Chapter 445 - 440: You Owe Me an Explanation
Gu’er could hear the melancholy in Li Zhi’s voice. He still had feelings for Feng Ling.
"I’ve talked to Gu’er about this. She said that Zhou Fugui and Zhou Mei had this kind of plan all along. Even if they hadn’t used Feng Ling, they would have found another opportunity to go after her. Besides, Feng Ling truly didn’t mean for it to happen, so Gu’er doesn’t blame her. As for you and her, that’s something you have to decide for yourself. From what I can tell, Feng Ling is a determined person. If she really wants to leave, you should let her go once she’s recovered. Otherwise, this lingering resentment will just make everyone uncomfortable."
Seeing Li Zhi hanging his head, Sun Jiaming thought for a moment before adding, "If you two are truly fated to be together, I believe you’ll meet again. Feng Ling is still young. I think it’s better for her to leave for now. You should give it some more thought."
Li Zhi nodded at Sun Jiaming’s words. ’Feng Ling is determined to leave. If I force her to stay, not only will everyone be unhappy, but I won’t be able to get over it myself. Every time I remember she was the one who led Gu’er down there, I feel terrible. Letting her go really is the best option. If I’m worried, I can look after her secretly. I just need to make sure Grandpa Guan and Feng Ling can live without worry and that no one bullies them.’
’Just as Jia Ming said, Feng Ling is still young. In a couple of years, if she’s changed and if she has feelings for me, maybe that will be our time. I can also use this time to really think about whether I’m truly in love with Feng Ling.’
Li Zhi left. Gu’er didn’t dwell on it and went back to sleep. The baby had no sense of time yet—he cried when he was hungry, and he cried when he needed a diaper change. So she took every opportunity she could to sleep, because once the baby started crying, she wouldn’t be able to.
On the third day, Cao Qiu was watching the baby while Gu’er packed their things. Sun Jiaming had gone to settle the bill, as Gu’er was being discharged from the hospital today.
After the paperwork was done, they still had two hours before they had to leave. After some thought, Gu’er had Sun Jiaming help her go see Feng Ling.
Inside the hospital room, Grandpa Guan was pouring Feng Ling a glass of water. When he saw Gu’er and Sun Jiaming, he nearly dropped the cup.
"Jia Ming, Gu’er, you’re here."
Grandpa Guan said, tears streaming down his face.
"I thought you wouldn’t come. Gu’er, Feng Ling did a terrible thing. The Guan family has wronged you. I apologize to you on Feng Ling’s behalf."
As he spoke, Grandpa Guan moved to kneel, but Sun Jiaming quickly stepped forward and caught him.
"Grandpa, what are you doing? If anyone saw this, they’d curse us out."
Gu’er hadn’t expected Grandpa Guan to do something like that either. Fortunately, Li Zhi had arranged for this private room, so besides Feng Ling and her grandfather, there was no one else there.
"I’m too ashamed to face you. You were kind enough to take the two of us in, giving us food and drink. Even a dog you raise knows to guard the house! But us? Feng Ling went and did something like this. I’m just so ashamed when I think about it. Thank goodness Gu’er and the baby are all right. If something had happened, how could I ever face Jinxiu?"
Guilt was written all over Grandpa Guan’s face.
"Grandpa, please don’t say that. Gu’er is fine, isn’t she? Besides, Sister Feng Ling didn’t do it on purpose. She didn’t know those Zhou siblings were planning to harm someone. She even risked her life to help Gu’er. You shouldn’t dwell on it so much."
Sun Jiaming comforted Grandpa Guan.
The few of them sat down.
