The eldest son and his wife thought he didn’t like Gu Jianing and didn’t want the eldest son?
Sheng Xinhao reflected—it was true that he didn’t like Gu Jianing. There was no denying that. Even now, though he acknowledged Gu Jianing’s worth, his initial dislike was a fact he couldn’t argue away.
But the eldest son…
How could he not want him?
If he didn’t want the eldest son, why would he be so focused on nurturing him? Why would he plan to give him the old family home, the savings, and all his connections? Why would he pave the way for him?
Hadn’t he done enough? How could the eldest son think he didn’t want him?
Yes, he had been strict with him in the past, but wasn’t it because the eldest son had been rebellious in his youth?
As a father, was it wrong to discipline his child?
He never expected the eldest son to see him this way.
Sheng Xinhao felt deeply wronged.
Facing the two little children before him, he decided that no matter what, he couldn’t let his grandchildren misunderstand him.
So he hurried to explain.
He told them everything—how he had acted for Sheng Zexi’s good, how he had planned to leave everything to Sheng Zexi.
“Your father misunderstood me,” Sheng Xinhao insisted.
If he could clear things up with the eldest son, would he and his wife grow closer to him again?
But before Sheng Xinhao could finish voicing his “grievances,” both Xingxing and Yueyue frowned simultaneously.
This time, it was Xingxing who grew serious. Crossing his arms, his childish voice carried a firm tone: “You say you’ve given Daddy so much, but have you ever asked him if he wanted it?”
Sheng Xinhao froze.
“Mommy says that what we think is good isn’t necessarily what others want.”
“Like how I like reading books, but Yueyue doesn’t. Yueyue likes dolls, but I don’t.”
“If I made Yueyue read with me, she wouldn’t like it.”
Yueyue nodded vigorously in agreement.
“And if Yueyue made me play dolls with her, I wouldn’t like it either.”
“Are the things you want to give Daddy what he actually wants?”
“If not, then you shouldn’t force him.”
“Mommy says, not all ‘for your own good’ is truly good.”
“You have to listen to what they say, to what they want.”
“Everyone is different, and what they want is different too.”
Though Xingxing usually spoke little, the small child was thoughtful and sharp. Both children had excellent memories, retaining every word others had said to them.
Now, they repeated those words to Sheng Xinhao in their soft, childish voices.
Xingxing’s tone was tender, but each word struck Sheng Xinhao’s heart like a hammer.
Not all “for your own good” is truly good.
Don’t force it—ask first what they want.
Sheng Xinhao couldn’t help but look back on the past. Had he ever asked the eldest son what he wanted?
No.
Not once.
Whether it was when the eldest son chose his career path or when it came to marriage, he had never sought his opinion.
He had always arranged things, convinced it was for the eldest son’s own good.
In his career, he thought staying in the Beijing military district was best, so he made the decision without consulting him.
In marriage, he believed marrying Old Li’s granddaughter would aid the eldest son’s career, so he demanded he marry Li Shuyao.
And so many other things…
He had known all along.
He had known the eldest son wasn’t someone to be controlled.
Yet he had kept pushing, driving the eldest son further away.
Until now, when father and son, though bound by blood, were more distant than strangers.
How long had it been since he last heard the eldest son call him “Dad”?
Back when Awan was still alive…
There had been times when he returned from missions, and little Sheng Zexi would happily rush into his arms, saying he missed him.
Those days seemed gone forever.
And the truth proved that his so-called “for your own good” wasn’t truly good at all.
In his career, the eldest son had chosen the Northwest Military District. Even under his suppression, the eldest son had still risen to the rank of regimental commander and had been repeatedly commended by higher-ups.
He had proven with his abilities that a capable person could succeed anywhere—without needing sacrifices in marriage to pave the way.
In marriage, the woman he had chosen for the eldest son, Li Shuyao, turned out to be an enemy spy from Country R. Meanwhile, the woman the eldest son chose himself, Gu Jianing, was outstanding and had even given birth to a pair of dragon-phoenix twins for the Sheng family.
The facts proved that the eldest son’s choices were right.
So… had he been wrong all along?
Sheng Xinhao fell into confusion.
For the first time in his life, he deeply realized his mistakes.
Stunned, he ultimately said nothing and turned to leave.
Yueyue watched his slightly hunched back, pursed her lips, and leaned closer to her brother.
“Brother… I kind of feel bad for him.”
Xingxing kept a stern little face. “Mommy says, those who deserve pity often have their own faults.”
Yueyue: Oh well.
This grandfather had indeed been a bad grandfather before.
Who knew if he would change for the better in the future?
“Xingxing, Yueyue, why are you standing at the gate?” Just then, Grandma Sang came out from the kitchen after preparing some desserts and noticed the two little ones weren’t playing in the living room.
She found them standing by the courtyard gate, which was open.
“Great-Grandma…”
Xingxing and Yueyue walked over and told her about Sheng Xinhao’s visit.
Grandma Sang fell silent after hearing their account.
But she agreed with Xingxing’s words.
“That’s right—those who deserve pity often have their own faults.”
“He treated your dad poorly before, and he didn’t like your mom either.”
“At one point, he even wanted to separate you from your parents.”
Xingxing and Yueyue widened their eyes. Instantly, they no longer felt sorry for him.
No one could separate them from their mommy and daddy.
Mommy was so wonderful—if someone didn’t like her, then they wouldn’t like that person either.
“If he comes again in the future, you can talk to him if you want, or ignore him if you don’t.”
“But remember, don’t go with him,” Grandma Sang reminded them.
Sheng Xinhao had once considered sending Xingxing and Yueyue away—who knew what he was thinking now?
“Great-Grandma, Xingxing/Yueyue remembers!” the two little ones chimed in unison.
“Alright, forget about him. Let’s go eat some desserts!”
“Yay~”
…
Meanwhile, after returning home, Sheng Xinhao spent the whole time lost in thought, as if pondering something deeply. He seemed completely distracted.
Fang Wanrong, though currently obsessed with having another child, was still quite sensitive to others’ emotions.
So she immediately noticed something was off with Sheng Xinhao’s mood.
She asked, but Sheng Xinhao didn’t answer. Instead, he grew impatient and even scolded her that night for constantly brewing medicine in her pursuit of pregnancy.
That night, he even slept in a separate room!
In truth, ever since Fang Wanrong started her medicinal brews over two years ago, the two had occasionally slept apart.
Sheng Xinhao simply couldn’t stand Fang Wanrong anymore, so he moved out.
After the separation, Fang Wanrong had coaxed him back into their shared room a few times, but it never lasted long before he couldn’t take it and left again.
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