Chapter 1999 - 1793: Because of You
Chapter 1999 - 1793: Because of You
Because of you, I have given my best effort in everything. I am unwilling to give up like this, because I know once I give up, you will leave me.
Old Master Zhang stays in the hospital room; each day he lives is far from happy. He is waiting for the person he hopes to see to come, but day after day, he waits without seeing that person turn back. He knows he may never see his son again in this life.
Although he says he doesn’t want his son to come back to accompany him because of this matter, is there any father who wouldn’t secretly hope for it in his heart? He desires it too, yet it is so difficult. Why does such a thing have to happen to him? All he wants is the companionship of family. All these years, his son has never stayed by his side, even when he was critically ill; his son didn’t even show his face. How much does his son hate him as a father?
The more Old Master Zhang thinks, the more troubled he becomes. He is such a proud person, never has he felt so hurt. What he truly wants is not much, only that what he desires can never be realized. All he ever wanted was to have a perfect life, but such a life seems too difficult for him. He can’t get his son’s forgiveness, and his wife left far too early, leaving him all alone.
His son finally made a family and career, leaving him with the grandson he wanted, but his son cruelly abandoned the entire family and wandered the world alone, which hit him even harder. He never imagined his son would leave him so decisively, not even glancing back. Has he failed as a father, with his own son despising him, and he, as a father, viewing himself as so useless?
As he pondered, tears slid down his cheeks. He cried; this was the first time he felt so cold-hearted because of his son’s actions. In the past, no matter what Zhang Zhentian did, he could forgive him effortlessly, but this time his heart was truly broken. He was already on the brink of life and death, hospitalized, yet his son was still unwilling to bow his head and return to his side. Could he really be so worthless in his son’s eyes?
Zhang Yichen and Ran Zhihan carried the food they prepared for him, arriving at the hospital. When they saw their grandfather sitting on the bed with tears flowing from his eyes, they understood what he was thinking and knew the pain in his heart. However, they couldn’t speak; they didn’t know how to choose. Perhaps, in their grandfather’s eyes, he did this only to preserve his last dignity. He didn’t want his final dignity to be trampled by his own son, his dignity repeatedly insulted by his own child, which any father cannot accept.
"Grandpa, we made some delicious food for you. You must take care of your health and eat more good food every day. When you recover and can be discharged from the hospital, it’ll be the time for us to give you a surprise. You must stay healthy to await that dream-come-true surprise we’ve been owing you.
This family is so big, and the responsibilities are many. You must help me share the burden; you can’t just lazy around in the hospital. That would make me look down on you, Grandpa. Although you always love me, I hope you can help me out. Don’t leave me alone to be busy all the time. Without familiar people around, I’m really scared, you know? I hope my Grandpa can always be with me; that’s my greatest wish in this life!"
Old Master Zhang smiled. He understood his grandson said these words only to cheer him up. He knew deep in his grandson’s heart, he was quite important. If one day he truly passed away, his grandson would suffer the pain all alone. How agonizing that would be. He must strive to live for a few more years; he can’t let such a thing happen to his grandson, at least until his grandson completely accepts the reality of his impending death. Only then can he leave this world peacefully.
"You are a sweet talker. Throughout the years, no matter what you’ve done, Grandpa knows well what kind of person you are. Yichen is clear in mind too. All the hardships you’ve endured, Grandpa knows personally. Grandpa watched as you grew up, and he knows better than anyone how tough each step was. If not for Grandpa being so strict with you since childhood, if not for you enduring hardship and growing through adversity, how could you understand so many truths others could not at such a young age? You live harder than anyone and endure more pain than anyone, yet you never speak of it because you understand that rather than sharing your pain for others to hear, it’s better to transform pain into strength and strive forward. Only this way can you make those who abandoned you fully grasp how wrong they were, how brainless the decision to abandon you was. You want others to understand, so again and again in hardship, you prove to them you are the strongest, enduring all the suffering others cannot bear. You’ve grown, but in the process, you’ve experienced things others never will. Grandpa saw it all!
Each time you returned home battered and bruised, you felt Grandpa overlooked your hurt, without caring. But Grandpa did feel pain for you. Don’t think that every time Grandpa saw you wounded all over and was indifferent; truly Grandpa only wished you to know that whenever injured, you must rely on yourself to heal. Depending on others is unreliable, for eventually they will depart, and one day won’t be by your side. So you must rely on yourself, grow stronger singularly, so that you won’t be looked down upon, so those who once abandoned you won’t further rejoice over their decision being correct..."
Because of you, I finally understood what emotions are, what love is, what guilt is, what responsibility means!
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