"Sigh... Jia Ming, Gu’er, back then, I shamelessly insisted on staying with Li Zhi. I know many people must have been thinking, ’This old man is so thick-skinned, living in someone else’s house with no relations, eating their food, drinking their drink, and feeling no shame at all.’ But I knew you didn’t look down on me. As for me, I’ve already got one foot in the grave. I could lie down today and not get up tomorrow. I don’t care about my old face. I wanted to live with you all and get to know you, so Feng Ling could become like a sister to you, just like how Li Zhi and Dingzi have become family. That way, in the future, when I’m gone, there would be someone to look after her. I know Li Zhi is a good man. I was thinking that if Feng Ling ended up with him, she wouldn’t have to suffer in this life. With all of you looking out for her, I could rest in peace even after I died. But I never expected... I never expected that girl to do something so foolish. Tell me, how could she have believed such nonsense from others?"
Grandpa Guan clutched Sun Jiaming’s arm, his words choked with tears, utterly heartbroken.
’I believe he’s speaking from the heart,’ Gu’er thought. ’No one is truly shameless. Grandpa Guan stayed for two reasons: one, because he had an old friend in Grandma, and two, for his granddaughter, Feng Ling. Just as he said, he hoped Feng Ling would get familiar with everyone so she’d have someone to look after her in the future.’
Gu’er looked over at Feng Ling. She was lying in the hospital bed, her face turned slightly to the side. Gu’er could see silent tears running down her cheeks. She hadn’t seen her in a few days, and Feng Ling had lost a lot of weight. Her complexion was ashen.
"Jia Ming, why don’t you take Grandpa outside to sit for a while? Don’t let him get too upset. I don’t blame Sister Feng Ling. I’d like to talk with her for a bit, is that okay?"
Gu’er wanted to talk with Feng Ling alone.
"Alright. You two talk, you two talk."
Grandpa Guan wiped his tears, glanced at his granddaughter on the bed, and then went out with Sun Jiaming.
Gu’er pulled a stool closer.
Feng Ling looked at Gu’er.
"I heard the baby is doing well?"
Feng Ling’s voice was a little hoarse, not as clear as it used to be.
"He’s doing great. It’s a boy, six pounds and thirteen ounces. My grandmother, my in-laws, my parents, Jia Ming, and I are all overjoyed. His nickname is Jiji. We haven’t picked out a formal name yet."
A gentle look came over Gu’er’s face as she spoke of her son.
"Good."
Hearing Gu’er say this, Feng Ling felt a weight lift from her heart. If something had happened to the baby, the guilt would have been hers to bear.
"I know the Zhou siblings tricked you, but I want to know why you believed Zhou Mei. You knew us first. I’d think that even if you didn’t like us, you would have some idea of our character. Jia Ming and I might have our faults, but we’re not fundamentally bad people. You should have understood that. Yet you chose to believe her instead. I want to know what blinded you and made you trust them."
Gu’er asked, getting straight to the point.
Feng Ling looked at Gu’er without speaking, her expression complicated.
"I thought you were a smart person. You’re patient and perceptive. I always thought you were someone who could accomplish things. But what you did... I just never expected it. I want to know the real reason."
Gu’er pressed on.
"I... I know I let you down, but is there any point in talking about it now?"
Feng Ling didn’t understand why Gu’er was still pressing her about this.
"Because you owe me an explanation."
Gu’er said sternly.
Feng Ling fell silent. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to tell Gu’er, but that she didn’t know how.
"You believed Zhou Mei’s words; in your heart, you were biased toward her. Let me make a bold guess. Maybe it wasn’t Zhou Mei you believed in, but rather a certain type of person, a certain type of experience. You always give me the feeling that you’ve been through something similar to what she described. That’s why you believed her, even though you knew we weren’t like that. But I asked Grandpa Guan, and he said you’ve never had an experience like that. Feng Ling, you haven’t lived through it yourself, yet you have this unresolved issue that skews your thinking so drastically. Why is that?"
As Gu’er spoke, she watched Feng Ling intently. She saw the color drain from Feng Ling’s face, leaving it completely pale.
***
My parents sent me a video reminding me not to forget to boil eggs tomorrow and telling me to go out for a nice dinner with my husband and child tonight. Only then did I realize tomorrow is my birthday. I had completely forgotten; I thought it was still a few days away. Ever since I turned thirty, I don’t really like celebrating my birthday anymore, haha.