“I’m already old, this day would come sooner or later. I didn’t say anything because I don’t want you to be sad.” Zong Qifeng was very calm as if he had already thought through the matters of life and death. He had no regrets, since he had the best family life with his children and grandchildren around him.
“What did the doctor say?” That wasn’t what Zong Jinghao wanted to know.
He was concerned about his condition.
“You’re not behaving like yourself.” Zong Qifeng poured himself another cup of tea. “I’ve always been proud of you. You are my son, but I never need to worry about you, be it in terms of your family or career. You’ve handled everything so well that there’s nothing I could teach you. In fact, I am not as mature as you are, and I have never expressed my feelings to your mother even in her last moment of life. That has been my lifelong regret.”
“Have a drink with me.” The father picked up his cup and looked at his son. Zong Jinghao’s eyes were dark as he said in a low voice, “I once blamed you for hiding the secret from me.”
How could he have no regrets?
This was a corner of his heart that could never be touched.
“If there is another chance, nobody can stop me from allowing you to acknowledge each other and to live together…” Zong Qifeng’s eyes grew misty. Indeed, he was not mature enough back then.
What was the point of that persistence? At least Cheng Yuxiu would not have that much regret in her life. She had been regarded as a mistress her whole life. Even with her son standing before her, she could not harbor the hope for him to call her mother.
For a mother who had risked her life through pregnancy and childbirth, there just ain’t any word to describe the pain in her heart.
Zong Jinghao picked up his tea and clinked cups with Zong Qifeng. He downed his tea at one gulp and put down his cup before saying, “Let’s go to the hospital together. I’ll get you the best doctor.”
“I don’t want to spend my last days in the hospital.” That was why Zong Qifeng didn’t want to let them know. “I’m at the terminal stage. Even if I go to the hospital, there’s nothing much they can do. The best they could do is to extend my life for a few more days. This means nothing to me.”
“Dad.” Lin Xinyan was hoping that his cancer was in its early or mid-stages, at least there would be a higher recovery rate. Now, she felt a little helpless. “With the medical advancement today, there might still be hope…”
“I’ve done a thorough check. I know that you are filial. If you really want me to be happy, then accompany me back to the old manor. That’s where I spent my life with her, and I haven’t dared to go back since she left. There are memories of ours everywhere in the house and I dare not touch any of them. But right now, I’d like our family to live there. When she was still alive, she could not see us reunite. Now, take it as fulfilling my wish.” Zong Qifeng looked pale and haggard.
“Alright, but I insist on the treatment.” Zong Jinghao was very decisive.
Lin Xinyan thought so too. No matter what, they had to try their best. Before that, she did not pay much attention to the old man; but now that she took a closer look, not only did Zong Qifeng lose a lot of weight, but he also looked sallow.
“Jinghao is right.” She held onto Zong Jinghao’s hand. “We were all heartbroken when Mom left. For our sake, you have to go for the treatment. Don’t you want to stay by the children’s side and watch them grow?”
In the end, Zong Qifeng agreed to go for therapies.
After leaving the teahouse, Lin Xinyan started to work on their moving checklist, while the men headed to the hospital. They had to at least find out about the father’s condition.
Back at home, Lin Xinyan broke the news to everyone that they were moving. Sensing that something was wrong, Aunt Yu secretly asked her about Zong Qifeng’s condition.
Instead of hiding it, she decided to speak the truth. However, she also emphasized, “You don’t have to do anything differently, otherwise he will feel pressured.”
Cheng Yuwen felt terrible. He found that hard to believe. “Could there be a mistake?”
“I’m afraid no.” The doctors wouldn’t have prescribed him those pills without having a conclusion on their diagnosis.
“Then I’m not going back to C City. I’m staying to take care of him.” Cheng Yuwen had seen Zong Qifeng as his brother-in-law. Even though love was not why his sister and Zong Qifeng became a couple, they had Zong Jinghao together. Furthermore, he had been very loving towards her all these years. How could he not do anything now?
What would his sister say to him when they meet one day?
With misty eyes, he said, “I’ll give Shao Yun a call.”
Then, he stood up and walked out.
The atmosphere in the living room became very depressing. Aunt Yu and Zhuang Zijin were both very sad. Seeing that, Lin Xinyan couldn’t help to sigh, “Cheer up guys. Dad is gonna be upset if he sees you like that.”
“I know.” Zhuang Zijin tried to pull herself together. She had been through this before, hence unutterable thoughts just assembled within her unconsciously.
Aunt Yu on the other hand, couldn’t hold herself anymore.
Zhuang Zijin patted her back, “Hey, he’s still alive. We still have time to take good care of him. Go and get things packed up.”
“Ms. Lin,” Qin Ya walked to her with the baby sound asleep in her arms. “I don’t know what to say.”
“It’s alright.” Lin Xinyan said. “I’d have to trouble you to take care of the baby now.”
“Sure.”
While Zhuang Zijin and Aunt Yu were busy packing up, she hired some part-time cleaners to clean up the old mansion.
The house had been left empty for some time, and there was a thick layer of dust everywhere. Hence, they opened up all the windows to ventilate the room.
There were all sorts of furniture there so they just needed to stock up some daily necessities. That was it.
After cleaning up, they would need to air the house for a day before moving in.
That night, when Zong Jinghao and Zong Qifeng came back from the hospital, everyone did well in keeping themselves together. However, they would express their concern for the older man from time to time.
For example, Aunt Yu had purposely cooked some of his favorite dishes and kept asking him to take a few more bites.
