So for their sake, he will treat you well.”
Lin Xinyan balled up her fists. “So, you’ve had it all planned out for me, haven’t you?”
“I’m sorry.” Apart from this, Zhuang Zijin did not know what else she could say.
Lin Xinyan had mixed feelings, but she tried her best to hold them in so that she didn’t shed tears in front of Zhuang Zijin. “Two days ago, Xichen and Ruixi said that they missed you. What do you want me to tell them in the future? Do I tell them that their grandmother is a murderer?”
The mention of the word “murderer” caused a change in Zhuang Zijin’s expression.
Only then did Lin Xinyan realize that she had said something wrong, but it was too late to take back what she had said, leaving her vexed with herself.
“Have a great life.” Standing up, Zhuang Zijin walked to the door and put her hand on the doorknob, but she didn’t turn it and just stood there in silence. After a while, she added, “At this point, there’s no more turning back. I promised to take care of you, but I didn’t. I hope you don’t blame me. I’m truly sorry, Yan.”
Lin Xinyan didn’t notice the meaning behind her words at all as she kept beating herself up.
If I had cared more about Zhuang Zijin, I would’ve realized what she was up to, and she wouldn’t have made such a big mistake.
Initially, I had a chance to dissuade her, but now…
Lin Xinyan covered her face and cried. She will definitely go to jail no matter what sentence she receives.
She could’ve enjoyed her remaining years, but she ruined her life ahead just because she wanted to avenge Lin Guoan.
Is it worth it, though?
Listening to Lin Xinyan’s hushed cries, Zhuang Zijin felt her heart ache. “Don’t be sad. Since I’ve chosen to do it, I’ve thought about the consequences. What I’ve overlooked are the feelings of you and the kids. Tell them…” Zhuang Zijin choked up, and continued with reddened eyes and a hoarse voice, “Tell them that I’ve gone far away. Don’t bring them here or tell them what I did. After all, I’m not exactly a role model.”
Zhuang Zijin then turned the doorknob and opened the door. “You don’t need to come and see me anymore.”
After that, she walked out quickly, for fear that she would hear Lin Xinyan crying again, and that she would regret her decision if she stayed any longer.
Standing in the corridor, Shen Peichuan and Zong Jinghao looked over at the same time upon hearing the sound of the door opening.
“Could I have a second with you?” Zhuang Zijin looked at Zong Jinghao.
Zong Jinghao pursed his lips and said nothing, but Shen Peichuan understood what he meant, so he said, “I’ll leave you two to it.”
Then, he walked away.
Clasping her hands, Zhuang Zijin walked over and hesitated for a while before she asked, “Can I ask you a favor?”
“Yes, what is it?” Zong Jinghao’s tone of voice was so calm that it was void of emotion.
“Yan has suffered a lot with me. I’ve failed to take good care of her, and now, I’ve even upset her. I feel very sorry and distressed for her. In the future, I’m afraid I can no longer take care of her and the two kids, so I’m counting on you to look after them.”
“They’re my wife and children, so I definitely won’t let anyone hurt them.” It was not a promise, but at this moment, his words were solemn and carried a weight behind them.
“I believe in you.” Zhuang Zijin took out a necklace from her pocket and handed it to Zong Jinghao. “Please give this to her, and tell her that her mother left it for her.”
Yet, Zong Jinghao did not take it.
Seeing that, Zhuang Zijin hurriedly explained, “She’s a little emotional now, so—so…”
Getting what she meant, Zong Jinghao took the necklace from her.
It was a thin platinum necklace without a pendant. With his eyes on the necklace, he carefully pondered what Zhuang Zijin had just said. Feeling that something was wrong, he asked tentatively, “You’re leaving this for her?”
Zhuang Zijin was silent for a while before replying, “Yes.” She paused and added, “She’s still in the room and is not in a very good mood. You should go comfort her.”
After that, Zhuang Zijin walked to the entrance to call Shen Peichuan.
However, Shen Peichuan did not take her away immediately, but instead, he turned to look at Zong Jinghao for his opinion.
Zong Jinghao waved his hand.
Taking the hint, Shen Peichuan took the hint and left with Zhuang Zijin.
Standing at the same spot, Zong Jinghao looked down to study the necklace in his hand, still feeling as though there was another meaning to Zhuang Zijin’s words.
But he quickly negated his suspicion. If Zhuang Zijin isn’t her mother, who else can it be?
He felt that he might have overthought this and that Zhuang Zijin merely happened to use the wrong term.
With that, he put the necklace away and walked towards Shen Peichuan’s office.
The door was ajar, and a broken, sobbing sound was heard coming from the inside.
It sounded repressed and was filled with unspeakable pain.
The look in his eyes darkened as he opened the door gently and walked in.
Hearing the noise, Lin Xinyan stopped weeping. It was not that she had stopped feeling bad, but she simply didn’t want to cry in front of others.
Zong Jinghao walked up to her.
Without looking up, she wiped the tears off her face and said, “Let’s go.”
Zong Jinghao took her by the arm and pulled her into his arms without saying a word. Stroking her long hair, he said, “Just cry if you want to. You don’t need to put on a brave face in front of me.”
As soon as he said that, Lin Xinyan buried her head in his chest. “I am angry and sad, not because she is hiding it from me, but because it’s not worth it. Ruining her own life for a scumbag isn’t worth it at all.”
“Perhaps she thinks it is?” Zong Jinghao tried to talk some sense into her, “Let me ask you if something keeps weighing on a person’s mind and he keeps brooding over it, will he be relaxed, joyful, and hopeful?”
Lin Xinyan was bereft of speech. She had to admit that Zong Jinghao had a point, but she still could not accept it.
She tugged at Zong Jinghao’s collar tightly and asked in a low voice, “If the evidence is conclusive, how long will she get?”
He stroked her back gently to soothe her as he replied, “She won’t get a long sentence.”
Lin Xinyan was still feeling uneasy, but she had calmed down a lot. With Shen Peichuan’s help, she believed that Zhuang Zijin’s sentence could be reduced.
“Let’s go back.” Zong Jinghao wrapped his arms around her.
Lin Xinyan leaned into his arms and nodded her head. Then he draped his coat against her shoulders and walked out of the office, where Shen Peichuan was waiting for them.
Shen Peichuan comforted Lin Xinyan by saying, “Don’t worry, Xinyan. I’ll make sure that your mom won’t suffer. Besides, this is an accident, and her sentence will be reduced later, so it won’t be too long.”
As he emphasized the word “accident,” Lin Xinyan instantly understood what he meant.
“Thank you,” she said sincerely.
“Don’t thank me, or I’ll feel I’m being treated as a stranger,” Shen Peichuan replied with a smile.
Chinese New Year had passed, and it was still cold outside. However, the snow had melted, and the sound of water dripping could be heard everywhere.
They drove back to the Zong family’s residence.
Lin Xinyan wiped her face dry and patted her cheek so that she wouldn’t look so pale as she did not want her kids to know that she had cried.
Before she even had time to change into her slippers, Lin Ruixi ran over and wrapped her arms around her leg. Waving the diamond ring in her hand, she asked, “Mommy, mommy, is this for me?”
